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Miyamoto: Revolution still has secrets

  • By Hirohiko Niizumi, GameSpot
  • Posted Dec 5, 2005 7:52 pm PT

Nintendo guru Shigeru Miyamoto says more secrets of the next-gen system will be unveiled next year.

TOKYO--Though it seems like Nintendo unveiled just about everything concerning the Revolution's controller at September's Tokyo Game Show, there are still some surprises in store, according to one of the company's most significant strategists.

At the Digital Interactive Entertainment Conference held in Kyoto, Japan, Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's chief game designer and creator of the Mario and Legend of Zelda franchises, gave the keynote speech. He talked about the history of controllers for Nintendo's various consoles, from the pre-NES systems to current consoles like the GameCube. He ended his lecture with words toward the future, specifically the Revolution, stating that there's more to its controller than what's already known.

"The [Revolution's] controller still has another secret," stated Miyamoto. "But it's something that we'll reveal next year."

As a southpaw, Miyamoto takes into consideration gamers who "are in their right mind," as the saying goes. One of his first game projects at Nintendo in 1979 was to design an Arkanoid-style game machine called Breakout. Although he had had only two years of work experience at Nintendo at that point, he made sure the machine was designed to accommodate both left- and right-handed players.

Sharing a piece of Nintendo history, Miyamoto explained that the cross-shaped direction pad that's used for Nintendo's game consoles was originally created for the Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong in 1982. Up until then, Nintendo's Game & Watch series had used just two buttons for controlling the character. Donkey Kong required more-complicated controls since the original arcade version used a joystick. As a solution, Nintendo came up with the cross-shaped pad, which offers a similar control to the arcade version but comes in a flat compact design that allows the Game & Watch to be folded and closed.

Miyamoto said that the rise of complex controllers was one of the factors that contributed to video games' increasing complexity. Looking back at the SNES, he explained that its interface featured six main buttons, a vast difference from the two-buttoned NES. According to Miyamoto, the number of buttons on the SNES's controller was influenced by Capcom's arcade hit Street Fighter II. To simplify the controller as much as possible, the L and R buttons were set on the controller's sides.

Nintendo's first solution to the complication of controllers was introduced with the GameCube, which featured a giant A button that overshadowed all the others. While the console's controller has been a target of criticism, Miyamoto explains that it was Nintendo's way of saying that gamers should be able to play games by using only a single button.

Nintendo's challenge to simplify game controllers reached a new level last year with the launch of the DS, which featured a touch-sensitive screen that users could intuitively control with just a stylus. Miyamoto commented that the handheld gained a lot of female players in their 20s, and the DS succeeded in expanding its audience beyond gamers, which was Nintendo's long-term goal.

With the Revolution, Nintendo is trying to make a console that fits in with the living room, rather than a machine that focuses on high hardware specs. Miyamoto revealed that the Revolution's controller is purposely shaped in the form of a TV remote because it's something that everyone in the family will touch. He hopes the controller will introduce a more effective and fun way to play games. As an example, he pointed out that its nunchaku add-on can be used for first-person shooters. Players would use their left hand to move and their right hand for actions.

In addition to Miyamoto, the Digital Interactive Entertainment Conference featured a number of other big-name guests, including "the father of video games," Nolan Bushnell; Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima; and Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani.

Bushnell, founder of Atari and creator of Pong, criticized the current game industry on the same two points often stated by Nintendo. He said that the rise of development costs is not allowing game makers to take on new challenges or delve into new innovations. He also said that today's controllers are getting as complicated as a PC's keyboard, and general consumers are reluctant to use them. Bushnell complimented the Revolution's controller during his lecture, saying that it's "on to a good idea."

Kojima also complimented the Revolution's controller during a discussion at the end of the conference. Speaking with Miyamoto and Valve Software's Robin Walker, he praised the controller, saying that he had a hard time restraining himself from leaking information before its official announcement. He added that the idea of making a game controller out of a remote control struck him completely by surprise.

Iwatani, whose speech preceded Miyamoto's, didn't comment on the Revolution or its controller directly. Instead, he shared his thoughts that the future of gaming may lead far from the living room, which goes against the visions of Nintendo. Iwatani explained that more and more people are starting to have a PC in their own room; as a result, he believes that in the future, games will be played on PCs rather than living room TVs. Iwatani speculated that PCs may soon come with a universal gaming chip in their motherboard. The chip would have all the functions needed to play games. Users would simply download games, and they wouldn't have to worry about compatibility problems, since all hardware functions would be embedded in the chip.

