Slashdot Mirror
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
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.
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.
You know, that might actually be a really great use. Touch Sensitive buttons kinda worked for peeking around a corner, but imagine just tilting it ever so slightly to take a quick look around the corner. That might be really cool.
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.
no sweat off my back. Ewww.
But is it skin off your brow?
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
I like this video very much, but to paint the PS3 as "not sexy" seems kinda flawed. It is very sexy. Just very expensive and demanding. A more apt analogy would be a "rich bitch" type, representing the PS3, with a "girl next door" representing the Wii. Both are hot, but one is super annoying, is always spouting shit, and requires you to spend vast amounts of money to even consider any sort of interaction. The other however, is cool, down to earth and ready to have fun. Right now. And she's fine with just hangin' out.
Just FYI, at MediaMarkt in Germany you can only preorder one that costs 600 EUR. I don't know which model it is, the ad didn't say.
"When I first heard Daydream Nation it quite frankly scared the living shit out of me." -- Matthew Stearns
Ah, but for that to work with my analogy, Anna Nicole Smith would have to be considered in some way sexy. Which is, of course, just rediculous.
The other however, is cool, down to earth and ready to have fun. Right now. And she's fine with just hangin' out.
:(
Yeah, and she's also 12 years old.
(Kidding, kidding...)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon