The Issue At Hand is a new feature we’ve started here at Go Gaming Giant. Each week myself and three guests from the XBOX community will take a look at a current issue or hot topic going on in the gaming industry. This week’s topic is motion control.

Welcome to the first edition of The Issue At Hand.

This week’s topic is: Motion Control.

Joining Us This Week:

Matt
Matt is the owner of Go Gaming Giant. Go Gaming Giant is a fairly new site but it continues to grow larger each day. Go Gaming Giant offers news, reviews, forums, podcasts and much more. As the owner of Go Gaming Giant, Matt oversees and helps out with all areas of the site. Matt is passionate about videogames and loves running his site and being involved in the community.

Phil
Phil is the Editor in Chief of Xcast Online. Xcast Online and the Xcast podcast have been around since late 2006 and continue to grow, evolve and tackle new ideas. Xcast Online is a daily updated news blog, as well as a weekly audio podcast. Video content is also in the works. Phil and his co-host, Frank are dedicated gamers, involved community members and hard working members of the enthusiast gaming press.

Lono
Currently the founder/co-host/producer of Respawn Radio, the official podcast for Rooster Teeth’s Achievementhunter.com. Also co-owner and former Editor-in-Chief of Sarcasticgamer.com and co-host/producer of the Sarcastic Gamer Podcast and the Humpday Update, two of the most downloaded indie podcasts on iTunes.

Deacon
Deacon is a Microsoft Xbox MVP and also the founder of the blog & podcast, Unscripted 360. He’s been moonlighting as a gamer since his early childhood and has since followed that passion into the heart of the mainstream gaming community. Ladies call him “The Velvet Voice”; a moniker that he’s carried since late 2006 when his blog & show debuted. A few of his favorite things include large amounts of money from whomever wants to give it and sunny days in Texas.

The inspiration for the topic is the following article: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/02/rumor-motion-sensing-360-peripheral-spotted/

Background: Since the launch of the Nintendo Wii, the concept of a motion sensing controls has become extraordinarily popular. The Nintendo Wii was marketed heavily based on the fact that they had motion controls and this became a major selling point for the console. As everyone knows the Nintendo Wii is the best seller out of the big three (XBOX 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii). Sony tried to implement a bit of motion control with their sixaxis controller and while there are motion controls for some games it is no where near what Nintendo has done with the Wii. Now rumors have surfaced of Microsoft implementing some kind of motion control for the XBOX 360. Many people are also speculating that this will be Microsoft’s big E3 announcement.

The Issue At Hand: Motion controls were a great choice for the Wii. The Wii appealed to the casual gamer and for the casual gamer, motion controls were a fantastic way to get them into gaming. Now if Microsoft does in fact make an announcement about motion controls is this really a good move for them? The XBOX 360 appeals to the hardcore gamers, do hardcore gamers really want to be moving around while playing their Gears or Halo? As a 360 gamer do you wanna abandon the couch to be moving around? When you sit down for some Call of Duty online would you rather use a controller with joysticks or do you want to be physically moving around? For most gamers, gaming is a nice way to kind of sit back, relax and have some fun. If Microsoft starts incorporating motion controls into their games than we would lose that whole aspect. I know for one, when I game, I enjoy sitting on the couch with my feet up on the table and just relaxing. So I guess the Issue At Hand is, if Microsoft does decide to announce motion control’s is that a good move for them, it may attract casual gamers but alienate the hardcore gamers, and Microsoft has always catered to the hardcore.

The Discussion

Lono:

If the motion controller is not bundled with the console, it will be a non-factor, like the controllers used for the Scene-It games, so I wouldn’t be too worried about it. Even if they bundled it with a great game, there wouldn’t be enough market saturation that would cause big game companies to spend huge dollars on motion control implementation in games like Call of Duty, etc.

As for motion controls themselves, I don’t mind them, but when I want to relax and play video games, I don’t pick up my Wiimote.

Matt:

Well the way I see it is that your probably right, it will never be bundled with the console but you have to assume if this in fact is true and Microsoft is producing a motion controller than it must have been quite expensive to make considering the 360 probably was not made with the intentions to have motion controls. So seeing that Microsoft probably spent a lot of money developing it and will spend a lot of money marketing it, they are going to make sure quite a few games implement the motion controls. Of course it will never be like the Wii where all games must implement it but I’m sure Microsoft will see to it that a fair number of games are made with motion controls in mind. And even if it is left up to the developer, with the success of the Wii, I think a lot of developers will go for it. Than again the only two motion games on the 360 that I can think of are You’re In The Movies and Totemball and neither of those did to well so maybe the 360 crowd just doesn’t want motion controls.

Lono:

I don’t know if we can say for sure that Microsoft is actually doing this. My understanding was that a third party was making the peripheral for the 360. Even if MS makes the peripheral, they won’t mandate motion controls. It will be a niche thing for a line of games and limited third party support, in my opinion.

