Not too long ago Motion Control was the Wii’s defining feature… and the SIXAXIS’ best kept secret. Now, motion control is suddenly cool, and Microsoft and Sony have proven that it’s here to stay and evolve. With that comes the consequences, so here are 8 impending annoyances that motion control will bring:
1) Fanboy Wars Reignited
The lag. The innovation. The stealing of ideas. These are the early signs of a new fanboy war. Motion control will bring about a new wave of fanboys, or at least awaken the ones in hiding. Long ago, fanboys argued about graphics, hardware failures, and console capabilities. Most of this has been settled, with only a few fanboys still hopelessly trying to argue otherwise. Motion control brings in a whole new wave of comparable oddities that nobody really cares about. But by God, they will be compared.
2) The shovelware
Every system has shovelware. The PS2 had some horrible shovelware but luckily it was offset by the largest AAA library of games. Ever. The Wii on the other hand just had horrible shovelware altogether. There are no stopping developers from trying to short change new gamers by trying to capitalize on the “wow†factor of motion control. Expect to see shovelware and titles that will make even your violence-prone mind sick with disgust.
3) Forced controls
Along with shovelware come good games that will try and force the use of motion control. “Hardcore†games like Gears of War 3 and Socom 4 may try to use motion control to simulate the experience, but do you really really want to be swinging your arms around or fake-hiding behind your coffee table to simulate the cover mechanic when you could probably achieve much finer control and fluidity with a simple controller?
4) The Media Hate/Limitations
You know how you love to chainsaw a person in half by pressing a simple button? Well now you can use your hands to actually simulate the experience! Grab your little sister and play some Gears of War 3. Pull out your chainsaw and perform a downwards diagonal motion to gut her open!
Such a concept may be so frightening for the Discretion Watchdogs that the very concept of it may be pulled from games. Nerdy gamers who are trying to exploit Hot Coffee mods? Not if Jack Thompson can help it!
5) The Casuals
Humans have a natural tendency to think things are theirs and theirs exclusively. They may share such things with other like minded people, but as soon as their beloved object of desire gets whored out, they are struck with betrayal. It may have happened to your favorite band, maybe a TV show, and maybe even your favorite console. Where have all you Nintendo fanboys gone? Well according to Sony, the PS3—but that’s beside the point: Assuming that the phenomena of Natal sweeps the feet of every 30-something year old mother out there hardcore gamers who had even the slightest interest in Natal will run back to the complicated brick known as the “controllerâ€. At least casual gamers are too stupid to handle one of those things. The casual market is a force to be reckoned with. No longer feeling like an important supporter of your company you will take a back seat to the casual gamers who Microsoft and Sony could end up favoring, depending on how successful they turn out to be. Just ask Nintendo.
6) The sweat, and perhaps the blood and tears
Depending on how poorly you are able to coordinate your body, you will most likely not even be able to finish a game of EA’s NHL 11 without getting tired. The more intense a game is, and provided that it supports motion control, the more tired you will be. Which self-respecting hardcore gamer wants to shower after each play session, let alone sweat? Motion control games are definitely not intended for the hardcore gamer who has exercised his thumbs more than his cardiovascular system.
7) The price
Oh, the economy. The next best excuse you had for not getting a job after “illegal immigrants took them allâ€. The reality is that gaming is not cheap. It’s a very expensive hobby. This generation, Sony graced us with a ridiculous launch price that the Sony faithful gladly paid for. Then there are the exclusives. Perhaps you own two consoles this generation. With that come the games. Our wallets have taken a smashing this generation, and investing in motion control is a big step. Sony promises to be under $100, but when considering the fact that the subcontroller lacks motion, you will have to buy a second Wand just to imitate the sword and shield in Demon’s Souls. Then there is Natal. Thought to be so expensive, Microsoft decided to downgrade the product to make it more affordable. Motion controls aren’t going to be cheap. Hell, they aren’t even necessary.
The awkwardness
Do you really want to play Gears of War 3 with Motion Control? Simulate a teabag in Halo? Granted, exercise is nice, but hardcore games have simulations that I have no intention of acting out in my living room. A game of golf with Move would be nice, but flailing my arms around to catch things as they fall down a screen? Doing a silly dance in front of others at a party? No thank you.
It’s funny. Not too long ago motion control was something active gamers did not want. It’s still the same today, yet, for the sake of fanboyism, or just plain boredom fans everywhere have taken arms with either Natal or Move. It’s definitely a big step for the industry, but with that comes the fair share of skepticism.
