Nintendo today unveiled an innovative new controller design for its forthcoming "Revolution" console. Speaking on the first day of the Tokyo Games Show, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata presented a one-handed device whose location could be detected relative to the screen.

The wireless controller resembles a typical television remote control, but has a D-pad and front and rear-mounted action buttons. Its key feature, however, is a sensor described as a "Direct Pointing Device". This allows the console to detect where you're pointing the controller, and detect the distance from and angle relative to the screen.

Nintendo also revealed an expansion port at the bottom of the controller that can accommodate controller extensions in a "nunchuck style" configuration. One extension was an analogue stick device, and another a more traditional-looking controller that will allow players to control games from Nintendo's back catalogue (NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube) which the Revolution can also play.

Iwata said the controller, particularly when used with the analogue stick extension could provide a "new standard of gameplay in FPS (first person shooting) games". Instead of using their thumbs to control movement along the horizontal and vertical axis, players would simply move their arms (in a similar action to wielding a weapon). Nintendo also suggested a survival horror game where the player could "intuitively explore in the dark with a flashlight".

No actual games were shown, but Nintendo showed video demonstrations of players using the controller including to fight with a sword, play tennis, swat flies and perform dental surgery. In order to endorse the possibilities of the Revolution controller, Iwata introduced highly regarded games producer Hideo Kojima of Konami (Metal Gear Solid etc.) who exclaimed "You've done it! Even though it was a surprise to me at first, I quickly understood how it should be used. This is exactly what I was looking for!"

In comparison to the somewhat unimaginative controllers due for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, Nintendo's Revolution offering is a breath of fresh air. We can't wait for the games that make use of it.