Messages

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Metroid Prime 3 Revolutionized

« on: August 05, 2005, 12:46:08 PM »

Does anyone have a list of features that the Retro poll frome a while back mentioned?  I remember some like flying the ship and 3rd person camera, but draw a blank on the others.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Paring down the Revolution controller

« on: July 14, 2005, 06:00:31 PM »

Ah yeah, I nearly forgot about that rule with touch screens.   I don't know, maybe for games requiring more than one button press at the same time, they could map those functions to L/R or the grip buttons.  

I guess it would require a battery on each side.   I don't see that as that big of a deal but then again I'm no cost analyst and I also don't know how much power a controller like this would need.  I do know that the gyroscopic microchips consume very little power, however.

The gyroscopic sensors would take the place of the c- stick...and don't knock it till you try it.  I'm really just trying to get into Nintendo's head here.   You know, a controller, with less sticks and buttons but enough functions to be able to play all the games of previous generations.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Paring down the Revolution controller

« on: July 14, 2005, 04:36:04 PM »

Hey guys.  I don't post much, but I thought I'd share my newest controller idea.   It's similar, I'm sure, to many others, but I think this would be pretty streamlined, simple, and functional.  I wish I was an artist...

Ok, think the shape of the gamecube controller with a less bulky rechargable battery for wireless and the rumble making a return after a brief hiatus from the Wavebird.  Take away the dpad, c stick and z button.  

The controller will, of course, feature gyroscopes and be splittable into two halves for freedom's sake and also simple games that only use one half.  

The face buttons would be replaced with Immersion's touch pad with tactile feedback for a fully customizable configuration.  

The grips would be pressure sensitive.  I just love that idea, and it basically adds another L and R without having to move your index finger at all.

Put a mic on there, cuz it's cheap and could be used, especially with some of the AI middleware Nintendo is tinkering with.

Finally, the analog stick would utilize some haptic technology that provides resistance and motorized movement.  If you get hit, maybe it jerks in that direction.  If you're climbing up hill, you'll feel the resistance.  Finally, it could be used to (and excuse me for this one) stiffen up the stick when you're playing retro titles so that it functions as basically a mini arcade style joystick, thus making a dpad unnecessary.

Thoughts?

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Revolution Secret 'Leaked' At Brokensaints (SPOILER)

« on: April 24, 2005, 09:24:07 PM »

Hmmm.  I'm trying to think of the best way all of this can come together.  Price is a concern too.  I have no idea how much this 3d technology is.  They say cheap, but what's that.  Then, it appears some type of projection may be used (remember that prototype rev pic that people judged as fake) with or without glasses.  

I'd say the controller should be basically a Gamecube controller but with the b button in the original position ala the x and y.  Have it be able to separate into two halves for gyro and one-handed gaming.  Keep triggers how they are, but add in a squeezable grip button instead of another set of L's and R's.  Finally, I'd just nix the camera stick.  This "pda" device should essentially be a VMU with a nicer touch screen and alot more storage room.  You could use it to store personal profiles, custom music, saved games, mods, extra goodies, etc.  I can see it fitting in on the controller in the middle underneath the connecting parts.  It will probably be sold separate ala a memory card.  Otherwise the system will be over $299.  

If there are glasses they should come with the mic and earpiece too.

If Nintendo can do this with a competatively powered system, a strong and free internet experience, and market it as well as they did the DS, then Nintendo may rule this next generation.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Let's Talk Controller

« on: April 17, 2005, 09:27:43 PM »

Hey, I was thinking.  I really like that floating analog stick, so maybe for my dream controller concept, replace the normal analog stick with that, and besides the controller separating in the middle, you can twist it like the Namco NeGcon controller.  Wouldn't that be sweet?

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Let's Talk Controller

« on: April 17, 2005, 08:29:33 PM »

click here cuz i can't figure out how to show the pic
Finally, here is a basic concept on my controller.  I wasn't going to bother posting it since it didn't get a good reception, but now I'm seeing copycat designs on other forums and it's pissing me off a little. hehe.  Honestly, I'd be happier if Nintendo themselves copied.   Really I don't think that the controller will be the Revolution in and of itself at all.  The Revolution is going to be a campaign by Nintendo towards an incredibly versatile and person-friendly system.  All wireless controllers, wireless AV out using NEC technology, one console sending multiple signals to other tv and computer monitors in the house, free wireless online play, and a system with enough cpu power and RAM to do this while looking comparable to the other systems.

