Traditional gaming on the way out?

KNiVES

KNiVES

KNiVES

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http://xboxfamily.com/xf/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1107&Itemid=2

If what we’re hearing out of Saratoga, California is true, Xbox 360 owners can expect to be playing motion sensing games, much like that of the Wii or PS3, by the end of next year. The details are still sketchy, but it appears a first-party add-on to existing controllers may be the delivery method of the technology. More after the jump:

Hardcore gamers have known for sometime that it’s not too difficult to add motion-sensing functionality to the 360. With homebrew add-ons being worked on for the last year or so like the Xilt mod , it seemed only a matter of time before MS decided to release their own peripheral.

It appears Microsoft has contracted the Saratoga, California firm, Gyration to handle the peripheral. If that name sounds familiar, it’s for good reason. Gyration is the company responsible for the prototype designs of the Nintendo Wii-mote, which we all know has become a huge success. Most recently, the company was in the spotlight for creating a motion-sensing remote for Microsoft’s Media Center.

While details are still a bit thin on when “exactly” we’ll see this technology, we’re still excited at the prospect of new interactivity with our Xbox 360 games. There's also no word on whether or not the new add-on will incorporate the motion-sensing technology that MS successfully patented last year.
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It's like I said to some of the OcUK guys in the Warcraft guild, the Wii may have done the gaming industry a lot of damage by introducing the money-making waggle feature to gaming, drawing in the money but totally ignoring the gameplay and substance stakes. The other developers would start to see that interactive motion sensing controls on short-term games are where the cash is at, then they would start investing and getting similair equipment out. I hate to exagerate, but this is it, if Microsoft really does go this way - then bye bye hardcore gaming experiences, nice knowing ya!

Before you start going 'oh you're a complete loony, trolling as usual', think about it - a money-centric company taking a look at the Wii and seeing just how much money it rolls in, and just how massive the audience reach are. They lost their first position already, despite a year head-start. If I was a fat exec at Microsoft with no clue about gaming, and don't care what gamers think - I would do the same right now and tell the people below to stop making such expensive games and copy the thing that's kicking my ass right now. It's business. Think about it.
 
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if i'd been a gaming exec 5 years ago i'd have gone 'you know what we need to do to innovate?! we need to rehash old sequels of popular franchises and just update the graphics. pretty graphics will sell consoles more than working out new forms of gameplay!'

the wii is in no way bad for the gaming market, the wii is simply the first step of integration and it's simply not going to infringe on popular 'hardcore' games because there will always be a market for them. the video games industry is huge and always increasing and within that market there is enough demand for a huge array of titles. To be honest if we did see some scaling back of the processing power increase in the next generation i'd guess it would be as much to do with companies noticing losses more severe than expected on the hardware side of thing and particularly with sony i doubt they'll go in at the same price point again as they did this time.
 
Give me a standard controller or keyboard/mouse any day, this swing my hands around and stuff doesn't appeal at all to me, I really hope the next generation of consoles stick to basics.

At least PC gaming won't be moving in any absurd direction anytime soon.
 
I can't see how popularising motion control has anything to do with money grabbing or not making hardcore games. Games allow us to do things we can't do in real life, and anything that makes it more like real life, like motion sensing, makes it more immersive. I hope motion sensing is way forwards. Playing an FPS and the game being able to sense my head-movements, ducking and leaning would be awesome, much better than pushing buttons on a keyboard, or even worse, trying to aim with a control pad.

Atleast Nintendo is doing something different rather than churning out sequels, yeah there are plenty of shallow games around for the Wii, but they're quick fun and don't pretend to be anything else. SMG on the other hand is a great game and handles superbly, as does Resident Evil and Metroid Prime.
 
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Minstadave said:
Atleast Nintendo is doing something different rather than churning out sequels, yeah there are plenty of shallow games around for the Wii, but they're quick fun and don't pretend to be anything else. SMG on the other hand is a great game and handles superbly, as does Resident Evil and Metroid Prime.
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Churning out sequels? That's what Nintendo do best!
 
But atleast they add more than just prettier graphics. Look at the Mario series, it lead the way in 2D and 3D platformers and now they've bought it to the Wii in style.

Then there's Halo 1/2/3 which are all practically the same game.
 
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It's got nothing to do with the actual technology, it's been around for 10 years. It's what you DO with it that matters.

If an Xbox360 add on comes along that allows you to waggle the controller to fight ye olde snake monster in ye olde cobweb ridden dungeon, then it's gonna be a bit crap.

If however, the add on allows you to pan a map on screen by moving your hands ala-minority report, scroll through screens with a wave of the hand or the like, then bring it on!!
 
You could say traditional gaming the way we knew it is on the way out. Eastern game developers are really struggling now, especially against the Western developers who release a lot more games and games that sell well too. There's a good Interview with Akira Yamaoka on GamaSutra.
 
give me a d-pad or analogue sticks anyday over motion sensors gimmicks, its the 1st thing i turn OFF on the PS3 sixaxis and one of the reasons i sold my Wii, its just plain annoying and no fun what so ever for me
 
I'll agree, the motion sensing stuff just doing feel very good. It's okay for party games on the Wii, but I struggle to enjoy anything that tries to use it seriously both on the Wii or PS3. Thankfully PS3 games are using it less, though I did get a few amusing deaths on Uncharted from the motion sense coming out of nowhere :p.
 
