Mr Quinn says there are plans to replace the computer screen, joysticks and keypad in the remote-control unit with a Gameboy-style controller and virtual-reality goggles.
All game controller systems - joysticks, wheels, buttons - have machinery or industrial precedents. Dashboards with blinking red lights, levers, steering wheels pedals, whatever. Even joypads. So controllers came first, games came second. A robot with a gun, controlled by a human, using a joypad evokes very strong feelings, until you think, hang on.. is this fair reporting?
Why was it described as "using a 'GameBoy-style' controller"? I bet Nintendo won't be happy with that. Were they being particular about perhaps the A and B buttons? Or the layout? Or just trying to explain to people that soldiers will be using hand-operated interfaces, as usually seen in remote-controlled machinery?
(This one is for controlling cranes, or some such, from the strapping Stromag Engineers , and I think I want one.)
Reporting like this is sloppy and annoying. Too many people will read articles like this and think - horror! Games are teaching our kids to kill! - when in fact, the governments et al are teaching our kids to kill, and making it easier to do so by making killing more like a game. Therein lies the real story.
Can't believe I said 'our kids'. Crap.
>Gameboy-style controller and virtual-reality goggles
The Virtual Boy finally finds its market
Posted by: k | January 25, 2005 at 18:09