Fewer buttons? No dual analog? Nintendo seems intent on simplifying game control...

In comments made to London publication The Guardian, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented that with current console controllers "there are too many buttons and sticks on controllers for novice players, which is likely to discourage them from ever playing games at all." In order to combat such detachment, Iwata explained, "We want the Revolution's controller to be relevant to everybody and we really want people to feel like they want to touch and play with it." Shades of the DS, perhaps?

It has become increasingly evident in recent months that Nintendo is bent on pursuing a course that diverges from the core strategy of their competitors. Certainly the DS has served to offer a hint as to the kind of broad user-base Nintendo plans to foster, however the statement was made even more loud and clear with their controlled debut of the Revolution t E3. The system in looks and by design has already come to represent a streamlined and simplified dynamic that Nintendo seems to be making a priority on carrying over into their new controller.

Still, Iwata did make it a point to clarify that the increased focus on their current "back-to-basics" approach is not meant to alienate their dedicated base of hardcore fans, but rather to expand their appeal across new and untouched markets: "Nintendo is very good at creating games that can appeal to the whole family. There have been a lot of games created around excessive violence in the past few years and it seems to be escalating. From the business point of view, it doesn't make sense for us to follow suit. We cherish our hardcore gamers, but we always try to attract as many people as possible and expand the existing gaming population."

With Nintendo set to once again skip the TGS, it is still currently unknown when they will finally lift the curtain on vital details such as the "revolutionary" controller. During E3, it was promised however that the meaty details would be shared with all before the end of the year.

Stay tuned to C-E as more details trickle in.