That seems to be the Internet’s considered consensus on the new Nintendo controller pictured below…
(There’s a video and an only marginally crappy IGN article here.)
So in the true spirit of the internet here’s my own hastily constructed ill informed opinion:My initial reaction is the same as the one I had for the DS, basically summed up as ‘Ng! Nintendo! what are you doing?!’. However now I own a Nintendo DS and love it, so what do i know? The most interesting part of the announcement for me was this bit…
Brain Training DS had a small development team, and took advantage of the new design. 10 people, and total development, was less than 4 months! Many have been concerned that time and money and risk for next gen is too much. Nintendo wants to provide a stage on which to showcase your ideas.
If the new Nintendo console means more simple games, more Vib Ribbons, more Ouendans and more Monkey Balls, then I’ll be happy. (Given that it’s inevitable I’ll buy one)
So anyway, the controller itself, I’m glad the motion sensors turned out to be more than just baseless speculation, the scope for controlling flying things and alleviation of thumb RSI is a good thing, plus I love that they have old people conducting classical music on the video. The fact that it looks like a TV remote is kind of off-putting at first but a nice big D-pad is welcome. Unfortunately the analogue stick has a convex top unlike the XBoxes concave top c.f. this old post on the interim weblog. Why people don’t just take the best bits of each analogue stick I don’t know.(XBox concave top, Gamecube accuracy and octagonal housing, Playstation… er … less said the better I think). Anyway, Nintendo’s controller inovation record is pretty much flawless* so I don’t think they’ll drop the ball here. Also the statement “Mr. Naka really likes this controller.” makes the Sega fan boy in me very happy.
*The D-pad itself, shuolder buttons, analogue controll**, rumble packs and trigger buttons are all Nintendo inventions. Other significant developments: Analogue triggers (Sega) and that sort of handle bar design to adjust your holding angle (Sony).
**Not sure about this, did the NiGHTS controller come out before the N64?
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