Is MotionPlus too little, too late for Nintendo?
CNET News Poll
With the arrival of Wii MotionPlus, Nintendo promises even more accurate motion control for Wii games that are developed with the hardware in mind. Unfortunately, this means that all games developed up until now cannot benefit from MotionPlus in any way, shape, or form.
But is all this too little, too late for Nintendo? There's no denying that the Wii is popular; it's the best selling console by far this generation with supply only just recently catching up with demand. But as far as the idea of motion control is concerned, is it as satisfying as we all had hoped?
We're not saying motion control doesn't work. It has done wonders for balance games like Super Monkey Ball and has really shined in the first-person-shooter department with titles like House of the Dead Overkill and the yet to be released The Conduit.
But for other genre titles, it seems the Wii's motion control arsenal really doesn't exist beyond a shake or a smack. There are plenty of times while playing a game like Zelda: Twilight Princess where a slice of the sword could occur much quicker with a push of a button rather than a shaking of a Wii remote. In fact, the game had been originally designed for the Nintendo GameCube, but got held off to launch along with the Wii.
We're not knocking the Wii, there's impressive technology there. There's a lot of very satisfying experiences to be had playing Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, and No More Heroes. That said, we can't say the same for the majority of third-party games where motion control is clearly an afterthought.
(Credit:
Nintendo)
Surely anyone who's played a variety of Wii games can spot tacked-on motion controls, so why is it that it takes two and a half years after the console's release to get "true," accurate control? And doesn't the consumer have a right to be a tad upset with the fact that these improvements should have been included in the original hardware all along?
The Wii might be the cheapest home console on the market (except for the bare-bones Xbox 360 Arcade), but after you've bought enough Wii remotes, nunchuks, Wii wheels, zappers, and now MotionPluses for up to four players, you're a lot more heavily invested than you might think.
Wii MotionPlus is set to release on June 8 for $20. While there won't be any first-party titles to try it out with, EA has bumped up the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis--two games designed with MotionPlus in mind.
The jury may still be out on MotionPlus, but rest assured we'll have a full review soon after its release. Will it revolutionize gaming on the Wii? Or will it come off as just another tacked-on gimmick? Vote in the poll (above), and share your thoughts in detail in the comments section.
Before covering games and gear for CNET Reviews, Jeff Bakalar dabbled in film and video production. An avid writer, reader, and gamer, Jeff is also an obsessive New Jersey Devils hockey fan. Catch him live every day as the co-host of CNET's infamous podcast, The 404. 
Because not EVERYONE has a MotionPlus, many game companies will think twice before putting the extra effort into creating two separate control schemes for each game. How many games would really be enhanced by MotionPlus? Will MotionPlus make control easier or more difficult for younger players with underdeveloped motor skills?
I think parents will be more than a little annoyed having to drop another $20 per controller. If you have just two kids, the new Wii Sports Resort becomes an $80 game.
Some peripherals defy that thought process.
For example, the PSX Dual Shock analog controller was a peripheral. Yet, it was a worthwhile peripheral and so, within a year, nearly all games supported it exclusively.
Wii Motion Plus will be no different. Especially since it's going to be packed into games.
As someone who bought into the nunchucks, zappers, and balance board, I'm not sure I really want to invest that much more.
I think it's unfair to start including things like the Wii Wheel or the Zapper into the cost of owning a Wii. Those are hardly even peripherals, as they do nothing but add a plastic shell to the remote. I also think it's a little unfair to criticize motion controls in games where it was obviously tacked on at the end. Twilight Princess is still a Game Cube game with some added motion controls, and there are countless canned PS2 projects that third parties sloppily ported to the Wii with tacked on controls to make some money.
The Wii remote actually works really well as it is and some games (mainly the ones that use pointing and thus rely on the IR instead of the accelerometers) won't really benefit at all from the MotionPlus. I don't blame Nintendo so much for their timing, but they NEED to make it affordable for people to get these things. Right now it still seems like it's definitely too pricey for most people.
I'm sure M$ and Sony fanbois are all over this fact by now.
Honestly the Wii is great - for XBoxers or PS3ers, the Wii is their "other console". As you can get the bits piecemeal the cost is pretty manageable. For most users the Wii and Wii Sports is great - and much cheaper, the other stuff can be added. Mostly it's boxed with a game (Wheel, Zapper) and quite manageable (it's basically included). The Xbox and PS3 only come with one controller, so does the Wii.
If you're a "npn-gamer" the Wii offers something different, for gamers, well the Wii is a great distraction from Microsoft and Sony (and we all need that from time to time). Should a gamer get a Wii instead of a 360 or PS3? No - clearly those are the "hardcore" experiences, but the Wii is something a little different - and you might get your mom/significant other to play...
the thing about ps3 controllers is, if you want more controllers and you don't want to pay a fortune, you can use your standard pc controller. I've got a logitech usb controller that looks exactly like a PS2 controller and works just like one. got it for 20 bucks. sure it doesn't have all the capabilities of a sixaxis and it doesn't feel the exact same, but it works perfectly well.
