| radeonr420@yahoo.com 2005-09-29, 7:31 pm |
| http://www.gamasutra.com/features/2...8/hong_01.shtml
Controller Revolution?
Last week, we asked: "Now that Nintendo has revealed details of the
controller for its Revolution next-gen console, do you think this bold
move is beneficial for Nintendo itself, third-party developers, and the
industry in general?" The general buzz from game professionals is
that the controller creates a great opportunity for innovation within
the game industry, and would benefit all parties involved, as well as
the industry as a whole.
In terms of whether or not the controller will benefit Nintendo from a
financial standpoint, the response was fairly positive. Many noted
that, of course, while Sony and Microsoft are going after the same
market, Nintendo is positioning itself for a broader demographic.
However, a few of those who replied wondered whether innovation would
necessarily translate into financial success.
Because all player actions are mediated through a controller, it would
be difficult to overestimate the importance of a well-designed
innovation here can have on the experience/form of a game. Of course,
it might also be difficult to underestimate our ability to take
something so promising and squander it; novelty doesn't preclude
banality. It hasn't been since the introduction of the original Dual
Shock controller that a console controller has been this exciting
though the promises this device would seem to be making are much
greater. If we assume that they are kept, then there is no doubt that
game designs will benefit and, with them, all the rest of us.
-Isaac Barry, Secret Lair Studios
I certainly hope [the controller will be beneficial]. More of the same
thinking in terms of developing the future of games can only take us so
far. As a lifelong gamer and game developer, I urge everybody in our
industry to support the innovation and risks taken by Nintendo on sheer
principle. We always lament that there is no creativity and innovation
in the games industry anymore. Guys, we have to rally around these
initiatives. It brings a tear to my eye that somebody out there in this
big brutal word of ROI and risk management still dares to go out on a
limb like that to push gaming further. And my mouth waters when I think
of designing for such hardware.
-Marque Sondergaard, Powerhouse
[Beneficial for] Nintendo: Yes. It will give Nintendo a unique place in
the next generation. They probably won't "win", but they'll do well.
[Beneficial for] third-parties: Nope. This will be a challenge to
develop for, and doesn't allow easy cross-platform development. They
won't get a ton of games, but Nintendo likes to thrive on a few good
first-party games.
[Beneficial for the] industry: Change is good. Evolution is good. This
could open up new possibilities, both in gameplay and in audience.
-Tom Smith, High Voltage Software
Beneficial for all -- with the exception of developers/publishers that
build run-of-the-mill games and port to every platform. Obviously the
stock Nintendo controller could present them with some porting
challenges. However, I think development trends on the current
generation of game consoles have shown that Nintendo can't count on
cross-platform porting to ensure a steady stream of games. In the
coming generation, a SKU which targets Xbox 360 and PS3 may require too
much processing power for the Revolution and have resources downgraded
to match the platform's capabilities. This could easily make the
Revolution look like an also-ran. A similar bad result would be for
developers to shoehorn gameplay from a standard game controller format
into the Revolution controller format under the guise of "full support"
for the Revolution controller. More than ever, Nintendo needs original
games, developed primarily for its platform. It has adopted a strategy
of pushing its platform away from resource intensive, large scale, long
play session games (expensive to develop and expensive for the
consumer) and towards casual games, mini games and "market expansion
games" (which encompasses titles like Nintendogs). A niche market in
the short term -- but potentially a far larger market than the hardcore
gaming market over the long haul. From a business standpoint, this is a
risky but vastly superior strategy to that of going head to head with
Microsoft and Sony. It also opens the door to smaller developers and
publishers who may not have the cash reserves to develop asset rich
next-gen titles, but who would rather rely on innovative (and perhaps
unproven) game mechanics to differentiate their games. The greatest
risk here is that Nintendo performs poor quality control on third party
games, and the Revolution becomes a platform flooded with
quirky/gimmicky games rather than those that are truly innovative and
fun.
