Tom Phoenix said:
Xanthious said:
Tom Phoenix said:
People mindlessly proclaiming this to be a gimmick in 3, 2, 1...
Wait, are you claiming otherwise?
What I am claiming is that it's stupid to call something a "
gimmick" just beacuse it is of no interest to
you (not necessarilly you specifically, but anyone insulting the Vitality Sensor). It's not like standard controls are going to disappear just beacuse this is being developed. All it does is open up more gameplay options as well as introduce gaming in general to people who normally would not be able to play (like, for example, people with physical disabilities or the very elderly).
It never ceases to astound me how people are willing, at the first opportunity, to mindlessly insult anything in gaming that doesn't fit their needs and desires, as if they were the sole centre of the universe. If you don't like it or need it, fine...don't buy it. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be developed and made available for those people that just
might be interested at the possibilities it opens up.
If we want gaming to grow (which it needs to in order to survive), it is necessarry to expand ways for one to interact with games. The Vitality Sensor isn't going to cost you anything and isn't going to be the death of traditional control methods, so why would you hurl insults such as "
gimmick" at it?
Here's the thing... while I do understand and even agree very much with what you're saying, we can't say for certain yet whether or not this device will fall into the 'gimmick' category.
Allow me to explain.
As you stated above, if gaming is to survive and flourish as a medium, then it needs to branch out and open new venues. I couldn't agree with this sentiment more. New peripherals have the potential to do just this, however that means being implemented correctly.
Right now, the vitality sensor has potential in my eyes. Someone pointed having a thriller/horror genre that changes based on heart rate. Awesome. I also see this as having a huge potential for using a game console for something completely separate from whiz-bang-shooty-fun, say... utility for yoga exercises, or stress and anger management based on monitoring heart rate. This could very well be our version of TV's Discovery Channel, our chance to say "looks, games having real positive value." I'd like to see Jack Thompson try to vilify a game that promotes lower stress and relaxed state of being.
But here's the thing... right now, that all potential. If you detect cynicism from your fellow escapists then, well... maybe there is a reason for it. You said it yourself that gaming is a tricky business, it needs to grow to survive. In the past though, we've seen game companies only grow just enough to keep the cash flow. The Wii itself was a great idea was a huge potential, but fell short because that potential was not reached. That's why the term 'gimmick' gets slapped onto it.
'Gimmick' to me means that it's a thing that all flare and no substance. I think Yahtzee nailed it the best with his Force Unleashed video. The wii control
could[/c] have felt like wielding a real lightsaber, but it didn't. Instead of pushing the potential and feeling like a new, immersive way of enjoying our medium, it fell terribly short and was slapped with the brand of a gimmick - a false extra that doesn't add to the whole. An unnecessary feature used in order to increase salability and acceptance.
So what it all comes down to is if this new device pushes it's potential. I hope it does, I really do. I'm always excited to see things being pushed in new directions, but at the same time, I can't blame people for being skeptical. I hope this new toy surprises us all, but that remains to be seen...
