When I published my rant about the dangers Microsoft and Sony face in ensuring their motion technology is adopted by new and old consumers alike, I wasn't thinking about the impact the controls themselves are having on the industry and its users. As an industry, we tend to think about the short term. But what is the long standing impact of motion controls? What about the kids whose first console is a Wii?
I've never thought of it that way, but a 28-year-old father of three contacted me via e-mail this morning and threw me for a loop when he talked about his kids' perspectives on games. These are kids growing up in a Wii world and it's going to change things. Their nostalgia isn't Mario Bros., it's Wii Sports.
"I am sure I am not the first grown person to go buy a Wii to save their real game system from the little ones or just get the kids a video game system that will not bankrupt the family budget," he told me. "I would be willing to bet that accounts for a large portion of the Wii install base right there. All of our kids [are] learning to play video games standing up and twisting and waving around like crazed (well) kids. Which is a lot better than being a couch potato like their parents."
We already know that, right? But here's where he blew my mind.
"In the near future my sons are going to get tired of Mario and be ready for Call of Duty and SOCOM," he said. "They are very smart and will know the difference between that little box with its poor graphics and the PS3/360. But they will have no idea how to play a video game sitting on the couch and mashing buttons. They are going to want a gun that recoils and moves with them. They are going to want to dodge and duck and strafe with their bodies, because that’s the way [they] are learning to play today."
He could be on to something here.
While the vast majority of games are still built upon our classic conception of the game controller, the Wii introduced a new direction. Microsoft and Sony are following Nintendo's lead, albeit in different ways. While it's unlikely the idea of a physical controller will completely disappear, when you think about the rabid consumers who will be supporting the industry in 10 years, it's these kids playing Wii.
"In ten years I'm going to be telling my kids about the old days when all video games were played by sitting on the couch and pressing buttons," he joked. "They are going to make fun of me and call me an old man."
You know what, though? That's not a joke. That could very well happen. Does it scare you?
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Comments
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Ethan321
I see how this makes sense, but that fact is that many people play video games not only for entertainment, but to relax after a hard day or just to veg out and be lazy on a day off. Not everyone is going to want to be jumping around and doing a workout to play games. But it is a good point because everything is becoming more realistic
ionis
This dad either didn't play video games when he was little or forgot how he used to play them. Every kid under 6 or 7 I've seen playing video games, and myself included, moved all around while playing games. Even before motion controls, we were turning our SNES controllers when playing SMK and jumping around to make that big leap in SMB. The only difference is, today those extra physical actions are actually reflected on the screen.
Mr_Troll
@robingoose did you read the very first comment? anyways I'm 25 and I really am not too surprised if its all mostly going to be motion controls in the future. But I really didn't think I would see it until my son is my age!!
Gwarnine
@natedawg lol mind gaming.... i hope it comes with wifi! ROFL
jhoe45
Ive been saying this all along. Hardcore gamers are not the people playing cod4. It is the kids who are playing wii. Getting great motion technology is the correct move to stay ahead of the curve ten years from now. I competeing system will need great graphics, regular controllers, and motion technology to compete 10 years from now.
kingn8link
btw, all u mid 40 gamers. no offense but, you're getting old, and I know change may be hard to accept at times but as we start to see a dramatic shift from generation to generation, there will be more and more things you won't understand, and refuse to accept--like motion controls. and to all you mid-teen gamers, just wait. your time will come when you dread the death of motion controls because of mind control gaming. its just life.
kingn8link
Let's face it people. Video gaming would be boring if it stayed at the "Arcade" stage for 30 years. We had to advance, from 2d to 3d to motion, just like you no longer ride a horse to school... because our society continues to advance and it will always advance until we die.
RobinGoose
Its like in Back to the Future Part II when Marty Pwns that quick draw game and those two kids (elija wood and some other kid) were like "You mean you have to use your hands?"
DS_Lightning21
Of all these motion controllers, the Wii has the perfect balance of motion controls and traditional controls. The Wii Remote can even be turned on it's side for NES-style gaming. Trying to combine traditional controls with these other camera-based controllers just seems gimmicky and unnatural.
SynicVance
The end game of motion controls is it destroys gaming. Video games are supposed to be a disconnect from the "real world", yet why are we so focused on making the experience as close to life as possible. I understand the immersion argument, I mean, it's the same reason we want graphics to get more life-like, but the deeper we get into motion controls the more I feel like we are not using video games as an escape from the real world, we are using video games to replace the real world. There has got to be a line drawn at sometime. Our mind needs something to remind it that it's playing a game and not actually dealing with real life. I already get wrapped up in my games enough already (even with a controller in my hand), make it real enough we will have no need for reality.
kaos929
man i feel old for starting out playing on the atari and i am only 21. motion controlled will eventually be the future of gaming, even though i dont think the controller will ever be obsolete. natal the more advanced motion controlled device will be only work for simpler games but games where you need to walk, shoot, and reload right now will only work with a controller. seriously the only way i can think of natal registering what you are doing is with some sort or peripheral.
NsRhea
I think Nintendo did a good job introducing something new with motion capture; but it (motion capture) will die out soon. I do however like games that incorporate some sort of physical movement instead of button mashing. Like Resistance did; an alien leaps on you and instead of mashing buttons you shake the controller to get free.
Sephirex
Interesting perspective.
The guy who E-mailed you was right, Motion Controls are the future and I'm excited to see what the new generation of future Game producers have in store because of the impact of the Wii. :)
neal19912
I ran in to this problem just the other day, my little cousin has always played wii, then I gave him a 360 controller and he kept waving it around and forgetting to press the buttons. It really gave me something to think about. Are all kids like this now? Are they going to stop making regular controllers? Don’t get me wrong wii is fun but I would always prefer to relax on couch with a snack on my side and a controller in my hand, on live with cod, halo, or gears, and leaving the calories to worry about later.
MasterKiller64
@StrongestSaiyan
Smash Bros Brawl doesnt use motion control at all.
Hunter100
I think that the motion controls will lose their lust by next year and it'll be back to controllers, but the wii can help out people who are trying to lose weight cuz for most of the games, u have to stand up and get some excersise.
antiburgerjob23
the industry is definately changing, there is not doubt about that.
StrongestSaiyan
The concept only scares me if we don't get up to the point where something that is playable with a controller is playable without one. Right now, it's no mystery that the options available on a Wii aren't the same as on the others. There is a reason why we don't have something like Metal Gear or Prototype on the Wii. If motion control were every bit as capable as more traditional styles, then I'd be on board, but currently it isn't. Shoot, the people I know that have a Wii use Gamecube controllers for Smash Brothers because it just doesn't work as well with motion control.
YoureSoFunny
Dang I feel old I grew up with the Xbox1080' Nintendo Wiiii and the PlayStation5.....ooops oh yeah well guys I'm from the future and I came back in time to tell you guys that gaming is no more ever since the next next next gen console wars no one was left , and now we have gone back to just playing hopscotch, Jacks, WaterGuns, Hide and Seek, Freeze Tag, bingo, checkers, chess, BattleShip, Monopoly and ect. ect. Sooo yes the flame wars you see right now is just the start of something horrible so please do us all a favor for the future stop fighting and cherish every moment you have with your gaming Consoles for it will no longer exist in the future unless you act now by stopping the War... This is former gamer YoureSoFunny thank you.
MARI0KART64
its all about intellivision.. when i was growing up i had 2 intelivisions.. i would play one with a fan placed directly on it, for hours until it would overheat.. at which point i switched with the other console...
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