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
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 21–40 of 47
11233
apnance
Keep your minds open. There is absolutely no reason to rush to judgment before we actually get to try these new controls.
Squishus
There seems to be a lot of potential from the motion sensor technology but it may not be used best in games. By the way Steven Colbert's take on project natal was pretty sweet as well.
JessicaStar
I thought this was an interesting editorial--because hearing "I'm personally not impressed. Yet." from someone who HAS been hands on and seen first hand these demos means a bit more. I've been wondering for awhile how they actually played out--we've seen the televised demos and heard people getting a little excited but no one's relayed the actual experience of playing hands on.
For instance, what was Milo actually like? Did the people who interacted with him simply reenact what we saw on stage, or was there a lot more dialogue and interaction to be explored? It'll be awhile before most of us get to see any of the implementation, and it sounds like you've decided to sit back and wait to judge it as being mind-blowing or not once the actual products are there. I think a lot of us feel the same, though I have to admit watching the demos and Jimmy Fallon video does put a smile on my face. =)
fishsnacks
Despite the huge advance in technology, it will be hard for Microsoft and Sony to pull it off without the content and more information on the technology they're creating. The Wii is perfect for me because I am not a gamer that plays like 3 hours a day, and the Wii offers a choice: whether to use motion sensing and try something interactive out, or to sit on my ass and play something. Wii offers variety, and I hope the other consoles will do that with Natal and the icecream-mabob
fashionNuggt
Natal is revolutionary with the no controller concept, but it helpless as the original Wiimote without MotionPlus. There's potential for the device if developers can come out with new ways to play games, otherwise its too inaccurate for complex motion games.
Sony's magic-wand glowing bulb ice cream cone remote thing is just as well off as Natal. Both are motion sensing and both have very little chance of aiding the consoles unless developers ditch the original analog controllers to make different gameplay styles. As for the controller itself, Sony's model, by the looks of the demo seemed much more accurate than the Wiimote.
Raverenz51
I highly Disagree. As a hardcore gamer I agree that I would rather use a controller for MOST games but some games have the potential to be a phenomenon with motion sensor. Also The motion control system appeals to much more than "hardcore" gamers. The wii is outselling the xbox 360 and the Ps3 Not because the usual gamers are buying it but because people have invested in it. I showed my family project natal and they would much rather play the xbox 360 with THAT than a controller. Its not about being lazy, its about redefining Video Games. You go to my school and ask a gear to play Call of Duty 4 "No thats stupid", but if you ask to play the Wii or bring a wii to a party the lineup would be huge.
Blue_Vortex
I think Natal will work fine if you use a xbox controler with it.
I think sony's wii rip off is missing a few things like analog stick.
And Nintendo's Wiimote + Nunchuck was built right, has analog and the controller can be mimiced to almost any situation in gaming, also like B said you can still play it and relax, and there is still a varity of motion games and non motion games on it.
NakedSnake14
lmao the last part is funny as hell.
Morlizer
Thats probably the most stupid article i have ever read. I hope your not getting payed for writing things like that. And to all of you who have such amazing 10 hours in trafic/15 kids to take care of dont whine, its all your choices and guess what, so is the motion controll.
gEARhead24
I totally agree with you !!!!
YoureSoFunny
LOL lazy idiots if you want to be lazy be my guest hahaha or if you're just to tired then nobody is forcing you to play it idiots keep playing with your controllers as for me I'll be playing both for the ps3 and 360
FuzzyHammer
thank you.
BogusGnarly
"How will they incorporate motion into COD?" "I'm scared of the AI kid!" "I'm all tired and confused when I get home from living a regular life." Will you have to play COD without a controller? No. Do you have to have a virtual relationship with an AI kid? No. Do you have to play a golf game with a icecreamcone? No. But MS and Sony will now give you the OPTION to do these things and more. I know, I know...having many choices sucks. Punching with your real fists and dodging by moving your head in a boxing game? OMG sooooo stupid! Playing party games with people that doesn't require much skill and hours of commitment? Pfffttt, who likes to have fun with real life friends. Also, I'm so super cool, hip, and fashionable that people constantly look to me to see the definition of not looking stupid. There's no way I can afford to look like an idiot when "flailing" about playing a game, since I don't look like an idiot normally. Word.
BogusGnarly
@ everyone with lame ass arguments like B here
Why is it you can't wrap your heads around the fact that Microsoft and Sony's motion controllers are OPTIONS and won't be required for EVERY GAME FROM NOW THROUGH ETERNITY!!!
thesilentmole
Is it possible that maybe there are people who aren't you (Now I know this is hard to think about) who maybe DO like looking like an idiot or flailing around because, to them, for whatever (likely primal) reason... It's fun? I enjoy the hell out of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. It's fun. I also enjoy Fallout 3. It's fun. To me. These articles REALLY need to stop.
amazingjakeo
Quit your whining please. When I come home and come here to see the latest headlines, I don't wanna see an article about some guy whining about how he is lazy and doesn't like motion controlled games. Word. B.
mtslutz
I agree 100%. By the time I get off work, spend an hour or more in traffic, work out, and make dinner I'm burnt out and just want to sit on the couch and zone out. Not to mention my apartment is just too small to be jumping around all over the place. I have to rearrange my furniture to play the Wii and that's part of the reason I hardly ever play it. Project Natal requires you to have a huge living room for multiplayer gaming and that's just not the case for most of us gamers. I don't want Motion Control on all my games. I like it in concept and if executed well I would use it from time to time but no one I have talked to is excited about the concept of full motion control on 100% of games.
AzraelHorn
To quote Penny Arcade: it isn't for you. Let's face it, this stuff is mostly for kids and families, not for adult gamers that like to rip people in half and blow crap up every night to relax. That's not to say that this tech can't be used to make games aimed at our demographic, and like you said the Minority Report-style navigation is cool, but the target demographic isn't hardcore adult gamers. I'm more interested in the potential applications the technology can be applied to elsewhere down the line as opposed to just game consoles.
McMillan48
Well said. I completely agree with this article.
guillermo316
have jenna haze on your show!!!!1
Displaying 21–40 of 47
11233