Ubisoft has called Microsoft's Project Natal a 'paradigm shift' for gaming - and confirmed that it has ten games in creation for the Xbox 360 peripheral.
Speaking to TechRadar, Ubisoft UK MD Rob Cooper said that motion controllers could be a huge boost to expanding games' audience - but only if they become accepted by the average punter.
"Perhaps the most crucial factor to a paradigm shift in new motion control schemes are whether all audiences accept it to ensure profitability," said Cooper.
"The game controller has been and is still the accepted input amongst core gaming audiences, so we need to ensure they accept these new forms of input, too. Microsoft has iterated on Nintendo's offering with Project Natal in introducing a paradigm shift, and Ubisoft is supporting Natal with over ten products in development."
What about you, readers? Reckon you'll be more 'flailing arms' than 'joypad bashing' in a decade?
I hate the Wii controller, so I know I'll hate Natal too. And I hear it has lag and is kinda crap since they removed the expensive chip from it to lower costs, so what's the point. Just another pointless gimmick like all motion controls.
1. He never actually calls Natal a paradigm shift in the quotes.
2. The decent Wii games out there don't actually require any arm flailing.
"Microsoft has iterated on Nintendo's offering with Project Natal in introducing a paradigm shift, and Ubisoft is supporting Natal with over ten products in development."
Agree with your second point though. As I said in my first comment, its all about how Devs are going to use this new technology.
I know that I have been cynical over Natal, but that doesn't mask the fact that I am more interested in seeing what it can offer over Sony's effort.
The 'Arc' seems to offer only a slightly improved 'Wii' experience, but will it have Nintendo's savvy on the software side of things? Nothing that I have read so far excites me at all.
I fear that Sony's effort may slide into obscurity if they don't offer the more hardcore players a good selection of games at launch.
"Perhaps the most crucial factor to a paradigm shift in new motion control schemes are whether all audiences accept it to ensure profitability," argues Ubisoft MD, Rob Cooper. "The game controller has been and is still the accepted input amongst core gaming audiences, so we need to ensure they accept these new forms of input, too.
The Wii has already achieved this paradigm shift, if they really want to call it that. Core gamers aren't the ones who will need much convincing. They will obviously embrace it. It's not meant to replace traditional control methods like game-pads, steering wheels/pedals, keyboard or mouse.
Choice is good.
What Sony and Microsoft really want to do is be accepted by the far larger casual market that Nintendo Wii already appeals to. Core gamers won't make them richer - at the moment they are still making losses! There is no way they can convince grannies to play games like Modern Warfare 2. Silly titles like Wii Cheer, Bingo and interactive movies is where it will be at. Not hard-core titles.
There will be countless casual games swamping XBox and Playstation just like they have the Wii.
1. He never actually calls Natal a paradigm shift in the quotes.
2. The decent Wii games out there don't actually require any arm flailing.
"Microsoft has iterated on Nintendo's offering with Project Natal in introducing a paradigm shift, and Ubisoft is supporting Natal with over ten products in development."
It's a blurry statement. In the previous quote, he says new control methods would only constitute a paradigm shift if the mass-market accepts them - Natal hasn't even been released yet, so how can it even be measured against this?
1. He never actually calls Natal a paradigm shift in the quotes.
2. The decent Wii games out there don't actually require any arm flailing.
"Microsoft has iterated on Nintendo's offering with Project Natal in introducing a paradigm shift, and Ubisoft is supporting Natal with over ten products in development."
It's a blurry statement. In the previous quote, he says new control methods would only constitute a paradigm shift if the mass-market accepts them - Natal hasn't even been released yet, so how can it even be measured against this?
Im not agreeing with what he said I was merely pointing out that he did say what CVG quoted him for.
This guy is working for a company that looks to be releasing a lot of Games for Natal, its his job to make it sound interesting or exciting, though I wouldnt read too much into it myself.
they said they would sort out the lag before launch so it will be awesome and im kinda hyped for a another code style game for natal, because look at milo and kate that game blew me away when i seen it 1st extardoninary tech and just proves its not an eyetoy copy while all sonys offering is a wii motion plus plus
I hate the Wii controller, so I know I'll hate Natal too. And I hear it has lag and is kinda crap since they removed the expensive chip from it to lower costs, so what's the point. Just another pointless gimmick like all motion controls.
Exactly. You hear, you haven't experienced it and those sources you heard it from haven't either.
Why did Nintendo released the Wii? Not only does the name suck, but it also made the industry think that gamers like to flail about.
Note to MS and Sony: Casual mom's, dad's, little nieces, little nephews and grannie like the stuff we call shovelware. We -the gamers that made you guys big- want good games with a controller, not motion stuff....
I'll simply repeat what I said in another thread on the same subject...
