Behold the motion-sensitive controller wars
The new motion-control system from Sony was announced at E3 on the heels of similar new technology from both Microsoft and Nintendo.
(Credit: Gamespot)LOS ANGELES--Forget the console wars. We're in the motion-sensitive controller wars.
That much became clear Tuesday when, following on Monday's announcement by Microsoft that it was working on Project Natal, an impressive and complex full-body, hands-free motion-sensitive control system, both Nintendo and Sony revealed plans for new, advanced systems of their own.
Of course, Microsoft is the only real newcomer to this party. After all, Sony introduced the Eye Toy, a system that incorporated users' body movements into some games, years ago, and Nintendo's Wii vaulted to huge popularity on the strength of the innovative controls of its now-famous Wii-mote.
But over the last two days here at E3--the video game industry's most watched trade show--we've seen the three major video game hardware makers each up the ante in the race to provide consumers with much more intuitive ways to play games. And it's abundantly clear that what's really going on here is an aggressive play by each of the three companies to make their offerings more palatable to mainstream audiences, people who have traditionally not considered themselves gamers.
Microsoft's Project Natal is a hands-free, full-body sensing control system that can be used to play games, watch movies, do virtual painting, and much more. It appears to be easy to use, and quick to get going on. It's not known yet how much it will cost, or whether it will be bundled with the Xbox or sold as an accessory.
Nintendo's newly announced improvements to Wii Motion Plus (see video below) is the most incremental of the three new systems. It takes the successful Wii-mote and adds a physical feedback system that lets users feel what they're doing, and it also allows for rotational motion in 3D space, such as spinning a skydiver's body around, which someone could do in "Wii Sports Resort," one of the games that Nintendo said would benefit from the new control system.
And Sony's new system is a set of wands with glowing orbs on top, that allow one-to-one motion like Nintendo's original Wii-mote, and which also give tangible physical feedback like the new Nintendo system.
With its massive success with the Wii, Nintendo would seem to have a leg up over its competitors. That's only because it doesn't have to work very hard to market its motion-sensitive control regimen at this point: everyone knows that the Wii controller is simple, easy to use, and responds to users' hand and arm gestures.
On the other hand, Nintendo's new technology also represents the smallest incremental change, meaning that it will actually be more difficult to convince would-be customers that its new offering is much different than what it had before.
By comparison, both Sony and Microsoft are offering something entirely new, and will certainly have little trouble building marketing campaigns around them once they're ready to go on sale. The answer to the question of when those technologies actually will go on sale is not yet known, and it's certainly a big question. Whoever is last to this game will probably have a hard time selling their technology as new and innovative.
Based on this new arms race, however, it's clear there is exactly one guaranteed winner: consumers. Until now, people who wanted a true motion-sensitive controller had only one choice: the Wii. Now--or rather, when the technology hits the market--people who are considering buying a video game console will be able to choose whichever system they want. Their choice, in the end, may well be able to come down to which games are on offer.
And one would have to expect, since it's very obvious that all three companies are now going after the truly mainstream audience, that all three will be pushing their developer partners hard to come up with more casual gaming experiences, and fast.
I really liked what I saw from all three companies, even though all three technologies are somewhat different.
I actually think that Microsoft's Project Natal (see video below) is the biggest leap forward, and offers consumers the widest user experience. And given that Microsoft has been making huge strides in developing its Xbox Live service in such a way that there are plenty of things for casual gamers, or even non-gamers, to do, I suspect that Natal will end up being a real winner for the Xbox platform.
That said, the Xbox is also seen in the wider world, I think, as a much harder-core gaming console, as is the PS3. So, it was crucial for both Sony and Microsoft to come up with something for the casual gamer, and now. Whether they can change the perception of their consoles as geared to the hard-core is something I think will take some time. On the other hand, both companies are surely willing to throw a lot of marketing dollars at the problem, so I have faith those non-gamers out there will be seeing a lot of advertising geared at them.
Nintendo, meanwhile, has the opposite problem: it has to find a way to convince core gamers it has something to offer them. So I would imagine the company will be pushing its developer partners to incorporate its latest technology into more games geared to the "Halo" set.
Everyone wants to know about winners and losers, and I don't think we have any losers here. Whether we can crown winners yet is also unclear. I would have to say it's too early for that. But my sense is that there is plenty to be excited about here. And one thing that strikes me is that the technological innovations we've now seen from all three companies suggests that we're not about to see the next generation of consoles any time soon.
