The big hype at this year’s E3 is, of course, motion controlling. Nintendo has been doing it for years, but the new players in the game, Sony and Microsoft, will soon be joining in. As for PC gamers… well once again they are left out in the cold.
So, you might be sneering at this invasion of the so called “casual” method of playing games into the so called “hardcore” market, but I’m here to tell you that this is a good thing. Motion controlled products are awesome! Here’s why:
Sony Move: On paper, Sony seems to have an impressive offering. Compatible with existing PlayStation Eye cameras, the glowing orb on a stick offers an interesting way of interacting with your console, even if it does seem to have been done before. Here are four reasons why it’s awesome:
1.You can get an optional sub-controller. The optional Move navigation controller, while basically just a Dualshock 3 cut in half and moved around, will nevertheless allow you to remain in complete control of your gaming. Let’s face it, nothing will beat the responsiveness of actually pushing physical buttons, and with this, you get the best of both worlds.
2.It won’t affect the quality of your games. From a graphical and processing power point of view, Move will apparently take up very little processing power. The memory demands, for instance, are claimed to be at the 2MB mark, which is virtually nothing.
3.The purported accuracy and lack of lag. Sony is claiming 1:1 and as single frame delay – the same as the Dualshock 3. I am highly sceptical of both claims, and want to be proven wrong. Maybe Nic, who’s been in Los Angeles for E3, can give us his hands-on impressions?
4.Wii games in HD. As fun as Wii games are, there comes a point where the jaggedness of the SD resolution just gets too much. At this point, in comes the Sony Move, and the inevitable mountains of Wii ports that will undoubtedly follow. Should be interesting at the very least.
Microsoft Kinect: Microsoft is going for a different tactic, giving gamers the option of throwing away their controller and interacting with their consoles via gestures. As before, here are four reasons why this is awesome.
1.We can get a good laugh at videos of people playing. The TV ad and other YouTube video I’ve seen so far have been pretty hilarious. From the weird family playing Kinect to the Parade writer playing with his family, they are both worth a watch, and there will surely be more to follow once it is released for purchase.
2.Minority Report. I’ve used this joke before, but it remains current, so I’m going to use it again. With Kinect, you will be able to control your console just by gesturing with your hands. Kind of like Tom Cruise in Minority Report, except chances are, you’ll be taller and you won’t have to wear weird gloves.
3.It looks badass. One thing that Microsoft has definitely gotten right is the aesthetics of their motion control unit. The addition of a Kinect unit won’t obviously degrade the look of your setup, which is more than can be said of the PlayStation Eye…
4.Proper implementation. Once everybody gets over the whole “you are the controller” thing, developers will be able to sit down and figure out some proper applications for the device. Things that will enhance existing game experiences, without resulting in repetitive strain injury or real injury from dodging into your coffee table.
Have I missed anything? What are you looking forward to in both Sony’s Move and Microsoft’s Kinect systems? Let us know.
Loading ...
