Console Gaming

[Dragonpit]

Okay, now we have something good. This is truly a very informative segment to look into, especially since Yahtzee pushed for disagreements. Because of that, we now have a more fulfilling piece because it pushes people to really think about where they stand. I can't wait to see more.

That said, I can't say I agree with what Yahtzee thinks is the future for gaming: that is the neural interface thing. There are several things that hamper this as a possible future, with human beings themselves being the greatest hindrance.

Problem one: The tried and true cliche that is the mind hack. It could be way too easy to cross neurons with someone if this moved to multiplayer, or if someone could hack the technology. Someone could steal your identity to the point where they could actually be you. That in itself is a frightening, if not overplayed, concept.

Problem two: Our own maturity as a race. I'm thinking we're not ready for this sort of thing, especially if we've got people tormenting others over the net to the point where they commit suicide.

Problem three: Melding personas. We're talking becoming our playable characters to a frightening degree. This could lead to identity crises where the players may make like Adam West and think they are whatever video game character they were playing as. Of course, this is aimed at those already have trouble distinguishing between fantasy and reality as it is.

Well, anyway, now that I have that out of my system, I can't wait for the next installment.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Excellent idea and I hope it can progress at some point into a podcast type regular feature, perhaps with a rotating cast including not only the Escapist contributors but also the regular Escapist staffers. Text is good, but audio (even without any associated video to keep production time/cost down) is better. It sort of reminds me of the Question of the Week section of G4tv.com's weekly Feedback show (which, if you haven't watch it, is often excellent).

As for future topics, well the easy one that's getting a lot of discussion here on both the user and contributor end, is games as art (or, more specifically, can/should games grow to include more mature artistic themes and, if so, can they do it without somehow killing off the less mature, "fun only" games).

 

[Jjkaybomb]

It better be these three guys every week, because this was awesome to read!

You gotta be kidding this is a great opportunity to get a lot of different people involved who normally don't get to converse with other escapist staff and has the potential to expand to developers from video game companies.

I dunno, they mentioned the escapist staff specifically in the description. If it did extend to developers that would be cool, but if it remained within the staff itself, these three are the three I find the most entertaining and informative.

 

[CitySquirrel]

Oh man, I am fully behind this. Thanks, Escapist!

 

[GameGoddess101]

More please!!!
Pretty please.
With strawberries and chocolate on top... ^_^

This was insightful, interesting, and humorous. Please do more... ^u^

 

[HandsomeZer0]

If they do one of these at this time every week i think i'll die a happy man.

 

[shiaramoon]

Awesome, just awesome, more please!

 

[Shade184]

Yes, yes, yes! This humble user approves.

More next week, definitely.

I agreed with everyone, in a way, regarding motion controls. When I want an immersive experience, I'll be happy to go with a motion control game that allows immersion without the usual "omg stupid motion controller not working" immersion-breaker. As for the escapism side, going with Yahtzee here.

 

[Varanfan9]

I'm agreeing with Bob here. Motion controls can really bring you into the game if done right and used appropriately. I enjoyed this and hope to see more. Maybe one in video format.

 

[timeadept]

After reading this, i am now convinced that Yhatzee will be among the first people to become a cyborg when the technology becomes available.

Btw it would be more interesting if this was a recorded conference call on scype or something. I don't care if they just put avatars over their faces, but i think it would make for a more interesting conversation.

Though i guess it would be hard to line it up, with Yhatzee in Australia and Bob and James live i don't know where.

Though i do have to disagree with Yhatzees opinion on motion controls. I would mimic link's movements it Twilight princess, When he went to finish a goon i would usually take a step forward and stab with him, then i would mimic that sword twirling thing he does at the end of a fight and pretend to sheath my wiimote on my back. Then when playing Call of Duty something or other (or was it Modern Warfare? Idk, some gritty brown "realistic" FPS) there would be scripted quick time events in some levels where someone would jump you with a knife. You had to pump the controller as fast as you could to wrestle with him. Honestly, after encounters like this i would be slightly out of breath and full of adrenaline. I thought it was a really great effect. I mean i felt like i had just wrestled with the guy and won.

