Radical Movement: is motion-sensing just a fad?
by Adams Briscoe 
{ Jun 15th 2006 at 12:30PM }
IGN has a big four-page article tackling the notion about whether these newfangled motion-sensing controllers are just a gimmick or not. Are both Nintendo and Sony venturing down the road of the Power Glove, only to be a forgotten memory in years to come?
The chance of that happening have yet to be seen, but to frame this correctly, you have to consider that it's not a new technology. Sure, everyone's talking about someone copying somebody else. But the reality of it is that this has been around for quite some time now. In this business you have to learn from mistakes in the past, which is what Sony and the Nintendo camp are doing.
But what if we're just going through the motions and falling for another gimmick (no pun intended). There's a whole lot of potential behind this technology if we get the right creative minds behind it. Innovation has many faces, but will we see it used correctly? Read the rest of the article and think about it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SuicideNinja @ Jun 15th 2006 2:38PM
The way I see it: if no one concentrates on the motion control, then it won't have a bright future. That's where Nintendo comes in. The two screens + touch on one seems to be working really well for the DS. Hopefully for them it catches on with the Wii.
With the way the decade old Playstation controller was redesigned for the PS3, I don't see it being a big deal for motion sensing. Since motion control isn't its focus, most developers are likely to just put in lame motion control additions to use the feature. Like flipping the controller vertical could do a "real-time weapon change"...when you could just push Triangle.
Nintendo is making a good move. Let's just hope that the 3rd party developers make good choices with these motion controllers in the Wii and the PS3.
Silver R. Wolfe @ Jun 15th 2006 7:13PM
Is not the thrust in LoZ:TP, just button replacement? Couldn't you have just used one of the other buttons to do it?
Case in point, there are lots of places where developers could take advantage of this tilt control on the PS3. Drive by shooting in games like GTA could now become way easier, allowing you to drive with the tilt control and aim with the analog sticks.
James @ Jun 15th 2006 9:57PM
I beleive motion is a fad, and I am glad that PS3 made motion SECONDARY, to analog and buttons....unlike nintendo who uses motion primarily.
If motion fails, at least PS3 still has a conventional controller to fall back on...wii only has vintage gamecube controllers.
Personally I play video games to simulate experiences...if I want a realistic experience....I'll go do the real thing.... You can't beat a ping-pong table, with a video game version of it.
OyoyoY123 @ Jun 15th 2006 10:47PM
James said it all
I honestly dont think that wii can beat any real table tennis experience, or any real sport for that matter.
BUT...!
I also think that Nintendo's focus on Wii's controller is to try to achieve complete realism. i think they are trying to create a different gaming experience, involving "big" body movement.
Perhaps one of the most important elements of human interaction is bodily gesture, ie, when u see ppl running u would want to run, too(to run away from lions when we were moneys?); when u see a old lady struggling to get on a bus, you would want to help her; so list goes on. This may sound like BULLcrap, but i believe Nintendo is right on this one - this gaming experience, which we do not know what will it be like, will bring a "shared experience" to a gamer and his/her family, friends, ect.
the current conventional controller, in a sense, can only bring a "private experience" to gamers, ie, ur big bro play, and u watch; you are stuck on a level, you ask ur big bro to play it for ya, and you watch.
Montion sensing can certainly bring another degree of human interaction to gaming, which, according to game-haters, it what we really need..LOL but one of nintendo's aim is family interaction, and montion sensing games will bring just that. Remember your dad holded ur hand, and guided u to swing the bat? or showed you how to write ABC? well now you can guide ur son through a zelda maze, instead of playing it for him,(and he watches).
as for PS3,i dont see adding motion sensing functionality to their more conventional gaming experience, which technical and graphcal improvements are valued, is a rippedoff - they dont even use the same technology!!!!, not to mention it s a completely different way of motion sensing! I dont know what sony is planning, but i am looking forward to it, and I just know that the games that depend on montion sensor will provide different experience than that of Wii. Motion sening is a lobster, and nintendo use it as their main course; sony plates it next to a huge and juicy steak!
that is, we dont HAVE to use motion sensors to play games, but nintendo's Wii will force everyone to play games with their bodies. Look at Ds's touch, some ppl are sick of being forced to use only the pen to play after only 1 year after its release.
Since nintendo is trying to create a gaming exp. involving body movements, I'd say nintendo is the one who's copying here. EYETOY provided that a long time ago. OF course Wii remote will be able to take it further.
playstation RULES
Tush @ Jun 16th 2006 1:08PM
"when u see ppl running u would want to run, too(to run away from lions when we were moneys?);"
OyoyoY123: Those were the most convoluted few paragraphs i've read in a while.
OyoyoY123 @ Jun 16th 2006 5:31PM
ya i get that a lot
Jeffler @ Jun 19th 2006 8:07AM
Gimmicks?
"RIIIIDGE RACCERRR!"
Sorry.
Nah, the PS3 one unfortunately seems a bit tacked on, but I personally think the world is ready for motion sensing technology. I mean, we're certainly not interested in gimmicks.
(Also waves of the future are giant crabs, real time weapon changes, realistic rhinos, and PSP rear view mirriors. We certainly aren't intersted in gimmicks.)