For those of you that don't know, Playstation Move, the new motion control mechanics for the PS3 was just unveiled officially at this year's GDC. It really looks like a similar (better) version of what the Wii is currently offering.
This whole motion controlled gaming movement really has me scared. I've seen what the Wii can do and played some of the games but there is only a very limited amount of titles that I get excited about. I've seen a little bit what Natal can do and quite honestly, I think it's worse than the Wii. Again this is according to very little information so I shouldn't jump to conclusions but I don't want to jump in my living room flailing my arms around trying to execute all kinds of activities. To my opinion controller free gaming can't be translated into anything more than casual mini-games. I don't see how Natal will succeed to be quite honest. It's really cool technology, especially for browsing your media, but how far can you go in terms of games? E3 2010 hopefully will clear up or confirm my skepticism with this device. And although Playstation Move looks to be the best of the three, it's more or less the Wii with better technology. I can't wait to see ACTUAL games on the device. SOCOM 4 didn't convince me yet, I think playing it would give me a better idea of what to expect. But the table tennis and other mini games, were of very little to no interest to me.
My fear is for the future of gaming. Obviously sales for hardcore games are really high right now and I shouldn't worry but what if Natal is succesfull along with Playstation Move? Sony announced that they would have a major marketing campaign for this technology and it goes without mention that Microsoft won't let Sony get a free ride. What if it explodes like the Wii did? More and more developpers will want to join in on the ride. Costs for developpement will drop, games won't be as complex and risky. Forget about games like Heavy Rain that push the limits of what a videogame should be.
I might be a pessimist but this is all possible. For at least a decade, every year has been better than the previous in terms of the quality of the games that are released. 2010 is already on pace of being an absolutely unbelievable year but I'm extremely worried about 2011 and beyond. When the Wii was announced, I honestly thought that this whole motion controlled gaming was going to be a fad but we're almost four years since its introduction to the market and I'm seeing the exact opposite. The future is still a mystery but I'm pretty sure hardcore gaming will take a massive hit from the success of the new offerings from Sony and Microsoft in the motion gaming market. The hit will be felt in the sheer amount of AAA titles released and the quality of those games. I might be of the traditional type, but I play games to relax and escape to another world, not to exercise and/or look like a complete idiot in front of my TV. I play/watch actual sports for that!
I can care less if Natal and Move succeed as long as I can have my traditional dual stick gaming unaffected. E3 2010 will give us much further info on the future we can expect for the coming years and I'll be front row center to witness it.
On a side note, how many Wii titles since its release won an end of year award or just got nominated? Not many that is!
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I partially agree.
Agreed. Gaming as I know it will die if this continues.
Good write up. I also partially agree and have raised similar fears in previous postings. I don't think current core gaming would ever disappear but it could become more of a niche market. Just as the popularity rise of consoles stole some spotlight and some developers/games away from the PC gaming market, so will casual gaming do unto current core gaming.
gaming is going to end if they keep on releasing these things
Here is my opinion on motion controls for what it's worth:
I wouldn't be too worried about massive adoption for the main reason that not every PS3 and 360 in the world will have the controls unlike the Wii, which is built around them. When a Wii game is made, the software company is assured that the game is accessible to the entire userbase. Now if the NATAL and Move take off and say it penetrates %25 to %40 of the userbase on each console then you might see adoption and a move toward motion controls.
Quite frankly, this will probably more than anything else bring an end to almost all third-party Wii exclusives; they will become multiplat, which is a win for the publishers I guess. Now, what could be a potential bugaboo is that third-party development might start focusing more on releasing motion control games across all three platforms. The only place in my opinion that you will see a focus on the technology and the drive to bring about anything other than what we have seen on the Wii will be first and second party development.
Again, the only way that I see motion controls becoming mainstream on the PS3 and 360 is if enough people buy the controls to begin with and how many motion games sell early on; that is the key. With the fact that no PS3s or 360s sold thus far came packaged with one, (like the Wii), I don't believe that there is anything to worry about especially with how the current PS3/360 gamers have already tasted great graphics; they probably will not be accepting of anything too downgraded.
I do, however, believe that it is nice to have the choice to have motion controls without having to buy and support another console.
We will see, I could be wrong...