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Miyamoto Says Sony Controller is 'Flattering'
GamesIndustry.biz describes an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, in which the designer refers to the PS3 controller as 'flattering'. From the article: "... it kind of reinforces in our minds that we're doing the right thing. What they've done is just take your standard controller and add in this motion-sensing device that's similar to what we did back on the Game Boy Color many years ago. Maybe if they were to completely copy and go with a remote and a nunchuk and two motion sensors, I might be a little more concerned. But I don't think they're anywhere close to that."
Kind of hypocritical given Nintendo's track record of Mario platformers, racers, beat-em-ups and tennis games, along with the neverending Zelda series and the myriad Pokemon versions.
This discussion keeps getting brought up, and the answer is, as it always is - just because Mario or Link is in a game, doesn't mean it's the same game. The progression of gameplay in, say, the Zelda series, from NES to SNES to 64 to Cube has been pretty impressive. I would say the leap between 64 and Cube is probably more graphical than anything, but compare the game play of Legend of Zelda to A Link To The Past, and you will see a huge leap. Similarly, compare A Link To The Past to Ocarina of Time - it's not like it's the same game with prettier graphics and new maps. Wind Waker was not a huge leap in gameplay over Ocarina/Majorica's Mask, but then again those two are probably among the highest regarded console games ever, so it's a tough act to follow.
This is a News site, we don't generally like too much fiction in our stories.
Just to let you know, there is a conventional controller for Wii. It's called the Classic Controller. Basically a SNES controller with two analogs on the bottom. The Wii will also support GC controllers. Nintendo left plenty of options for developers to use standard controllers as well as the WiiMote. They aren't shunning anything. They even stated that the new Smash Bros. is more effectively played with a GC controller than a WiiMote and so it is most likely won't take advantage of the features on the WiiMote.
As for Sony copying Nintendo, I don't think it's a direct copy but I do think that the addition of motion sensors was cemented the day Nintendo announced their goals. Motion sensors have been around for a long time but it's probably Nintendo that will take it mainstream. Sony following suit is a sign that Nintendo isn't the only one who knows you can push graphics only so far. If they were the ones to think of it, at least Sony is willing to not stand idly by.
Seriously though, I can't wait to try out both consoles (though my heart and wallet is set on Nintendo).