Nintendo has finally revealed the \"revolution\" and it turns out that the future of gaming is a lot like the present of home theaters: the Revolution controller looks more like my cable remote than a game controller. A promotional photo featuring several outstretched hands pointing the wand-like controllers at a television just feels, well, weird.
First of all, this remote has all kinds of wrong buttons. Instead of play/pause, ch-up/ch-down, there is a D-Pad, Start and Select buttons near the middle, and a great big A button. Underneath is a somewhat trigger-like, but not too trigger-like, B button. The whole thing looks like it could be held reasonably in a few different configurations, although it\'s undeniably consumer electronic in its appearance.
Of course, like many of Nintendo\'s \"innovations,\" the Revolution controller hides some interesting potential beneath it\'s dorky exterior. Motion sensors will be able to tell the position, velocity and direction of the controller, which opens the door for a whole new level of game touch. It makes us think of Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto\'s recent cryptic comments about the future of the Zelda franchise. Miyamoto implied that Zelda fans would never again experience a game based on the current style of gameplay after Twilight Princess. Does that mean gamers can look forward to some decidedly more physical swashbuckling action using the motion sensor in the Revolution controller?
Another enticing attribute of the Revolution controller is its ability to function as a pointer. The controller emits a beam of infrared light that can be located on the television screen, potentially allowing for Nintendo DS style \"touch\" gameplay on the big screen. And since a pointer is essentially a light gun with very rapid fire, other more traditional light gun style interactions might also be possible.
Finally, the contoller can be enhanced by adding a peripheral \"dongle\" (any excuse we can think of to use that term!). We assume that there is a large potential for creating different types of attachments. Nintendo\'s press images show an attachment which would presumably be used to play first person shooters: Imagine a small egg with an analog joystick on top and two triggers on the front. It looks to be a comfortable grip.
When we consider the possibilities of such an add-on combined with the pointer and light gun potential of the wand controller we can imagine playing an FPS in which one uses the analog stick to move, fires with the two triggers, and looks around and aims a weapon with the wand. That could be the console control set-up that trumps the mouse and keyboard once and for all.
We\'re not sure about too many of the technical specifics because we have a limited amount of information -- mostly these images. Some of the speculation here might not be accurate, but given the facts that Nintendo has released so far, there does seem to be real innovative potential in the Revolution controller (once one gets over the initial wackiness of its appearance).
Of course, some of the bigger mags have gotten more info on the controller, and
their accounts seem to back up our speculation. In a variety of demos, many of the gameplay elements described here were shown, and Shigeru Miyamoto reiterated Nintendo\'s commitment to pulling in a wider audience of gamers with the Revolution\'s novel approach. Miyamoto told 1Up.com, \"We wanted a controller that somebody\'s mother will look at and not be afraid of.\" However, he is quick to add that the controller will also serve the needs of \"people who\'ve been playing games for years.\"