I think I've Spoiled the Revolution For Myself...

Maybe that headline is a bit too dramatic, but I'm so in love *my* idea of what the Revolution could be that I don't think I'll be satisfied by anything else.

Like many people, I'm pretty convinced that gyros are somehow a part of the system's "revolutionary" new feature. This would make sense for a number of reasons:

1) Nintendo has experimented with similar technology in Game Boy games like Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Wario Ware: Twisted, and Yoshi: Topsy Turvy.

2) Nintendo supposedly has some kind of partnership with a company that has been working on new types of gyro applications (this was reported a while back, but I can't remember the exact details).

3) Being able to move a game character by simply tilting the controller could make it easy for non-gamers to play, which is a goal that Nintendo often stresses the importance of.

4) Gyros are by far the most feasible of the various wild rumors about the Revolution.

So, in imagining cool new ways to use gyros, I came up with an idea that I think would be so big that it would not only put Nintendo back on top, but also pull in scores of non-gamers.

Basically, it's virtual reality.

Imagine that you'd still use a standard controller to control a game, while using wrap-around LCD "shades" to *view* the game. The gyros would be built into the lightweight headset so that it could sense your head movements -- essentially, your head would take the place of the C-Stick for camera control.

For example, you would play Metroid Prime with the same controls as before, but now you'd be able to turn your head left to see what's there. You could look up to spot a hook for your Grapple Beam. In a racing game, you'd look to your side to see a car passing you. Or just imagine the beauty in standing on a cliff in Wind Waker, simply looking from the sky to the ocean to take in the view around you. The immersion would be unparalelled, especially in first-person games. Third-person games would work fine, too -- just think of Mario as an RC car. In real life, while steering an RC car you'll often take your eyes off it for a moment to look ahead at where you're going.

If done right, I think this headset could be one of those features that, once you experience it, there's no playing games without it. It'd be a little odd to wear with friends over, but then again, imagine how cool it'd be to look at a buddy sitting next to you and "see" his virtual self standing there. And the headset wouldn't have to be a heavy, clunky helmet; think wrap-around Oakleys with pods on the sides for the gyros.

The technology seems to be here. If there are Game Boy games now that can tell whether you're turning them to the side or tilting them up and down, then all you'd need to do is is marry that with an LCD screen. Of course, I'm no engineer so I could be over-simplifying things.

Another beautiful part of this idea is that it would make games easier for non-gamers to get into. Putting on a headset might be weird the first time, but think about it -- one of the most confusing things to get used to in a game is controlling the camera. With the headset, this problem would be removed completely.

The "wow" factor alone would get everyone to check it out. Nintendo could even offer peripherals -- like a glove or light gun -- that had built-in gyros, too. The peripherals and headset would know where each other are, so that if you raised the light gun in front of your visor, you'd see your virtual hand holding a virtual gun right in front of your face.

Well, that's pretty much all of it. Maybe now that I've shared this idea, I can put it to rest and just enjoy whatever it is Nintendo might unveil at the Tokyo Game Show next week. If anyone out there is a tech genius, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea -- is it possible, or what?

--Chris