Found it at the GA boards, apparently it's from a Nikkei Business Daily interview, and was posted at Gamefront:
Quote:A goal of ours with Revolution is to expand the target market for games. The current consoles are are constantly getting more complicated. The number of buttons on Joypads has been increasing steadily in recent years, for instance. Hardcore players can still manage, but for inexperienced people and beginners the degree of complexity is too big of a barrier.
In order to reach these people and to motivate them to play games, Revolution will have a "User Interface" that everyone can manage. However, Iwata cannot yet discuss exact details.
I am so frightened and excited at the same time. I totally agree with Nintendo, that controls need to get simpler. But I'm also afraid that that will mean simple games, which would be a disaster (see: Kirby's Air Ride). If the Revolution can deliver
simple yet innovative controls and still allow for complexity within the game, they could lead the market again. Think about it. Imagine if all of the people that like movies but are afraid to play games because of the complex controls could now play them with the greatest of ease. This could put Nintendo on top... or completely backfire on them.
E3 can't come any sooner!
Yoshi's Touch and Go is an awesome game. Short, but awesome.
The rumor I saw said that the whole face of the Revolution controller could be a touchscreen... let me find that...
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/25/...21112.html
Quote:RUMOR #2: The Nintendo Revolution's controllers will be DS-style touch screens.
Source: This month's issue of Game Informer magazine.
The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation"--Nintendo spokesperson.
What we heard: According to the latest Game Informer, Nintendo is planning something very different for the controller for its next-generation console. "There is no analog stick or shoulder buttons. The touch screen on the face of the controller is designed to be fully customizable, so the developer can configure the buttons any way they see fit, or in other cases will not use buttons at all, instead opting for virtual levers and or other stylus-related inputs." The article goes on to cite sources that say that "Nintendo is actually requiring developers to take advantage of unique touch-screen aspects if it wants to get approval." It also says many publishers are "skeptical" of the concept. Sound insane? So did the DS--before it sold nearly 5 million units. Plus, the very name "Revolution" means Nintendo has something industry-shaking planned for the next generation. "It wouldn't surprise me if Nintendo was that crazy," said one source close to the company.
Bogus or not bogus?: We'll go out on a limb and say this could very well be not bogus, though we won't know for sure until E3.
Quote:The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation"--Nintendo spokesperson.
Haha!
Quote:"There is no analog stick or shoulder buttons. The touch screen on the face of the controller is designed to be fully customizable, so the developer can configure the buttons any way they see fit, or in other cases will not use buttons at all, instead opting for virtual levers and or other stylus-related inputs."
I don't know, the DS touchscreen works great for some game, but not for all of them. I just don't see doing something like that as being a good idea.
Yeah, that's my thought too. There are some things analog sticks are just plain better for and it'd be really, really stupid to not give that option.
And also, this sounds too much like the DS... I'd expect the Revolution to be more different than that, given what they've been saying.
Again, just about everyone at Nintendo has denied that there would be any sort of touch screen for the Revolution. They flat-out said "NO".
Then why didn't they deny this rumor, as opposed to saying "we won't comment on rumors"?
Because that is the official company line regarding all rumors.
ABF, Nintendo reminds me of me in that regard, don't they?
One thing. If the surface of the controller is just a huge touch pad, then that makes for trouble. Tactile feedback is what I USE to figure out if I'm hitting the right buttons. I use touch to tell where my fingers are, if I'm hitting the right button, and to tell exactly how much pressure and at what angle I'm pushing the sticks. Without tactile feedback, it'll be like using one of those "soft" dance mats where you have no idea where your feet are. You'll be engaged in an epic battle and suddenly you'll be like "ack I'm not doing anything! What the..." and then you'll have to pause it to find out where your fingers slowly drifted to on the controller.
This is all just a rumor of course, but there is one thing to consider. If a company down the line did eventually do this, they would HAVE to add some sort of tactile system so you would know where your fingers were. For example, that's as good a time as any to learn brail. Just put symbols all over the controller as small bumps and then you'll be able to feel where you need to be. Also, it would be a good way for the programmers to indicate on screen where your fingers need to be.
Quote:ABF, Nintendo reminds me of me in that regard, don't they?
... Yeah, once you mention it, it does... :)
Quote:[rest of post]
Yeah... a touchpad doesn't have resistance when you move the stick. Differences in shapes between the buttons. Proportional controls by pressure. Etc. It's only good for a few things... and just isn't enough for the main control of a system. That'd be like a computer that shipped with just a mouse and no keyboard.
No, that'd be like a computer shipping with a touchpad keyboard instead of a regular one.
I realized, isn't what they describe pretty much what a PDA's got?
Yeah, and it works fairly well in that case because all the letters are seperated by rubber ridges between them, so you know where your fingers are.
No, I mean like a Palm... the ones without keyboards... just a couple of buttons.
Oh yes, there are those too. Those just have a visible screen and a stylus. The difference there is you are looking right AT the screen. Of course, since using a stylus is almost as bad as just a "pick and poke" method of typing, it still sucks. I just end up writing things out rather than using the soft keyboard when chatting on my DS (with people in the SAME ROOM as me :D).
You can use handwriting on Palm too, you know... or rather, the stuff it can recognize...
I looked at it, but as I've yet to play TLJ1 for any significant amount of time, I didn't feel compelled to talk about its sequel.
The only flaw I can think of is that perhaps the conversations could have been a bit more concise without losing much of their detail...but oh well, it's not a big problem.
And the sequel... well, if you read that Story and Games article, or the other previews I've posted-and-had-ignored, Dreamfall isn't just going to be more of the same. How different it is when it's released we won't know until it comes out, but at least he's trying... most developers don't.
