And There Came a Revolution

The Revolution controller...

WOW.

Don't really know what to think just yet; my mind is still sorting out the amazing problems from the amazing possibilities.

But... bottom line...

Nintendo are the crazy mad scientists of gaming, and whether you realize it or not, we NEED them to be nutty professors.

For those that can't imagine playing a game with that thing, just remember how odd the NES pad looked when we were used to joysticks... or how we had to learn to use an analog stick with Mario 64...

Yeah, there's always the Virtual Boy, but the reason that was such a spectacular failure was because it was Nintendo's *only* big stumble. Decades of risk-taking gaming innovations and just one big misstep? Who else has a track record that good? Who else has done more to earn our trust?

This won't be the console to play Madden, Grand Theft Auto, etc. on -- at least, not as we know those games today.

I'm as worried as the next guy that this won't work, that Zelda won't be as fun somehow, that Mario will be too weird... and how the hell will I play the new Smash Brothers?

But it's good that I'm worried. After seeing the new controller, we could've all gone "That's it? That's all?", or we could go "Holy crap, what the hell IS that thing?" Considering that Nintendo promised a revolution, I'm glad it was the latter.

I'd be concerned if every system was doing this, and the old ways of playing games were going away for good. But, I'll still have my PS3 and 360 for the types of games I already know and love.

Really, would we be better off with a third system doing the same things with the same third-party games?

It's hard to imagine how much we'll enjoy new types of games before we've had a chance to try them. It's an especially tough sell for hardcore gamers, who are a tough crowd. Everything in life that we enjoy, though -- there was always a first time. Everything was new once. Aren't we glad we gave these things a chance?

I read a post on a message board that made an excellent point: "Nintendo has the most to lose next generation, but they've still got the biggest balls to try something new."

I can't WAIT for Xbox 360 and, especially, PS3 (MGS4!). But the system I'm most excited/intrigued/compelled to pull out of the box? Revolution, hands-down.

Nintendo, God bless 'em -- crazy f'ing mad scientists. Let your freak flag fly, you glorious bastards :)