Console Gaming
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I like this quite a lot. Add my voice to the others that wish to have this on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I would read it any time it was put up.
Anyway, on motion controls: I agree with both parties, but only if the realms of motion controls and standard button fare remain separate. There are certain games were a bit of a flourish can really put you into the experience, and in those cases I think motion controls are absolutely king. This generation has failed to really grab me on more than one or two titles, but I think as the technology progresses, we'll eventually get to a killer app that absolutely everyone has to have (something more endearing than Wii Sports please). When that happens, I'll be on board in an instant. However, I find a majority of my experiences to be far more enjoyable with the simpler control schemes. As Yahtzee said, it is all about escapism, and how would more complex motion control schemes make your favorite game more immersive? The more I have to think about the control scheme, the less I am going to be enjoy slaying dragons or whatever other creature happens to be standing in my way.
I also found MovieBob's comparison to the near film crash to be a great comparison to what we may be steadily approaching next generation. Yahtzee and Extra Credits also have touched on this sort of thing in the past, so I think it's very important that we as gamers take note. Triple-A productions are getting to a realm of absolute absurdity, and we're very steadily approaching very unknown territory as far as hardware developers are concerned. What happens if it turns out that Sony and Microsoft bet on the wrong horse with this motion control stuff and make it a key feature in their next systems? Since they fight over formats and graphics while Nintendo has been more about artistic design, they can very easily tank and lose millions on huge projects that their fanbases might ultimately not have any interest in. Then of course we'll have to rely on the indy gaming industry and current software developers to hopefully stand behind projects that are actually in touch with what fans want. Either way, the idea of a crash is a very real and quite disturbing prospect.
Anyway, I'd once again like to say that this was a great idea guys. Keep it coming.
Anyway, on motion controls: I agree with both parties, but only if the realms of motion controls and standard button fare remain separate. There are certain games were a bit of a flourish can really put you into the experience, and in those cases I think motion controls are absolutely king. This generation has failed to really grab me on more than one or two titles, but I think as the technology progresses, we'll eventually get to a killer app that absolutely everyone has to have (something more endearing than Wii Sports please). When that happens, I'll be on board in an instant. However, I find a majority of my experiences to be far more enjoyable with the simpler control schemes. As Yahtzee said, it is all about escapism, and how would more complex motion control schemes make your favorite game more immersive? The more I have to think about the control scheme, the less I am going to be enjoy slaying dragons or whatever other creature happens to be standing in my way.
I also found MovieBob's comparison to the near film crash to be a great comparison to what we may be steadily approaching next generation. Yahtzee and Extra Credits also have touched on this sort of thing in the past, so I think it's very important that we as gamers take note. Triple-A productions are getting to a realm of absolute absurdity, and we're very steadily approaching very unknown territory as far as hardware developers are concerned. What happens if it turns out that Sony and Microsoft bet on the wrong horse with this motion control stuff and make it a key feature in their next systems? Since they fight over formats and graphics while Nintendo has been more about artistic design, they can very easily tank and lose millions on huge projects that their fanbases might ultimately not have any interest in. Then of course we'll have to rely on the indy gaming industry and current software developers to hopefully stand behind projects that are actually in touch with what fans want. Either way, the idea of a crash is a very real and quite disturbing prospect.
Anyway, I'd once again like to say that this was a great idea guys. Keep it coming.
On the subject of motion controls, I'm more in line with Yahtzee's opinion. The time it takes to swing my sword by left mouse click is much less than it takes to swing my arm and I just find myself more comfortable with that.
The only Wii game I liked was SSBB and that didn't even have motion controls.
The only Wii game I liked was SSBB and that didn't even have motion controls.
Absofuckinglutley awesome
We Saw some innovation with the Wii as it basically forced developers to change, as apposed to the PS3 and Xbox, just giving HD versions of their former self, so a lot of developers just gave HD versions of their former games. Sometimes we need that push, as Bob pointed out with the Film industry... not that we want that to happen.
