Nintendo Revolution Controller - Any Good?

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When Nintendo announced the Revolution Controller, I wrote "I applaud Nintendo to try something new". Now having had more time to think about the new Nintendo Controller, I have mixed feelings about it.

BBC News ran a reader survey asking if the Nintendo Revolution Controller is a hit or miss. About 13,000 readers voted and half the people think it's a miss and the other half says it's a hit. This is an interesting result. The controller is definitely controversial and Nintendo will have a lot of convincing to-do.
I do not necessarily think the new controller concept is a miss, but I think it might maneuver Nintendo in a small niche (Update 09/18/05, Shells might be the solution see below).
3D motion controlling with a wand style device like the Nintendo Remote Control style device is nothing new.
Virtual Reality applications used them since years. The problem with those input devices is fatigue. Just imagine holding your hand out and move it up and down and left and right for 1 hour. Read more

Posted on Sat, 17 Sep 2005 10:29:31 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hot! Nintendo Reveals Nintendo Revolution Controller

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Ok this is new. The Nintendo Revolution Controller is a TV Remote combined with a Joystick unit.

Nintendo breaks with more than 20 years of video game history by abandoning the traditional controller held with two hands and introducing an all-new freehand-style unit held with one hand.

"The feeling is so natural and real, as soon as players use the controller, their minds will spin with the possibilities of how this will change gaming as we know it today," explains Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president.

I applaud Nintendo to try something new. Will it work? I do not know yet. Read more

Posted on Fri, 16 Sep 2005 01:55:16 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Nintendo Revolution Rumors: Patent and Poster

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Looks like the Nintendo Revolution keeps everybody spinning to find any new bit of information.

GamesRadar and HM Fusion found a Nintendo patent of a controller with a gyroscopic sensor. First thought was that the Nintendo Revolution would sport a controller like that. Only problem, the patent turned out to be from 2003. Gamespot has the analytic background of that story.

Infendo (via Kotaku) has a story about a mysterious Nintendo Revolution ad saying that the revolution starts in March 2006.

Read more

Posted on Sat, 25 Jun 2005 07:11:57 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Rumor: Nintendo Revolution Specifications Surfaced

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The Nintendo Revolution is the most vague of all three upcoming next generation game consoles. Despite that some new specifications of the Revolution surfaced on the web.

These specifications say that the Nintendo Revolution would run on two 1.8Ghz IBM PowerPC G5 CPUs, a 600Mhz graphics chip from ATI, 128MB SRAM, 256MB DRAM and a 7.1 Digital Sound chipset.
I highly doubt that these are the final specifications. It looks like Nintendo is by far not finished with their Revolution console.
More analyses of the surfaced specifications on GamesIndustry.

Read more

Posted on Tue, 14 Jun 2005 06:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3 or Nintendo Revolution?

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In the last days Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo presented their next generation game consoles. Each company actually has a very different approach that in my opinion will attract different consumer segments.
Microsoft talks about a universal machine that does everything the consumer (make it yours!) wants. The Xbox Live online service is a major aspect for the appeal and success of the Xbox 360. The hardware capabilities are nice, but fade in direct comparison to the Sony PS3.
This is where Sony sees its way: Immersive gameplay through hyper-realistic graphics and physics simulations. Sony has two new ground breaking technologies inside the Sony PS3. The CELL CPU and the RSX GPU. The graphics and game demos where all around amazing real-time graphics effects and reality simulations.
The Nintendo Revolution has still some unknowns, but for now the virtual game console concept that allows to play any Nintendo game published in the last 20 years is sure a big hit with Nintendo fans.

For me the Sony PS3 is meeting my expectations of a next generation game console. It is about getting closer to total immersive reality simulators like Star Trek Holodecks and similar systems dreamed up by sci-fi authors. The Xbox 360 is a step forward, but is more about making current technologies usable and accessible to the mainstream. Which is not a bad thing pre-se. The Xbox 360 will be a huge success because of that mainstream appeal.
Based on what is known so far about the Nintendo Revolution, I do not think it will attract many new consumers, who have not been Nintendo customers already. The whole retro gaming is just not doing it for me. Sony Playstation 3 will define my future!

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Posted on Wed, 18 May 2005 06:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nintendo Revolution is a Virtual Game Console

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We reported life during the Nintendo E3 presentation about the Nintendo Revolution. Now the online traffic jam has settled and we can take a look how much Nintendo really revealed about their next generation game console.

The Nintendo Revolution console (hi-res photo) is backward compatible with the GameCube and will have downloadable access to 20 years of games originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

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Posted on Wed, 18 May 2005 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nintendo Revolution Details from E3 Conference

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Photos of the Nintendo Revolution have already been leaked before the Nintendo E3 press-conference in LA.

The Nintendo Press conference started about 45 minutes late. I am watching the live coverage on IGN.