A mate has been using the head movement thingy on PC for ages now & loves it. Sits on his head & when he looks about his head incar moves the same. Apparently great for close battles etc.
Anyway.
Any business will only gradually release any new tech to see whether its punters will go for it.
All business is about giving the customer what he wants. If the customers buy it then it becomes widespread Not the other way around.
 
nokkonwud said:
I'll agree, the motion sensing stuff just doing feel very good. It's okay for party games on the Wii, but I struggle to enjoy anything that tries to use it seriously both on the Wii or PS3. Thankfully PS3 games are using it less, though I did get a few amusing deaths on Uncharted from the motion sense coming out of nowhere :p.
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I'd stop playing games. Can you imagine of COD4 you had to pump your arms like Mario Olympics to run and then slash out with the wii mote to knife. Then aim effectively light a light gun game.

That has its place in the market but there are still more hours where I want to just sit in a chair, kick back with a beer where 1 inch finger movements are all thats required.

I can see why MS and Sony will follow the Wii in the next gen. They can see how its brought in new players and a whole new section of untapped money. If they then destroy the great work they have done with gamepad gaming for something I have to flap about I will rebuild my pc.
 
Y'see I really don't agree with what people are saying.

The Wii has come along with a brand new approach and it's exactly what I and others said BEFORE it came out, it's an incredible system, totally revolutionary but the developers are just gonna milk it sour and just add on 'gimmicky' stuff to existing games.

While Mario Galaxy is a fantastic game, it could be done just as well on a traditional controller, I'll give you that. But one game for me that stood out was Korinpina. I'd LOVE to be able to play Switchball on the Xbox with the same control method as the Wii, it's a sensible alternative to a control pad and something that works brilliant.

FPS's with motion sensing could be incredible if done right. I think it's safe to say that the Wii method just isn't right for an FPS. It works well, but for long battles or hours of gameplay like we have here, pointing something at the screen is just tiresome. Far easier to let your arms rest on a desk, on your lap, etc, etc. But imagine COD5 with a motion sensor as small as a wireless headset. Nothing gimmicky, nothing like a miners helmet on your head or some huge VR glasses, but something that's small, practical, none obtrusive and aesthetic - again maybe a built in wireless headset with built in sensor, about a year it'll be easily possible. So your playing COD5, something throws a flash grenade, quick turn of the head to avoid the flash rather than a turn of the thumb sticks (because your natural reaction is to turn away), and you're sorted!

As mentioned above, same sensor could be used in a flight sim. Left thumbstick for pitch/yaw, with a turn of the head to change your view. How many times have you played a GOOD fight-flight sim wondering where the hell you're getting showed with bullets from and having to mess around changing view on keyboard or thumbstick? Quick turn of the head in every direction and you can find out.

Menu systems would be a joy with motion sensing too. None of this down-down-down, click-click-click of a controller. Pause the game, bring up a menu, sweep hand to the left to show a map, point in mid-space to pan map, stab of finger to zoom in and sweep hand down to close. FAR FAR quicker than a controller where you have to spend a second or two moving the crosshair of where you want to zoom into.

Developers have RUINED what was potentially a new revolution in gaming now and it's gonna take a lot to turn it around. But I've every faith that if done right, the controller won't be replaced but will have a nice technology to compliment it.
 
If all games start to use motion sensing stuff then I think I'll lose interest. The wii is fun for when you come back from the pub with your mates, throw your arms around for a bit and end up in a drunken pile on the floor. But for everyday gaming no thanks, the missus uses the sixaxis on my PS3 to steer on Motorstorm but that's as far as it goes in this house. I bought consoles to sit back and relax a bit on my sofa, I don't want to be flinging my arms around looking like a mutant to someone walking past outside.
D-pad yes, wii mote no.
 
I think it's all down to the games really, playing wii play & other types of mini games can get tedious quickly but i could sit and play Super Mario Galaxy for hours. But as danny said i wouldn't want to play games like cod 4 with it(especially on veteran :p)
 
Surely evolution in gaming is what's traditional. I mean, I started playing computer games in the 80s with games like Treasure Island Dizzy and Shinobi - these games are hardly mainstream anymore as it's all new fangled 3d fps and the like ;)

I'll get back to wearing my slippers now :p :)
 
KNiVES said:
It's like I said to some of the OcUK guys in the Warcraft guild, the Wii may have done the gaming industry a lot of damage by introducing the money-making waggle feature to gaming, drawing in the money but totally ignoring the gameplay and substance stakes.
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:rolleyes:

You can have substance with the new controls. 3D put an end to "traditional" gaming of the time, so did game saves. Did they damage the industry?

Damn band wagons.
 
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