9 replies to this topic

[Mendon]

I read THIS ARTICLE quoting UbiSoft creative director Jason VandenBerghe and was left puzzled:

1) Only 20% of gamers are into "excerting" (i.e. motion) themselves in games?? Hmmm.... why then did Wii Sports Resort sell over 16 million copies?
2) If only 20% of gamers are into motion, what does that mean for Kinect and Move? Do MS & Sony know something UbiSoft doesn't?

The thing that really jolted me when I read the article was that Red Steel 2 only sold 270,000 copies WORLDWIDE! Red Steel 2 got very good reviews and is actually the first totally motion based game (other than Wii Sports) that I really, really enjoyed on the Wii. UbiSoft really nailed the motion and I enjoyed the music, gameplay, and graphic's of the game. And while a motion based FPS game isn't for everyone, I'm still very surprised that so few Wii owners decided to make a purchase.

Speaking for myself, I really enjoy the Wii. There are a lot of really good games for the Wii. In playing many Wii games, I've found that motion control lends itself very well to certain games, like Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and Wii Fit. And if games are specifically designed for motion control, like Red Steel 2, these games can be a lot of fun. But overall, I still prefer the typical analog controller style of gaming. And I think there are many other gamers who feel the same way as I do and developers, even Nintendo, are realizing this. Examples:

Two major 3rd party titles, Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex are very good on the Wii and neither include motion control. CoD: Black Op's won't use it, either.
Even though Wii Motion Plus has been out for almost a year, Nintendo has yet to release a game for it other than Sports Resort (the upcoming Zelda, I think, will be the first Nintendo game that requires Motion Plus).
Many Wii games, even Sin & Punishment from Nintendo, are now including selectable control schemes for Wii-mote/Nunchuk, Classic Controller, and GameCube Controller.

I'm just curious how other Wii owners feel about the games that are available: Are you enjoying motion control? Do you wish more games used motion control? Less games used motion? Should every game have the option of selecting motion or non-motion control?

And... is UbiSoft right in that only a small percentage of gamers are into motion? Wii the next Nintendo console feature motion control also?

Just curious.


Mendon

[Video]

Am I enjoying motion control? Hell no. I just don't see the need. And honestly, won't, until full body suits, head mounted 3d displays, and giant hamster balls to run inside of become the norm....or at least, widely available.

To be brutally honest, I got about a dozen wii games, including resort, fit and of course sports (though I won't count that as it's included with the system) And other than initially, just to see if they worked, I haven't really played them. I still add to the total number of people that bought it, but "sales" does not equal "use". The few games I did play used little, or no motion control. I liked Mario Bros, and more simple driving games. But that wasn't enough to justify the Wii, which now sits in a box in the corner of the room, and has for 8 months now, and probably will until something interesting (to me) comes out for it....or I get the urge to play Mario again, whichever comes first.

About move and kenetic? I don't see them being any better...though I don't see them being any worse either...only time will tell, but at least their attached to a system that doesn't require the controller, so you still have options if you decide it's not for you.

[Gamemoose]

Chalk me up as another that isn't hip on the motion control thing. Other than what Nintendo has offered up (Resort, etc), I haven't found a motion-based game that I liked playing. And it's not for lack of trying, it's just that for some of the things you do in certain games, buttons are better. Twilight Princess didn't need motion, though it was nice with the bow and boomerang. I would have enjoyed NSMB-Wii a whole lot more if I could use the Classic controller rather than that dinky remote. Only games that I've played so far that I enjoyed motion with (besides aforementioned Resort, Sports, etc.) is Silent Hill and Star Wars: Force Unleashed.

Personally, if a game doesn't make total use of motion in a logical way, there should be an option to NOT use it. They did it with Smash Brothers, they did it with Mario Kart, why not others?

[Animan]

As the first system to use it, it did it right. I honestly thought it was fine, even without MotionPlus. I never knew people complained about the lack of accuracy of it without MotionPlus until afterwards.

Not all games need it, and "normal" controls will more than likely always co-exist alongside motion controls (unless these games are made "obsolete", which in the distant future might happen). So far, the Nintendo has done a good job putting motion controls on the map. EyeToy was a nice little dab of peanut butter, but the Wii smeared it all over the bread.

