It doesn’t take a genius to see that Motion controlled gaming is finally coming into fashion. It has been tried many times before, but because of the lacking technology hasn’t really been given the chance to take off. In recent years though, the technology at our disposal has developed so rapidly that what we didn’t think possible a couple of years ago can now be done with relative ease. The Wii jumped onto the scene in 2006 and took the market by storm; it introduced gaming to much wider and more mainstream audience, whilst providing a legitimate alternative from venturing outside to exercise. Since then, Sony have announced their state of the art Move controller, and Microsoft have also jumped on the bandwagon by showcasing their Natal system.
Although, is this really what the average gamer wants from a gaming experience? Personally, I think that Motion Controlled gaming does have a place in today’s market, but I don’t think that it provides a long term alternative from the traditional method of play. First off, there are several barriers that make motion control a much harder prospect, with the issue of space being one of the major problems. I only really realised this after playing Eyepet – I think that it took me about an hour to rearrange the room so that the conditions were playable, and even then I was continuously knocking against the sofa. This issue was again highlighted when Techflash recently claimed that you would need a playing area with a width and depth of four metres to use Microsoft’s Natal. Although these claims were immediately shot down, nothing has yet been clarified and this suggests that Microsoft could be working round something.
The second main issue that faces motion controlled gaming is whether the gamer in question can actually be bothered to play. Life is a demanding thing, and sitting down with a controller in your hand doesn’t demand too much effort, and needless to say, standing on a balance board and swinging your arms about does. Although it could provide hours of drunken amusement, it may not be the first choice after a hard day at work.
I could go on about several other issues that hamper the Motion Control gaming method, but I think that it is best that I hand you over to the members of the StartGame staff. LiquescentShadow kicks us off with his thoughts on the matter.
Motion controlled gaming is a funny one for me, really. As far as gaming goes I’ll try anything, whether it’s a new way to play or an unusual genre, and won’t refuse to play something or condemn it early based on previews or past experiences (well, not fully condemn it anyway – I’m a bit grumpy at times). I was fairly open minded when I came to play a Wii for the first time, but I can’t say that the experience was overly enjoyable – just average. You can’t really do anything with motion tech that you can’t do with a regular controller (as far as the Wii is concerned), so I wasn’t struck. After all, it’s just waggling and pointing at the telly, which just makes you look like a bit of an idiot. Or one of the guys from The Tester.
I have played the EyeToy in the past, which is much more movement-orientated than the waggling of the Wii is, and that was slightly more enjoyable. No matter how much I played it, though, I couldn’t shake the fact that it only just felt like a gimmick, rather than a new way to play. Strangely enough it will be Natal that’s most similar to the EyeToy, but I once again can’t shake the feeling that it will come and go as a mere gimmick. Most gamers will try anything once, but unless it’s drastically different they’ll go back to old habits. Take a look at the Wii – many people bought them for the new experience, but they’re now gathering dust.
Whilst the PlayStation Move is probably the one I’m most looking forward to, I once again see it coming and going as a mere gimmick. Yes, it will be compatible with most games and yes, it’s extremely impressive at times, but I still don’t think it’s enough to drag gamers from old habits. Not because they’re lazy, just because a standard controller is perfect as a peripheral – so much so that the basic concept hasn’t been touched for over 20 years. The main comeback for that is that motion tech wasn’t really possible until recently but look at the EyeToy for proof. If the tech had taken off, the EyeToy would have been a prominent input device for the PS2 and would have had a successor on the PS3, more than has been seen with EyePet.
Only time will tell what comes of the various motion devices, and whilst I think they will bring interesting ways to play games (such as the LittleBigPlanet demo at GDC), they’ll never replace the standard controller or keyboard and mouse.
Although, Hodgi92 has a slightly more optimistic opinion…
My first motion gaming experience was with the Nintendo Wii, at a friend’s house. It was rather enjoyable actually, swinging a controller about to trigger actions on the TV and whilst never splashing the cash I have, for some reason, always wanted a Wii. Preconfigured waggle commands or not, the Wii is still great fun.
Last year’s E3 featured both Sony’s and Microsoft’s attempt to launch themselves into, much more casual, Wii territory by announcing Project Natal and what is now known as PlayStation Move. To me Natal looks nothing more than a next generation EyeToy (so a bit like EyePet, then) and, to put it simply, a bit pants. PlayStation Move, however, looks like what the Wii should have been. HD games and one-to-one tracking truly make PlayStation Move the ultimate motion controller providing it isn’t all lies) and the one that will be getting my Money come Autumn.
So, now we have all had the opportunity to air our opinion, I am handing the ball over to the community. Does Motion Control mark a new and innovative way to play games, or is it just a mere novelty that will eventually wear thin? Leave your opinion in the comments below so we can get a good idea whether Move will be the next big thing.
mynameisblair (75)
wick15 (17)
toutski (14)
Daywalker (13)
gazzagb (12)
I have a Wii and it was fun a first but didn’t have the substance to stand up to the Gaming giants that are Xbox and PS3. Now and then they bring out a new fun game, Super smash bros wii for example, but that lasts for about 5 hours and you’re bored.
Move on the other hand could be immense. Its the fact i can hold 2 controllers as a gun and Physically shoot people on screen, rather than just pointing at it and pressing B. Also, its the integration in to the PS3 games that really intrigues me. Playing Heavy rain while doing the actual movements would be insane, along with all the other things they have planned.
To conclude, On a system like the PS3, it’d be great but at some point ill think, well this is a bit tiring, i might just play it old school. And thus i am back to how we all play now. I’ like to see what they do with it.
The ‘move’ will be good as an optional peripheral, It’s like the sixaxis, I personally, don’t like to play using sixaxis as opposed to normal button control, but if someone finds it easier or more fun to play that way then I’m not going to condemn them.
Games that have ‘move’ functionality, shouldn’t have parts which are exclusively “move” controlled, i will still want the option to play without it. I don’t meant that there shouldn’t be games which are made for the move just like the ‘eyetoy’, there have to be games which are made specially for that type of peripheral, there always will be, and those games will be fun, provided you have the room and the energy to play them.
But it’s like the steering wheel, i find it tremendous fun, especially when you get the ones with the full 720 motion. But I don’t want to have to break out the wheel every time I feel like playing need for speed.
You see the problem with the Wii is the Nintendo conundrum. You like the game you just look like a pillock (nothing personal) playing them. Unfortunately for people who jumped (or should that be waggled) onto the Wii bandwagon early that’s all the games were. Developers going ahhhh motion control we must use that for something.
Several years later developers have come to their senses. Not every game has waggle. Thankfully motionplus has made the movements required less drastic. You don’t actually did to take a run up to swing your arm. I play most of my games from the comfort of my old battered leather armchair. The exceptions being Wii Fit.
I think motion control is a good thing, it’s let my family in on playing the games. Whilst some people get scared when their immediate family take an interest I think it’s great when a controller button-phobe like my mrs can switch on the Wii and have a bash at something. Bring on the motioncontrol for all consoles! Lets face it the more people playing games the better and more varied they should be.