When we found out Nintendo may not include a D-Pad, A or B buttons on the Revolution controller, most of us have made the assumption that Nintendo must be ditching the standard controller all together for an alternative control method. Yes, two controller sticks with built-in gyroscopes are a high probability, as are some ingenious, ergonomic form of scroll-wheel selectors to replace the old Select button/D-Pad functions for most games. Speculation on built-in microphones is also well-placed, as the DS and Mario Party mics have set a high standard for Nintendo already.
Most of you have also speculated that these controller sticks would also have one analog stick each and at least two trigger/shoulder buttons each -possibly as many as four. I agree. At least one person had the idea that these controller sticks could have detachable cords and use wireless technology. I agree with this as well.
Well, I'd like to throw out some (a little over 10) improvements and additions to these well-treaded concepts...1st, No D-Pad means missing digital control right? Not exactly. Let's say the Left Analog Stick is called the A stick, and it is locked into a neutral position by the game. Now imagine that the top of the A stick can tilt like a D-Pad... VOILA! Instant D-Pad.
2nd, No A button? Not entirely. The A stick, much like the Gamecube's comfy L and R shoulder buttons, can be pressed and clicked (and not in a cheey 8-bit light-gun sort of way). So just tap on the A Stick and VOILA! Instant A button.
3rd, No B button? Same as the 2nd idea, just tap the B Stick on the Right Controller Stick for B-button heaven.
4th, The top of each analog stick can tilt and rotate, making it easier to make circular motions with your thumbs and, in combination with the analog pressure/button click feature of these sticks, you can also manipulate on-screen action in a deeper, 3rd dimension.
5th, The game can configure the functions of these analog A and B sticks, locking or unlocking certain features of them to customize them for specific game purposes.
6th, Each whole controller stick itself has a hand strap and/or grip guard so that you do not have to grip ANYTHING to still hold the controller sticks comfortably in your hand with all buttons readily available to your fingers. This allows you to stretch your fingers and rest your hands during length play sessions.
7th, Each controller stick has force-feedback rumble in two places, one near the Analog Stick especially useful for simulating guns, and one in the grip using low-octave sound vibrations that make the whole controller stick vibrate in your hands as if it were a humming engine.
8th, **Speakers in the controller sticks can emit weapon, object and ambient sound effects to simulate the motions you are making with your hands and arms and the sounds emitted by the objects in your hands and/or your immediate environment. These sound effects can be continued by speakers/subwoofer in the Revolution console itself that are designed to emulate surround sound and also by your surround sound emulating headset/surround sound speaker system. Combined with the force feedback, these sound effects will complete the "sell" of things like guns, light sabers, baseball bats, squeeling microphones and bowling balls in your hands.**9th, The controller sticks are aware of each other, meaning they know how far away from each other they are and whether they are above, below or beside each other. This gives you a much wider range of possible motions you can make to control the onscreen action, like crossing over your arms during gunfighting, or trying to emulate a flurry of punches from Muhammed Ali.
10th, The controller glows in a certain spot so you can match colors to know which player is which and which controller belong to him or her.
Now if you take all the actions that regular controller buttons perform today and translate them into scroll-wheel features, motions you make with your hands and arms, or the new style analog sticks that I describe above, and add the built-in sound effects into the controller and the new "hum" vibration and gun recoil effect, all of a sudden you're having more fun playing your games than you were before and you don't need 50 bajillion buttons to do it.
~Charles Mallory, aka Mode Red, formerly of Shiny Entertainment (Enter the Matrix, I'm in the credits Special Thanks)
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