BioWare: Motion Controls Will Make Games Better

[Heart of Darkness]

I am headdesking at the sheer amount of close-mindedness in this thread.

Yes, he has a point. Motion control is, believe it or not, a way to actually increase immersion in games. More importantly, this tech is a stop on a way to further increasing entertainment technology AND story-telling, namely through the use of VR and holodeck technology. Think of it this way--what's more immersive: pressing A to hit something, or to actually throw a punch?

Yes, there is no physical feedback. Yes, it does have it's share of issues. All new tech is, however, and it's only compounded by the fact that video game tech is designed to remain on the market for years with little to no improvements. But this is why we have new tech in the first place--to get consumer feedback on how to make it better, or ditch it entirely. If you actually want your VR or your holodecks, you're not going to be able to get it in a night. You need to take these things in steps.

Yes, it's a gimmick. But so was Blu-Ray. And HD. And rumble feedback. And handheld videogaming. And console gaming. And analog sticks. And shoulder buttons. And arcades. Get my point? Saying something is a gimmick is a strawman, and utterly worthless. Only time is going to tell if this tech is profitable and the direction the industry wants to move in--and, judging by the success of the Wii and the advent of Move and Kinect, that's the direction we're moving in, like it or not. I've heard books are a cheaper alternative, anyway.

 

[DeathWyrmNexus]

These day, whenever I see "Bioware: ____________" as a News Room title...I know something stupid is on its way. I like these guys...but they need to shut up.

I don't think that making hand gestures like I'm conversing in real life at a FLAT SCREEN is going to add to my "immersion".

It'd actually break it, because I'd be distracted by the whole "looking like an idiot" thing.

Yes, this. Most emphatically this. Big looking like an idiot factor. I don't need to suddenly become more self conscious of the fact that I'm already trash talking a game.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Wow for all gamers bitching about wanting something orriginal and progressive they certainly hate anything that isn't 14 buttons and two sticks, or Mouse and Keyboard.

Rather than seeing if they could do something cool with it, you go straight to whining about bioware being sellouts/stupid/whatever.

 

[Quad08]

Rather than seeing if they could do something cool with it, you go straight to whining about bioware being sellouts/stupid/whatever.

Quoted for truth. Well said good sir

 

[Lonan]

I'm disappointed that he would cave to the obese losers who are against motion controls. I very much liked what he said before though.

we prefer the term, bodyly satisfied non-socialists.
but anyway, motioncontrols make something more immersive, but others not. like tetris, or pacman. and non-realistic but still semi-realistic games (like tf2). but it could work for most slash games, i guess

I think it's a natural progression of technology. For example, the embarrassment of gaming that is RPG's are made possible by the King Leonidas and his 300 pixels on the screen and incredibly lacking computing technology. As technology progresses, this ultra simple gaming systems need to become a thing of the past, and let the fat old men use their soviet era equipment to the day they die if that will satisfy them, while those of us who do not cause worry among earthquake monitors when they walk will look upon the technology of the second decade of the 21st century with a smile, rather than a complaint that it will prevent you from lying on a couch eating chips and being in a mindless trance.

 

[Lonan]

I'm disappointed that he would cave to the obese losers who are against motion controls. I very much liked what he said before though.

Why would someone being obese be against pushing the controller forward to push a guy away, it's not like the commands are: "To shoot, drop and give me 20 push-ups". Claiming that not liking motion controls means you're an Obese loser is ignorant bigotry.

The fact is, it's unwieldy and breaks the immersion by making you do something that makes you look like an idiot, unless they can manifest holograms in the room for you to push, it's not going to feel immersive, it's just going to make you very aware that you are controlling a game.

It's like when you first tried modern controllers, and every time you shot, you had to think "which button again? Oh yeah, R-trigger" for a little bit, it's going to be like that all the time, and it will RUIN immersion.

I am a massive Bioware fan, the biggest fan I could possibly be, but I do NOT agree with this statement.