Impresise, clumsy, ackward and tiring controls over one that actually works flawlessly? No thanks. I really don't understand why console manufacturers are trying to copy Nintendo's gimmick, when the present control scheme is pretty much bang on. Gaming is supposed to be relaxing, not fustrating and tiresome, or artificially making the game harder than it actually is. I've been using joypads for well over 25 fun years of gaming and I see no reason to change right now. Think I'll stick to playing games the way they were meant to be played(with a pad)while sitting down comfortably after a 40+ hour week. Thats my opinion anyway,(my 2 cents worth)and I'm out.
I really don't understand why console manufacturers are trying to copy Nintendo's gimmick, when the present control scheme is pretty much bang on.
One Word. Money Sony And Microsoft have seen Nintendo raking it in with the Wii from the casual markets and want a piece of that action. When it boils down to it, they are in the business of making money. The good games are produced by the people who actually love games, the gimmicks are there to hook the casuals with stuff that looks good on a shiny box (Get them to buy the console). And it seems the casuals outnumber us gamers...
I'm still going to play Natal but I think everyone's in a for a serious let down. I don't see too much point in this technology because hardly anyone seems to use it properly.
It's like this age's virtual reality.
When they're using words like paradigm shift I know we're back in the 90's with claims like blast processing and also newer claims like 4D graphics. The words paradigm shift was something that haunted me during Nintendo's 2008 E3 conference.
I'll gladly admit I was wrong if it turns out that way but I have a very, very bad feeling about this. I just have a feeling it will take the focus off of making games better.
I'll simply repeat what I said in another thread on the same subject...
Impresise, clumsy, ackward and tiring controls over one that actually works flawlessly? No thanks. I really don't understand why console manufacturers are trying to copy Nintendo's gimmick, when the present control scheme is pretty much bang on. Gaming is supposed to be relaxing, not fustrating and tiresome, or artificially making the game harder than it actually is. I've been using joypads for well over 25 fun years of gaming and I see no reason to change right now. Think I'll stick to playing games the way they were meant to be played(with a pad)while sitting down comfortably after a 40+ hour week. Thats my opinion anyway,(my 2 cents worth)and I'm out.
I've never really played a good game on the Wii and thought 'you know, motion control really makes that game'. Metroid Prime would be just as good with a Dual Shock as it is with the Wii controller. In fact I'd rather have it with HD graphics than motion control.
I really don't understand why console manufacturers are trying to copy Nintendo's gimmick, when the present control scheme is pretty much bang on.
One Word. Money Sony And Microsoft have seen Nintendo raking it in with the Wii from the casual markets and want a piece of that action. When it boils down to it, they are in the business of making money. The good games are produced by the people who actually love games, the gimmicks are there to hook the casuals with stuff that looks good on a shiny box (Get them to buy the console). And it seems the casuals outnumber us gamers...
I have to disagree about that mate, otherwise games like MW2(love it or hate it)would not be the biggest selling game right now(and last year), Bayonetta wouldn't be such a big hit and games like Assassins Creed 2 and Forza 3 would not be so successful either,(and those are just a few examples)not to mention all the great looking hardcore games coming out this year(Avp, Bioshock 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction spring immediantly to mind). As for making money, I can see your point, but the gimmick is fast losing momentum and the people I know who own Wii's only play one game with any sort of regularity and thats the one it comes with - Wii Sports, which is free, and even then it's only played when guests come over for a bit of fun for an hour or so and never gets touched at any other time.
I've never really played a good game on the Wii and thought 'you know, motion control really makes that game'. Metroid Prime would be just as good with a Dual Shock as it is with the Wii controller. In fact I'd rather have it with HD graphics than motion control.
Couldn't have said it better myself mate. No game I've experienced on the Wii has been made any better by using motion controls. Infact, every game I've played on it has actually been made worse by using them, some like Excite Truck is damm near unplayable and Zelda is also a fine example - I actually had the Gamecube version which was far more responsive, far less fustrating and in general a much more enjoyable gaming experience when played using conventional controls.
I'm sure the Wii owners club won't like what I have to say, but hey, just expressing an opinion and until I see a significant step up in technology which actually enhances the experience in a way a joypad or mouse and keyboard couldn't possibly do(holodeck?)then I'll stick with my regular controls or return to my P.C and my retro roots, as I really don't like the way gaming is headed at the moment and this generation of machines may well be the last I buy, console wise at least.
I have zero interest in natal or motion controllers in general, they just arent accurate enough and the only game i have ever played where motion controls worked pretty well was super monkey ball on the wii.
They will figure out how to fix the lag if there is any or what's the point? They know if it sucks it won't sell and it would be far worse to release it sucking rather than to just bail on it and go back to the drawing board. If they have plans to build it into the next Xbox it HAS to work.
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