Like all things, motion control has its place. It isn’t necessarily everywhere. I will say motion control is a better innovation than more graphics.

What I find the most interesting is how you desperately want to put up a niche genre as the next huge wave while banging on motion controls being a fad. You argue not everyone wants to or is able to use the motion controls or future motion controls (although wiimote and Wii Sports is used for rehab) to the extent you see fit. Even more you have a straw man argument only throwing in disabled people as an important gaming sector when necessary. With that you don’t seem to understand how many gamers (yes gamers not disabled people although I can include them because I don’t discriminate) want to sit there for hours on end creating amateur levels.

Being a gamer of a long time, I’ve found nothing more of a drag than to sit there and create a level when a professional developer can make it for me. Sure I don’t mind going on forge every now and then on Halo 3 and creating a level but it’s not something I’d want the main focus to be. Nor have I ever been excited about a game like LittleBigPlanet that supposedly makes it “easy” to create an amazing level. When this is far from the truth as any great thing will take a hell of a lot of time. Even the best things created there are amateur compared to a great platforming game I could get from professional developers.

Yet you argue this niche genre is something that further immerses the person into the game. I guess the next big creation game will be Imagine: Gaming Developer where you create the game the developers were actually supposed to create.

One of the greatest things about gaming is you have professional gaming minds and designers creating some of the best content for you. The immersion doesn’t come through you toiling but their toils into an experience and atmosphere unlike any other. My favorite game of all time, LoZ: OoT, is that because the genius minds behind it created a world with an amazing atmosphere and great interaction unfitting of its time.

Motion controls, is hardly a fad. It could be replaced by something more advanced, but it isn’t a fad. The reason I enjoy the Nintendo Wii so much now is it immerses yourself with the character and environment in a different way than standard controllers. I’m not going to say it is better in every way, but it helps to immerse me in a game. Actually having to point at the screen really does put more focus into it than just staring in a daze. If motion controls is a fad then so is every other controller ever to exist because apparently immersion is a fad.

Now I can’t say I’m so hot on Natal right now because I feel no physical medium to connect you to the character is a step back, but I do like that more are taking interest and trying to take gaming to the next level.

I understand a lot of people liked LittleBigPlanet or Blast Works or whatever. It was a great entrance to less capable to use their imaginations and create something their own. But is this what gaming should be about. Nothing like MGS4 comes out of that. Nothing like Halo comes out of that. Nothing like Zelda comes out of that. Creation games are there to let your imagination run wild and create something for you. Developers are there to let their imaginations run wild and create something great for everyone, although not always at the same time. Motion controls, standard controllers, or whatever just furthers that experience to the gamer in whatever way they seem fit.

So no let us not put resources into things that slows gaming progression down. Let us not put resources into something that pushes more gamers, casual gamers, or even potential gamers away. Advance the industry and create the ultimate experience. Creation games have their place as a niche genre and I hope they stay. Hell the wiimote with the IR sensor could even help to make the game easier to open up to new crowds. But let’s not forget what the heart of gaming is at. That is by breaking down the boundaries of our world and joining and entirely new world. You may think the greatest feeling is creating a level and having your friends enjoy it. Too me, and many others, that feeling comes from beating the final boss on an epic RPG, playing with 3 other friends in Halo 3 team slayer, using a motion controller to replicate Goku’s kameha wave, or becoming the hero of time by using the master sword with a wiimote to stop Ganon. Nothing you or I create can do that. But there are those who can and I love it when they do. And if motion controls or other controller advancements help them keep that experience and atmosphere alive, then I will support it with a strong hand. Gaming is and always will be about the experience.

Thanks Chris – I’d much prefer a really stellar racing wheel any day of the week and, if not, a good old toggle stick!

Regarding racing games, I really can’t imagine playing them without a controller, or an official racing wheel that’s packaged with the game.

I agree with everything, especially what I said.

the games that do involve you moving about are currently restricted to those that are in no way pushing the envelope. They are sloppy and forced and, much like the Rock Band’s of this generation, a fad.

I mentioned that Nintendo has made lots of money from it and have that corner of the market locked down – there is no room for the other two.

Well if that’s true there would be no market for it. However Nintendo has proven that yes, people do want to jump about like Richard Simmons.

Sony and Microsoft are going about it in a better way in my opinion. They are not making the game console around the controller like Nintendo is. Not every game will benefit from motion controls but some do. In Rock Band you DO move about while you play and that has been very successful as well. So all of this pessimism is just from people who can’t stand change. I want gaming to involve and to do that it’s going to take more than just flashier graphics and sound and smarter A.I.

I probably buy one or two Wii games per year, and frankly most of them would be better off without motion tacked on. It’s rare for a game to really show us what motion control is capable of, which is probably why so many of us gamers are so sceptical this time around…

@Reilly, I agree with you on Sony’s E3 showing. I think it was rather well done, particularly as it was a live demonstration – something tangible. I have a feeling Natal would end up like Wii 2.0, whereby it doesn’t exactly do what we were originally told it would do.

It’s interesting that you go back and play NES and SNES rather than the Wii… it’s a true sign that traditional gaming is far more long lasting. One of the reasons I love LBP is because it reminds me of when I first picked up Super Mario Bros. – it has a similar charm about it.

@Matty W, precisely. Often I am too tired after a long day to even sit and play games with a controller and just watch TV instead. I can’t imagine how something that involves a physical struggle would make me feel!

@Robert,

I sincerely hope that they don’t effect me in future, force-feeding IPs that I love with motion control. It’s the kind of thing that has me waking up in cold sweats!

“The core game developers aren’t going to stop being core game developers” = a great point!