Molyneux: "I'm lazy... motion sensing may be annoying"
by Nick Doerr 
{ Aug 24th 2006 at 10:30AM }
All right, so the subject line isn't a direct quote, but it's exactly how many gamers from days gone by feel. Lionhead's Peter Molyneux spoke at the Games Convention, talking about ways to switch up traditional combat games by removing hit points, adding one hit kills (Bushido Blade, anyone?) and more environment-player interaction. Valid points, sort of. An audience member asked how the Wiimote would treat these ideas and he responded thus: "If you wanted to make a big difference, where's the best place to make that difference? I think the controller is definitely it. There's no doubt in my mind that controllers are changing, and they're changing really fast."Good answer, right? He wasn't done. "I've realized I'm an incredibly lazy person when I play games, and actually slouching back on the sofa, playing on my beer belly, is my most comfortable position. When I have to get up, it's painful. I make noises and start grunting." Yeah. Many will agree that sitting in a straight, upright position (let alone having room to stand to move around with your controller) isn't their favorite way of playing games. Basically, the rest of his argument stated that the physical exertion (though little) isn't what gamers want to do for hours at a time. 20 minutes, sure. What does everyone think? If more subtle, creative ways were thought up to utilize the motion-sensitive controllers of tomorrow, is that better than waving it around like a sword for however long a game is? Or do you not mind swinging a fake sword, baseball bat, etc, for more than an hour at a time?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fan @ Aug 24th 2006 11:16AM
I guess hes old or something.
When I play console games I allways sit at the tip of my couch arms resting on my knees trying to maintain a 90 degree angle.
If you sit and slouch as he calls it you reactions and moves are not as well executed.
Same thing when I play PC games. Keep my feet on the ground, 90 degree angle for my arms and so on. It puts a bit of a strain on the body but you get better results.
David @ Aug 24th 2006 11:53AM
This guy is overrated.
insane_cobra @ Aug 24th 2006 12:15PM
He makes some valid points, you might get tired after some time of using a motion sensing controller, but is that so bad? I'd say it's actually good for you - it will force you to play in shorter sessions and you'll be even doing mild exercise when playing.
However, there's quite a difference between Sony and Nintendo controllers, not only in technology used, but also in ergonomics.
When playing with a DualShake, you need to hold it with both hands and you need to keep your hands in close proximity all the time. That could make waving around with it unpleasant and highly unpractical so DualShake will probably be best suited for tilting and a quick jab here and there.
Wiimote can be held in one hand and even when you use it in conjecture with a Nunchuck, your hands can be further apart and move independently (the longer the connecting cord, the better). That makes it well suited for swinging and other more elaborate moves.
While you'd probably get tired more quickly when playing with a Wiimote (providing a game requires you to swing it around), DualShake might put more strain on your wrists as your hands will be pretty much locked in one position in relation to each other.
boots @ Aug 24th 2006 12:41PM
Isn't it ironic that his guy was dying to work with the Wii controller, and all of a sudden, after Lionhead Studios was bought by Microsoft, he says he is "lazy"? Oh wait, it's not "irony". It's hypocrisy!
Andir2.0 @ Aug 24th 2006 12:50PM
If I can get away with it (mainly RPGs) I'll lay on the couch and set the controller at my waist and play. A few times (like in Burnout, concentrating on a particular race) I'm actually looking forward to HD gaming even. Sometimes, even on a 52" screen, low def games are hard to see what's next in a high speed race. I look way into the distance when I play. I'll actually sit at the edge of my seat to see better. I prefer the potato method though if I can do it. And no, I'm not fat if that's what your thinking. When I'm home, I relax. Most times I even put my feet up on the coffee table. That's the main reason motion sensing and I won't get along.
ndoerr @ Aug 24th 2006 2:12PM
When I play games, I generally have my back to the arm of the couch, so I can put my feet up on the couch. Controller? At the waist. Me? Completely relaxed. This is how I play any game and my results don't exactly vary. I do, however, sit up straight when a pretty intense challenge is presented (Final Fantasy X-2... calibrating the lightning towers was quite aggravating).