507 Comments

  • bretikur

    Posted May 14, 2006 12:28 pm GMT

    Agree

  • darkpaladin99

    Posted Mar 29, 2006 4:38 pm GMT

    well many of you think rev is going to suck which is going to make yiu guys look like idiots. Dear god i mean how do you know the rev is going to suck you plain idiots keep your mouth shut and let every thing unfold

  • Screamteam411

    Posted Mar 28, 2006 6:43 pm GMT

    I appreciate what nintendo is doing in trying to revolutionize gaming, but it sucks that in the Gamecube-PS2-Xbox Triangle, most developers made games for PS2/Xbox but not for Gamecube. I hope that the Revolution is innovative and all, but I'm seriously doubting that GTA will be changed so that it can accomodate a point-and-click remote.

  • LoneSierra

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 4:45 am GMT

    I'd like to point out that....controlers are not complicated. Let us see.....SNES controler....6 buttons....360.....8 buttons. WOW over 10 years how can I adjust to those two extra friggin buttons. News flash....Ever tried to play G.R.A.W. with 2 buttons? Yeah, not so much. Games are so much more involved that you need a few more buttons and gadgets on controlers. This controler has a neat idea...but how can you use a D-Pad on a next gen FPS seriously...I know there's the analog add on..but that's only half the movements. I dunno. Think they are going too far off the beaten path with this thing. Who knows though.

  • monkeyman10989

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 3:49 pm GMT

    i have like 4 games from the past 10 years on PC. i am excited about the secrets!

    ...........you stole my icon!

  • Plaxconium17

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:52 am GMT

    pc gaming is dying a slow and painful death...YAY!

  • ZephyrKama

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 11:28 pm GMT

    Nintendo wants to appeal to all gamers so guess what?! The Revolution's controller can be held in the LEFT HAND! Not to burst Miyamoto's bubble but if we're gonna wait a year to find out what this unique feature of the controller is, it's going to have to be a lot better than this...

  • spencethmn

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 9:44 am GMT

    the revolution sounds stupid except for that there will be a new super smash brothers coming out of it

  • TheCritic9392

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 5:36 am GMT

    Miyamoto: Cricker....Cricker.....yesh.....yes..cricker.....
    Kutaragi: Miyamoto this is insane! I never stole your stupid analog stick!
    Miyamoto: You certainree did! You took my anarog stick! NOW YOU WIRR FACE DA WRATH OF MY KAMIKAZEE MARIO MOVES! HI RAAAAHHHH!
    Kutaragi: Bill Gates? Bill Gates are you there?
    Bill Gates: Yes I am! and Rich!
    Kutaragi: Help me!
    Bill Gates: Certainly, we'll show this third party loser who the real thief is!
    Kutaragi: Yeah! Miyamoto san for taking fun out of games!

    HAHAHA! RESIDENT EVIL 5 ISN'T ON THE REVOLUTION! IT'S AN XB360 AND PS3 EXCLUSIVE! AND BESIDES, HOW WOULD YOU PLAY RE5 WITH A CLICKER?

  • TheCritic9392

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 5:30 am GMT

    The revolution is well.....a piece of crap. No graphics. No hard drive. And a CLICKER. A CLICKER. THE JAPANESE HAVE LOST IT. IT'S A CLICKER. NOT A CONTROLLER. MIYAMOTO IS INSANE TO THINK THAT THIS WILL BE GOOD FOR GAMES. THE PS3 RULES. PLAIN. AND. SIMPLE.

  • niqpere

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 3:50 pm GMT

    you know what would be cool if the controller can play by itself so i can get stuff to eat well i play......... sorry i had alot of sugar today

  • sinceps1

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 1:51 pm GMT

    "except japs, because they are proud of their s%#/, but everyone prefers XBOX360 and next the PS3"
    ....................................... PS3 is very Jap.

  • turboking005

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 9:09 am GMT

    nintendo rocks!!t always will!!