And why would we? With the new technology each company keeps putting out, we've already got three new systems, and we don't need to spend several hundred more dollars to get there.
Daniel Terdiman is a staff writer at CNET News covering games, Net culture, and everything in between. E-mail Daniel. 
Didn't anyone notice the glitches and lag with 360 motion control or how much like the old eye toy it actually moves and looks?
That's not what they want you to believe here in Cnet; praise there all mighty sponsor Microsoft-in the head or Microbite.
What you want in motion control is fast response and easy manageability and that?s exactly what Nintendo and Sony proved with their demos. I don't have to say anything but check out the videos on all three and anyone can see for themselves just how thin the line between quality and gimmick really are.
Cnet has officially lost all creditability with me; seeing how bias they can actually be.
The view you have from your high horse must be amazing.
I suggest, priced and marketed appropriately, Microsoft have an iPhone type winner here. It's way ahead of anything else that's been revealed at E3.
I'll be buying it!
Granted roachbrain may be an apple homer, but get over it....
When Nintendo, or Sony's controllers can do face recognition technology that recognises different people, and expressions on people's faces, and uses biometric technology to automatocally log you on to your console like Natal does, and enables you to drive a car in a racing game, without actually holding any controller in your hands, then we can talk.
Nintendo has fallen behind in the race for new natural intefaces/controllers for consoles/games. The Wiimote is looking as last gen as the Wii's crappy graphics.
As for Sony's new motion controller, while its considerably more advanced than Nintendo's offerings, it's still a giant step behind Natal. Microsoft has redifined gaming and how we interface with our computers as we know it.
How can Nintendo have fallen behind when it's the only one with motion-sensing technology on store shelves? It's true that if I could go buy one of these MS cameras at Best Buy and have a choice of 20+ entertaining games that use the technology well TODAY... then I could say that Nintendo's wii-mote was old hat.
Hang on eye toy has a descent camera, I wonder if Sony will just, I do not know buy a licence for the software before this goes live an had it in at a later stage.
To jchanski21 --
the PS3 controller IS a motion sensor and many games use it and so is the eye. Wii is not the only motion sensor tech. out there.
EPIC FAIL
Nintendo's original Wii-mote had no such one-to-one tracking - that is what the "new" add-on does. And another thing, Wii MotionPlus is not a "new" add-on, it was PLAYABLE at *last year's* event and will be on store shelves this summer.
Maybe you should actually hold a Wii-mote and play a game at least once before attempting to wax philosophical about it.
You can watch Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's press conference here: http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/microsoft-e3/?sid=6210720&hd=1&tag=live-schedule&page=1
It looks expensive, it sounds expensive and will probably be expensive.
but I would not be surprise if Microsoft use there substantial money here to subsidise the technology to get it out there and get people using it.
The range of markets an areas that this technology could be incorporated into would make worth while. Games are probably just the beginning for this technology and not the end.
If the consumer has to buy something new at a cost over $50 to their machines, Third Parties are not likely to support it as they should (wish they would), and after a few "wow" titles, the First Party usually calls in a day and forgets about the device.
Like Sega with the Activatator, 32X, Master System-to-Genesis adapter (in America), Master Gear. Atari with the Jaguar CD, computer add-ons for the 2600, 5200...hell, throw Mattel and Coleco in that mix, too! Nintendo's Game Boy Player, the Super Scope, Sega's Menacer, Sony's Eye Toy, etc. This list can fill volume upon volume.
By then all the big developers could have spent a couple of years developing there new games from the bottom up and be comfortable with the technology.
Whatever! That is Microsoft at its best again, taking something that already existed 5 years ago and throwing some lipstick on it. PS2 EYE TOY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzNJwk9Z4ds). When will the folks in redmond do something revolutionary? I mean cmon, we know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but cmon!
That doesn't mean it isn't important. I see the same arguments here that I see in any other topic- one group attacking another without anything to back them up beyond their own sense of importance.
Sorry, Sony. Still not convincing me to get a PS3.
Natal isn't vaporware, folks. Steven Spielberg does not stand on stage and day that he felt like he was witnessing history just for vaporware. It's not like Spielberg needs any of Microsoft's money - I think he's genuinely excited about the technology. I think by next year's E3 Microsoft will be ready to demo some actual games with their technology. I think their own studios will be well along in development within a year - Lionshead with Milo, etc. and Rare with casual avatar-based games. I think Microsoft will do whatever is necessary to also make sure that 3rd parties are able to demo games at next year's E3, so that they can show that the technology has momentum and is gaining wide acceptance.
