What should we make of these rumours about the much-hyped, much-anticipated Revolution controller? Remember, Nintendo has been promising something very special, something that'll change the way we interact with games, yet internet gossipmongers are suggesting that the joypad's unique feature is a force feedback tilt sensor, which provides resistance to the player's movements. Everyone is expecting a cross between the tilt feature in Wario Ware: Twisted and the Rumble Pak for the old N64 pad.
Of course, the reports have prompted a lot of negative comment and disappoinment, but there are two things we should remember here. First, not everything you read on the internet is true - especially where videogames are concerned (feel free to pause here and take a few deep breaths if this revelation has shocked the bejesus out of you). These days the key companies keep their cards very close to their chests, creating a lively black market in conjecture, guess work and outright fiction. Secondly, we all scoffed at the Rumble Pak, but the rumble feature has quietly become a staple element in creating atmosphere and providing near-subliminal sensory feedback to the gamer. And there were even people who doubted the wisdom of the DS touch screen...
These rumours probably say more about the close-knit videogaming community and the speed with which gossip spreads and attains authenticity than they do about the Revolution. Whatever, I'm hoping that tilt feedback isn't the big sell. I was expecting a thought control device. Or something involving nano-bots.
