Rev Controller Hands On

When I first saw the photos of the new Nintendo controller (for the upcoming Revolution console), I was both impressed and bewildered. Impressed, because clearly it was going to be something a bit out of the ordinary (Nintendo’s strong suit), and bewildered as to how the thing was supposed to work in the real world. CNN had a play with the Rev controller prototype and all is revealed: as well as having the usual rumble feature (and wirelessness), the controller is also modular and gyroscopic.

The basic unit looks like a TV remote, and has a d-pad, a trigger, and a large main button. Two smaller buttons are lower on the face, as well as the usual start button. The select button is also back, and an indicator has been added to show you which control port the device is wireless mapped to. The basic idea is that you tilt the controller, and the analogue gyroscope works like a control stick. You can also move the whole controller through the air, swinging it like a sword, yanking it like a fishing rod, or moving it like a free-floating joystick. For games that require two axes of movement, like first-person shooters, a traditional control stick can be added (see picture).

There are more Rev controller photos at Nintendo.com.