You would have to walk the entire time, you would have to physically do everything, and be standing up the whole time. It would be much more immersive than being in a mindless trance to anyone who is looking at you. As for having to remember waht does what, not only is that a part of every game, this would allow you to do everything as if it was real. It would take some getting used to, you wouldn't be able to sit down except to watch strippers, but it would be very realistic and therefore immersive. To shoot, pull you're finger back as if you were pulling a trigger. Or, if could come with a simple plastic, hollow gun that the motion capture could pick up the movements of. It would GREATLY improve immersion, the kinks just have to be worked out.

 

[Cody211282]

Hmm...I'm smelling a Microsoft bribe somewhere...

One of the most common things I hate on game forums is bribe conspiracies, something fanboys would usually say...

...but I really REALLY want this one to be true! At least then it will mean Bioware hasn't lost their mind.

Well I think they have after seeing the stuff for Dragon Age 2

 

[_Cake_]

I was giggling like a tween the whole time I saw the love scene in Dragon Age cause I was expecting it to cut to black and make some sexy-time noises like Fable. With motion controls I think I'm gonna die of blushing.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

er no the only way motion controls will work is if you split a PS2 dual shock pad in half and give it more sensitivity than what the WII has and its completely wireless no damn infra red line of shight BS....

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Yeah I'm open to new technology creating new mechanics, but I don't see how this idea would work. In the above scenario, I envisage one of two things being developed. Either:

A) The player is prompted to make a shoving motion in place of pressing a button.
- In this case, we haven't really progressed at all. The player is not being taught to react naturally, he has to wait for his options to appear on screen before he can make his choice: hence it's no more immersive than pressing a button. The input isn't the issue here, it's the prompting of the game.

B) The game is coded so that it reacts dynamically to the player's actions, so that the player creates these moments themselves.
- Where do you draw the line here? Does this mean you control the entire game through Kinect? In that case, how does it interpret firing a gun with tiny trigger finger moves? Or do you switch between the two control systems? If so, that's breaking immersion right there. Sit down and press buttons to play this section, get up and wave your arms about for this section. Also, the amount of programming time it would take to make every NPC fall over from cue as a response to a movement from the player would be project-breaking. And don't forget that gamers are an odd lot, and I can envisage a lot of signals being sent to the controller that originate from the groin.

 

[Kuilui]

Yeah I'm open to new technology creating new mechanics, but I don't see how this idea would work. In the above scenario, I envisage one of two things being developed. Either:

A) The player is prompted to make a shoving motion in place of pressing a button.
- In this case, we haven't really progressed at all. The player is not being taught to react naturally, he has to wait for his options to appear on screen before he can make his choice: hence it's no more immersive than pressing a button. The input isn't the issue here, it's the prompting of the game.

B) The game is coded so that it reacts dynamically to the player's actions, so that the player creates these moments themselves.
- Where do you draw the line here? Does this mean you control the entire game through Kinect? In that case, how does it interpret firing a gun with tiny trigger finger moves? Or do you switch between the two control systems? If so, that's breaking immersion right there. Sit down and press buttons to play this section, get up and wave your arms about for this section. Also, the amount of programming time it would take to make every NPC fall over from cue as a response to a movement from the player would be project-breaking. And don't forget that gamers are an odd lot, and I can envisage a lot of signals being sent to the controller that originate from the groin.

Oh god all those poor sexually assaulted npcs. They'll never see it coming. My personal opinion on all of this (not that anyone cares, but I'm bored) is that it COULD work. Screw it Microsoft and Sony want their motion control stuff to work so bad. Let it be in some games as long as an option shows up saying (Do you want to use kinect/move in this game yes/no) I don't care. Chances are motion control will go away eventually but as long as it doesn't become invasive I don't care, not sure why anyone else does either.

 

[Lonan]

I'm disappointed that he would cave to the obese losers who are against motion controls. I very much liked what he said before though.

Why would someone being obese be against pushing the controller forward to push a guy away, it's not like the commands are: "To shoot, drop and give me 20 push-ups". Claiming that not liking motion controls means you're an Obese loser is ignorant bigotry.

The fact is, it's unwieldy and breaks the immersion by making you do something that makes you look like an idiot, unless they can manifest holograms in the room for you to push, it's not going to feel immersive, it's just going to make you very aware that you are controlling a game.

