Computer and Video Games is reporting that Nintendo will be dropping the D-pad and both A and B buttons on the joystick layout of its next-gen console, which is codenamed Revolution. The big question is what will Nintendo replace these historical joystick bits with?

Here’s a clipping from the C&VG article

“What will they come up with in the to replace this Big N staple? Well no-one knows exactly, but with the innovation show in the DS’s touch screen and breath control, the Nintendo has shown it’s not exactly shy of embracing the new.”

The dearly departed joystick pattern will be greatly missed. I guess this means we won’t be using the old up, down, left, right, left, right, A, B and Start code anymore. Ah, the good old days!