Revolution revealed? (Rumor)

[Linkachu]

Thanks to antisuperheroguy for pointing this out:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/25/news_6121112.html

RUMOR #2: The Nintendo Revolution's controllers will be DS-style touch screens.

Source: This month's issue of Game Informer magazine.

The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation"--Nintendo spokesperson.

What we heard: According to the latest Game Informer Nintendo is planning something very different for the controller for its next-generation console. "There is no analog stick or shoulder buttons. The touch screen on the face of the controller is designed to be fully customizable, so the developer can configure the buttons any way they see fit, or in other cases will not use buttons at all, instead opting for virtual levers and or other stylus-related inputs." The article goes on to cite sources that say that "Nintendo is actually requiring developers to take advantage of unique touch-screen aspects if it wants to get approval." It also says many publishers are "skeptical" of the concept. Sound insane? So did the DS--before it sold nearly 5 million units. Plus, the very name "Revolution" means Nintendo has something industry-shaking planned for the next generation. "It wouldn't surprise me if Nintendo was that crazy," said one source close to the company.

Bogus or not bogus?: We'll go out on a limb and say this could very well be not bogus, though we won't know for sure until E3.

... Thoughts? o.o

As of right now all I can think is "How could you use the stylus correctly AND stare at the TV screen?" I mean, yeah, DS uses a touch-screen, but many of the more intense games focus on the touch screen itself. Could something like this even be feasible?

 

[QuagsireQing]

I think it's bogus. The Revolution will be revolutionary, and touch screens for gameplay aren't new (never thought I'd be saying that). The idea that they'd use the touch screen to create their own custom button layout is different, but isn't that kind of what Spider-Man 2 for the DS was like? I fully expect Nintendo to realize something truly revolutionary with their next home console (which is why I also don't totally buy the idea of gyroscopic controllers: it's been done plenty, too).

 

[Doctor Oak]

Analogue on touch screen sucks. There's no easy way around that. It just plain sucks balls. Look at Mario 64 DS and Rayman DS, both use the same system for analogue control through the touch screen and it's a pain in the arse.

There is no feedback response, so you just don't get the same feel of control that you do with a proper analogue stick and your thumb just keeps sliding off the damn screen edges, not to mention it's a reeeally annoying way to stretch your thumb around the fat ass of the DS and then constantly move it around the touch screen.

I can't see that working for the Revolution at all. In fact, i'd put more money on the Gyroscopic technology coming into play than Nintendo actually expecting the touch screen analogue to be a standard for their systems. It's just far too messy, inefficient and does not prove to be a 100% perfect substitute for the real thing.

 

[baratron]

We own a Pronto - a programmable multiple-device remote control. It's a Right Royal Pain In The Arse - because although it's completely programmable it has only a few hard buttons. All the rest are touch-screen buttons. Which means:
a) you can't tell what the buttons do unless you are looking directly at the screen
b) even if you are looking at the screen, you might not be able to read the button unless it's tilted firmly towards you.

On the DS, it works I guess because you're always looking at the screen anyway. On a console that plugs into the tv, I just can't see how it would work. It's absolutely essential that you can feel the controller buttons without being able to see them. (That's why I never really liked playing PC games that had more than five buttons - up, down, left, right & fire/jump. On a keyboard, most of the buttons feel the same).

It's an interesting rumour. Maaaybe there's some truth in it? Could be that the controllers will feature a built-in screen like Dreamcast VMUs, that can be used for concealed information in multi-player games? I dunno.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Or possibly we could see things like Zelda 4Swords being the norm?

*shrugs*

 

[QuagsireQing]

Now THAT's an idea I could get to like. If they did that, though, the controllers would use more battery power, so they'd have to be rechargeable, like DSs. Or *shudder* maybe they wouldn't be wireless.

 

[Linkachu]

I still say psychic controlling is the way to go! The ultimate VR experience ^__^

It might be a little farfetch'd, tho. Just a little

Whatever it ends up being, I hope Nintendo knows what they're doing.