Looks like there is a split market then, thous who like some motion controls in their games and those that don't. Or maybe Yhatzee is just old and set in his ways and doesn't want to learn a new control scheme

 

[BrownGaijin]

Is it me or does the Universe frequently implode at the hands of The Escapist?

Watch in a month we'll be getting our oil from plants, and our food from the... sky!

Please continue round table e-mail.

 

[WaysideMaze]

Not to sound like a fanboy, but I have to agree with Yahtzee.
I like motion controls when I'm with a few friends, as a laugh. But as far as escapism within games goes they couldn't do less to attract me. I want to feel immersed in the experience, and I find that hard to do with wankers cramp.

 

[Flutterbrave]

Anybody feel like suggesting/theorising any future topics? I personally would think that the FPS genre would be an interesting one. Moviebob's shown in his game overthinker series that he's no fan of the genre, while Yahtzee, as far as I can tell, is much more into it. James, I'm not sure about but if Extra Credits is anything to go by, he does seem fairly fond of Halo, which neither Bob nor Yahtzee are exactly crazy about. And conflict like that would be very fun to watch

 

[kikon9]

Good, interesting and civilized. A nice idea, though I didn't feel like I completely agreed with any of the three. Maybe it's just because I enjoy console gaming as it is now.

 

[anyGould]

re: Wii (as a happy Wii owner)

I find it funny that the Wii got nothing but flack for doing the cheesy motion controls while the Big Boy consoles did the flashy Hi-Def graphics. And now, the Big Boys are trying to catch up (I tried a Kinect, and it's like hanging a picture - little more to the left, you say? No, too far.. over to the right...) Blargh.

But what I like most about the Wii motion controls isn't the "one-to-one motion" (although I'll take a good Wii Sports Resort swordfight every now and then) - it's the fact that we got a proper light gun again. With FPS being the big fad right now, why aren't games taking advantage of this?

 

[13CBS]

There MUST be more things like this on the Escapist.

Extra Consideration is to gaming journalism what the Avengers or Justice League is to Marvel and DC; they take some of the best and most interesting elements in their subject matter and not only put them together, but force them to interact. In the same way that Batman's grim cynicism contrasted against Superman's heroic optimism makes DC crossover events interesting, I believe that dialogue and conversation between the Escapist's elite critics (one could even call them videogame philosophers) will bring about even more fascinating insights into both the Triumvirate's thoughts on gaming and gaming itself.

That said, I think Fronzel and others bring up a good point: conversations between the three will be much more interesting if they are allowed/have the time to say more things. I was hoping that James would have more to say than two little blurbs, for example.

 

[Oliver Pink]

Good grief, if I could hear all three of those men talking on a video... it would be the Escapists own fangasm generator.

 

[FallenRainbows]

Hands up who fully agrees with Yahtzee, yet again.

I rarely do but;

*raises hand*

 

[Gralian]

I'm with Yahtzee all the way on this one. I'm afraid i don't see motion controls as more immersive. If anything, i feel it detracts from the experience. I don't want to wave my controller about and hope my avatar picks up on my vague commands and swings a sword or what have you. There are three stages to interaction. Thought, command, response. The user must be able to issue a command with minimal hassle to gain a fast response. With a button press, assuming the user is well-versed in gaming, the time taken to press the necessary button can be less than a second. But with wii-mote flailing, it can take up to one or more full seconds just to issue a command. This is unacceptable and takes you 'away' from the experience. It feels unresponsive. There's a certain zen-like nature that comes with traditional button controllers that you just can't achieve with motion controls. I do, however, think motion controls will become standard in future consoles and games as Moviebob says. I do not think it will replace traditional methods of control, however, and will be there as an optional extra / peripheral.

Great article / discussion / column / thingy, but please make it longer. As someone above me said, it came off as half transcribed and unfinished. Almost like no-one was really able to come up with a counter to Yahtzee's retort about motion controls not quite being as immersive as traditional control. I'd really like to hear some rebuttals on that. It would have been good to see more input from James, as it felt like he was drowned out by the debate between Yahtzee and Moviebob. I expected something more insightful or more substantial from him.

 

[Zaverexus]

good read, does this mean we're getting more of this..?

I hope so, this has got to be the greatest thing I have ever seen on the Escapist (so far, get them all in a room together and we'll see)