Phil:

I can’t say for certain that this alleged camera sensor device is a Microsoft device, either; but they did snatch up 3DV Systems earlier this year, and that company makes the type of camera-based tech that is apparently inside this product. Plus just by looking at it (if it is real), it is obviously a natural evolution of the Vision camera. The only “confirmed” motion controller for the 360 so far is the GameTrak Freedom from third-part manufacturer PDP http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=200687brp.jpg – and it looks like exactly what I expect a waggle wand for the 360 to be: A mini-game magnet with no purpose other than to attempt to replicate what the Wii does best: Party games. And an isolated bundle product on its own.

However, seeing what 3DV was able to accomplish with their “ZCam” (depth perception and such), Microsoft could wind up with something unique here, if they market it properly, have the right developers work on it and invest heavily in specific first-part products.

In my opinion, Wii-like motion control for the 360 (and PS3) is inevitable; but they aren’t going to rush into it. That said, I do think that if we don’t see or hear about Microsoft’s plans for it this year, then it is not coming for this console. They cannot seriously expect to introduce a game-changing peripheral like this now and hope to achieve any sort of meaningful market share in the “interactive gaming” space if the games that the majority of 360 owners buy are not and cannot be tailored to it. Party games aren’t enough. No successful, AAA 360 third-party developer in their right mind would risk implementing waggle into games like Modern Warfare or Gears, etc. It would be a feature that would go unused by 80% of the consumers, especially if it required a separate device, and would take away from development time of the game.

And aside from that, I don’t mind “getting up” to play games, but I won’t do it if it shoehorned/retrofitted into them.

Matt:

I totally agree, it is way too late in the console’s life cycle to introduce a motion controller which is why I think it would be a bad idea to announce this at E3. I also agree with your comment on the AAA game developers. Most would not go for it but do you not think Microsoft would want to see it implemented in a fair amount of titles? If it’s not being implemented in third party games does that mean we’d see a bunch of crappy first party mini games like Nintendo has done with Wii Sports, Wii Music etc? I can only speak for myself but I know as a 360 gamer that is not what I want to play. I’ll stick with my Gears and Halo any day.

Phil:

Well, if Wii MotionPlus’s announcement at last year’s E3 was any indication, developers don’t like having “new and innovative” devices like this sprung on them. I expect that should this get announced, which it probably will, we won’t see any currently announced 2009 titles from third-parties using it. I could see EA utilizing it in Fight Night, since 3DV had a boxing tech demo set up, but it’s WAY too late for that. Maybe next time.

Microsoft would probably rely on rolling this out with games like a You’re in the Movies sequel, 1 vs 100 or new XBLA titles like they did with the Vision cam, but don’t expect to see any “worthwhile” games being outfitted with this device. If there were, it would have leaked by now.

Matt:

Yea that’s why I think this will fail, because games like You’re In The Movies and Vision Cam games like Totemball were awful so if we are just going to see junk games coming out with motion control than why do it at all? If Microsoft is planning to implement motion controls into the system than they should make it worthwhile and produce some AAA games with motion controls.

Deacon:

Well I’ve never been the one to label a console as being for the hardcore or the casual. Consoles are for people who can afford them and for people who find the types of games they want to play on them. The Wii is obviously some sort of devil beast that has tainted the minds of the nation but that’s another story. You’d be hard pressed to find any Wii owner that owns just a Wii and plays it any significant amount of time. It’s a novelty. It’s a gimmick. It’s a very successful one but still. And plus it’s affordable.

I don’t think it has anything to do with motion control mostly. It’s a variety of things: a different way to play, the Nintendo name, hype…etc. If Microsoft introduces that (and they will) I say go for it. It won’t be my thing but I can see it being something new to get another crowd into the Xbox 360.

Truth be told it won’t matter without the software to back it up. I hate the Wii. But I love Wii Sports. Weird I know. If Microsoft had something like that on the Xbox 360, I’d personally scoop it up. It’s fun man. I don’t think it’s a sellout at all or anything wrong when they bring motion control to the console. This business is about making money and expanding your userbase. If that’s the way they want to reach the Wii heads then so be it. At least it’ll be in high definition.

Matt:

Deacon you say that “Truth be told it won’t matter without the software to back it up.” I agree, but do you think they will have the software to back it up? Will Microsoft be able to make worthwhile motion games because everything they have tried so far has failed. No doubt they’ll rip off Wii Sports but other than that what else will they do? Their target market doesn’t care for those little casual games so I don’t think any software will be successful with the motion controls, unless AAA games come out with motion controls.

Deacon:

I seriously doubt they’ll have any type of software that appeals on the level that Wii’s lineup has. I mean don’t get me wrong…there are a ton of Wii games that are doing poorly and only a handful that are doing well, but I don’t see Microsoft or any 3rd party coming up with something that’s as enticing as Wii Sports…Wii Fit etc. You’re probably right in that they’ll copy a lot of existing Wii games but what else can they do? They have to mimic at least some of them if, and that’s a big IF, developers are even keen on producing them. As much as the Wii has sold, you don’t see developers tearing down the doors to develop for it.