The Wiimote is an interesting mix of classic controls and motion controls, and keeping them separate (Kinect being such) is not going to get anywhere without a controller (which Microsoft hasn't been that dumb to abandon just yet). This mix probably helped sales a lot.

Overall, I like motion controls for when they are needed. Nintendo's next console probably will have motion controls, but to what extent no one knows, as they always seem to have surprises.

[Lord Helmet]

Motion controls are GREAT when executed well (see Super Mario Galaxy), but when they aren't....they sure make some games suck.

[moycon]

I don't mind the motion controls and in many cases it's pretty fun to get into the game.
Truth be told though, the Wii is my least used system, and the most recent use it's gotten is Netflix playback.
I plan on having a kick ass video game set up in my new house, and for me it's really the system to break out when company comes over. Even people who normaly wouldnt think twice about video games can have a blast with the Wii. Hopefully it'll get more use soon.
I do think that the Move and Kinect are going to tank. Too many folks like my company (those that wouldnt think twice about video games) aren't going to bite again, their Wii collects dust and they have no interest in an upgrade. Based on people I personally know, and reports from other gamers who know folks like this also, I think those people represent a substantial if not over welming percentage of Wii owners.

[thegamezmaster]

I think that every wii game should have the option of using either the classic controller or gamecube. That way, if a person doesn't like the motion control, there's at least another option they are familiar with.

[Mendon]

moycon, on Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:34 PM, said:

Truth be told though, the Wii is my least used system, and the most recent use it's gotten is Netflix playback.

For quite a long period of time, this could be a description of myself also. I rarely fired up the Wii as I was hooked on the PS3 with games like Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, MAG, PixelJunk Monsters & Shooter, White Knight Chronicles, and others.

But several months ago I chose to take a break from the PS3 for awhile and on impulse decided to check out some Wii games. And I was really surprised at how good some of the Wii games were: Dawn of Discovery, Little Kings Story, Conduit, Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid Trilogy, Ghostbusters, Red Steel 2, Capcom vs. Tatsunoko (the fighting stick is a nice accessory), Call of Duty: Reflex and World at War, and several others. In my enthusiasm for the PS3, I found that I had overlooked some really fun gaming.

I'm also really excited about some of the upcoming games: Metroid: Other M, Sid Meier's Pirates, GoldenEye, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Epic Mickey, Conduit 2, and NBA Jam.

I've run into some real clunkers that use some God-awful tacked on motion schemes. But most of the games I'm playing/played don't involve waggling, wiggling, waving, and thrusting. Oh, a shake here and there, maybe, to reload a gun or make a jump, but most of the games involved very little motion and most allow you to choose from various control configurations.

I must admit, though, that I'm somewhat leery of Skyward Sword. I love Zelda games and have played every one of them, including GameBoy & DS versions. But I'm not sure I'm ready for a motion controlled Zelda, swinging and waving my arms about. My preference (or bias) is for a "traditional" control scheme and at the moment, a motion-controlled Zelda isn't on my "Must Buy" list. BUT... if its designed for motion (like Red Steel 2 was) and if the motion is really done well (like Red Steel 2 was), then I might change my mind.

Overall, my opinion is that the Wii isn't any better than any other gaming system, nor is it any worse. Its just an alternative that offers some excellent and fun gaming. One just has to look beyond the Stone Cold Creameries, the Bratz, the Petz, and the multitude of party games!!


Mendon

Edited by Mendon, Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:34 AM.

[moycon]

Mendon, on Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:23 AM, said:

Overall, my opinion is that the Wii isn't any better than any other gaming system, nor is it any worse. Its just an alternative that offers some excellent and fun gaming. One just has to look beyond the Stone Cold Creameries, the Bratz, the Petz, and the multitude of party games!!

Well said!

[vdub_bobby]

Quote

Two major 3rd party titles, Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex are very good on the Wii and neither include motion control.

Personally, I include the IR pointer as "motion control"...what else would you call it?

EDIT: I was also mildly surprised at Red Steel 2's sales. On the other hand, it was a sequel to a fairly disappointing game. It probably needed to be much better, and promoted much more heavily, to be a big hit.

I'm still waiting for the first really great 3rd party Wii game...I'm hopeful that one of Epic Mickey, GoldenEye 007, or Conduit 2 will be it.

Edited by vdub_bobby, Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:29 PM.