Quote:I looked at it, but as I've yet to play TLJ1 for any significant amount of time, I didn't feel compelled to talk about its sequel.
How did that post get in here?
ABF, I didn't say you couldn't do that.
Sorry, lots of posts between there...
You commented "hey you can do that with PDAs" which I took to mean, perhaps mistakingly, that you thought I meant you couldn't do it on a PDA. No, PDAs actually do a better job than my DS (they can actually convert written stuff into text). It's just that's the only thing I've got to compare to.
Quotes, DJ. The button is there for a reason.
Quote:You commented "hey you can do that with PDAs" which I took to mean, perhaps mistakingly, that you thought I meant you couldn't do it on a PDA. No, PDAs actually do a better job than my DS (they can actually convert written stuff into text). It's just that's the only thing I've got to compare to.
The DS doesn't have to do handwriting recognition... not unless they release handwriting-recognition-reliant software for it, that is. Which is possible, given that it does have a touchscreen... but as it is, the DS isn't a PDA... yet. :)
Oh yeah, the latest official rumor (from IGN)
Quote:March 28, 2005 - In a recent interview with Japanese publication Nikkei Business, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata commented on the GameCube's successor, currently codenamed the Nintendo Revolution. Iwata touched on the need for simplicity in future game design, arguing that games have grown overly complex in recent years. This trend, argues Iwata, has chased away potential gamers and limited the appeal of videogames.
"A goal of ours with Revolution is to expand the target market for games. The current consoles are constantly getting more complicated. The number of buttons on Joypads has been increasing steadily in recent years, for instance. Hardcore players can still manage, but for inexperienced people and beginners the degree of complexity is too big of a barrier."
The only logical conclusion, of course, is for Nintendo to make games less complex for non-gamers. How the company intends to do this is anyone's guess, and will be until the Electronic Entertainment Expo this May. Still, Iwata's recent comments hint at a system built on a foundation of supreme user-friendliness. The controller can't possibly resemble current models for the PS2, Xbox or even GameCube, since each one features a design that Nintendo now deems too complex.
Whatever input device the Revolution uses, it will appeal to everyone, according to Iwata. It will provide a new, user-friendly experience previously unseen in videogames. Furthermore, the Revolution will use the same API (Application Programming Interface) used for the GameCube, cutting down on development costs and making development on the console easier.
I was typing before those others showed up, that's all (and then I left the room for a while before coming back to finish up the post).
"Official Rumor"? :D
Yes, I know the DS doesn't have to do it. I wasn't saying it's all that bad a thing they lack it. They really don't need it, except for me. My handwriting, especially using a stylus, is about as good as my drawing. That is, not that good at all. My handwriting is barely legible :D. Oh sure, I write a lot, but my penmanship has NOT improved since like the 5th grade. I think I've reached my maximum potential... No matter, lower resolution input I can do awesomly, like keyboards. Typing does just fine.
You know what? I don't think I've ever seen DJ use quotes before. :D
A source of mild confusion at times.
I USE THEM! I use them, like, I use them all the time, I"m a quote using kinda human! Quote, quote quote... I quote!
*cries to someone* Quoooooote quo quo quoooote....
ABF: It's okay, some people don't think I post links.
DJ: You post links?
... usually... :)
Quote:Yes, I know the DS doesn't have to do it. I wasn't saying it's all that bad a thing they lack it. They really don't need it, except for me. My handwriting, especially using a stylus, is about as good as my drawing. That is, not that good at all. My handwriting is barely legible . Oh sure, I write a lot, but my penmanship has NOT improved since like the 5th grade. I think I've reached my maximum potential... No matter, lower resolution input I can do awesomly, like keyboards. Typing does just fine.
I've never written anything with a stylus, so I don't know how good I am with them... I just know that, like most people, I don't have the greatest handwriting. Oh well, it doesn't matter much. :) Getting a machine to understand it isn't something I've had to do yet.
My bad handwriting is UNLIKE most people, in that if I go too long I tend to be unable to read something even I wrote with my very hand itself.
i tried to draw boobs on pictochat at gamestop and it was very hard to do with the stylus.
Heh, DJ... at least I can read my own writing. :)
My handwriting is pretty bad too, but at least I can still read it...
The DS stylus and touch pad is great for writing and drawing. The only obstacle is the relatively small screen. If you want something with a high learning curve, try using a drawing tablet. It takes a while to get used to just looking at the monitor and not your hand. Boy, I'd give anything for a 15 inch touch screen monitor for my PC. That would be so damn cool.
Stores tend to have those set up for things like finding music albums, making custom cards, and stuff. Just ask them where they get them.
I know they're available, but they're too expensive. Let me correct what I said before: I'd do anything that doesn't involve spending lots of money for one. Like, juggling or something. :D
Depends on who that man is. ;)
I can probably think of one...
Now wouldn't that be interesting if Nintendo's new pad is basically a controller with an LCD touch screen in which you can create your own layout. It would give players as well as game designers infinite flexibility as to how they want their button interface set up.
Only problem is button mashing can quickly ruin your controller.
According to Iwata and Reggie, that's not gonna happen.
It could be interesting, but it'd have almost as many drawbacks as benefits if it sacrificed normal controls in the process, so I don't know if they'll do it... but it's possible, I guess.
They could just be trying to divert people away from a true rumor, you know... :)
I doubt it. They pretty much flat-out said "NO" about it. Whenever there is some truth to a rumor Nintendo just dodges the question. They're masters of that.
I heard a rumor that the controller has nipples. You rub them and they get hard.
