Two things that got a lot of buzz at E3 were the new motion sensing technologies that Sony and Microsoft debuted. While Microsoft’s Project Natal uses a new 3D camera, Sony will couple their existing PlayStation Eye with a new wand-icecreamcone-thingamabob. More-or-less, both concepts seem to be just pushing the envelope of what Nintendo has been doing for years with the Wii. While these things were the rage to a lot of people at E3, I’m personally not impressed. Yet.
After a long day at work, I want to lay on the couch and play a game -- with a controller. At least with the Wii there’s not too much crazy jumping around flailing around, depending on what games you play, or whether or not you’re using the Wii Balance Board. I play games to relax and unwind -- not look like an idiot. I mean, don’t gamers have a hard enough time looking normal, anyway?
Project Natal for me is kind of a nightmare. I don’t want some big brother camera to recognize me or some snotty kid to talk to. Why the heck do I need to use a air-steering wheel to play Burnout Paradise or jump up to smack balls around? I don’t get it. The Minority Report-style navigation could be interesting, but I think the more casual set grasping the Wii’s interface will be put off by moving their arms around to navigate through their Xbox 360 content. I don’t think it would bring new people to the party, either. This would honestly scare the crap out of my parents; they’d much rather use a simple remote – like the one that comes with the Xbox 360.
Sony’s tech seems much like an extension of the Wiimote scenario; at least it’s got an actual controller. But I need more than just silly whip tech demos to get excited about it. We saw examples, but it seems like it’s just the Wii’s concepts on the PS3. I’ve done that before. Sony, you’re going to have to show me why I need to have this and why this will make a game experience better and more fun.
Even with the Wii, there hasn’t been many games that have compelled me to play them on the Wii instead of the Xbox 360 or PS3. To Nintendo's credit, Wii MotionPlus has made Tiger Woods and Grand Slam Tennis more fun and much more accurate. I actually play those games. But I’d rather play Punch-Out!! with a Classic Controller, instead of swinging my arms around.
With both Sony’s and Microsoft’s motion concepts, they’re just demos. Show me real games. Developers are seemingly jumping on the bandwagon, but I don’t think it’s going to be anytime soon before there’s going to be a game that’s so mind blowing it makes the experience notably better. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think it’ll happen next year.
And for those of you that think I’m just lazy, I work out 4-5 times a week, walk to work on a regular basis, bike all over the place, and actually like to get exercise. I don’t have a problem with getting my ass off the couch, I just want a good enough reason to do so.
Word.
B
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dbzwiifan18
How is playing video games relaxing?I many games you must concentrate on so many thing at once. Your health, your enemies health, your energy/ammo, time, map position, any thing coming your way . Not very relaxing sounding. Now escape that s more like it. Looking like an idiot ?Who is watching you to really make you feel like an idiot? It all about fun. The late great George Carlin once said "people dancing look insane to the ones who can't hear music"
BobesponjaWOW
Buzzerker74
Didn't nintendo try that with the wii? and look where they are now!
GabeTheReaver
Motion contols do bring in more girls and little kids. Ever play a racing game with your girlfriend? They sit there and move the controller from side to side when they turn, hilarious! Anyhow motion controls are fine as long as they don't take over gaming entirely, which is possible btw fellas. Even if they continue to have systems with controllers the major games will develope on whichever system/platform is most popular. All I know is I don't want to be playing Madden or Left for Dead with controls that are about 85% accurate, which is what the Wii feels like most of the time btw.
deedubya007
I just had this argument with a co-worker at work last week. I told her. "I wanna sleep on my lazy @ss, after working like a dog; and I want to get my waggle on. I don't want to kick and flail and run. (Besides what I might do on the balance board.) I don't want to be all flail-ly for hours on end. OY!"
Sony and Xbox should just stick to what they know best.
Fyzban
Stupid article
Buzzerker74
fuhk all of you!!!
Buzzerker74
didnt nintendo try this and fail with the power glove? i'll never play call of duty with anything other than a wireless controller, nothing like pulling the trigger on a bunch of ish talkin a holes over xbox live.
JkRJake
To billy:
You act as if EVERY game is going to be motion sensing. If you don't like it then don't buy it. I am only excited for it because both demos are steps towards the whole virtual reality thing.
jhoe45
every 4-10 year old will want natal.... it will sell crazy.. time for all of u to realize we are not who they are selling this to.
Morlizer
Its called evolution, seems like many ppl here are getting old and dont like the change, its like old ppl with computers, they simply wount touch it becouse they are afraid of it, it might disturb their safe envirement. You should be glad that the technology is going forward. Natal might not be perfekt at start but i am sure it will fit certain games better then a controller and eventualy fint their crowd. I doubt the standard controller will ever dissapere so stop whining just becouse you can.
ErrorCodeOfDeath
Ok...let me get this straight.
Berghammer works a 9-5, works out 4-5 times a week, walk to work on a regular basis, bike all over the place....... and many of you categorize him as a lazy person cause he prefers to game on a couch with a controller.
You guys are seriously F'n Idiots.
crackingcody
i just like the vault boy bobblehead right next to the camera! sweetness. but i dont like the article. y are people so lazy these days?
BobesponjaWOW
Personally I just think your lazy, but the motion control thing does not mean that Controls will be gone forever, god no, Video games have been using controllers since the beginning of well video games, even though the wii has motion detection a lot of their games still allow you to use the gamecube control, you don't need nunchuck of the wii to play brawl or Mario kart wii (although the steering wheel helps enhance the gameplay)developers will still use Controllers so that they don't lose money on the people that do not have project natal, it's just common sense, developers will make games to work with both motion capture and controller, motion capture will simply make games more realistic thus making the game more enjoyable, but for those that don't like it their will always be a controller for you on consoles.
littledragon092
Whats up with that guys sunglasses??
Trityler
100% agree, why is everyone so obsessed will making games more "real"? Gaming is what I do to escape reality for an hour or two when I need a break. Also, where did you get that Vault-Tec bobblehead, Billy? I gotta get one of those. Oh bobbleheads, you think you'll get bored with them, but you never do...
Bub433
THIS ARTICLE IS PURE GENIUS!!!!
all fanboys read this please
phin0
Respect,
B.
FailStation3
I think that at some point in time ill end up with natal. I doubt i'll use it for much, i think scrolling through menus might be fun with it but i wouldnt dream of playing Cod or Halo with it. But in some extremely rare cases there might be uses for it in certain half-way decent games.
MrDiamondJ
Totally agree Billy. At least with Sony's controller we'll get to see what Nintendo could do with their motion controls on up-to-date hardware. My first reaction to Natal was, "That's cool as a five-minute tech demo, but there's no way I'd ever play a traditional game that way." Holding your arms out in front of you for a racing game? Completely unnecessary motion-control overhead. Like the old adage goes, just because something can be done, doesn't mean it should be done. The first company that makes a first-person shooter that has you holding your hand out as the gun should be shot themselves.
Arteska
The amount of gnashing about this stuff from withing the tech community is mind boggling to me. The stance seems to be "until it's like 20th generation perfected I can't be bothered." I'm not saying the applications shown or out there now are up to snuff but the complete absence of foresight among people that purport to play games all the time is baffling to me.
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