-Anonymous
I honestly don't see who doesn't benefit from this. Microsoft and Sony
get to battle it out for the existing market, and if all goes according
to plan, Nintendo gets to create a new one. If the Revolution content
checks out, as a gamer on a budget, you'll be left with a choice. Which
'other' console to pick up?
-Mike Kasprzak
Personally, I welcome the new controller design from Nintendo. Whether
the Revolution controller is going to be a success or not, of course,
still remains to be seen. The novelty and sheer "differentness" of the
design has divided many people into pro and con factions, and who is
going to be right whole depends on if people can think outside the
conventional game interfaces. What the controller design and Nintendo's
video has done is to make developers think of totally new ways to
interact with the games, which in my book is a success already in
itself. The controller is the last part of a console design that hasn't
been evolving at the same pace as every other machine part, and this
new design is certainly a kick in the head for many people. Hooray for
innovation and hopefully we, as game designers, will be able to wield
the new mechanics that has been made available to us.
-Soeren Lund, Deadline Games
I think everyone was shocked when the controller was unveiled - it's
very different. But it certainly looks like an extension of the
strategy Nintendo pursued with the DS, and having seen the innovative
games that came from that, I think they're on the right track. The most
interesting part of the new controller to me is the expandability. This
will hopefully give developers a lower barrier to entry for providing
their own game interfaces. We could see all sorts of interesting games
and new genres invented just because of that feature. On the other
hand, though, if a conventional controller attachment is released, it
could drain support for the new gameplay methods by giving developers a
crutch to fall back on. So - It could go either way for everyone. If
third-party developers do a good job making use of the opportunities,
and are willing to forgo easy cross-platform development, they can make
some exciting new games. If that happens, Nintendo will succeed, and if
that happens, the industry as a whole will have grown - at least in
diversity, and hopefully in the number of gamers playing our products.
If the controller fails, however... I fear the industry may become even
more risk-averse, and continue its spiral towards stagnation.
-Anonymous
It's beneficial for Nintendo in that they have essentially reinvented
themselves to appeal to a broader audience by simply changing the
appeal of the controller. The simplicity of the controller allows
unsurpassed levels of control, while at the same time, appears
unintimidating. I would expect third party support to gain momentum as
more consumers 'pick it up'. The keynote speech also talked about less
need for developer horsepower in favor of unique gameplay options. The
industry as a whole may follow Nintendo's lead, not only for profits,
but for the ability to incorporate interesting gameplay into licensed
and sports titles as well as developers' passion projects.
-Anonymous
Absolutely [beneficial]. As I was reading the press release I was
imagining in my head what it would be like to control a current game
(I'm playing through the modern Prince of Persia right now), and I
could envisage how easy it would be to use this control for that sort
of game. It's intuitive, and that's the key. Nintendo claim anyone
could pick this up and start playing, and I'm inclined to believe them.
At the same time, it should open up the possibilities for a whole new
range of game mechanics. We've all seen how much fun EyeToy is. And
with the Revolution controller shipping with the console and every
Revolution game supporting it, it's going to be amazing.
-Anonymous
This new control system really differentiates Nintendo from its
competition and should allow them to position the Revolution in the
marketplace very clearly. IDG did a study that shows that more
households will go multiconsole when the next-gen systems hit. Gamers
may consider the Revolution as a good companion system to their more
mainstream consoles (Xbox 360 or PS3). There's a lot of potential with
the controller as far as game design, I'm sure designers all over the
world are probably thinking of ways to exploit this technology. We
could see some really amazing games and possibly new game genres making
its debut on the Revolution. How much support the Revolution gets is
entirely up to Nintendo. Software sells hardware and the launch line-up
for the Revolution and clever marketing from Nintendo will determine if
this gamble pays off. This is a chance for developers to break out of
the mold of "formulaic game design" and really explore what games can
be, possibly expanding the audience at the same time.
