Following months of speculation, Nintendo has revealed its next-generation controller which will accompany its Revolution console. The device is an unconventional, one-handed controller which is much more sophisticated than its appearance suggests.
As the cornerstone of his speech at the Tokyo Game Show's annual event, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata elaborated on the new controller that will be central to the company's upcoming console system, code-named Revolution. Mr. Iwata spoke of a device that ...will change gaming as we know it today...
When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself. This will allow gamers to wield the controller as a sword or swing it as a bat during gameplay. The controller also allows for a variety of expansions, including a nunchuk style analog unit offering the enhanced game-play control hard-core gamers demand.
The controller is very similar, in appearance, to a TV remote and Mr. Iwata suggests that: It's designed like a TV remote because that's familiar to everyone including those who are intimidated by a two-handed controller. Its intuitive form allows both experienced and new gamers to stand on the same starting line.
Nintendo's new controller relies heavily on what the company calls a direct pointing device, basically a sensor which keeps a relative account of the controller's position in space. The controller however, will also have a control pad and the necessary buttons while it will also sport an expansion bay which will allow other devices to be plugged-in.
Nintendo suggested that the creation of a unique device has deeper meaning for the company as it is its attempt to help the industry move away from its current model which relies on the pursuit of photorealism and move it back to the model of innovation. Nintendo's president suggested that its Revolution controller would provide a platform for new developers in order to use innovation to fight the big budgets of established studios.Small developers can compete on creativity not on scale or staff size.... Nintendo is willing to help bring these ideas to life. said Mr. Iwata. He also added that his was part of an overall drive by Nintendo to make things simpler and more interesting in order to bring new gamers into the industry.
Mr. Iwata's speech makes very good sense but we will have to wait to see the controller in action before we can comment on whether it will deliver on all these promises made by its creator. For a full gallery of images of the new controller, follow the screens tab above.
You can view Mr. Iwata's full TGS speech, which includes the video presentation of the controller, by following the download tab above.