However, the Wii is intended to be a party console. It's intended to have games that are fun and interactive for multiple people. It's not for the "hardcore gamers" who buy an Xbox 360 to play Halo 3 alone in the dark. It's intended to get multiple people turning their wheels, bowling, and moving around. That's why it has such huge appeal.
I don't think this motion enhancer is more than a gimmick, and I won't be buying one. I don't play my Wii for the fine-tuned controls, I play it so I can hang out with my friends and launch turtle shells at them in Mario Kart. I'll wait for the Wii 2, with more refined controls built into the controller, to upgrade. Until then, my Wii remotes get the job done.
This has been marketed, and developed, as more of an "entertainment" machine vs a gaming machine. The hardcore gaming crew is getting pretty disenfranchised with the lack of quality games coming out for the Wii.
The average Joe who owns a Wii now won't care enough when the next one comes around to drop ~$300 for "more refined motion control" and graphics. If they cared about graphics, wii sports would have sent them over the edge 2 years ago.
If anything the motion enhancer in my mind is possibly the only Wii product that's _not_ a gimmick, but someone brought up a good point with developers, if they have to put in more effort to take advantage of the more refined controls, I doubt many games will use it.
If they want to recapture some of the gaming crowd (like me), they'll have to beef the graphics up quite a bit, and ramp up their online offerings.
I think the Wii 2 won't do as well, but think about it: all Nintendo needs to do is upgrade the graphics engine (not hard) to High Def, put in a hard drive instead of a SD card reader, and make the remotes more sensitive (which is what this is) and everyone (including myself) would buy it again. Why not? I can fit all of my Rock Band songs and saves on the hard drive, re-buy all of the sequels to the games that will be good (Mario Kart Wii 2 anyone?), and you've re-opened the same market you've already gotten into.
If it makes games more fun, I'm all for it. But peripherals are always a risky business. Do you as a developer alienate half your audience because you know they don't have MP? Or do you develop two sets of controls, one of them an obviously subpar version? Or do you scrap the idea and just make an Xbox game?
PS3 controllers include rechargeable batteries and can be easily found for under $45 online. XBOX Controllers can be found for $35 or $45 with a play and charge kit. $60+ batteries versus 45 is a big difference. Add the motion plus and prices get ridiculous.
Oh and good luck trying to find that 3rd party controller for the Wii on the cheap. Nintendo sues companies that try to make them. Nyko had to try a few times and the controller they came out with is rarely cheaper. PS3 and XBOX have multiple options for other controllers.
Nintendo is laughing all the way to the bank because people do not think about the total cost of owning a system overtime as long as it appears cheap upfront.
What really gets me is this whole, sorry if the software already exists then it won't work with MotionPlus.
How so: there is an internet connection, there are files saved in memory for each game, there are updates for VC and WW and the Console itself. So why can't developers make an upgrade/patch that gets downloaded and runs when you play the game.
Most games are 3D so the models are still the models, the camera still moves, the collision detection still detects, the music still plays.
I'll tell you why (heh, I can be a pundit too), its so you get to repurchase the same games again with new controls.
I think this is going to be the let down aspect of Motion Plus, that all the games that come out in the first year will be the same games you already bought now called GAMENAME V2
Its not as if Nintendo is making some last ditch effort to garner interest in the Wii. They are offering an additional peripheral that you may or may not choose to buy.
Anyone that is happy with their setup as is, go on about your business.
Not to pick on the PS3 (I have all the consoles), but they are the ones that need an article with this title as they continue to put nails in the coffin.
Funny, I thought the PS3 was doing alright all things considered. Nails in the coffin indeed heh.
Bring me the accessory, the Resort game, Tiger Woods and a few others that give full use of the control. Continue to add to the library over the next 2-3 years and yes, it'll be a "success."
I updated the firmware and checked the calendar for recent activity. Nothing. It gets no play. 2000 Wii Points that will never be spent. The Wii has been very good at selling Nintendo published games and overpriced plastic peripherals...thus far. However, I have a strong feeling that once parents see how little use it gets, they will come to the same conclusion I have.
The Wii is over. The kids have moved on.
- by davekelln May 7, 2009 10:16 AM PDT
- Obviously the Wii is not aimed at hardcore gamers- which is the brilliance of it. They have created a system which is inviting to people who would never otherwise play a video game. Why does this upset gamers so much? Why do people feel the need to blast the Wii repeatedly? It is what it is. It cannot match the sound and graphics of the other two systems, but so what?
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (40 Comments)You buy a system because there are games available which you enjoy playing. In my house those games are SSBB, mariokart, wiisports, bully, guitar hero, Wiifit, and Zack and Wiki. In your house maybe its halo or Resistance. That is great!
Hardcore gamers have plenty of options- xbox360, psp, ps3, ps2, and windows pcs, why not have an option for everyone else?
That being said, I do wish that the 3rd party support was better, but nintendo's offerings are amazingly fun.