-Carlo Delallana, Ubisoft
Everyone seems to count Nintendo out. But most people forget that
Nintendo isn't after the same market as Sony and Microsoft. The new
controller is neither beneficial nor detrimental to Nintendo itself; a
control scheme in and of itself doesn't define the future of the
console. Looked at another way, the controller is an expression of
Nintendo's corporate philosophy about what kind of entertainment they
want to provide, and whom they want to provide it for. The proof will
be in the software, and the accessibility of that software _combined
with the control scheme_ to Nintendo's desired consumers. Right now, it
is too early to tell how this will play out. But ESA research data
would seem to suggest that Nintendo isn't as dumb as most of the
hardcore gaming audience thinks. After all, the majority of the game
playing public isn't a hardcore gamer. Incremental sales spread among a
larger audience translate into much greater volume--and income--in
retail. Also consider that Nintendo is seeking to attract an audience
who otherwise doesn't play games at all. Even among game players, it is
important to remember that it is Nintendo's own IPs that drives its
sales. The ability to download titles from their back catalog for a
modest fee is a clever alternate revenue stream. And Nintendo has been
remarkably consistent with the quality of most of their franchises. I'm
sure this quality control will continue into the next generation. I'm
also sure that first-party development will reveal interesting
applications for the hardware, and some first rate entertainment
experiences. I'm just as sure that the novelty of the controller as
compared to more standard interfaces (i.e. control pads) will alienate
most third-party developers. Even if Nintendo releases a standard game
pad for the Revolution (which either they or a third party hardware
manufacturer almost certainly will), the demographics and philosophy of
the platform itself will make third party developers reluctant to port
titles to the system. For the Revolution's desired mainstream audience,
a lack of sports titles will hurt in particular. However, the system
will hopefully open the doors to titles developed specifically with an
eye toward simpler, more accessible game play.
-Thomas Kim
I think that Nintendo has at the least secured second place for the
next console cycle with this control scheme. There are a lot of games
that it really won't add a great deal to, and I can see a lot of hard
core gamers being resistant to this. But what I am dead certain of is
that Nintendo is going to quietly dominate at retail due to demo units
of the Revolution. This thing will draw in crowds. I am thinking that
even given what Nintendo will lose from jaded gamers who cannot stand
any more "kiddie crap" to Microsoft and Sony, that they will pick up at
least that many from the Nintendogs crowd.
-Nicki Vankoughnett, Exile Interactive
This move is beneficial to Nintendo and the game industry as a whole.
We will always be able to push graphics and computing hardware, but it
takes something truly innovative to change how we interact with our
games. It seems to be the mind set that we have come to the peak of
controller design and nothing could beat the PS2 controller
configuration. Unfortunately, that mind set limits our industry. We
should never stop exploring new ways to interact with our games. With a
new interface comes new game genres, and new ways to experience games
as a whole. What makes this controller great in design is that not only
will it allow for new genre types, but it's also perfectly compatible
with current genres out there, and if any thing it can push these old
genres to a whole new level in their own right. Yet, with this much
functionality the controller is still simple in design and look.
Nintendo has built this simplicity into a form people are already
comfortable with, a standard TV remote. This will surely grab people
that were scared by the complexity of the current controller schemes,
yet allow them as much control as a player who uses a PS2 controller.
It's a risky move to develop a whole new way to interact with our
games. I'm sure a lot of third parties are scared, and they're worried
about the potential for porting their product to the Nintendo system,
but once Nintendo releases some first party titles and shows the market
how to truly utilize the controller, the fear will wane. I even think
that if these third parties port their title right, they will play even
better on the Revolution because of the controller. I also feel that
Nintendo isn't dependent on the third parties to launch its system;
most people I know buy a Nintendo for the first party titles alone.
Honestly, we should thank Nintendo for continually pushing the envelope
and trying to move our industry to the next level.
