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Sony's Motion Sensing Still Lagging Behind?
Chris Kohler, over at Wired's Game|Life, had the chance to see an in-production PS3 game in action. He said that, for the most part everything looked great. The one thing that concerned him was the motion-sensing controller that Sony is pushing on developers. From the article: "The developers told us that although we'd be using real PS3 controllers, they didn't yet have the motion-sensing functionality built in. And not only that, although they referred to the build as 'feature-complete,' they did admit that the one feature that was not yet included was (wait for it) motion-sensing, although they did 'have some cool ideas.' There was plenty of speculation after Sony's E3 conference that the motion-sensing functionality was jammed into the controller at the last minute as a reaction to Nintendo's strategy. This was backed up by the Warhawk developers' offhand remarks that they'd implemented motion sensing 'in just a couple weeks'."
I think this says it all. :-/
Honestly, I *do* believe Sony that they had been considering the technology before this. What I don't believe is that they committed to it prior to Nintendo's announcement. I think that they originally considered whatever Nintendo was working on to be "gimmicks" (the exact word used by Ken Kutaragi at Sony E3), and that raw graphical technology would win the day. They only got worried once they saw the incredibly positive response to Nintendo's new controller.
In the end, I think this may end up harming Sony. Their Dual Shock controller was well liked in part because of its rumble technology. (Also "inspired by" Nintendo.) Now they've replaced this long-established feature with a simple sensor that they've had very little time to test. Which means that it may end up being useless to developers as not enough fore-thought went into it. The result will be a double-blow when the Wii introduces both usable motion sensing technology (powered by a network of sensors rather than just one!) AND rumble in their controllers.
Ouch, Sony. Ouch.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
Hey, if it works and it turns out to be fun, who cares? .. then I wont use it, no sweat off my back.
If it doesnt work, isnt fun, or is vapourware
There's no point to the motion-sensing in the Dual Shake, as it's a two-handed controller. When holding a controller with both hands, making all but the simplest motions is unnatural because you can't use your wrists.
The only comfortable motion is to tilt the controller, which will basically limit its function to driving games.
I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
They are still ahead in price ! :)
It's been awhile since we had some negative sony press. I was starting to get worried. Way to go!
So what they're saying is, we have to pay Sony $599 for a console, only for them to go and half-assedly implement other people's ideas?
Hopefully real time weapon change will make up for it.
...word is they'll be putting out a root-kit that will fix this problem.
Warhawk at E3 played well for me, and the controlls were very responsive. Hell even a cameraman from some game rag was able to pick it up and play, since the controls were fairly intutive. The only thing I didn't like is the game 'played it safe' in that you can't just loop-the-loop without pressing a button. I think they were afraid people wouldn't figure out to stop pulling back once they started to flip.
Kojima will be using this feature in the new Metal Gear, so I can't wait to see what he does more importantly than warhawk. I normally don't play flight games like that.
Console controllers should be like mice; there are so many out there and so many different little features, doodads, left-handedness, glowy bits, MightyMice, etc. This is great because you feel like you've got real choice. Everyone can pick something that works best for them because we know all these mice plug into the same USB jack and will work with the computer properly (more or less).
But so far, most of the 3rd party controllers for consoles are cheaper imitations of the originals with BAD gimmicks (autofire). The one's I've really liked have been extremely rare... WaveBird, the NegCon....
Sort of makes you wonder if there will be decent knockoffs of the Wii Remote, actually.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
I guess I'll comment on the controller a little too.
Due to the legal issues with rumble functionallity, I think Sony wanted to add something back in it's place. Tilt motion is as good of a choice as any for 'replacement functionality'. The Wii controller on the other hand will have a lot more issues to deal with. Aspect mapping, distance from screen, and lighting issues affect if the control even works properly. I was told most of the issues for the Wii at E3 were due to not having each control setup for each person. The storage on the remote is supposed to keep this setup info for you, so you can bring it to a friend's house I guess. It's not the same using a device, seeing a demo, or listening to some moron from the press trust me.
