Sony Rumored To Be Debuting Wiimote-Like Controller At E3 129
Anenome writes "Previously, we saw a Microsoft patent on a Wiimote-like device, and now rumors say that Sony too has a similar device in the works. This isn't surprising, given how dominant Nintendo's Wii has proved to be in this hardware generation. However, many gaming-geeks continue to lament the move away from plain old button-pressing. What is exciting is the prospect that all three companies may incorporate Johnny Lee-style head-tracking into the next console generation, which achieves a convincing 3D illusion on a regular vid-screen, leaving us just a few steps away from true positional 3D. Both the Microsoft and Sony patents incorporate a camera looking at the user, a required setup for achieving positional head-tracking."
Re:Just as long as it's truly Bluetooth compatible (Score:3, Insightful)
No need for Microsoft to reinvent things, just make it compatible.
What does one thing have to do with the other? If you want compatibility, the last thing you'd want is MS to reinvent something.
Re:Now to wait... (Score:2, Insightful)
That's the difference between a fan and a fanboy. I love Nintendo, but this is a good thing. You don't get onto a car company for shipping a product that has four wheels on the bottom. This technology will continue to improve and become more intuitive with three companies innovating instead of one.
Re:"Required"? (Score:3, Insightful)
By impossible I assume you mean impossible to do it very quickly, but even mobile phones can locate faces on their cameras these days so it can't be too bad..
The problem ... (Score:5, Insightful)
... is the added complexity proposed to operate the gaming console. At first one button was fine, then two buttons, six, twelve ... now my wireless Logitech controller has no less than 18 buttons on it, two analog sticks, and a d-pad.
The beautiful thing about the Wii is that while it's not as fast or responsive as simply pressing a button to do X, it helps alleviate the complexity of modern gaming. My dad -- who couldn't figure out how to play golf on the Xbox because of all the different button combinations -- had no problems playing golf on the Wii (he still has a hard time with, and has basically given up on, 3D gaming -- so 3D Zelda and Mario are right out for him).
But now Microsoft and Sony continue to take the elegant design of the Wii controller (relative to the other gaming controllers, mind you) and add a whole bunch of shit to it to make it "better"
Technologically, it might be better, but god damn, they are missing the point: it's not the motion controls that gave Nintendo the damn lead, it's the ease of operation that opened the console up to less than hardcore gamers.
When my dad has to strap on a helmet just to play these games, he's going to junk the console, open his laptop, and play TextTwist into the night ... and I can't blame him.
Re:ugh! (Score:1, Insightful)
Answer: the people who love their ps3s. Or people who don't give a shit about their CEO. Or those who think it's ridiculous to talk about being "over" a company (are we talking about video games or middle school relationships?)
The good old days (Score:1, Insightful)
" However, many gaming-geeks continue to lament the move away from plain old button-pressing." ...because it's sooo intuitive to press triangle-circle-square-square-circle-cross to execute an overhand attack
Re:PS3 is fine (Score:3, Insightful)
Sony went from 70% market share in the previous generation to around 20% now. That's what's wrong ;)