In Defense of the Classic Controllers

[Nayrman]

http://kotaku.com/5303609/in-defense-of-the-classic-controller

Interesting article on Kotaku. Basically saying some "important" (I love the idea of anyone being "important" in any real way) people's opinions on motion controls, etc. What is your opinion of the new movement to motion controls and whether or not they will really help the gaming industry?

Most of you probably know my opinion on motion controls. I really don't think they work, or bring anything to games that traditional controllers couldn't do other than be a flailing arm gimmick for people "not in the know".

My biggest complaints are the ideas that they'll "enhance" gaming, it's to expand the audience, and how gaming will change as a medium. Firstly, just look at most of the motion heavy Wii games, and you'll notice the vast majority of them are really bad. While a lot of that has to deal with game type, what's in the game, and so on, but a lot of motion heavy games have inherent problems not found in other games. That invisible wall between the game and the player is even more vague when the player has to do motions/actions in the game themselves. Meanwhile a traditional controller will never get confused. Sure, control can still be bad, but it'll never pick up an "up" motion for a "thrust" motion and so forth. A wall that I think motion control will never be able to climb over, regardless of how good the technology is.

Nextly, I love the "expanding the audience" excuse. That doesn't mean the games will be better, or make the core group happy. I love that one guy's quote of a "just get over it" excuse. He clearly doesn't get it, that all hobbies are inherently "elitist" and those in the know will always be more prepared and better at the hobby than new people. Also, let's look at "wide audience" examples in other media. I would hardly say that a lot of the really popular films lately have been good, not to mention when guys like Michael Bay are making movies to much financial success despite not ever directing a film with a coherent story. Just because it has a big market doesn't mean it's something worthwhile.

I find the "change the medium" reasoning to be completely hilarious. To quote the AVGN in his NES accessory video *holds up a SNES controller* "What's wrong with this? I dunno I thought this was alright." I really don't see the problem with controllers as they are. There are still great experiences with traditional controllers. Would anyone say games like Mario 3, Megaman, Sonic, etc. would be better off with motion controls? I doubt it. Change for the sake of change imho is a really bad idea.

Also, to quote Ben Crowshaw "Yahtzee", I don't want to come home from a long day of work or school and have to stand in front of my tv and flail my arms, legs, etc. all over the place just to play my games. I like sitting and relaxing to play my games. I hate getting wrist stiffness and other problems just from trying to play my games. *insert lolfat joke here*

However, I think it's a good idea if kept in the same vain of DDR and Guitar Hero. A fine side item to games for a "different" kind of gaming experience, and one that will survive but forever be in a genre specific or gimmick status. Not saying it can't be fun for a while, but can't or should replace the way games currently/traditionally work.

*prepares for Mac's response to begin the inevitable debate*

[bluaki]

I like some of the newer controller things. Touch screen and pointer, for example, work great most of the time. They are abusable just a bit, though. They're both essentially console versions of the computer mouse, which is a well established form of controlling gaming.

Some games like Trauma Center, World of Goo, and Kirby Canvas Curse would be nearly unplayable without something like those two newer control schemes while some other games like Pokemon Battle Revolution, Pikmin, and Twilight Princess use the pointer and touchscreen to improve upon controls that are already established as formerly using something else that is slower.

Motion controls is the only thing that I think isn't that useful. The most good I've seen with them in serious gaming is Super Mario Galaxy, Super Paper Mario, or Twilight Princess, where just shaking the controller functions as an additional button (for spin attack, tricks, and sword slashing respectively).

Mario Kart Wii is an example where it's actually implemented extensively and rather well outside of minigames, but there aren't that many of such examples and even then I prefer to play MKWii with the Wavebird.

Another thing I believe motion controls may benefit well is when they're tied in with the Wiimote's pointer, for things like roll/rotating pointer.
Even with 1:1 motion controls, I think it would distract from some things like Zelda. When I see Link swinging the Master Sword onscreen, I expect him to swing it like a real "Hero of Time", not in the erratic fashion that all players will be swinging the Wiimote.

Another note to make about striving towards 1:1 motion is that one common purpose of gaming is something simple and relaxing to do. If a sports game is made to play exactly the same as the original sport, then the purpose of playing it in video game form rather than outside is completely lost.

Beyond minigames, I don't really see anything using motion controls extensively in a way that isn't really annoying. The Eyetoy is similar to Natal. Even though the technology is vastly improved to make sensing more accurate, there aren't that many serious uses for something like it.

On a side note, during the introduction of the Analogue Joystick and similar things, was there a notable dislike of striving away from the familiar D-pad? I didn't nearly start following gaming discussion back then and the joystick is pretty much what I grew up with.

[Nayrman]

From what I can recall, (no internet back then, so I just did word of mouth) analog sticks were skepticized, but weren't shunned. Basically people wondered if it would be accurate enough, but we all knew it was the way to go once it got good enough.

I never liked sports games in the first place, but if they're made to play like the sports themselves then I REALLY don't see the point.

Mario Kart Wii still has flaws motion wise. While it works simple enough, it's obvious that the Gamecube controller still works best in all cases, thus making everyone wonder why bother with motion controls in the first place.

I really think Natal will crash and burn, especially since M$ has no experience doing this sort of thing. Sony had the Eye toy for the while and thusly learned that having something in your hand is pretty much necessary for games, or else it won't really work.

The stylus is something completely different. It's like a more enhanced version of an analog stick in a way, pretty much acting as a mouse. Unlike motion controls, there is still something physically there connecting you to the game via "button" input. Dude, Trauma Center could easily work without motion controls... it's called Operation XD

[L10]

I agree a lot with Bluaki here, the pointing with the Wii and the Touch Screen on the DS are great thing, but for motion sensing:
It's good, but maybe too early for it. I mean it's more money than it's really work, because the 1:1 motion is only good for things like minigames and maybe sports. Other wise short movements like the grapple in Metroid is all it's good for. And for the Sports, I guess it's good if you suck at them in real life or it's raining out....but I would think playing Football or something is more fun if you play with a bunch of sucky people in the rain.....

oh and I don't think M$ camera thing will work, I don't think people are willing to move that much to play a game, other than DDR

[Captain Justice]

For the most part I HATE motion controls. 95% of the time they either ruin the game (ie the countless number of Wii games that focus fully on motion controls and have no gameplay) or they just don't add anything (ie Zelda TP, SMG, Fire Emblem).

The only game that I actually thought was made better through motion controls was Metroid Prime 3.