Hey, It’s Me On The Bonus Round Again
Last week, GameTrailers’ Geoff Keighley, Shane Satterfield, Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter and Kotaku’s I talked about the future of video game controls. This week, we do it some more.
In part two of our Bonus Round discussion, we chat about the high-definition “Wii Plus,” Project Natal (again), the possibilities for PlayStation Eye, and if the video game controller as we know it will ever go away. We also get a very up close and personal look at the naked ankles of Michael Pachter. This episode is also solid proof that going back to the gym was a good idea for yours truly.
Motion control enthusiasts, this one’s for you!
Bonus Round: Episode 306 – Part 2 HD [GameTrailers]
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@(Zombie) Goldwings: hehe, yep!
-[[CHoZO]]-
"Kotaku's I" :lol:
@Ted: Since it's japanese, you should say it like japanese. But it is well known fact that pronouncing japanese is hard for american especially.
When american pronounces "Neko" (a cat) it sounds more like "Nico" etc. Famous "Sayonara" is the worst.
elmorepow
@Ted:
Geoff is a !@#$. He asks the right questions when interviewing developers on GTTV but he makes a poor host. Then again he reminds me of weasel so I'm biased.
ctorrans
@Atomsk88: There is a "camera" in Wii as well. It's just not that advanced, but more like picking up just marginal lenghts of light emitted by Wii-remote.
elmorepow
Hey! Thanks for bringing up some PS3 stuff on previous bonus round and this episode. Those other guys only talk about Sony's consoles if they have something negative to say about them. People got over the fanboy wars already, I wonder why important people from gaming media acts so childish. It eats their creditability. Thanks for being fair Michael. Kotaku rocks.
elmorepow
@ludwigk: ...Kb/M and Joysticks coexisting? Where and how do I join that party?! The day that I can plug in my G9/G13 to my 360 and actually have it work is the day this will ring true. Joysticks will always be inferior to a mouse. On the topic of Motion controls, they have their place. Just not where I live.
Many hardcore gamers might think that Wii MotionPlus and the Wii Remote are weird, but it is a little known fact that the Nintendo Entertainment System was originally intended to have a sewing machine peripheral.
So they've pretty much always been weird.
@Atomsk88: Thank you, kind sir/madame.
@(Zombie) Goldwings:
But the poor guy gets heckled by the forums every time hes on. lol. He's probably on edge trying not to say anything flamewar worthy during the episode. Seems like an impossible feat for Michael Pachter lol.
fanboyps3
I watched this Bonus Round a little earlier in the day and I must say that i thoroughly enjoyed it. Kinda rare that you can watch a videogame journalist panel and actually witness realistic observations/predictions as well as several differentiating but yet non biased opinions from everyone.
Michael Pachter in comparison to last week was a breath of fresh air which overall made the segment much more engaging than part one last week where the panel was more or less dominated by a somewhat overly gratuitous praise to MS.
I don't see controllers going anywhere. Things like repeated button presses, and axis-constrained motion are too hard to do with waggle/hand waving, but easy to do with buttons, analog sticks and analog triggers.
Look at how KB/Mouse and Joystick/gamepad have coexisted for 30 years now. Neither managed to make the other remotely obsolete.
Modern game controllers have essentially converged in design, such that the topology of Wii classic, x360 controller, and the sixaxis are essentially the same. They have multiple control sticks, triggers, and about half a dozen buttons. Motion controls add a lot of new dimensions to control schemes, but it doesn't do anything to replace the sheer volume of buttons and input options on a gamepad.
ludwigk
@-[[CHoZO]]-: Marry-O
@Derek Rumpler: Anyone else read this in HAL's voice?
@Ted: Geoff says everything weird.
-[[CHoZO]]-
@Ted: I think you are, because Kotaku rhymes with Otaku, and most people say Otaku the way Geoff said Kotaku.
@(Zombie) Goldwings: Geoff said Kotaku - ar as in car (but a bit shorter). I say it more like the a in cat.
Motion controls are part of the gaming evolution, but the obstacle is finding the proper placement for motion controls. The Wiimote is more than likely the precursor to the development of motion controls for future generations. Controlling is going to be a hybrid of motion and buttons. You can't replace the Enter button, but you can toss aside the second analog stick.
Natal is a very interesting concept, but I personally can't see it as a viable game controlling device. Maybe for a party game or something along the lines of a downloadable title, but not a complete retail game. I'd prefer it if it were strictly for navigation on menus and other simple tasks like selecting and examination, much like a touchscreen.
If cameras are going to be an important aspect of our gaming future, than Sony may be ahead of Nintendo because if we are going to use a camera to record, navigate, select, and play, all they need to do is add some basic buttons to their "Magic Wand" and they'll have the Wiimote 2.0 on their hands.
Atomsk88
@Ted: What? I think everyone pronounces it Ko-TAH-Koo. Who pronounced it as Ko-Tar-Koo, because no one said it at that segment.
@Muckamuck:
To tell you the truth, I don't really care for the most part.
Most of the time my lack of rolling-'r' is enough to do it anyways.
After I spend so long trying to get rid of it, it finally came back to bite me at the family reunion.
It's the Reptilians that did this too!
Am I the only one who pronounces it Ko-tah-koo? Not Ko-tar-koo?
@Derek Rumpler: Not loading for me either... sigh...
Derek Highet
It's so interesting to see all the opinions from the game journalists. I see the argument having both sides, but the majority of them saying how they will still miss having a physical thing their hands. What Shane said about holding a real racket with Natal made me feel excited about all the possible directions future games can go.
BTW Michael you seem really tense, I think you should relax as much as you can. You've done like 3 or 4 of these Bonus Rounds now, right? You should be used to it by now.
@Derek Rumpler: ...
MUST RESIST!
RESISSSSSSSSSSSSSST!!!!!
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!
That's what she said.
DAMMIT
@Trygle12 is FREE!... and waiting for Disgaea 2: Can you imagine the millions of people in the same position as that girl that demo'd Natal?
@Trygle12 is FREE!... and waiting for Disgaea 2:
What's it matter if you embarrass yourself when playing? Most likely you'll be doing it in front of friends/family and that's when you're suppose to let loose. The funnest times you can have is when you make an ass of yourself.
Thomathan
@Derek Rumpler: I'm on GameTrailers. >_>
[www.gametrailers.com]
Atomsk88
@Derek Rumpler: Me neither... Oh Michael y u do dis
;_;
It's all about options, not replacing the old controls. More options for developers is never a bad thing.
Look at the DS. Everyone scoffed at a system with 2 screens, microphone and a touch pad, but it's delivered some amazing new experiences. It didn't, however, completely drop the button layout of yore.
iPhone sucks as a gaming platform...
-[[CHoZO]]-
@Koda89: Same
masterdingo
@Derek Rumpler: Same. No matter what I do, it isn't starting...
Its not starting for me, Mike.
@Trygle12 is FREE!... and waiting for Disgaea 2: Sure it isn't the Grays?
No wait . . . if it were the grays, then motion control would involve anal implantation.
*shudders*
Motion-Control?
Control?
CONTROL?!
CONTROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...!!!
Conspiracy! It's all one huge conspiracy to get me to embarrass myself in front of everybody!
It's the reptilians I swear!