10/06 Update: Since we no longer write for the Edmond Sun, this section is temporarily housing our podcast links for our iTunes feed. All of the columns are in the archives menu if you feel like exploring.

These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

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More Thoughts on the Revolution
Tuesday, September 27, 2005

In the next generation of gaming there are only two competitors - Sony and Microsoft. Both are in a virtual arms race to produce the most powerful system ever devised by man. Both are trying to turn their latest technology into a Trojan Horse, a game playing unit that will double as a media center through which all facets of electronic entertainment will run. Clearly, trying to take on electronic behemoths such as these, companies with a limitless supply of cash and a desire to be everything to everyone, is financial suicide. This is why Nintendo has decided to take a completely different route in the next generation of gaming. While their next system is currently dubbed Revolution it can really be considered more than that - it is the birth of a new form of entertainment.

Since Nintendo stated their next system would forever change the face of gaming, people everywhere were wondering exactly what Nintendo had up their sleeve. Nintendo dropped hints about their next console, saying games today were far too complicated, but no one knew how they would counter that problem. Last week, Nintendo shocked the gaming world by revealing the control method their new system will utilize. Honestly, as much faith as I have in Nintendo, I never expected them to create something that veered this far from the norm.

The main controller for the Revolution looks like a TV remote control. There is a D pad towards the top, one large button located just under that and one more action button on the under side of the controller. That's it; just one control pad and two buttons. Going from more than ten buttons down to just two and removing analog sticks completely may seem like a giant leap backwards, but there is more to this controller than meets the eye. Gamers will be able to control movement on screen by physically moving the controller. Every response is recognized - from rotations to flips and even moving the controller towards and away from the screen - so a much deeper and more intuitive form of control than the seemingly archaic analog stick is now standard.

Further flipping conventional wisdom on its head, there are attachments that can hook up to the bottom of the controller. The only one Nintendo has shown thus far contains a single analog stick and two buttons on it. Using this in conjunction with the freehand controller would let players walk around like they are accustomed to in a First Person Shooter by using the stick. Looking would be much more different, though. Using the remote control, you will be able to aim with more accuracy and quicker response than you ever thought possible. Clearly, this is unlike anything else the world has seen.

The idea behind this unorthodox design is that the average person sees today's controllers and balk at the idea of memorizing so many buttons. It may seem easy to play Halo for gaming veterans, but imagine trying to learn the complex mechanics from scratch again. By creating a controller with few buttons that looks like an everyday TV remote, Nintendo believes a non-gamer will be willing to pick it up and try out a game. Think about how many people play games on various websites now. From Pogo.com to Yahoo Games, there are millions of gamers out there playing games every night who would never consider buying a video game console simply because it is too complex. With its stripped down design and intuitive interface, Nintendo is trying to lure all the casual and non-gamers to this proud industry.

And if whatever new games Nintendo comes up with aren't enough to awaken the dormant gamer sleeping within, they are making their entire past catalog downloadable. The main controller can be flipped on its side to control NES games much like they were controlled 20 years ago. Future attachments will make navigating the more complex terrain in SNES and N64 titles more manageable. This is the first system that will seamlessly blend the past, present and future of gaming into one small package.

While my column seems overwhelmingly positive at this point, I have to admit that I am terrified about the Revolution. My main concern is that epic games will forever disappear. There is a Gamecube game out right now that mirrors what Nintendo is trying to accomplish with their next system: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. While the game is fantastic and can be controlled by gamers and non-gamers alike (players use the bongo drums instead of a controller) it is much shorter than the average game and is difficult to play for long periods of time because ones hands get sore from constant clapping. If the Revolution is home to games that are more gimmick than meat I will be sorely disappointed.

More importantly, I really love games now. Even though I complain about where the industry is headed, I don't think there has ever been a time when more high quality games were being released. Even if the Revolution is a complete success, it will be years before developers are able to churn out enjoyable experience that I take for granted now. Make no mistake about it; Nintendo is trying to reinvent the wheel. There will be growing pains.

Even with the prospect of forever changing my favorite hobby, I am still cautiously optimistic. The DS has proven that Nintendo can go against the norm and still offer a solid playing experience. I feared the system would be overrun by gimmicky diversions, but now there are games that rival console titles in their depth. If games on the Revolution resemble Kirby Canvas Curse more than Donkey Kong Jungle Beat I think we'll be in good shape. As much as I appreciate Nintendo's continuous attempts at innovation, I am thankful we have Microsoft and Sony to fall back on if Nintendo gets a little too crazy.

- Tom


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