We Saw some innovation with the Wii as it basically forced developers to change, as apposed to the PS3 and Xbox, just giving HD versions of their former self, so a lot of developers just gave HD versions of their former games. Sometimes we need that push, as Bob pointed out with the Film industry... not that we want that to happen.
From Yahtzee:
This highlights exactly how I feel about the current console generation. Having started with a NES and looking at the jump in tech and games from previous generations the current PS3/360 leaves much to be desired in that area. They're still good games, but for the most part they're games that could have been made last gen with toned down graphics.
Motion control gaming isn't for everyone, and it could be for any number of reasons.
For me, trying to tilt the controller JUST SO never works out and I end up veering crazily and failing whatever I was supposed to be doing. When it comes to swinging or thrusting with the controller, it ends up that punching as I learned from martial arts does NOTHING while wild flailing got results along the lines of button mashing from a regular controller. And don't even get me started on the point-and-click interface with jittery hands that makes the cursor jump around no matter how still I try to hold. Something that actually looks at how I'm standing and reacts to that is out of the question simply because I lack the stamina to flail around as needed for more than maybe twenty minutes before hurting something. I'm just too physically frail for games that require physical work.
Other people have a better time interfacing with motion sensitive controllers and find them fun for those moments where you can (crudely) act out punches and kicks and watch the avatar pull off some cool move. It's easy to think that these people would be in great shape, or at least close enough to it, but that doesn't mean that over- or underweight people couldn't get through a sport game and do very well.
A brain interface would be interesting to see some day, if only to see all the bugs that happen if the interface isn't fully calibrated to a person's brain. I don't know if a full overwrite of the physical senses would be allowed right away, but those twitch-shooters would have a blast at not having any delay between seeing movement and turning to fire. It would also be fun to watch when their minds overreact and screws them in the end. *wicked grin*
TLDR: Motion controls are not for everyone. Brain interface could get buggy. Watch spazzy shooters twirl at real or game sounds in their ear.
For me, trying to tilt the controller JUST SO never works out and I end up veering crazily and failing whatever I was supposed to be doing. When it comes to swinging or thrusting with the controller, it ends up that punching as I learned from martial arts does NOTHING while wild flailing got results along the lines of button mashing from a regular controller. And don't even get me started on the point-and-click interface with jittery hands that makes the cursor jump around no matter how still I try to hold. Something that actually looks at how I'm standing and reacts to that is out of the question simply because I lack the stamina to flail around as needed for more than maybe twenty minutes before hurting something. I'm just too physically frail for games that require physical work.
Other people have a better time interfacing with motion sensitive controllers and find them fun for those moments where you can (crudely) act out punches and kicks and watch the avatar pull off some cool move. It's easy to think that these people would be in great shape, or at least close enough to it, but that doesn't mean that over- or underweight people couldn't get through a sport game and do very well.
A brain interface would be interesting to see some day, if only to see all the bugs that happen if the interface isn't fully calibrated to a person's brain. I don't know if a full overwrite of the physical senses would be allowed right away, but those twitch-shooters would have a blast at not having any delay between seeing movement and turning to fire. It would also be fun to watch when their minds overreact and screws them in the end. *wicked grin*
TLDR: Motion controls are not for everyone. Brain interface could get buggy. Watch spazzy shooters twirl at real or game sounds in their ear.
As soon as I saw this article, I heard the sound of 50,000 fanboys creaming their pants. Not me. I'm a fangirl. 
Seriously, the problem I have with motion controls is only partly that it takes longer to do the actual motion than just to indicate it with a button press or what have you. It's the entire overuse thing that was reported after the Wii originally came out. Overdoing the motions to the point of torn rotator cuffs, sore muscles, sprains and so on.
