The Nintendo Europe executive gives new details about the controller's development and potential, and he explains how we'll be able to play multiplatform games.
In an interview with Eurogamer (link above), Jim Merrick, Senior Director of Marketing for Nintendo Europe, talks in depth about the newly revealed Revolution controller. Some of his comments include brand new information. Here are a few samples:
Eurogamer: So how long has the controller been in development?
Jim Merrick: It's a difficult thing to pin down. I mean, two years ago, Iwata was talking about making a fundamental change in the marketplace and reaching new audiences. And of course, the minute we finished work on the Gamecube, we were thinking, 'Where do we go from here?'
I really started seeing references maybe a year ago - the developers started to get information, and then prototypes, and now they're working with what you saw today.
Eurogamer: So when will we get to play [the games], exactly?
Jim Merrick: Put it this way. Without making a commitment, if I went to E3 2006 and didn't end up playing the Revolution, I'd be very disappointed...
Eurogamer: How is the controller going to work with games that aren't designed specifically for the Revolution - multi-platform titles and so on?
Jim Merrick: We're producing a classic-style expansion controller, based on traditional designs like the Gamecube controller. It's like a shell with a hole in the top into which you slot the freehand-style controller, and then you can play third-party ported games, and retro Nintendo games you've downloaded.
So there's that option - but even while it's inserted into the classic-style shell, the freehand controller will still be able to sense positioning and so on, so there are more options too.
There's a lot more where that came from, so be sure to read the entire interview at Eurogamer!