Topic: The OFFICIAL Big N rumor thread *bring your own salt*

[vudu]

I don't believe you--but I'll give you one point for not making me cringe.

[Kytim89]

I don't believe you--but I'll give you one point for not making me cringe.

I now feel cheated, Vudu. You owe me nine more points. I kept my end of the bargain, I expect you to do the same. 

[vudu]

I kept my end of the bargain, I expect you to do the same. 

Herein lies your downfall.  I was willing to play along at first, but if you insist on continuing this little charade it will be your undoing.

You might put stickers on your Wii to prevent theft but I can use those same stickers to ensure that it is truly your Wii system that has been dissected and made into a GameCube.

I demand that you provide pictures of your disassembled Wii with stickers or I shall smite you ten times over.  You have 24 hours to comply.

[Mop it up]

However, this generation solves the logistics of all that in several ways. Number one, for many games on the DS you can do multiplayer with just a single cart. That means not everyone has to have their own copy, which is great.

Connectivity didn't require everyone have their own game, it was only the one GameCube game.

[Kytim89]

I kept my end of the bargain, I expect you to do the same. 

Herein lies your downfall.  I was willing to play along at first, but if you insist on continuing this little charade it will be your undoing.

You might put stickers on your Wii to prevent theft but I can use those same stickers to ensure that it is truly your Wii system that has been dissected and made into a GameCube.

I demand that you provide pictures of your disassembled Wii with stickers or I shall smite you ten times over.  You have 24 hours to comply.

I simply removed the stickers and thew them away.

[Dasmos]

No.

You didn't.

But you should.

They look horrible.

[Kytim89]

No.

You didn't.

But you should.

They look horrible.

It was shitty paint job, but I intend to make it better.

[Kytim89]

http://kotaku.com/5581031/nintendo-wants-people-to-take-their-miis-to-new-systems
 
Nintendo is apparently interested in allowing miis to be transferred over to future Nintendo systems, nd possibly the 3DS. This might give a glimmer of hope for those who want to be able to transfer their VC, wiiware and DSiware to future systems.

[King of Twitch]

Maybe not, since you know, Miis are free and VC games cost money?

[BlackNMild2k1]

and I can already transfer Miis inbetween systems, unlike certain game saves and downloadable games.

[Sarail]

I really hope they upgrade the Miis to make them a little more detailed. Microsoft's "avatars" were obviously a complete theft of Nintendo's idea by Rare, so I'd like to see them take the "Mii" idea even further. Make them highly customizable.


EDIT:  I'm working on a new controller design that I'll post a link to later this afternoon if I can find some extra time. Just how I feel Nintendo should direct its next controller in..

[BlackNMild2k1]

I really hope they upgrade the Miis to make them a little more detailed. Microsoft's "avatars" were obviously a complete theft of Nintendo's idea by Rare, so I'd like to see them take the "Mii" idea even further. Make them highly customizable.

More facial features, accessories(glasses hats, earrings) and some custom clothing including shoes would be great.

[nickmitch]

I really hope they upgrade the Miis to make them a little more detailed. Microsoft's "avatars" were obviously a complete theft of Nintendo's idea by Rare, so I'd like to see them take the "Mii" idea even further. Make them highly customizable.

More facial features, accessories(glasses hats, earrings) and some custom clothing including shoes would be great.

That's what I've been wanting. I don't need my Miis to be "HD" (though, that'd be nice), but it would give me a lot more options just to have mores hairstyles and mouths to work with.

[Sarail]

My Controller Design for Nintendo's Next-Gen Console


I think this design attacks the best of both worlds for core/casual gamers.  It gives plenty of options for devs and also allows compatibility with ANY previous Virtual Console/WiiWare title.  AND it eliminates clutter.  No more goofy and ridiculously absurd peripherals and add-ons. Keep it simple, and keep it focused.  That's what this controller design excels at.

I'll email Nintendo of Japan now.

