BioWare: Motion Controls Will Make Games Better

[Lemon Of Life]

Not you Bioware! Don't be so damn stupid, this doesn't fit into your style of games at all!

 

[Snotnarok]

Gaming industry please realize this:

I, and the majority of gamers play games to relax. I don't want to be flailing my fucking arms around. If I wanted a realistic experience with shooting a gun I'd go to a shooting range, thing is I want to play a game.

 

[VulakAerr]

I'm looking forward to seeing what Bioware can do with Kinect, actually. Not necessarily motion controls but face/emotion-recognition and voice interaction. Apprehensive but optimistic.

 

[Legion]

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.

I agree. It seems like they are needing to comment on every single topic that comes up right now and they seem determined to get people annoyed at them (saying some games are not RPG's and so on).

Unless I saw from the first person perspective, my hand moving towards the person I was pushing (on the screen) as I did it in real life. It'd do absolutely nothing for immersion.

Even then, the fact that I can see whatever room I am in out of the corner of my eye will immediately kill that anyway, especially if there is anyone else in the room sitting down and watching me play.

 

[Stabby Joe]

Dam it Bioware! I found myself agreeing with all your recent comments but this is the exact opposite.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEAAASE don't mention motion control and Mass Effect in the same sentence, let alone put it into practice.

Hopefully this attitude will resonate in their forums.

Don't worry people. Mass Effect 3 will also be a PC title, so the game should be playable without Kinect. Unless they cancel the PC release. That would reaaaally suck.

But many, if not all fans will be wanting to import their MS1 and 2 characters.

 

[StANDY1338]

I liked it in godfather, Throwing someone off a ledge using the wee controls was pretty dammed awesome.

 

[OrdinaryGuy]

Gaming industry please realize this:

I, and the majority of gamers play games to relax. I don't want to be flailing my fucking arms around. If I wanted a realistic experience with shooting a gun I'd go to a shooting range, thing is I want to play a game.

That's what I've been saying ever since they announced the Wiimote.

Motion controls are just a gimmick, they add nothing to the game and actually break immersion. It's just a way for game companies to rake in money off casual gamers.

*slaps BioWare on the wrist*
"Shut up and get back to work on ME3"

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I welcome to Bioware to the optimistic discussions of four and five years ago. I expect my fellow gamers to get the point in another five years.

 

[SageRuffin]

[fingers in ears]

I'm not listening! I'm not listening!

Uh... quick! Leliana, say something in that sexy-ass accent of yours so i don't have to hear this mindless drivel!

[Leliana] Uh... something?

Ahh... much better.

 

[mattaui]

I thought the shoehorned 'push 1 for bad, push 2 for good' reactions into the ME2 encounter scenes were distracting enough in the way they were handled. Telling me, as the player, to push at the air in front of me rather than depressing a trigger is simply ridiculous. I've already -got- a controller in my hand. Or are you saying that I won't be playing a Kinect-enabled RPG with a controller at all, it'll just be a bunch of hand waving and arm sweeping? That's absolutely ridiculous. It would be like telling me how much better and more immersive it would be for me to be writing this out on my digital tablet rather than using my keyboard. Sure, I could do it, but is it better? Heck no.

 

[2up]

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.

I'm in agreement with you about the sheer amount of close-mindedness in this thread. Some people can't see past the arms flailing and looking like a dolt while playing arguments. Its as if they are so sure that Bioware and other game devs aren't aware of those concerns.

 

[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.

I'm in agreement with you about the sheer amount of close-mindedness in this thread. Some people can't see past the arms flailing and looking like a dolt while playing arguments. Its as if they are so sure that Bioware and other game devs aren't aware of those concerns.

Or it's as if everyone's seeing it as catering to the "casual" crowd, even though most "casual" gamers aren't actually going to do well in Super Mario Galaxy 2. If gamers see "motion control is just shorthand for 'easy' or 'casual,'" then they're forgoing any of the brilliant titles and technological advances that motion control can, and most likely will, bring to gaming. If people don't want to be a part of this, then they can stick to the graphics wars and stagnate, even if they're a fast-talking British game "critic."

 

[Snotnarok]

Gaming industry please realize this:

I, and the majority of gamers play games to relax. I don't want to be flailing my fucking arms around. If I wanted a realistic experience with shooting a gun I'd go to a shooting range, thing is I want to play a game.

That's what I've been saying ever since they announced the Wiimote.

Motion controls are just a gimmick, they add nothing to the game and actually break immersion. It's just a way for game companies to rake in money off casual gamers.

*slaps BioWare on the wrist*
"Shut up and get back to work on ME3"

No but what's pissing me off is everyone is saying "We don't want motion controls"

And all sorts of people in big companies are saying "No you really do, they're great!"

I dont care what console has motion control, I dont like them. Most people from what Ive seen don't either.

 

[duchaked]

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.

hahaha I was thinking the exact same thing (and a quick glance at the comments shows I'm def not the only one)

 

[ItsAPaul]

Actually let me correct myself: THIS is why they will never make a game as good as Baldur's Gate 2 again. Spoiler alert: MOTION CONTROLS ARE UNIMMERSIVE BIOWARE. I'll take that paycheck for pointing that out and saving you millions on retarded game designs now.

 

[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.

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.

Virtual reality goggles already exist, but it would drive up the cost substantially. You wouldn't have to jump, roll, and hurt yourself on the floor (which might not be big enough and might be wood) but make a motion which would cause the motion to happen. I would like the option of that rather than the button mashers which are all games today.

 

[Outamyhead]

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.

Makes a change from Ubisoft I guess

 

[Sewer Rat]

A Personal note to Bioware:
Bioware, you may be one of my favorite developers, but you really need to shut up.

 

[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.

Virtual reality goggles already exist, but it would drive up the cost substantially. You wouldn't have to jump, roll, and hurt yourself on the floor (which might not be big enough and might be wood) but make a motion which would cause the motion to happen. I would like the option of that rather than the button mashers which are all games today.

I said PROPER VR, today's VR sucks hard.