What people should understand though about this is that Microsoft is NOT behind it. Everything you’ve heard about motion control so far as it pertains to the 360 is from some 3rd party. Microsoft has yet to introduce any first party motion control devices or software. So with that said, I’m a bit skeptical of it in the first place.

I strongly suggest that Microsoft make a hard pitch for the 1 vs. 100’s of the world now. That game can bring in an entirely new audience for them if they advertise and promote it correctly. My biggest issue with Microsoft has always been their unwillingness to fully embrace a new audience. Sure they dibble and dabble here and there but it’s never been a direct focus. A full steam ahead focus. It’s always half-assed for lack of a better word.

So what I’d like for them to do is really push 1 vs. 100. Open it up and grab that audience out there who currently has no interest in Xbox. These people aren’t going to come to you by themselves. They rely too much on big media to get the word out and are missing out. Big media can’t get you every piece of the pie. They need to embrace alternate methods.

Matt:

Well I got to agree about the 1 vs. 100 comment. I think that is an incredible idea and I really do hope it takes off. I think that could attract casual gamers more than motion controllers can. I am really excited for 1 vs. 100, in fact the Canadian beta starts in just a few days and I’m eagerly awaiting it.

Phil:

Deacon you said that “This business is about making money and expanding your userbase. If that’s the way they want to reach the Wii heads then so be it.”
This is true, but look at what that’s meant for the Wii: Feature > quality. Outside of [most] Nintendo product, waggle kills the game. Hopefully that is avoided here, but I feel like next year, we’ll see this device being shoehorned into tons of games that don’t really need it. Microsoft will no doubt be relying on things like self-contained XBLA titles and applications to sell this.

I will keep an open mind until we see it (I may love it, who knows?), but the Wii has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I fear the crossover. As long as this doesn’t pave the way for that rumored Minority Report dashboard interface, I’m ready to see what 3DV’s camera tech can manage in HD.

Matt:

Phil you said that “Hopefully that is avoided here, but I feel like next year, we’ll see this device being shoehorned into tons of games that don’t really need it. Microsoft will no doubt be relying on things like self-contained XBLA titles and applications to sell this.”

I agree. We’ll see a bunch of stupid games coming out that serve one purpose, to make use of the motion controller. Even if there are some legit games that come out that use the motion controller I feel that the motion controller probably won’t be necessary in the game and like you said it will be shoehorned in.

Phil:

I think we need to clarify one thing here that seems (to me at least) be getting confused: Motion control is quite different than motion sensing – which is what this camera sensor device does. Deacon is right that the only MS “motion control” device that has been rumored for the 360 is the Newton, while the third-party device I linked to on the previous page is legit.

Unless 3DV Systems just decided to up and change their proprietary camera tech to work with the 360 only after they were bought up, this sensor bar is a MS product, and sources keep saying it is. Off the record, anyway.

Back on topic: We have no idea what will be supported/pushed with this camera sensor device (dammit I wish it had a name), but look at what the Gametrak Freedom is coming with: 11 minigames. http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/Product … t_id=74670

Tenpin Bowling – See the Squeeballs cower as the ball approaches and hear them laugh if you miss them. Curve the ball left or right after you’ve thrown it by circling your arm clockwise (curves right) or counter-clockwise (left).

Feeding Frenzy – Fire the correct Squeeballs at the hungry El Toro’s or they will eat you.

Cannon – Swing the racket at the Squeeballs as they are fired at you. Accuracy and distance are key.

Cooking – Dice, slice, grate, season, and stir Squeeballs in special dishes prepared for El Toro.

Crazy Lanes – Bowling down the wackiest, curvy lanes ever with lava and bombs to avoid.

Paint by Squeeballs – Catapult the correct Squeeballs to get the right colors on the right picture.

Creature Testing Belt – Follow the Squeeballs on the conveyor belt. Pop, slice and punch as you must.

Pumping – Inflate the Snoods with the right amount of air and fly them through the course.

Squeeball Golf – Aim, spin your arms and send Octo flying through the air, skimming the water and find dry land.

Shock – Steady as she goes along the electric wire or else.

Stampede – Fire the Crabooms at the approaching Squeeballs before they reach you.

$70? Really? I wonder how much this camera device will go for?

Matt:

Well guys, I think that just about does it for this week’s edition of The Issue At Hand. We’re out of time. Hope you all you readers enjoyed this week’s edition and we’ll be back next week with another topic to discuss. Any comment or questions or if you have a topic to suggest for next week just leave a comment and let us know. Phil, Lono, Deacon, I’d like to thank you guys for participating and we’ll speak to you next week when we return with The Issue at Hand #2.