Yesterday at the Tokyo Game Show (the Japanese equivalent of our E3 expo), Nintendo unleashed the details for their next-generation controller design. And, boy, this one's a doozy.

For several months now, speculation has been high as to what the new Nintendo controller would look like. People have suggested everything from track-balls to touch-screens and even a device with multiple configurations. Nintendo has successfully made something no one saw coming--and for this I congratulate them. Far from anything imagined, what they made instead looks like cross between your television remote and an iPod. Following the concept of revolution (the codename for their new console), this human interface device is as far from previous controllers as a CD player is to a turntable.

The specifics aren't all in yet, but from what has been shown thus far, the controller will take advantage of motion sensors to track movement. Apparently, you place two receivers on either side of your television set. Then you will be able to control the game by simply moving the device in the desired direction. Also revealed is an add-on analog stick, which plugs into the main device.

As far as button layout goes, Nintendo is betting the revolution will be 'less is more.' As opposed to the multi-button layout of the N64 and Gamecube controller, this new system features four main buttons. There's 'A' located on the topside for your thumb and a 'B' trigger underneath. Finally, 'a' and 'b' (Yes, the lowercase version of the other two) are much smaller and sit side by side near the back. I'm a bit skeptical as to how this lack of buttons will affect gameplay, as this will mean more button combinations (i.e. hold 'A' and double-tap 'b' in order to bring up some obscure menu). The only way I could see this controller working is in conjunction with more simplistic games.

My first impressions are similar to that of the Nintendo DS: gimmicky. It's different for the sake of being different, and I think it will alienate people with its highly unusual design. Just as the Eye Toy for the PS2 tried to change the way we look at input, I think this new controller will be fun and innovative for a time, but once the thrill is gone, people will be looking for the traditional gameplay that made the video game industry so successful.

Of all game genres, I think this new format would be best applied to first person shooters. The analog stick attachment could be used for movement and strafing, while the main controller would act much like a light-gun used in such games as 'House of the Dead' and 'Time Crisis.' I would think aiming would feel quite intuitive and natural, allowing you to essentially point and shoot using the trigger button.

Is Nintendo jumping the shark? Maybe. But I believe this 'Revolution' is as best a marketing strategy as any to stay alive in the console industry. Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PS3 are both highly anticipated and I think both would overshadow any traditional Nintendo console. Still, just as the Virtual Boy was too far out there to be successful, this revolution may be a bit too ahead of our time.

Check out the new controller in the KHYRON.NET image gallery.