In short, I'm fine with jabbing, but still wary about waving the arms. Not because I'm lazy, but because I won't be relaxing when I play games. Relaxation, to me, is the whole reason I play them.
Aragorn @ Aug 24th 2006 3:11PM
molyneux.... the third most annoying game designer out there, right behind Kojima, and Warren Specter.
bub @ Aug 24th 2006 3:12PM
I want the movement. If I get exercize waving my arms around, great. So what if it's tiring? Your body will compensate. Look at conductors, for symphonies. Some of the healthiest guys around. Turns out, all that arm waving is great for your heart.
Ken @ Aug 24th 2006 3:48PM
My advice would be this: go out and buy either an Eye Toy or any DDR game w/ a dancepad. Play either (or both) daily. By the time PS3 and Wii come out, you'll be in great shape and be ready to play motion related games as long as you like.
Aragorn @ Aug 24th 2006 4:00PM
Well... no one has really got ahold of any motion sensing controllers out there... so it's kinda early to judge whether or not it works. Having the tilt functionality in the Duel Shock works, cuz actually using the tilt function isn't a pre-requisite.
The same kinda goes for the Wii, since they do have standard controller for it… just depends on the game.
My take on the motion sensing controllers is that in order to work it effectively is that you’re gonna have to stand… the only problem with this is that I am gonna have to move my TV in order to do this. Otherwise, I don’t see any problems with fatigue… if my arms get tired, I drop everything to waist level.
For the record, I usually sit cross legged, and hunched forward.
boots @ Aug 24th 2006 5:43PM
Aragorn:
You forgot about John Carmack, Mark Rein and Tomonobu Itakagi. =)
Aragorn @ Aug 24th 2006 6:24PM
Heh heh heh heh :) yeah....
Actually not really. They're bottom feeders by comparison to those I mentioned. ID is gonna be crushed under the weight of the Unreal Engine due to John Carmack's stubborn lack of foresight.
Mark Rein... who's mark Rein? Need I say more?
Tomonobu Itakagi... truth be told, I have no problem with him. Actually, that's not true. The guy comes off as a tramendous d-bag, but the thing is that he knows how to make a game. Sure, he has absolutely no sense of aesthetics, but in my world, Ninja Gaident, and DOA4 stand out as the over-rulling monarchs in their respected genres (I know many disagree with me, but I personally think that no other games compare).
I kinda regard itagaki the way I regard erika badou... he's got the goods (design sense/spectacular voice), so they can act however the hell they want (or do whatever rediculous thing you want to do with their hair). Hell, Itagaki can walk around in cut-offs and stilletos, and I wouldn't think any less of the guy.
... well I might get a good laugh.
gben @ Aug 24th 2006 8:26PM
I think some of us older folks relate motion sensing in games to things like the "Power Glove". The concept seemed cool as a kid (or I was just a sucker for advertising): You could punch to make the character punch, sway your hand from side to side to steer a car or a plane, etc... Soon though the reality of it sets in with your arm and hand cramping up, and after about 15 minutes you say the hell with it.
I just hope that this generation of motion sensing will actually be fun and so far i think it looks pretty promising.
Duscrom @ Aug 25th 2006 1:24AM
I kinda agree. Motion-sensing is something i have to see to believe. But I'm not the type to let some corperation tell me what I'm supposed to enjoy. It's not about "It's good for my heart" or "i need the exercise" Games aren't about excercising and not excercising.. it's about what, I, as a person, enjoy. I'f I want to be lazy when I'm relaxing or playing games.. Then I'm lazy.. but it's my choice, and it's what i enjoy.
Mark W @ Aug 26th 2006 9:37AM
You know, I wasn't crazy about motion sensing before, but after reading the MGS4 screencap thread and thing thing about the new RE game using motion sensing to aim the gun, I realized that motion sensing to aim the gun is perfect. Aiming is SO clumsy with the D-pad or analog stick, aiming using motion would fix so many problems with so many games.