I think that Nintendo will however, tout it's new interface as a Revolution.  If they weren't sure about gyros already, I'm sure they are now that so many rumors are going around and the fact that they're so cheap for Nintendo to get.  They'll probably market a mic and a camera if they aren't included outright.  And they'll most likely continue to push innovative peripherals as they always have from the zapper, to the power glove, to the GBA/GC connector cable to the bongo drums.  

Sorry for that rant.  I just don't want people to think too hard about how to totally reinvent gaming.  The things I've stated would make for a superb gaming system.  Nintendo never stated there was going to be one thing or one technology that would constitute the Revolution.          

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Let's Talk Controller

« on: April 08, 2005, 09:58:02 AM »

The point of the touch pad button area is basically just to give developers another choice.  Is it necessary?  No, none of this stuff really is.  We could play next gen games on current controllers and with the other systems we probably will.  However, I think it's a good addition as it makes the controller look alot less intimidating while actually expanding functionality over normal buttons.  It can be one button or 4 or it can be a virtual analog stick, that would actually work better as you can feel the set boundaries of the area.

I'm talking about mouse wheels not balls.  The thing in the middle of the two buttons that you use to scroll.  It can also be depressed as a button.  Basically, it would be good for going through menus, inventory, etc, but the best example I can give for use would be switching weopons in a shooter.

Hope this clears things up.  I'll work on getting the pic up.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Let's Talk Controller

« on: April 08, 2005, 09:06:38 AM »

With all the speculation on the new "input device" for the Revolution, I thought I'd give a stab at a design. First and foremost, I have a pretty bad pic that I drew in paint to elaborate, but I need a space to host it. Can anyone recommend a good and simple free space?

I've heard alot of rumours and honestly I actually like quite a few of them. So I mixed and matched and added a few additions and came up with what I believe to be the ultimate controller.

Picture a normal wavebird. Now take away the d-pad, c stick and face buttons. Scared you yet? Good. haha. This concept is built around gyroscopes of course. Perhaps the most important thing about this controller is that it can be split in half (ala a recent patent filed by Nintendo) for one-handed gaming. I expect many of Nintendo's games would use this setup.

Now, I'd pretty much keep the trigger buttons the way they are. They really need to be utilized better though this generation. Where the z button is currently I'd put a mouse wheel, because mouse wheels rock. For symmetry throw one on the left side as well.

There will be no face buttons as we currently know them. What I envision is a raised circular area about the size of the space that the current face buttons rest on. This area will be able to be depressed as a button. The catch is that this area will be made with the stuff they make laptop touch pads with. This will not only enable rubbing and wacky stuff like that, but it will be able to detect where you are actually pressing the button. I can see this circular area broken into four quadrants and used much like four normal face buttons. You wouldn't even have to take your thumb off the area to press the dif. areas though. For example, in a fighting game, let's say a combo involved hitting a jab and then a fierce punch. Jab could be mapped to the top portion and fierce to the bottom. All you'd have to do is roll your thumb down to pull it off. It should not be a problem feeling where your thumb is hitting because of the raised circular nature of the area.

Finally, I would have the grips of the conroller be pressure sensitive to enable squeezing. This adds essentially two more input methods and could be used for a bunch of cool things. A couple things that come to mind are perhaps if you are hanging from a rope, to cross it hand over hand, maybe you would alternate squeezing the left and right grips. In a sword fight, perhaps if your grip sucks, when a baddie hits your sword, he'll knock it right out of your hand.

This controller is simple, especially if broken into halves. However, count how many inputs it has - two mouse wheels, two triggers, two grips, and a face button that can be one big button, four smaller quadrants, or whatever you want. The gyroscopes will take the place of the c-stick for cube games and whatnot. The analog stick should be depressable as well. Why not?

Ok, I know this is long, but what do you guys think? I know it's more of an evolution of other people's ideas, but I was just frustrated that every design I saw had some glaring flaw.  I really think this would work. In fact, I may just make the damn thing myself.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Iwata: Revolution Backwards Compatable and Wi-fi out of Box

« on: March 15, 2005, 06:38:41 PM »

Well, the more exciting thing about a wireless monitor connection would be the possibility for LAN gaming off of one system.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Mario 128 early 06 with a fixed camera - EGM

« on: March 14, 2005, 10:43:42 AM »

I like the sounds of this and yeah, EAD Ninja did say this recently as well.   I could foresee a 3d more action oriented Mario game.  Pipes could warp you to sidescrolling mini-levels for some great classic platforming.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Iwata: Revolution Backwards Compatable and Wi-fi out of Box

« on: March 14, 2005, 09:47:19 AM »

Rick, I was also thinking about that quote.  Some dude over at the GAF, who's proved reliable in the past, has said Nintendo is planning a completely wireless console.  I guess I could see this except for plugging the console in for power.  As for a tv connection, I don't know how they would pull it off.  I'm sure there are some new technologies out there that allow it though.  The question is price.  Also, further evidence - in a recent consumer survey, MS asked how important a wireless tv connection for xbox 2 is to its players.  Perhaps, MS caught wind of Nintendo's plans and wanted to see if it was worth including the feature as well.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Could it be possible for the Revolution to...TruForm?