[TheBlackCat]

I don't think the Wii2 will use IR anymore, it will probably use gyros like in wii motion plus.  That mockup also looks fairly uncomfortable, either the handles will be too short to serve as a wii remote or too long to be easy to handle as a traditional controller.  Also, when separated the D pad and second trigger will become essentially inaccessible, resulting in the wii remote portion not having any usable direction control.

I personally expect the wii2 remote to be fairly similar, but using gyros to eliminate the need for the IR pointer (if they can avoid the need for constant calibration).  They may keep the IR pointer for backwards compatibility, though (this shouldn't be necessary, if they use a dual-core system they could put an emulation layer in there, but that may be more work than Nintendo is willing to do).  It may have a microphone, and will likely have a lot more memory (probably similar to the Wii now).  I doubt it would have a screen, but if it did it would probably be a small, low-res, color, screen without touch capability.  And I expect something like the Nyko controller's ability for addons to duplicate button presses on the remote.  There is also a change they may replace the D-pad with something like the 3Ds nub.  They may also add another two small buttons next to the A button, perhaps just duplicates of the 1+2 buttons.  Another possibility is a slider either on the side or around the A button for adjusting 3D depth, similar to the 3DS, or some sort of spinner which can also have its four direction pressed.

I expect the nunchuck to also remain mostly the same, perhaps with two buttons near the joystick, but remain wired.  I doubt it would get gyros, but it might.

I would hope they will release something like the classic controller pro with accelerometers and its own dedicated bluetooth connection.  I doubt the design would change too much from that.

[Ian Sane]

Rachtman, I like your controller mock-up but it has the one "problem" that justified the Wii remote's whole design - it looks exactly like those typical controllers that were apparently too confusing for people.  Your design looks great and looks very functional and ergonomic, but that was never the plan with the Wii to begin with.  Nintendo designed the Wii controller to look like a TV remote because they felt the mainstream would identify with it more.  Everything else took a backseat.
 
So this removes the one thing that Nintendo felt was the most important part of the Wii controller design and I'm sure they figure that design was a key part of the Wii's success and that removing it would scare away some of the new audience they've attracted.  I think they assume people are much more helpless than they really are and that your controller would have minimal negative effect on sales.  But they won't think that.

[Sarail]

I don't think the Wii2 will use IR anymore, it will probably use gyros like in wii motion plus.  That mockup also looks fairly uncomfortable, either the handles will be too short to serve as a wii remote or too long to be easy to handle as a traditional controller.  Also, when separated the D pad and second trigger will become essentially inaccessible, resulting in the wii remote portion not having any usable direction control.

And in saying that, you're talking about casual-only games that focus JUST on the remote. And how many casual-only oriented games do you know of that use the D-pad for directional purposes?  I know of none off-hand.

And secondly, when separated, the Z-trigger on the back instantly becomes used like the B button trigger on the current Wii remote. So the four buttons on top could be used just as the D-pad on the Wii remote is used now -- for short, simple commands (if any at all) in casual games.

Rachtman, I like your controller mock-up but it has the one "problem" that justified the Wii remote's whole design - it looks exactly like those typical controllers that were apparently too confusing for people.  Your design looks great and looks very functional and ergonomic, but that was never the plan with the Wii to begin with.  Nintendo designed the Wii controller to look like a TV remote because they felt the mainstream would identify with it more.  Everything else took a backseat.

Not really, Ian. What's the one thing most casual games do anyway? Waggle. Once separated, how is this any different from the Wii remote? Also, and correct me if I'm wrong, don't most normal TV/DVD/etc remotes have MANY more buttons than a Wii remote?  Having four face buttons, an R button, and a Z-trigger are hardly complicated or confusing.

My drawing may be a bit rough, but I designed with the ergonomic feel of the GameCube controller in mind -- which is much more comfortable in the hands than the Wii remote is (thus the slightly curved handles). This design also allows all of the buttons to be within reach...and that's another thing the current Wii remote fails at.

