Are PS4, Xbox 720 & Wii 2 going to use motion-sensing controllers?
The Nintendo Wii may have bitterly disappointed me in many respects but I cannot deny it has added some very important things to the industry. Number one on that list has to be the Wii Remote, bringing supposed real world movement to game worlds. So could this method of controlling games become the norm from now on?
As I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of the Wii, for many and varied reasons that you’d only have to do a quick search of the site to discover. But it’s brought a lot of new people into the industry, which is something to be applauded, and shown that there are alternative ways of controlling on-screen characters and objects than just waggling an analogue stick.
The Wii Remote is a brilliant concept but its lack of accuracy and responsiveness let’s it down. And even Nintendo admits this, which is why the MotionPlus add-on is soon to be released, making the Wii Remote a lot more accurate than it currently is.
There have been countless rumors over the past year or so, basically since the Wii started selling stupendously well, of Wii Remote-style controllers coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360. All of which have so far come to nothing. But there is a similar, though infinitely better, system on its way to the PC called TrueMotion.
The company behind the technology, Sixense, demonstrated the system at the recent Consumer Electronics Show, and as the video below show, it’s a lot more responsive and accurate than the Wii Remote will ever be.
According to Technologizer, TrueMotion “uses a base station that creates an electromagnetic field,” making the responsiveness ad precision many times better than that of the Wii remote with its simple motion sensor bar. The Wii has succeeded because of its simplicity but it could be its downfall in years to come.
The Sixense TrueMotion system is being released for the PC by the end of 2009 for approximately $100. It will work not only with games made specially for it but also with some existing games.While there’s no mention of a release on the consoles, I wouldn’t mind betting it or something similar to it will appear on the PS3 or Xbox 360 in the future.
While I think, and hope, traditional controllers will remain the standard method of playing video games, I do think motion-sensing controllers will become much more widespread in the future. The Wii may have started the trend, and God knows what Nintendo have in mind for the Wii 2, but what of the PS4 and Xbox 720? Will they too go down this route in an effort to pick up some of the Wii fans looking to graduate to new systems?
Are you a fan of motion-sensing controllers/ Are you improved with the accuracy of TrueMotion? Would you like the other home consoles to go this route in the future? As always, let us know what you think in the comments section.
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15 Responses to “Are PS4, Xbox 720 & Wii 2 going to use motion-sensing controllers?”
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January 11th, 2009
gawd I hope not… the wii controller hasnt even been utilized to the max… the jedi star wars game controls suck.. and thats something that was perfect for the Wii…
PS4 may have 3D thingy in there… but we would need to buy the nex gen of HD tvs…
I highly doubt the nex box will have any motion controller… they dont need it for the games they have… they dont need 3D or any other add on… because they are perfect the way they are…
also… the current motion controls dont actually need arm movements… and can be done with flicks of the wrist… and most current mainstream games dont need motion controls… theres no reason to buy a whole nother controller for one or two games…
though some people will spend hundreds on Rock Guitar Band Hero… consumers are fickle.. you cant blame em…
January 11th, 2009
I hope to high hell they won’t. Mainly because once you start moving your body, it takes you away from the focus of the game.
Although it should be more so, it just doesn’t feel as immersive as having your hands on a controller with minor finger movements. If you were in some kind of VR ball with the display all around you, it would be more appropriate.
That is just my thoughts though, and it did make me sound like a technophobe.
January 11th, 2009
Off the motion sensor topic for a sec, but what you say about next gen HD TV’s DWH should be where Sony should be thinking; they should begin to think about building the PS4 into their TV’s.
Given how that Toshiba are putting the Cell Processor into their TV’s; surely Sony should be doing the same.
If you can put a Cell processor in a TV, you can put anything in. Sharp has already put Blu-Ray drives into its TV’s.
This is where Sony could have an advantage being in mass consumer electronics unlike MS. Why have the need for an external box when you can build everything right in?
They can bundle everything into the TV; the Cell; the PS4 components; 3D support; the PS Store via BRAVIA link and the motion sensor. And you’re done.
Granted, that’ll be one fucking expensive TV.
Though who knows, the credit crunch might still be with us so there might be some good cheap deals
January 11th, 2009
I could do with a diet / exercise so a motion controller would do me good.
January 11th, 2009
Not a fan. The motion sensing in the Six axis is plenty enough for me.
January 12th, 2009
calm down, they’re talking about releasing a new controller, not redifining all games for good, obviously games that suit joypad are gonna still be played with a joypad… Whilst games that suit the motion controller will be made for that.
It’s adding choice, not ending your joypad games. Personally I welcome a PC version so we can see the fun that came with the wii controller combined with the graphics such games deserve. Regarding the PS3 or XBox, I cudn’t care less, the problem with consoles is they are all destined to fail.
Long live the PC
January 12th, 2009
Of course they are
(and hopefully as an all-in-one optional feature in the standard controller and not as any kind of expensive extra).
For every big selling game/application that is out there & using it right now there’s bound to be a version of it in all of the next gen consoles.
TBH this is just a stupid question – and with a hint of potential flame-bait rolled in.
The point is this – whatever is a proven sales success is bound to be emulated (with a few unique twists, if possible) by all the others at some point.
That’s just how business works, always has done & always will do.
January 12th, 2009
I can’t wait for the future… you know, when we can use convenient controllers, that fit nicely in our hands. Making us able to easily control the game just with our fingers and not have to resort to waggling our arms around…
January 12th, 2009
Barnabe Jones, that sounds AMAZING. Can’t imagine that’ll happen for years though.
January 14th, 2009
Looks like from this generation that 360 was the only one to come through on that from the beginning. Interesting.
January 14th, 2009
I suppose if you like a controller that’s awkward, clumsy, and weighs as much as a bowling ball and has a inferior directional pad…. Sure.
January 14th, 2009
Still better than the sixaxis. Good thing Sony also decided to follow 360’s lead and put vibration back in.
January 14th, 2009
“follow”… maybe “gave into the lawsuit” is better?
For what it’s worth, if motion controls are done with mini games and little things here and there – they are a welcomed edition. At the core it is still the most comfortable controller on the market. Yes – the Wii has motion controls also – but with out motion controls it’s almost the same design as the NES controller.
January 14th, 2009
Is it? Matter of opinion I guess.
Still has some kinks, but they should be worked out in the next gen with only a few “Lair” repeats.
January 15th, 2009
I think the only game the motion controls killed was Lair (at least on PS3. There are to many Wii games to list). I think Sony and Developers in general learned a lesson from that game. I haven’t played it, but I am really curious to see what it’s actually like.