“Move” Over Nintendo, Sony’s Making Its Own Motion Controller
March 12, 2010 - By Erin Stuelke
March 12, 2010 - At this year’s Games Developer Conference, Sony announced its version of the motion controller – The PlayStation Move. It looks like a strange flashlight, but this new device is intended to put the PlayStation in competition with Nintendo’s Wii. The good news is the addition of this controller into the market won’t require gamers to purchase a new console.
The bad news, however, might be precision. The Wii Remote was developed along with the console whereas PlayStation Move will be peripheral to the current PlayStation 3. But as GeekSix’s Josh pointed out, “once the controller playing field is leveled, the clear advantage could go to Sony, as their console supports a more robust online network, vastly superior graphics and high-end hardware.”
Does this mean the future of console gaming will be designed around motion-sensitive devices? One can only speculate. But Deus Ex developer Warren Spector wants to caution all game designers out there “to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater”.
In a recent Escapist Magazine article, they quote Spector as saying, “I think it’s kind of weird … that we’ve sort of said, ‘We’ve got 20, 30 years of people learning how to do this– sitting on their couch and having a good time, and knowing where the buttons are’ – and we’re saying ‘You’ve got to stand up and wave around and gesture…We’re in the process of throwing away people – kids, adults – who know this stuff.”
Many people think of the Nintendo Wii as more of a toy attracting the more casual gamer where the PS3 and Microsoft’s XBox 360 grab the “hardcore” gamer market share. Perhaps Sony is smart to incorporate a motion controller in hopes to draw another demographic. But like Spector cautions, console developers should find a balance between motion-controlled games versus the classic “button masher” games to ensure they’re not dismissing what gamers are already comfortable with and possibly losing long-time customers who don’t enjoy motion-controlled games to other outlets such as PC gaming.
Sources:
Sony Busts Out Their Move [GeekSix]
Spector: Motion Control Risks “Throwing Away Our Entire History” [The Escapist]
