Months ago, when Nintendo unveiled the controller for their upcoming Revolution video game console, I was all WTF! The thing looked like a remote control, which Nintendo hoped would lower the barrier to video games that many nongamers feel when confronted by the typical video game controller. But now I think I’ve seen in real life that this may have more legs than conventional wisdom might think.
A few days ago, my TiVo box received a major upgrade that, among other things, included some relatively simple games. The games were controlled using the directional pad and a few buttons on the TiVo remote. The kids and I had a lot of fun with these, my only complaint being that the games ran a little slow, but as betas, I would guess they will get faster with time once they’re optimized. In any case, I had clear empirical evidence that this remote as video game controller could really work. The kids didn’t care one bit that the controller was a remote and everyone in the house knows how to use that. Even WillowBrow, who I don’t think I’ve ever seen with a game controller in her hands, could get into this and with Wordsmith on the TiVo, I’m sure she will eventually.
I can’t help but wonder if games on the TiVo got the green light after all of the buzz Nintendo stirred up with the new Revolution controller. Afterall, if Nintendo thinks games can be controlled with a remote style controller, then there must be something to it. I wonder if someday we’ll see a TiVo box that can play Revolution games!