« on: March 14, 2005, 09:20:20 AM »

While I don't think this TruForm stuff will be used, I can see the Revolution being able to up the resolution of the games and maybe fix some of the ones with crappy framerates.  With the online community, maybe some people will actually take it upon themselves to redo the textures ala what some people are doing now with OoT.  For Gamecube games though, many games look perfectly smooth to me design wise.  A lack of polygons is not one of the major problems.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Umm...came across pretty interesting REV idea...Check it out

« on: March 14, 2005, 09:15:21 AM »

Good point, Rick.   While I could see Nintendo releasing some of these things as peripherals, I don't think they should.  Sony and MS are both reported to be building cameras into their systems.  A mic is needed for online play, is cheap, and already built into the ds.   Overall, I just don't want to see this be another case like the 64DD, which sounded really cool (especially for Earthbound) and should probably have been the N64's storage medium right from the start.  Just maybe then, they could have persuaded Square to stay on board.

Speaking of Square, I can see these ideas being used really well in a Final Fantasy game.  These games, more than any, have largely engrossing stories built to affect the player's emotions.  To be at one with the character would truly be an experience.  I'd also like to see a Shenmue game that utilizes a voice control system.  Imagine talking with NPCs, but if you show signs of deceit, they would either not help you or perhaps stab you in the back.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Umm...came across pretty interesting REV idea...Check it out

« on: March 14, 2005, 08:56:14 AM »

Tis I, the author of that article.  I appologize for it being a bit all over the place and juvenile.  I wrote it in a late night frenzy.  I'm still confident in the idea, but I don't blame many for being skeptical or even negative about the concept.  It is radically different.  As for complexity, I really don't think that's a problem.  Making faces and saying things in a particular tone of voice is entirely natural to people, and the body readings require no work on the player's part.  Nintendo would need some good development tools to pull it off though, and I think that's what they intend to make.  The componants also are cheaper than you think, and remember Nintendo is not only buying in bulk but may have worked out some deal with the makers like they did with Gyration.  I also think Rick hinted in another thread that the information coming from the controller will be much more than what is common now.  This also fits that bill.  In fact, I have yet to have a real source discredit this idea.  The more I hear, the more I am sure I've hit it.  I don't mean to sound like a braggart, honestly.  In fact, I kind of regret  posting it.  Hopefully MS and Sony don't find it! hehe

My idea for the controller design is as follows:  this  is a cut and paste job from the IGN cube forums, where I've been posting recently.

I think alot of you are wrongly assuming this means the Revolution's input method is going to be more traditional. I could not disagree more. All the evidence shows they are looking to simplify rather than keep the standard controller or even add more buttons. Miyamoto, I believe, has expressed interest in playing games with only one hand, and we have seen that with the DS (of course, the other hand is needed to hold the system). Then we have that reported leak that the controller will not feature a D-pad or traditional face buttons. Nintendo is still worried their controller will turn off third parties (why else would Iwata say the things he has? The development tools are said to be easy to grasp). If you look at older Gamecube controller prototypes, they are more radical than the final design. Nintendo gave in to its licensees and made it more standard. I don't think they plan on giving in this time, however.

Now onto what I think the controller will be. I do not claim to have thought of all these ideas. This is more like a Frankenstein of other people's models. I picture a one handed, almost gun-like design (without the long barrel). On the top for the thumb will be a clickable analog stick or a more precise gyroscopic nub. This is in addition to the motion sensing gyroscopes for the whole controller. A trigger button similar to gamecube's will be under your index finger. Under your middle and ring fingers will be two other buttons which will probably be analog similar to X-box's face buttons. The other possibility for this is not to have standard buttons here but to have the whole molding pressure sensitive. So basically you have a total of 3 buttons (4 with the stick click) and two methods of directional control (the stick or nub + gyroscopic tilt detection).

What about ports and gamecube games? Suprise, if you were to have two of these controllers, you'd have exactly the same number of buttons and functions as the Wavebird. It's the best of both worlds really.

So what do you guys think? Could this work? Constructive criticism is welcome. Thanks for reading.