-Cameron Christian, Luxoflux
The move is beneficial for Nintendo because they are offering something
compelling and different with the potential to make them a lot of
money. It's beneficial for third party developers because it gives us
an opportunity to develop new concepts into intuitive and
groundbreaking games which don't have to be impossibly ambitious to be
exciting and impressive. It's beneficial for the industry in general
because it has the potential to expand the market to folks who might
otherwise be intimidated. So, for the record, that's a yes, a yes, and
a yes.
-Jordan Blackman, NovaLogic
This will benefit everyone around Nintendo... They have literally been
thinking outside of the box this time. Let's hope it works. Watching
the player's behavior tells a lot about the experience they receive.
But what they need to do now is to put these new tools in to the hands
of the developers and see what comes out of it. New technology of this
kind always seems to have some new angel of use that they didn't think
of... Like the mouse and FPSes.
-Mikael Wahlberg, Starbreeze
I hope it does well. It's a step in the right direction for widespread
distribution of a very popular VR interface. Hopefully the path they've
chosen is popular with their third party partners who will need to
develop more immersive environments. With the direction that Nintendo
is headed in (including dynamic learning and real world utilitarian
content), they might have something of a revolution indeed.
-Anonymous
User interface is nearly everything to a successful game and today's
current console controllers still lack a level of fine control. If the
controller for the Revolution solves that problem, we will see the
controller copied to other platforms. It's always good to be the first
with something new as long as there are games available that make good
use of the new technology. I think it's good for the whole industry, to
see a big manufacturer tamper with the user interface; it lets us know
that it's acceptable to think outside the box and make big moves
forward. Nintendo is not waiting for everyone else; they are leading
the way with the user interface, with the DS and now the Revolution.
New types of games and maybe better gameplay for the old type is in
store for us, that should be good for Nintendo.
-Kent Simon, NovaLogic
The new controller from Nintendo will absolutely be beneficial to the
game industry in general. It is a very public challenge to our
assumptions about how we interact with games and anything that makes us
re-examine assumptions is healthy for this industry. Much like with the
DS, this new approach will create opportunities for third-party
developers that are positioned to work with the new controller. The
only entity that this move is likely to hurt is Nintendo itself, but
despite a certain 'lack of love' from the industry press, I think
Nintendo still has the kind of clout and mind-share capital with
consumers to pull it off.
-Tim Turner, Mind Control Software
I think it's a fantastic move for the industry (and gamers). Who isn't
looking forward to seeing what fun and unique new games Nintendo comes
up with? I know I'll be first in line. If anyone can deliver on the
promise of expanding the market, it's Nintendo - and they've proved
that in Japan with DS Brain Training and Nintendogs. I think it's also
a good move for Nintendo's bottom line as well, as it further
differentiates them (in a positive manner) from Sony and Microsoft,
which is critical. As for third parties, I think it will be successful
for companies that invest the resources to create Nintendo-caliber
games. I doubt you'll see as much third party support for the
Revolution as the PS3 & Xbox 360, which leaves a great big opening of
opportunity for adventurous or niche developers to fill. But companies
whose businesses are built on raw cross-platform development are going
to see the fewest copies sold on the Revolution.
-Vince Dickinson, EA-Tiburon
Nintendo's choice for controller design seems to be a move that will
take them out of competition with Sony and Microsoft for good. Will
Nintendo be able to carve its own niche by being able to offer what its
competitors cannot? Well, that remains to be seen. Having been in a
solid third place, it's easy to see why Nintendo would look towards
offering something that the other two consoles cannot. By supporting
more party games and alternative software titles that use a control
scheme that is impossible to mimic on other consoles, Nintendo may find
a way to flourish on the side while the two champs dive headfirst into
a next-gen slugfest.
-Anonymous
While I too was surprised when I first saw the controller, I do believe
that the move is beneficial for Nintendo, 3rd parties, and the
industry. While I can't say whether anyone will benefit financially, I
believe that the current state of the industry could use some
innovation like Nintendo is offering with this new controller. Nintendo
is going out on a limb to offer the industry a tool that can
potentially revolutionize games. Whether 3rd parties support this move
or not is really up to them. I would leave you with this thought
though: When Nintendo created the gamepad it was adopted as the norm;
when they created the analog stick it was adopted as the norm; when
they created rumble it was adopted as the norm. Their track record is
strong. I hope that this new controller allows developers to offer
gamers new and unique ways to interface with the medium.