It would be wise for someone that's not played either to not comment until YOU get hands on -- I'm talking to you Slashdot.
The same Warhawk developers who were so widely quoted as having said the motion sensing was "included at the last minute" actually only meant the got the controllers a week or two before E3 - but they had known about the motion sensing ability for much longer.
From the article:
Actually, Incognito has secretly been working with Sony on the tilt technology for a while, but it wasn't until the last few weeks before E3 that they received a working controller.
Of course you cannot be blamed for not knowing this if you only read Slashdot, which until recently has introduced only the most negative takes possible on the PS3 for whatever reason (Microsoft payola being the leading bet among the conspiracy minded).
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
So what they're saying is, we have to pay Sony $599 for a console
Base PS3 is $500. Whats the matter, you so rich you can't complain about THAT price? It's still pretty high, why distort the truth?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I read somewhere for MGS they were considering some options for the controller, like sneak up behind an enemy and twist the controller quickly to snap his neck. That could be cool!
If Sony doesn't want to rip off the Wii controller, they should have Apple design one for them. Except it'll look like a laptop plugged into the console with a large Apple logo and be more sexier than the PS3.
First of all, while I have confidence in Nintendo they do have more moving parts and thus complexity in thier system. It's much harder to get just right than what Sony is doing (while offering a more impressive motion controller to be sure). So I would say they'd probably end up working about equally well for what they are doing, even with Nintendo probably having worked with real-world units longer.
As for rumble, I was sorry to see that go as I thougt some games used it to excellent effect. I guess with better quality audio support some of that can be made up with sound though.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The game that was looked at was Sega's Full Auto 2: Battlelines. I never played the first one so I can only make a very rough guess of what they'd use the motion sensing for. It sounds like the first generation of games may only use it for optional side things. I guess that's good if they are rushing it into play.
The only comfortable motion is to tilt the controller, which will basically limit its function to driving games.
Obviosuly it will not feature the range of control that the nintendo can offer - no Star Wars game with the Sony controller (or at least not a motion sensitive one).
However do not discount the usefulness that even simple tilt controls can bring to driving and flying games, there were quite a lot of those for the PS2.
It could also be useful for puzzle games, something like Marble Madness would work well.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Seriously, is madden commiting to it? EA as a whole? No. The PS3 is going to be getting games that will also be on the xbox 360, why add a feature that the other doesn't have unless sony is forcing you to (which they already are, they have commanded companies that they need 20 percent NEW content for a port. Watch that become a request, and then a suggestion).
The Wii's going to have great usage of the motion sensing because EVERYTHING the Wii has done is focused on it, wireless controllers, the nunchuck. The PS3 is a PS2, that doesn't have dual shock, so they had to do something to make it uniuqe.
The problem is if a company X makes a game Y and their plans is for "next gen gameplay" they arn't thinking "dual shake", they are thinking "better graphics, amazing gameplay, for both the 360 and the PS3" Let's not forget that with out the Motion sensing the PS3 is already a harder system to developer for, and expects more out of the developer.
Instead if I have a game that would be very clever on motion sensing system, why would I choose the Ps3 unless I need great graphics (clever games don't need great graphics if they are truely clever). Instead I'd probably choose the Wii, it's around 1/5th of the price for a single dev kit, the controller is built for motion sensing, as well as the nunchuck, if I want two sensors, and the system has more motion sensing than the other.
As for those saying that it's a good idea I leave you with this idea. Nintendo has developed the idea for years, Sony had the idea, developed it, stopped developing it, saw nintendo's version, and then has pushed it in the system spec and controller the last weeks before E3. That doesn't mean they weren't thinking about it but if they were actively pursuing it the developer would have some version of motion sensing even if it wasn't a very accurate one long before E3. Sony is last minuting this idea in because they are constantly second guessing themselves now. And that's what's going to destroy Sony, not their decisions but second guessing their decisions.
