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Miyamoto "Not Worried" By Rivals’ Motion Tech
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto says that moves by Sony and Microsoft to introduce motion sensing controllers show Nintendo has been on the right path all along.
Miyamoto told the BBC that the company is "not worried at all" by its rivals’ technology. "The fact that both of those companies are looking at getting the gamer off the couch, taking advantage of motion control, and getting them to control the game by moving their body shows that they have looked at what we have done with Wii. And now they are moving in the same direction. To that end we are very flattered.”
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Nintendo has always been the trend setter for gaming. The cross shaped digipad, shoulder buttons, analog sticks, rumble, motion sensing is just yet another feature that is now copied by its competition.
He should be worried because the Sony and Microsoft motion controllers look like they actually work. Maybe Motion Plus will provide a more satisfying experience but, so far, the Wiimote has ruined more games than it has enhanced.
Say that when they actually come out. Honestly, the mere fact they are peripherals means that there will be less third party support, which is a VERY bad thing. I hope that Sony and Microsoft can make their next system come with motion control (I mean GOOD motion control, not anything like that PS3 controller), because then it will get plenty more support.
I think the motion control for the Wii has been abused the hell out of by third parties looking for a quick buck, but once all the companies start using motion control (Of different kinds, no less), they will have to start putting more quality into the individual games using motion control.
On another note, that picture of Mayamoto is sure to just encourage the Wii-being-phallic jokes.
I'm amazed this page hasn't been Picarded yet. Ho hum.
I don't think "Nintendo has been on the right path all along" because i don't like the Wii and what the system represents i.e. mass market tripe, silly party games, etc. To think MS and Sony are heading in the same direction is terrifying. Thank fuck for the PC, eh.
I like to control my games via traditional interfaces i.e. control pad or mouse & keyboard. The Wii on the otherhand is trying to take me out of my comfort zone for the sake of the demographic that would never touch a videogame in their life. It's pathetic.
>>Thank fuck for the PC, eh.
yes, home of The Sims and WoW, hahah.
Get used to it. Sony's committed to supporting this device well into the 51st century.
Oh shit!
Nothing like being a troglodyte.
It could be worse, i could be a hardcore D&D player!
Anyway if one likes mass market tripe, silly party games, etc. then that's fine by me. As long as it isn't me that's playing them.
The Wii has a lot of party games but they're not all that way. Games like SM Galaxy, No More Heroes and Zelda so that normal games work well with the new input method.
Someone has to try something new and you can't expect it to be perfect at first but that's no reason to give up.
I like how Miyamoto & MS pretends the eyeToy never existed
One could say that it's interesting how Sony forgets the Activator or Power Glove never existed.
The Activator! I remember that. Did anyone actually get to use one of them?
Miyamoto once said that he was ashamed Nintendo didn't come up with the EyeToy idea, so I don't think he is pretending anything.
As for MS, they obviously wanted in on Nintendo's game, but wanted to differenciate themselves enough, so went with the obvious alternative (voice and camera combination).
Sony, on the other hand, is the one that seems to have forgotten the Eye Toy ever existed; the only reason they use the camera is to circumvent Nintendo's patents obviously, and the camera seems to be used for detection of those glowing sticks only, themselves clearly a different take on the Wiimote itself.
Eye Toy is older than the Wii as it came out for the PS2 originally.
That said the NES Power Glove is probably one of the oldest, if not oldest, console motion detecting controllers.
It never detected any of my motions. I think I managed to control my NES with my mind more times than the Power Glove did - i.e. Once
I played Tetris with it and didn't do too bad considering how shit it is at detecting motions.
It's biggest downfall is how you had to use it and the fact you were pretty much guaranteed to have a tired arm before too long.
Probably because the EyeToy has never actually been significant.
I actually doubt this .
I remember reading in Edge a while back that Nintendo took such steps (motion tech) in order to avoid direct competition from Sony & MS.
I also feel the Wii's capabilities limit what can potentially be done - I know graphics aren't everything , I'm thinking more along the lines of open/intricate environments + intelligent NPC's , (and in some cases graphics really can make a difference e.g Dead Rising on Wii compared to x360.)
The main reason I've kept hold of my Wii is beacuse of it's social gaming aspect via the motion controls. My point is that MS/Sony can now do everything the Wii can offer, but the Wii can't do everything it's rivals can.
For example , Wii fit (my favorite wii game) is based primarily on balance and posture. The balance board is pricey but decent , but it does seem a little odd that some of the best exercises do not require the board at all (like jogging.) And in all it feels like a rough estimate - it's up to you to try and do things properly.
A health game with camera based motion tech like Natal/Eye toy could potentialy detect your actual posture/form throughout and count actual reps , and be significantly cheaper due to no need for a balance board, and even allow multiple people to use the game and have results recorded at the same time.
In other words... one of Nintendo's biggest selling games could be done cheaper, more accurately/effectively on other consoles ....... and he's not worried?!?!?
I'm trying to be cheerfully optimistic about the vitality ring, but lets be honest , it just measures your pulse - it may have a few novel uses -but it's hardly going to set the gaming world on fire.
I did like the Nintendo conference this year, but I think Sony's & MS's were better.
How would the camera measure your weight?
Also, I would't expect the camera to be able to detect minor changes in your centre of gravity, i.e. balance.
Ah , ....I should've thought of that!
Ummm , I guess they'd need a different approach .
Weight is not the most accurate way to measure your level of general health , BMI is a guide which is normally used in conjunction with other info . It doesn't work for people overly obese/muscular or for the elderly. Muscle is considerably heavier then fat - it's not uncommon for 'body-builder types' to be 15-18st and still be perfectly healthy (yet their BMI would place them as obese.)
My Dad - according to Wii fit is in his ideal BMI range - but he's anything but (huge beer belly !)
The current recommended means to determine your level of general health is your hip to waist ratio - that is something camera tech could determine.
For centre of balance - natal supposedly builds up a skeletal profile of the user - both EyeToy and Natal could at the very least track the outline of the user - in which case the software could track position changes of the shoulders, back and hips throughout the duration of the exercise to determine the results.
You're right about the camera having problems with the minor balance issues , but , considering that these products are aimed at people who feel unhealthy + want to improve without going to a gym - what would be more important - losing weight or improving your balance? Exercise wise - I do think motion camera's have the advantage. I'd have to think about the balance issue..... there might be a way.
I like Wii fit - but I do think there's room for improvements....
I think this motion thing is really going to continue growing, with especially Sony's tech demo looking very impressive. It's going to be the future of gamign in a big way.
I'll never forget it was Nintendo that pioneered the whole thing, though. They took the risk, and got lucky. I'm not a real Nintendo fanboy or anything, but I think history will rpove the Wii will to have been an important milestone in gaming.
Then again, so were the NES, GameBoy and SNES..
Why should he care?
His company could sit in last place for 50 years, & he could still shit a million-seller in his sleep.