Also, I think Microsoft has the advantage because Natal can do anything the Wii and PS3 can do and can appeal to any of their audiences. For casual gamers, Natal-based games won't require controllers of any kind so they will be more approachable than for either the PS3 or . For hard-core gamers, peripherals like gun peripherals should have the same accuracy as Sony's controllers. The cameras in Natal are also supposed to have accuracy to the millimeter, and with a object of standard shape to focus on (e.g a bright plastic gun), developers should be able to program very accurate targeting crosshairs.
So with a first-mover advantage (compared to Sony), better buzz among developers, and more long-term potential, I think Microsoft has the better prospects.
If we're talking about attracting non-gamers, then the PS3 still has that one advantage that no other system has, and they've had it since the PS3 was introduced. That would be the ability to use it as a blu-ray player. And it's still one of (if not THE) best blu-ray players you can buy. Of course it has the high price to go along with the functionality.
However, I think the BD player combined with simple games and appealing controller would push the PS3 to the forefront for first time buyers who can afford the price tag on the PS3. Plus, of course, you don't have to keep paying for playing your games over the Internet. MS squeezes every cent they can from your pocket, at least the cost of the PS3 system is in the price tag, not hidden in subscriptions.
Of course, for very price conscious consumers that really are only looking for a simple easy to use gaming system, the Wii is most likely still going to be the winner.
I'm sure they will make this for MS Windows PCs too!
And the bloke who wants games can use our game machine there see good to.
Oh year and if he wants that little distro of windows he can run it on good old(year it will start to feel that way) 7 and there is no reason to my illogic there plus as my name anit mentioned and no real attack is being made as yes we are good no problem either.
Yes and we will find a way to squeeze sorry i meant get that decision service up in media center which it's perfectly acceptable for you to load the rest of your stuff up first to get into.
Oh and 1286*1024 of pixels containing everything is enough for anyone.
Yep and you can trust that all future versions will be good for the right machine which of course are all quite different and yes we now accept do indeed need to be able to communicate with us oh yes and probably with each other especial if there good for it wink wink.
Anyway yes Linux (seeming as no attack here you know) Akhumm humm yes Linux Yes wel It's not real that Familiar to the family akhumm sorry family PC and probably just fighting for just one distro to be the next us so technically we have the right of a little friendly competition and we serviced don't forget YOUR want for our media centre, We were just doing tests and thats why we at the time made it for the right hardware and later included it inside.
And now people of the world now that I have explained how much I love you all for a love of what good you can be there indeed will be no Quadrillion OS's sitting bootable on your washing machine if you damn well please you be lucky if you even get a boxed in look.
the old foorky word is not acceptable I don't know if you had noticed but we are a little conservative here in Yedmondid Zip got a problem with that(Damn right a personal attack)
Alan touring (deceased) - What is a touring machine all about
Gene Kan - What is genutella and yes what is Infrasearch and yes what was the original MP3.com and hell yes what has popular music got to do with the US military.
Love comes next not hate I can assure you that
Transputational, multidimesional nonlinear form, Dirac scaling with additional nonlinear maths involved, Nano crystal fusion and fission that can work equally. Damn right the keys to alchemy and the stars and yes what is gravity really and why actually is light that constant in a vacum(the answer to G is in why).
Biggest noddle of all if you were Elite at the top would all the best ideas be acceptable or is the problem something else entirely (what is religion really and how much do you really know about so called science).
enjoy your games machine yes that hardware could run it 1000X faster.
I would like to see some evidence of this as from what I understand it is not true - or even possible.
- by josethetiger June 7, 2009 7:43 PM PDT
- Wow. It amazes me that people are calling Natal such a "leap" in technology. Everything they've shown it to do, can easily be done with the Eye Toy. There was a lot of talk about some of the "possible" uses for it, but didn't actually show it being used that way. "Hey honey! Lets splash paint on a virtual canvas!" The accuracy of the unit is no better than the Eye Toy. I want to see this thing on the market and witness some of this "mind blowing" technology. Nothing, so far, has gone beyond what is possible now with technology that we already have.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(36 Comments)