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[okita]

Nintendo's new Revolution controller has just been unveiled, and though my first thought was "...WTF?" the video sold me on its potential. Nintendo doesn't just use the word "innovation" as a buzzword like the other gaming companies (Xbox360 and PS3 aren't innovative... They're just the PC equivalent to buying a new CPU and graphics card). If you

Comments

[herbie]

Gamecube has shown the best titles tend to be first-party anyway.

How do you figure? It showed that the best GC titles tended to be first party. Partially because nobody wanted to touch it. Don't get me wrong -- I'm in love with the concept of the Revolution controller. But after reading Death to the Games Industry, and just generally watching the market, I've got to say that the best games aren't first-party, but the best games that get well-known are...

[okita]

My statement was a bit inaccurate, it did show the best GC titles tended to be first party. That said, my PS2 library is much smaller, and if I had to choose one system, it'd probably be my Gamecube, even though there are "only" first party titles.

Death to the Games Industry doesn't have a whole lot to do with the topic at hand... Nintendo is working to circumvent the trends described by that viewpoint, and just about every press release has emphasized that they're not going to play the bigger+faster = better race that Microsoft and Sony are embarking on.

Watching the market is also an exceptionally poor yardstick for which games are good and which aren't. In the US, GTA:Whatever and Madden 200X will top charts regardless of how little they innovate, or how much of a "game" they are. Even in Japan, Nintendo's Zelda and Mario games are outsold by Pokemon, and Konami's Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill take backseat to Yugioh and their sports titles.

[herbie]

Watching the market is also an exceptionally poor yardstick for which games are good and which aren't.

That was actually my point... the titles that get to market, even first-party titles, are typically not the best or the most innovative.

[okita]

Examples? I can think of a few games that have been out there and "innovative" on a relative scale. Are you talking about an indie or self-published game market?

[kej]

So far, the big game companies have said that they're behind it. Whether they actually are or not, we'll have to see in a couple years.

[jimboomega]

Isn't that the big question?

Actually, in some ways, OS wars, Browser wars, and console wars all share this common fact; if the wider world of software won't support Linux/Gamecube/Firefox, then their utility is strictly limited. And in those cases, also, the "left out" platforms tend to be the most innovative.

It sucks. I'm going to have to write a rant about Linux soon. I am, basically, totally impressed so far. The only knocks were the mouse thing (which does continue to baffle) and the resolution thing (not a big deal for me, but might've been for somebody else).

But for me, the biggest knock overall on Linux was illustrated today, courtesy of you - I had to boot to windows to play CoH. Similarly, nintendo may make the bomb zomg so good console, but if Spanky has to have a PS to play MGS, well...

I do agree, that my first thought on seeing the controller was, zomg, wtf, they made a VCR remote into a controller? But then I saw what it is actually used for, and that makes me happy.

[okita]

I got a copy of Cedega through not quite aboveboard means (Though there was some debate as to whether or not they're GPL) and all I need to do in Linux is "cedega /path/to/Coh.exe and I'm up and running, fullscreen, with sound. I can even switch desktops to work/chat with no lag. Much better than Windows and trying to ALT+TAB out.