The conference has started. Read below my live transcript.

First Highlight, Nintendo announces Gameboy micro!
Second Highlight, Nintendo Revolution is a virtual game console, playing any Nintendo Game ever published!

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Posted on Tue, 17 May 2005 11:52:31 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nintendo Revolution Photo Leaks!

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It is just about 5 hours until the Nintendo press-conference in LA, and the first most likely legit photo of the Nintendo Revolution appeared along with some more details on the next-generation Nintendo Console.

The Nintendo Revolution photo appears on USA Today (via Cubed3). It looks like an external DVD drive. The only cool thing to see so far is the blue light inside the disc slot.
The Nintendo Revolution will be two to three times more powerful than the GameCube. Compared to the Microsoft and Sony new consoles that is nothing, but Nintendo already said its not about performance for them. The Revolution will have a free online service for game partner matching. Other things like backward compatibility are already known from Nintendo's announcement.

Read more

Posted on Tue, 17 May 2005 06:27:19 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Official: Nintendo Revolution comes in 2006

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Nintendo released a official statement on its web-site saying that their next generation console will come in 2006, missing this years Holiday shopping season.
The statement also reveals that the Nintendo Revolution will be backward compatible with the Nintendo GameCube 8cm discs. The Revolution takes 12cm optical discs and it is as high as 3 stacked DVD cases and slightly longer. Nintendo partners with IBM and ATI on their next generation console. The Nintendo Revolution will be Wi-Fi enabled out of the box and Internet ready. It will be feature quick start-up time and quiet, low-power operation.
More details on Nintendo's site.

Gaming Horizon links to an amazingly made fake Nintendo Revolution Video - definitely worth watching it.
Fake photos of upcoming products are not cool anymore. Complete professional looking fake video spots are the new trend. Amazing how much time some people have at their hands.

Get Nintendo on Amazon.com!

Read more

Posted on Sun, 15 May 2005 06:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Revolution - Amazon UK has them all!

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Looks like Amazon in the UK has some aggressive SEO strategy. To make sure they rank high when the products actually ship, Amazon UK already has listed the upcoming next generation game consoles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.

At least they do not present pricing and shipping dates yet (like they did with the Sony PSP European Launch date). For each future console they have a preview description featuring the some-what confirmed details of each next generation gaming system.

Next Generation Video Game Consoles on Amazon UK:
Nintendo Revolution on Amazon UK
Xbox 360 on Amazon UK
Sony Playstation 3 on Amazon UK

Gamespot has a nice in-depth article on what is known about the upcoming three new gaming systems.

Read more

Posted on Mon, 9 May 2005 08:53:39 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

More Nintendo Revolution News

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Nintendo offically revealed some more details about the Nintendo Revolution game console.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed that the next generation Nintendo console will have wi-fi built-in and backward compatibilty with GameCube games.

Mr. Iwata talks also about the importants of Game design and innovations. New cool hardware alone is not cutting it.
More details on BBC News.

See also the recent story about the potential Nintendo Revolution Photo.

Read more

Posted on Sun, 13 Mar 2005 11:03:04 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nintendo Revolution Photo?

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Engadget has possibly a photo of the next generation Nintendo Revolution Game Console. The photo is really bad though, hard to say what that device is. At the same time Gear Live posted some design slides, that also claim to be the Nintendo Revolution.

We reported the first time about a new GameCube in early 2004. Same kind of rumor game is going on about the Sony PS3. The amount of information about the next Xbox aka xBox 360 are getting more and more as the next generation Microsoft Game console is supposed to be shown already at E3.

Update 03/13/05:
More Nintendo Revolution News

Read more

Posted on Thu, 24 Feb 2005 03:24:10 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Moblogging: Web Revolution or Invasion of Privacy?