Seriously, the problem I have with motion controls is only partly that it takes longer to do the actual motion than just to indicate it with a button press or what have you. It's the entire overuse thing that was reported after the Wii originally came out. Overdoing the motions to the point of torn rotator cuffs, sore muscles, sprains and so on.
I like this. Is it going to turn (bi)weekly? And will you have other contributors -like Shamus Young, Paul Saunders/Graham Stark, or some of the staff, too? I love these three guys (especially James, although he didn't say much this time), but it would be interesting to hear different voices.
Dear Escapist members who are skeptical about motion controls:
Dance games are fun. Dance Central is some of the most fun I've had with my non-gaming wife and sister in years.
Why are you so critical of a $130 peripheral that could essentially be used only for the games you deem acceptable as motion controlled (driving sim, sword fighting, rail shooters, dance games, etc), and yet you profess your undying love for something like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Wasn't Rock Band just a $200 motion controller peripheral for pretending to be in a band? Why can't the Kinect and Move fill a similar niche?
I think that the gaming market has vastly expanded in the past decade, and like the hipster who whines about their favorite band becoming popular old school gamers are whining that their hobby is no longer as exclusive. Great AAA titles are still being made every year (Arkham Asylum, Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption, Alan Wake, etc) alongside the silly motion games like Dance Central or a Move capable Killzone 3.
Not only that, but the indie market has never been more accessible and available than it is right now. Thanks to digital distribution people who would never have even considered playing indie games are pouring money into titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Emberwind, Shank, and Limbo.
You are all taking on an overly negative view of gaming because you don't like the fact that its become mainstream, and our formerly exclusive-to-nerds hobby has become marketable.
I say bring on the casual gamers and the teeming masses, stop looking at the past with nostalgia tinted glasses, and realize that gaming now is at the best that its ever been. I feel privileged to be a part of the industry as it is today.
Dance games are fun. Dance Central is some of the most fun I've had with my non-gaming wife and sister in years.
Why are you so critical of a $130 peripheral that could essentially be used only for the games you deem acceptable as motion controlled (driving sim, sword fighting, rail shooters, dance games, etc), and yet you profess your undying love for something like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Wasn't Rock Band just a $200 motion controller peripheral for pretending to be in a band? Why can't the Kinect and Move fill a similar niche?
I think that the gaming market has vastly expanded in the past decade, and like the hipster who whines about their favorite band becoming popular old school gamers are whining that their hobby is no longer as exclusive. Great AAA titles are still being made every year (Arkham Asylum, Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption, Alan Wake, etc) alongside the silly motion games like Dance Central or a Move capable Killzone 3.
Not only that, but the indie market has never been more accessible and available than it is right now. Thanks to digital distribution people who would never have even considered playing indie games are pouring money into titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Emberwind, Shank, and Limbo.
You are all taking on an overly negative view of gaming because you don't like the fact that its become mainstream, and our formerly exclusive-to-nerds hobby has become marketable.
I say bring on the casual gamers and the teeming masses, stop looking at the past with nostalgia tinted glasses, and realize that gaming now is at the best that its ever been. I feel privileged to be a part of the industry as it is today.
I agree 100% with Yahtzee about motion/gesture controls.... IMO they are a STEP-down for gamers in general... I mean just look at all the games that have been produced with them? Those games can't compare at all to games that were made with traditional controls. Would I be able to ever play a game like HL2/TF2/RTS/MMO on a motion/gesture control.. no way in hell.
I will agree that motion/gesture controls are a STEP-up for casual/non-gamers. Pretty much gamers who have no clue what a good game really is and only play in social settings with other non-gamers.
The only thing I don't agree with Yahtzee on is the Star Trek Holodeck..... I would love to have that.
I will agree that motion/gesture controls are a STEP-up for casual/non-gamers. Pretty much gamers who have no clue what a good game really is and only play in social settings with other non-gamers.
The only thing I don't agree with Yahtzee on is the Star Trek Holodeck..... I would love to have that.
