Motion Controls - 6/10
Since the epic launch of the Nintendo Wii all the way back in December 2006, Motion control has become a very disputed issue in the gaming industry. The Wii has become the platform to beat this generation and it has left its competitors in the dust with a whopping 50 million consoles sold as of this post. Motion control and the Wii's unique controller have certainly played a massive hand in making this possible.
Nintendo had decided to innovate instead of going with the flow of its competitors this time around. The Wii remote was the result of this process. This new way to play games has presented endless possibilities to developers and gamers, because of this the regular consumer have overwhelmingly supported the Wii console.
But when there is success, the competition will take note and try to take their own share of this prosperity.
This is what worries me. Motion control is a great thing to happen to the gaming industry and the Wii platform caters for this efficiently. After all the console was designed from the ground up for this purpose. The Wii offers new experiences for all demographics from the casual to the hardcore and this is easy to notice when you observe its game library. All in all, the game system works perfectly for what it is intended to do.
The other consoles on the market, (X360, PS3) were not designed for this feature. These consoles hardware were designed specifically for the hardcore in mind and their controllers are traditional with regular face buttons and sticks. These systems work perfectly for what they are trying to offer as well.
The problem is, there are always constant rumours at this stage of the year (E3 time) suggesting and stating that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are having motion controllers developed for them to directly compete with the Wii. I can very well understand the reasoning behind a move like that but that does not mean I have to agree with it.
Now from here you were probably just thinking that I'm another Nintendo Fanboy complaining about how Microsoft and Sony are trying to copy Nintendo's ideas. That is simply not true. I am complaining because I bought my Wii console for Motion Controlled games specifically in mind. I did not buy my Xbox 360 for motion controls. I happen to be stuck in the middle of this whole console war charade.
I just so happen to love both control methods. The Wii motion controls are fantastic at representing new gameplay experiences, genres and settings. The motion plus add-on also excites me with the new possibilities once again being presented to us. The 360 controllers are also damn fantastic! The traditional control input works perfectly as it molds to my hands, the button placement is excellent and most of all it gets the bloody job done.
So I pose this question to you: What is ****ing wrong with sticking to the functions that your console was intended to be used with in the first place!? All this talk and commotion about other consoles having motion controls is just ludicrous. I bought my ****ing 360 because it was hardcore designed and it had regular, traditional controls. Maybe I want to play a generic shooter pressing buttons instead of swinging my arms wildly to shoot! If I want to go out of space, jumping on friggen goombas or throwing giant turtles into lava by waggling my arms I will go and play my damn Wii!
The Wii is meant to be different, that's why it has a different consumer base and demographic! The 360 and PS3 are meant to be what they were designed for too. Don't change your consoles from having a hardcore twosome to a casual threesome! (If you are a little slow YES that was meant to sound sexual) Stick to what your console is good at! DO NOT CHANGE! YOU HEAR ME!
I bought my 360 because it is a 360! I bought my Wii because it is a Wii! If I hear some announcement at E3 from any company trying to copy its competitor mid generation with motion controls, people are going to get seriously hurt!!!! Look i've resorted to Fr***in empty threats now! Look what you have done! It is all your fault.
To re-iterate one more time: Each console is great for what it is, Don't change that mid generation you money grabbing, thieving, corporate prick a***oles!!!
Score: Innovators: 8/10 Blatant copiers: 5/10
Overall: 6/10
Please note: This review/rant was written on my old discontinued blog just before Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's PS Dildo were announced at E3. This was merely a correct prediction at the time. This article has been edited to be slightly less obscene for general viewer consumption .