  • necronzero

    Posted Mar 16, 2006 9:19 am GMT

    BYE NINTENDO!!!!
    I personally think miyamoto and his s%$&/# 3rd world company suck, I owned a Gamecube, but i sold it to buy an XBOX, the truth is, no one wants nintendo anymore, except japs, because they are proud of their s%#/, but everyone prefers XBOX360 and next the PS3 i think those 2 will be the pwn of this war
    BYE NINTENDO!!

  • sharpshooter188

    Posted Mar 16, 2006 1:55 am GMT

    they better not f*** it up like they did the gamecube. so far im cautious of the controllers for both the revolution and the ps3. batarang controller? a joystick and remote? christ what are you people thinking?

  • mattbrw08

    Posted Mar 15, 2006 1:44 pm GMT

    this may make me get a xbox 360. i've always had a nintendo system no other but this controller would make things so hard. i have a little tv in my room. how am i supposed to use the controller on the tv when it is so small. i think this is just a last desperate chance to try to catch up back in the race. if anyone thinks otherwise try to convince me because i really dont want to go against nintendo i just think it's so dumb.

  • metalxwolf64

    Posted Mar 15, 2006 1:57 am GMT

    just like always EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED from NINTENDO ,thats what keeps it the BEST in this BUSINESS Hahaha NINTENDO will always RULE.

  • dallen8

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 9:51 pm GMT

    i think that this is as the consules named for a REVOLUTION!

  • Liger89

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 2:51 pm GMT

    Gonna be great no matter what

  • Matteas_05

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 6:01 pm GMT

    why is the revolution only as powerful as a xbox???????WHY?WHY?

  • turboking005

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 5:03 pm GMT

    the GameCube is the best out of all nintendo systems!!

  • turboking005

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 5:01 pm GMT

    it seems like the only good thing about it is the controler!!

  • mr_ackman

    Posted Mar 7, 2006 1:57 pm GMT

    ok, my guess is that somehow the controller can convert in the classical game controller so u can play mario smash.

  • yukon4

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 9:18 am GMT

    I cant wait to find out what the secret is in may at E3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Kayrod29

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 6:30 pm GMT

    I'm not gonna play Super Smash Bros. with that gay remote.

  • Zeldasboy_12

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 8:18 am GMT

    ill just wait and see

  • sithlordmaikel

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 7:47 am GMT

    gutentag

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Feb 25, 2006 2:07 pm GMT

    as for memory im sure nintendo will release an hardrive seperate or use bigger memory cards theres card that go beyond 1 gb.

    so im sure theyll be some for revolution do not fret just deal with it i mean look at gc they started with these small 51 block memory cards now they got these 1019 ones.

    revolution is expandable as long as they have usb slots im sure nintendo will come up with ways to store the dl able games.

    were only at the begining look at ps1 for agood example that had no memory in its cards 15 blocks was gone in a second same for n64 than god many of these used battery save and look at the core 360 no harddrive you had to buy one same for ps2 and 3.

    things got bigger these carts have advanced so much they hold a gb and sadly the psp discs them selfs only hod.8 of a gb more then those ds cards

    wait til later on they will release things

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Feb 25, 2006 1:59 pm GMT

    hey nintendos gone this far and i think every console has its own unique way to be good.

    i mean ps2 was the first to be backwards capable and now weve got the psp it has some features no other handheld had up until now ds and psp were the only ones with multimedia features let alone touch screen controls .

    and ms showed up with a bang i never saw anything like the xbox gc is great but it only updated graphics (at launch) but now look at it it is so versitle you can play every gb game on it , if you were lucky enough to get a panasonic q you could watch dvds to here we go to next gen xbox360 shows the realistic graphics not possible and lets you play music while you chat, play any 360 game and more

    and ps3 well it doesnt improve much but its got its own good games like 360 .

    the most improved next gen console goes to revolution even if the controller is strange well learn how to play with it look at ds we all thought it was awkward but most of us learned same goes for revolution we got the gc controllers probably for gc and classic games only rev games willl probably use the new controller even nes is able to bc u have the a a and b start and select along with the curser think of the revs controller as a nes controller with more features

  • bad_boy_sam123

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 2:13 pm GMT

    UNIQUE!

  • jingwa

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 5:48 am GMT

    Games for a while now have been the same old same old, with just graphical updates, its rare to play anything even slightly new and different....this controller already shows a huge ability to expand our gaming experience, if it manages to do a better job then my mouse on a FPS game, im sold and anything else they can add to it? im sure will be uber cool.

  • mariolution

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 11:59 am GMT

    i think the remote might have two ports at each side to put in the grip holders for better game interaction.

  • Pope192

    Posted Feb 21, 2006 4:40 pm GMT

    YAY NINTENDO!!!

    good graphics are nice, but a fun game is better. that's something that i like about nintendo.

  • luigifan3628

    Posted Feb 21, 2006 3:23 pm GMT

    wired version? If not screw this i am getting PS3 or 360.

  • shattered_raven

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 8:21 pm GMT

    yea even more secrets its already a giant mystery just unvail it already

  • Tw0_Fac3_226

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 11:27 am GMT

    Nintendo is going to come with some hardcore secrets thas goin to b****slap everyone, and everyone that was hating in the begining will be like "ah man the revolution is the greatest system ever"

  • Rainforest76

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 8:22 am GMT

    I wonder If the reveloution can keep up with the graphics of the PS3. But I have no doubt that the reveloution will be a great deal of fun. It's a must have!

  • knightsofwar

    Posted Feb 16, 2006 12:35 pm GMT

    horray for nintendo!!!!

  • Blazer88

    Posted Feb 15, 2006 11:17 am GMT

    Secrets huh? Who knows?

    Miyamoto is the man and has all my respect,..not to mention he just seems like all around nice guy so I can't say anything bad about him.

    I'd disagree with the section that todays controllers had become to complicated and this is coming from someone who started on Atari 2600's 1 button joystick.However on the other hand I hate using a keyboard for control like most PC games have.The mouse part is great and so far I don't feel controllers have matched it,..but using WASD to move is like a downgrade from even that old 1980 something joystick.

    The last part about gaming moving out of the living room is true of not only PC games but absolutely Console Systems too.Most kids today have thier own TV's after all and more and more are getting thier own PC's too as prices continue to come down

    The Revs controller kinda makes me scratch my head,...I've decided to take a wait and see attitude with it.

    Personally before it was shown I was hoping that somebody would have made a controller that still had one analogue stick for character movement but also had something that could have the precise movment of a mouse for looking around and aiming,..oh and maybe a scroll wheel too.To me that would be a great controller

  • renecop545

    Posted Feb 15, 2006 6:09 am GMT

    Nin ten rev sucks

  • TheGrandMiG

    Posted Feb 14, 2006 3:00 pm GMT

    i cant waut for that unversial game chip....

  • theweakbear

    Posted Feb 13, 2006 1:29 pm GMT

    Remember, i am a nintendo.... well i can't say, but i know everything and it is sooooo funny watching you make up all of these rumors. Mine are real thay are "not bogus"

  • theweakbear

    Posted Feb 13, 2006 1:26 pm GMT

    I have seen sopposedly real lengend of zelda revolution screenshots. I don't know if they are real (from game) or a mock up. But i have to say the graphics are sooooooooooooooooooo good and the shading is spectacular, it looks as if it had a touch of realizim that NO OTHER GAME HAS added to it.

  • drbob

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 12:34 pm GMT

    I expect the motion sensors in the revolution controllers will be mini gyroscopes from gyration, see this article:

    http://www.gamecubicle.com/news-nintendo_gyration.htm

    If you've ever used a gyration mouse I can tell you it works very well. I can't wait to see how this new controller is used in games.

  • CuLLiSk

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 1:32 am GMT

    Can't wait for the rev, it's gonna own everyone in the face!

  • -_locky_-

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 9:40 pm GMT

    would the rev controller get lost like a remote? if it did would neone care?

  • -_locky_-

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 9:38 pm GMT

    get ps3. 360 suposedly isnt as good and nintento always sucks

  • MachineGuts

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 3:10 am GMT

    I hope that isn't going to be the official controller, coz if that's official one i might change my mind about buying the Rev.

    I mean, i'm a big Nintendo fan since i have a NES, SNES, N64, NGC, GB, GBA(sold) and GBA SP Tribal Edition. But man, that controller looks $#@^&

  • odnnaab

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 1:41 pm GMT

    hey im trying to find out which gaming console should i get xbox360 ps3 or nintendo rev plz help me

  • BVP16

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 9:08 am GMT

    Nintendo Revolution is going to be awesome!

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