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Story by: . Read more Posted on Tue, 22 Jun 2004 07:59:56 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr Matrix Revolutions Reviews Topic: So yesterday the third Matrix Movie launched at the same time all around the world and yet the hype somewhat faded. It opened with 43 Million Dollars globally and $24 Million in the US yesterday. (Reuters). The reviews popping up around the web give the Matrix Revolutions a big thumbs down. The British Telegraph calls its revolutions review Third Time Yucky: "But, for all this fanfare, and for all the cosmological outpourings of its characters, the film is utterly blank, an instant amnesia-generator. It passes right through you." More Reviews around the web: BBC: Matrix end is no revelation USA Today: 'The Matrix Revolutions': This big finish isn't The One NY Times: The Game Concludes With Light and Noise Straits Times Asia: Matrix's third ends it all with a dull thud Some more positive words about the Matrix Revolutions on Aint it Cool News. I have been a Matrix addict since the beginning. We featured the Matrix Countdown. Remember how excited everybody was waiting for years to see the Matrix Reloaded. Well all good things have come to an end. In any case i will go to a big screen again (IMAX Review of Reloaded) to see the Matrix Revolutions. Yesterday all the Cinemas where booked out in the San Francisco Bay Area by geeky Silicon Valley Companies ;). Bestseller! Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in The Matrix Read more Posted on Fri, 7 Nov 2003 09:10:26 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr The Matrix Revolutions Hits Theatres November 5th Topic: Visit I4U Gadget Gallery: See this Poster in BIG! The Matrix Countdown is down to one Month! The Matrix Revolutions will launch November 5th in 70 countries at the same time. That means Revolutions will open at 6 a.m. in Los Angeles, 9 a.m. in New York, 2 p.m. in London, 5 p.m. in Moscow, and 11 p.m. in Tokyo. Warner Brothers calls it "zero hour". Such a release strategy has never before been attempted by Tinseltown. The closest a studio has come to doing such simultaneous, synchronized release was in May, when Fox opened X2 on the same day in 80 countries, but not at the same hour. Full story on Yahoo. See also: Matrix Reloaded DVD Sale IMAX Matrix Reloaded Review The Matrix Phone The official Matrix Sunglasses Matrix Gadgets and more THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS Digital Rain Poster Read more Posted on Sat, 4 Oct 2003 12:45:21 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr Revolutionary Sony Playstation EyeToy Topic: EyeToy for Sony Playstation 2 captures player into game. The EyeToy Game consist of a USB WebCam and the game Software. Players interact with the game via their movements the camera is recording. So by jumping around infront of your TV you kick virtual objects on screen. The players video image is embedded in the screen. This virtual reality concept is not new. In the 90s Myron Krueger created Video Place where users interacted with a simple virtual world via video capture. EyeToy is a tremendous improvement from Video Place as you can see in the photos. EyeToy should hit the market in July. Read more Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2003 09:52:38 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr FrogPad - Revolutionary One-Hand Keyboard for Mobile Devices Topic: Ultra-small keyboard features ergonomic key layout that is designed around the 15 most-used letters of the English alphabet, and adapts to the natural drumming motion of the human hand. The FrogPad keyboard measures 3” x 3” and features full-sized keys, all in 1/5th of the space taken by a traditional Qwerty keyboard. The letter layout of the keyboard is based on the percent usage of each letter in the English language. The fifteen letters that are used 86% of the time by most typists are placed in the most efficient locations on the keyboard. It was also designed using the natural drumming motion of the hand. The FrogPad keyboard will be licensed as the embedded UI to wireless Internet device manufacturers, including manufacturers of USB-compatible PDA's, Pocket PCs, Tablet PCs and wireless phones. FrogPad will also be featuring the new licensing model for the MiniPad pc. FrogPad Press-Release Read more Posted on Mon, 17 Mar 2003 08:54:25 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr Yamaha CD-R / RW Drive With Revolutionary DiscT@2 Laser Labeling System Topic: The Yamaha CRW-F1 is the first drive to offer the revolutionary DiscT@2 Laser Labeling System. Usually a CD-R drive burns digital information as 0.001mm EFM signal patterns, but although this would allow for graphic burning the effect would be too fine for the naked eye to see. On the contrary, DiscT@2 enables 0.1mm graphic burning, about the same resolution as a 250dpi printer, with 128 levels of grayscale gradation. Yamaha CRW-F1 Product Page Yamaha CRW-F1 already on sale at Amazon.com. After rebate only $159.88! Find Related Products Read more Posted on Sun, 9 Feb 2003 18:24:13 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr Previous | Next | Revolution | Hot Topics Shopping Tips Zune Prices drop just in Time for Holiday Shopping 2008-11-19 07:00:00 Dell Core i7 Studio XPS PC with free 20 inch Monitor on sale for $999 2008-11-17 09:28:44 Nintendo Wii in Stock on Amazon, Dry Spell has ended 2008-11-16 13:00:00 Microsoft Store opens, will it have a Black Friday Sale? 2008-11-14 03:36:17 iPhone to sell for $149 at Costco? 2008-11-12 04:00:00 Wall-E is available for Pre-order on DVD and Blu-ray 2008-11-11 10:25:04 Sony PS3 is now on Sale with 2 free Blu-ray Movies on Amazon 2008-11-10 13:03:28 Shopping Tips I4U Gadget Models Latest I4U Gadget Model Photos Virtua Fighter Girl Janet Cho Blu-Ray Bond Girl Apple TV Model Katherine Sony PS3 Model Julia Windows Vista Girl Candice Icuiti HMD Model Angel Nintendo Wii Model Leah Free Model Wallpapers New Tech Job Offers Subscribe to I4U Gadget Flyer Stay in touch with our weekly round-up of the Top 10 Technology stories with our free newsletter. * Email address: * Required About Us | Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us | Contact Us © Copyright by I4U LLC 2007