[Adrock]

I'm against the idea of just taking the right side of a Gamecube/PS2 controller as a substitute for the Wii remote. I can't see that working because that changes how the controller is held. Swinging it like a baseball bat seems far more cumbersome. The remote still needs to be in the shape of a remote, though Nintendo could round the edges to make it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. I understand Nintendo's logic in meeting the familiarity of a tv remote control, but that logic begins to falter once function comes into play. A videogame controller is held the entire time one engages with the videogame which is unlike changing the channel or adjusting the volume. In short, the curved design of the Playstation Move controller is probably comfortable than the strictly rectangular Wii remote.

I never thought the number of buttons really affected the accessibility of the Wii remote. It was more about shape and function. You see someone swinging a a remote-esque controller rather than pressing buttons. That said, the remote can double as the right side of a traditional controller with more buttons and an analog stick without alienating people. The nunchuck should incorporate the d-pad which would eliminate the need to turn the remote sideways while also negating the classic controller. I feel like that's the best compromise.

[Ian Sane]

Not really, Ian. What's the one thing most casual games do anyway? Waggle. Once separated, how is this any different from the Wii remote? Also, and correct me if I'm wrong, don't most normal TV/DVD/etc remotes have MANY more buttons than a Wii remote?  Having four face buttons, an R button, and a Z-trigger are hardly complicated or confusing.

You're preaching to the choir here.  I agree.  This isn't much different and it isn't confusing.  But then I don't think any of the previous controllers (except for the Atari Jaguar's, hee hee) are confusing.
 
The difference is the shape and I know Nintendo won't go for something that, more or less, looks like a controller.  I think to design a Wii 2 controller that is pleasing to Nintendo's marketing department and provides the functionality we desire, you have to start with the nunchuk/remote combo and figure out how to put all those missing buttons back while maintaining the current aesthetics.
 
I would be fine if Nintendo just included the damn classic controller with the system next time.  If it's there as a standard that developers know everyone has then they'll use it when appropriate.  You don't have to shoehorn your controls into a waggle mess if the option to not use the remote at all is available.  It isn't available right now because the CC is an optional accessory.

[ThePerm]

i had an Atari jaguar

it was great! You only really used the three face buttons anyways

i was dumb one day and plugged it into the wrong ac adapter, Tiger direct took it back, but they didn't give me a new one they just gave me a $50 store credit which expired.

[Stogi]

My Controller Design for Nintendo's Next-Gen Console


I think this design attacks the best of both worlds for core/casual gamers.  It gives plenty of options for devs and also allows compatibility with ANY previous Virtual Console/WiiWare title.  AND it eliminates clutter.  No more goofy and ridiculously absurd peripherals and add-ons. Keep it simple, and keep it focused.  That's what this controller design excels at.

I'll email Nintendo of Japan now.

HAHAHA hah AHA hAhha AHHAHhahAHHAHAHahahaHAHahahhaaHAAHHHHHHAHHAhahah



I swear to you that I made the exact same mock-up....get this....6 years ago! hahahahahahaha

[Stratos]

I had a similar idea back when I played the Virtual Boy. Woe to me for thinking I was getting a deal when Toys R Us sold it to me new for $25. I thought it was a special. I found out a week later it had been discontinued.

[Toruresu]

I bet Nintendo will keep the Wiimote almost identical (maybe even make it compatible with Wii2) and will just bundle the system, with a classic controller thing, what they should have done from the beginning.

[Guitar Smasher]

I swear to you that I made the exact same mock-up....get this....6 years ago! hahahahahahaha

I made a very similar one around the time gyroscopes were rumoured to be in the new "Revolution" controller.  I even posted it on this site.

Too bad I didn't save a copy.

[vudu]

From a recent Interview with Sakurai on Wired.com:

Wired.com: Having now done a major console game for Nintendo and a major handheld game, where do you as a designer want to go next, home systems or handhelds?

Sakurai: I’ve never made a game for a high-definition platform. That’s definitely something I’m interested in.

For what it's worth, Sakurai has never designed a game for a non-Nintendo system.