by Nicholas Roussos
At the Tokyo Gaming Show, Nintendo grabbed the lime light with its unprecedented new take on the console controller. With the first solid impression of where Nintendo wants to take us with this generation, everyone’s mind has begun to wander with possibilities. Many are discussing how the new “freehand-style” control scheme will affect their favorite genres (FPS, fighters, and more). For me, I’m more interested in what new genres will appear.
One of the few sports that I actively participate in is fencing. Modern fencing is a fast-paced and exciting sport. Enter the Revolution’s new controller and a new type of game-play emerges: Zero Button.
It’s simple. There’s no stick to push, no button for attacking, nothing for defense either. To attack, just move the controller in the direction of your on-screen opponent. To defend, it works just like in real life; move your controller just as if it were a real foil or epee. What if you want to move closer to your opponent? OK, do it. That’s right; you could just take a step closer to the TV. Sure, not everyone will like moving around, but that’s really the point in most sports.
You could just look at TV to find new genres. Take home improvement. Imagine a game where you can pick up a hammer or a drill, and just start building a house. Become a gardener. Any type of craftsman or artist simulations could benefit.
Clearly, these ideas just scratch the surface. In fact, that’s the point. The possibilities are no longer limited to a set amount of buttons. Whether it’s changing the way we play our current genres or inventing wholly new ones, the Revolution is bound to be a lot of fun. What new genres are you hoping for?