It's like when you first tried modern controllers, and every time you shot, you had to think "which button again? Oh yeah, R-trigger" for a little bit, it's going to be like that all the time, and it will RUIN immersion.

I am a massive Bioware fan, the biggest fan I could possibly be, but I do NOT agree with this statement.

You would have to walk the entire time, you would have to physically do everything, and be standing up the whole time. It would be much more immersive than being in a mindless trance to anyone who is looking at you.

I like your illusion of motion control. You will be standing in one spot flailing your arms. If you had to actually walk to move the character, then you'd need a large area to play.

It's not an illusion, you just don't think enough. You just have to lift you're legs to walk, and jog on the spot to run. Rather than arbitrary run limits, you're ability to run could be based on this. It's really not that hard if you think about it. Or would that be to offensive an idea to the obese old people?

 

[Moriarty70]

You know that grandfather you really love? You know how painful it is to watch him descend into senility? You know how you brush off and forgive that first sign instead of paying closer attention?

Yeah. I love you grandpa Bio.

 

[Danpascooch]

I'm disappointed that he would cave to the obese losers who are against motion controls. I very much liked what he said before though.

Why would someone being obese be against pushing the controller forward to push a guy away, it's not like the commands are: "To shoot, drop and give me 20 push-ups". Claiming that not liking motion controls means you're an Obese loser is ignorant bigotry.

The fact is, it's unwieldy and breaks the immersion by making you do something that makes you look like an idiot, unless they can manifest holograms in the room for you to push, it's not going to feel immersive, it's just going to make you very aware that you are controlling a game.

It's like when you first tried modern controllers, and every time you shot, you had to think "which button again? Oh yeah, R-trigger" for a little bit, it's going to be like that all the time, and it will RUIN immersion.

I am a massive Bioware fan, the biggest fan I could possibly be, but I do NOT agree with this statement.

You would have to walk the entire time, you would have to physically do everything, and be standing up the whole time. It would be much more immersive than being in a mindless trance to anyone who is looking at you. As for having to remember waht does what, not only is that a part of every game, this would allow you to do everything as if it was real. It would take some getting used to, you wouldn't be able to sit down except to watch strippers, but it would be very realistic and therefore immersive. To shoot, pull you're finger back as if you were pulling a trigger. Or, if could come with a simple plastic, hollow gun that the motion capture could pick up the movements of. It would GREATLY improve immersion, the kinks just have to be worked out.

The thing is, no matter how cool the motions are, I'm still just doing weird motions with my arms in my living room, until we have proper Virtual Reality, no control style is going to feel particularly immersive, so the second best thing to having the control style enhance gameplay (which isn't possible at this point), is to make it as thoughtless and unobtrusive as possible so that we aren't thinking of it, and instead are fully engaged in the game, which controllers do nicely, because after you get used to them it's completely automatic.

Not to mention the fact that (call me an obese lazy asshole if you want) but I play games to relax, if I wanted to work out, I'd work out, and with what you're describing, it would be ridiculously annoying. Imagine Mass Effect, sure I could dive behind that cover, but I don't really want to jump and slam my body against the floor right now, so I'll settle for crouching, and then get killed over it.

Motion controls have potential, maybe in a decade, but NOT NOW.

 

[Burst6]

Unless they actually figure out a way to make me feel like I'm actually pushing the guy I'm not going to get immersed. When i push out into emptiness it just reminds me that I'm playing a game. Unless they make force feedback I definitely won't be satisfied. I hope they don't make it a requirement. I like Bioware.

 

[Kelethor]

Noo, Noo! guys, your blowing it! Motion controls will be the down fall of RPG's and story driven games!

We won't care how well written the story is or how we take down the blight when we can fondle Morrigan's Tits!

(By we, I mean the majority of nay sayers and sheep who are willing to bash a product before its even available on the market. seriously guys, I understand that it's cool to bash things, but try to have a little faith.)

 

[Rad Party God]

Just as Yahtzee said, if there's still not a way to connect my brain to The Matrix and do whatever the developer intended to do, then I'm happy for now to simply move my thumbs and fingers.