-Alex Neuse, Activision
I think that Nintendo has just designed the controllers for the
generation after the one that is upon us. The biggest problem with the
next generation is that there is really no difference between the Xbox
360 and the PS3. Both consoles are going to have gorgeous graphics,
online options and the like. If Nintendo went the usual, typical route,
then we would be looking at three consoles that are too similar. With
their new controller, Nintendo has given us something distinctive,
something that is unique. They have given us something that is not
quite what you expected and a reason to look forward to the next gen. I
know what I'm getting when I play with a 360 controller or a PS3
controller. There are no real surprises there. That's not a bad thing
but it also doesn't really excite me about the experience. The Metroid
Prime demo really blew me away when I read the impressions. I think
that dual analog control schemes for FPS are loony compared to
mouse-look setups. The NDS is the only other real option for accurate
FPS controls outside of a PC. The Revolution controller offers a
potential option outside of the PC as well as a potentially good use of
light gun schemes, steering wheel set ups, mouse-like selection and
management in strategy games...the possibilities are there. I think
Nintendo is on the right track by trying to do something different. If
they tried to fight the good fight between Sony and Microsoft, they
would lose horribly. Even if Nintendo secured great third party
support, branding would work against them since most of the core
demograph would get theirs on 360 or PS3 first anyway. Nintendo needed
to get creative to bring something new to the fold, while keeping their
fanbase and pushing the industry. I say, "Well done! Show me the actual
Revolution and some games Nintendo. Now, you have my attention"
-Victor Bunn, Solo Mission Studios
It definitely seems to be beneficial for Nintendo. With Sony and MS
both going for the high-powered, third party fueled, traditional gaming
market, Nintendo needed a really good way to differentiate itself, and
boy did it find one. It's potentially a good move for some third party
developers, as it presents so many new gameplay possibilities, and you
can get away with lower production costs if the core gameplay is new
and fun. Good for the industry in general? Of course, how could new and
innovative ideas be bad? People still have Sony and Microsoft to rely
on for the same old, same old, and now they can get something different
as well.
-Robert Green, Sidhe Interactive
Nintendo undoubtedly finished last in the current generation console
race mainly because of their lack of online gaming and their overall
game selection. With that said, I feel that this move is beneficial
because its shows that Nintendo is sought to create the most innovative
console/controller for their upcoming retail feud with Microsoft and
Sony. I think this controller is also beneficial for developers and the
industry because it provides more options for game design and offers a
more unique style of gameplay for the players.
-Brian DeLay
This will be great for the industry in general. The majority of our
customers are too dense to understand that there are better ways to
play games than joysticks, mice, and keyboards. They don't even
understand why you'd want to move in true 3D space (all 6 degrees of
freedom), or why you'd want to touch a screen instead of positioning a
cursor on it. They think that technology from 20 years back is still
used to control games because it's still the best. It's ridiculous. I
work for a company that has been selling a motion tracking game input
device since 2001 (based on your simple head movement, instead of a
wand/remote), and we're fascinated to see how Nintendo handles the
paradigm shift. It will be a huge benefit for innovative companies
(hardware or software) when Nintendo educates the mass market about
what new technology can offer.
-Warren Blyth, NaturalPoint
While initial images of the controller had me confused and worried,
reading about the technical capabilities of the device has left me
greatly anticipating Nintendo's Revolution system. The potential for
this controller to fundamentally change the way we interact with games,
as many have noted, is incredibly deep. Further, the design of the
controller's features appears to take into account the natural tendency
of gamers to move themselves, even the entire controller, during
intense gameplay experiences. Now instead of looking like morons we may
actually be able to affect the outcome of our gaming efforts.
