Nintendo's Investment in Gyration

Forget for a moment that you’ll be able to play games from every major Nintendo home console in history and what remains about what we know about the Nintendo Revolution is a mysterious set of comments from Nintendo executives and developers. The control scheme and interface are reportedly different than anything we’ve ever experienced on a video game system before.

One of the more popular theories is that the controller will implement a series of gyroscopes used to control on-screen action. I recently had the opportunity to use a gyroscopic mouse on a friend’s media PC. The results have a magical WOW factor as the cursor mystically floats where you will it to go. The extension of control on the TV from your hand is natural and something everyone will be able to appreciate.

Gamecubicle has a great look at this possible revolutionary aspect of Nintendo’s upcoming console including an interview with Gyration's Director of Marketing Communications, Marc Harris.

Gamecubicle: What game applications benefit from a Gyration game controller?

GYRATION: The ease accuracy of moving a cursor or crosshair across a screen by pointing makes Gyration technology an excellent choice for 1st person shooters and other action games that require fast and precise targeting.

Could the Revolution bring more PC-like games to the living room by implementing mouse-like control? We definitely see that kind of precision in the Nintendo DS’ use of the touch screen for games like Metroid Prime: Hunters and Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires. With gyro-mouse control and built-in online play, Nintendo’s Revolution console could end up being the platform of choice for first person shooters, real-time strategy games and other traditionally PC-centric titles.