The 2009 E3 is currently underway at the LA Convention Center. It’s the ultimate yearly showcase for gaming companies and an exciting time for your average gamer. Following months of speculation, leaks and fanboy baiting, the world waits with baited breath for the next big announcement from the Big Three: Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
When the Wii launched in 2006, Nintendo changed the game. The Wii-mote was a revolution in gaming – Sony and Microsoft couldn’t compete in terms of interaction with their devices, despite the significant advantage in processing power of the 360 and PS3.
Now both companies have had time to reflect (and drop several million into R&D), and they’ve come to E3 with their own take on motion sensing controllers, whilst Nintendo has launched their own ‘upgrade’ to the existing Wii-mote. Here’s what each company wants you to spend your hard-earned cash on in the next 12 months.
Xbox 360
Microsoft has gone all out with their innovation – Project Natal is a 9-inch horizontal bar, consisting of an “RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and custom processor running proprietary software”. This accessory provides full-body motion capture, facial and voice recognition, allowing full immersion within a game, and removing the need for a controller or buttons. Microsoft supported the announcement with a promotional video, demonstrating the potential of this device.
PS3
Since the launch of Sony’s black behemoth, they’ve consistently lagged behind Nintendo and Microsoft with their controllers. Force feedback was missing from the console until last year, and the 360’s ergonomic controller takes the usability crown that the PS2 had held for many years. OK, so the Six-axis did provide a level of motion sensing, but it’s underused and inaccurate. If you’ve ever used the motion control features of games such as Warhawk or Wipeout HD, then you’ll know to keep it turned off in future and rely on traditional input.
The new controller from Sony (as yet unnamed) is essentially a stick with a glowing ball on the end. The ‘stick’ contains motion and orientation sensing devices (like the Wii-mote) and the ‘ball’ is recognized by the PS3 Eye to add an additional level of accuracy.
The result is a sub-millimeter accurate device, with the added bonus of augmented-reality style overlays on the screen. They enlisted the help two uncomfortable-looking, but clearly excited developers to show the device in action at their E3 presentation.
Wii
Nintendo really didn’t pull anything out of the bag this year. Their already-announced MotionPlus sensor, which adds additional sensitivity to the Wiimote, was paraded again, but it’s far from the revolution of the original controller.
Their other new product was the Wii ‘Vitality’ – a heart rate monitor. Ok… it’s a nice idea with some interesting gaming potential, but it’s hardly the level of innovation we’d expect from Nintendo. It seems like yet another attempt to sell us a peripheral that will be supported by three games before everyone else loses interest.
In Summary…
I think we can say quite definitely that Nintendo’s innovations were disappointing. They get some points for being first with motion controllers, 3 years ago, but they clearly need to step up their game now. The Wii is massively underpowered compared to its competition, and it’s shortcomings are beginning to show, despite continually huge sales.
Microsoft have an adventurous project on their roadmap. The success of the Natal is entirely dependent on the accuracy of this device – it’s making a brave promise, but relies on a technology that is traditionally difficult technology to master. Don’t forget Hollywood motion capture still requires actors to cover themselves in ping pong balls.
Sony’s ball and Stick is certainly interesting – and promises to be the most accurate of the three. Their tech demo was impressive and has no doubt got people’s attention. They have more economic challenges ahead of them though – gamers will have to buy both the PS3 Eye and a new controller – I can’t imagine that it’s going to be cheap, especially given some of the applications demoed required two of the controllers.
There’s definitely some exciting times ahead for gamers, and I’m looking forward to seeing what games developers can do with the technology. Ultimately, it will come down to one thing: the innovation of the developers and the games they create using these new technologes will ultimately decide who wins this latest stage of the console war.