-Jason Ward, Ugly Baby Studios
Absolutely. The new controller will set Nintendo apart in a console
market dominated by hardware specs, open up a new playing field for
developers, and give consumers the new experiences they've been
clamoring for. Now that processing resources are virtually unlimited,
it's going to take a drastic move to bring gaming to the next
level-something that the Revolution's controller could very well
accomplish.
-Ben Serviss, Creo Ludus Entertainment
When people are asked who they think of when thinking of video games,
the majority of the answers are "Mario" or "Nintendo." Nintendo
is video games. They have led the industry with innovations since their
inception, and now they're simply kicking it up a notch. This move for
them puts them in a place where no other console has ever ventured
before - the non-gamer market. So, yes I do think this is a good move
for developers and the industry in general. It gives gamers a chance to
experience games in an entirely different light, and it pushes us
developers to think outside the box. As for the new controller design
being a good idea for Nintendo, well time will only tell.
-Darren Schnare
Nintendo's ingenuity and willingness to experiment with new designs is
great for all involved. The Revolution has been immensely from the
attention generated by the new design. 3rd party developers now have an
entirely new control system to design to. At first, it may lengthen
their design cycles, but in the end it will yield more intriguing
titles.
-Patrick Lister, Infinity Ward
The new revolution controller is Nintendo's way of saying "without
this, the new system will be the same as the old system", which is
reasonably true of all the next-gen systems. It is however, a very good
idea, if not just for Nintendo, then for the industry in general. Why?
Simple, remember 1980? The game development market crashed because we
stayed too long at the same level of technology and games didn't really
get any different. The past few years we have had increasing technology
- but as a consumer we're not really able to see it. All the games look
just the same. This new twist will revive all the gamers who stopped
playing because everything's exactly the same as it used to be, and is
going to be really good for the industry
-Michael McCarthy, Algonquin
I shudder to think what the game industry would look life if only
Microsoft and Sony were left to duel it out. I could honestly see
another crash looming were it not for Nintendo's breath of fresh air.
The PS3 and X360 are so homogenized it's not even funny. They both have
virtually the same specs and have functionally identical controllers.
As a designer I'm extremely excited by all the new possibilities the
Revolution controller will bring. As a gamer I'm salivating. When the
most innovative thing Microsoft or Sony could come up with is higher
resolutions, Nintendo comes out of left field with something that just
may be a Revolution. I can't see this thing failing 3rd party support
or not.
-Ian Fisch, Gameloft
If the relative 3D orientation of the controller works in anywhere in
the room, the possibilities are endless. What else can a developer ask
for?
-Donald William
I believe the Revolution is a huge step in the right direction for
creating new types of games for casual and hardcore gamers. I think
everyone will benefit from this system. However, the person who will
benefit the most is my wife since we will finally be able to play games
together! She is left handed, and has never been able to get into the
current complex controllers or genres. It's like the Revolution was
specially designed for her! Add in the classic titles and backwards
compatibility (I was broke after college and missed out on a ton of
good Gamecube titles) this system will definitely have a place in my
home.
-Anonymous
While most respondents were quite positive, one respondent had a more
negative outlook on the prospects and viability of the Revolution
controller:
They say change is good. Looking at the controller, I would say, "If
it isn't broke, don't fix it." In my opinion, the only saving grace
is that players will be able to use the original GameCube controller
with the Revolution. It would be a much better peripheral than its main
controller. Keep in mind, all of this is based on looks, being since I
have yet to play with the controller. But, grabbing my TV remote and
tilting it to move, etc, like the new Rev controller is supposed to
act, I got a cramp in my wrist and it felt unnatural. At least it's got
everyone talking about the Revolution, perhaps that was the plan all
along. They say that to change the way we play games, we must change
the way we interact with them. This might be partially true, but I
think what the industry needs is innovation in game design, not game
control. I don't necessarily want to change the way I interact with
games. After all, if that was so important, we all would be wearing
Virtual Boys today.
-Anonymous
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