Enough said
http://www.totallycrap.com/videos/the_ps3_vs_wii
Microsoft didn't pay Sony to release the PS3 at $600
Since the base PS3 is $500, can we assume the rest of your post is as devoid of actual facts as that part? Looks like it.
I am delighted by all three consoles personally, and simply have a penchant for accurate information about them instead of misleading groundless accusations. I don't understand this irrational desire that some have to attack any given console.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Ok so Sony takes out rumble cause it affects the motion control. Though I believe Nintendo is still using it (they dont have to run at the same time also adds a little realism).I still think Sony removed it and shoved in motion cause they didnt want to give Immersion money to license rumble.
Since the new guy has been in charge, he's executed significant cost reduction programs including cutting many of the bleeding edge technologies that had made Sony what it was. The PS3 fiasco is just one more example of how far Sony has fallen. I have been a Sony fan for many years, but the past couple years have broken my affinity towards their products. I now look elsewhere for a lot of tech that I once would only look towards them.
/gam/
Don't get me wrong, I still like a fair amount of their products. I just don't think of them first anymore.
"In theory, theory and practice are the same; in practice, they are not."
This motion sensor stuff is ridiculous... If I wanted to go through the motions of playing tennis or golf in my living room I'd go out and do it in real life. Video games are for vegging out on the couch and not moving.
Honestly if my FPS required me to wave my arms around to kill anything I wouldn't play it. The current controller has been around in various shapes for 30 years, and any weird new designs have failed, maybe that's for a reason?
Business Voyeur
As for the Ps3, actually read what's left out on a 500 version. People buying the 500 version are just hurting themselves especially with no external slots. Even worse than the 360 the 500 dollar version of the Ps3 is unupgradable.
I have read what is in the $500 PS3 and you are missing nothing. Wireless is nice, but not nessecary - and can be obtained for less than $100 if you choose on the base PS3 (network to WiFi adaptor).
The slots are mostly for loading pictures into the PS3. Why do I need that again? As a gamer I'll simply use any mass storage USB device which Sony has said will be supported by the PS3.
As a consumer I don't even want the HDMI support, much less need it - you can't feed HDMI cables as far as component without some ugly dropouts and I can still get the same resolution out of component cables with only a slight drop in video quality - all without supporting a standard I strongly disagree with.
Lastly, what makes you think you'll not be able to change out the HD in a PS3? I hadn't seen anything mentioning it was fixed (though I would not be totally surprised if it was so it seems like they would want to upsell larger HD's after the fact).
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
A Sony insider going by the nickname PhilH on the IGN.com forums revealed that the PS4 controller will exclusively feature a built-in speaker... :-/
It may be small, but I don't see how you can call something that shape sleek; the PS3 better fits every definition of the word. The Wii just looks like a DVD-ROM taken out of a PC and painted black. Personally I don't give a fuck, and I'm happy to have one anyway, I just don't think it's an interesting or attractive design (the controller is much better, aside from the nunchaku).
Shouldn't PS3 be the shallow, sexy one? I appreciate that they are making a point about the size of the console itself, but it would be much more insightful (and a much better analogy) to look at the direction the content is taking on each platform, or even the intended audience. Anyway, if it's a choice between living with fatty and brain-dead bimbo, I'm just going to take the 360 right now (please don't be a dude, please don't be a dude).
Any reason to belive you can't just use any USB mass storage device? I would be suprised if you couldn't use the PSP in mass storage mode.
You know what else could be called a box? The iPod ...
...
One feature that is very cool when it comes to industrial design is the form factor; when you look at a Wii, and see that it is slightly larger than 3 DVD boxes it is quite impressive. The Mac-Mini is also one of these uber sexy pieces of hardware, and once again it is just a box
I guess you could put it this way, no matter how well designed it is a SUV will never be described as sexy because it is simply too large.