Motion Control Takeover!!

In 2006 when the three big gaming companies premiered their consoles, Nintendo stuck out from Microsoft and Sony by introducing motion controls. It is what made the Wii very revolutionary and fun to play.

Flash forward 4 years later and the Playstation and the Xbox have finally tried to imitate what the Wii has already done. For those of you who don't know, Sony developed the Playstation Move. A new controller that imitates the player's movements very identical to how the Wii controller works.

Now,in the minds of many self-proclaimed "hardcore gamers" motion controls are a bad thing. They're seen as a gimmick, and for good reason, the Wii has not put out a game that would be considered "gamer" worthy. Meaning, all the games Nintendo has released have been those that try to utilize their motion controller to the fullest. Sometimes it works (ala Metroid Prime 3, Wii sports) and sometimes it doesn't (Red Steel). A true "gamer" game is one where the player can sit down on their couch and play for hours upon hours. (comfort on your hands is important)

And as I pointed out in a earlier post, Nintendo has not released a game that would give the gaming community anything to get excited over in quite some time. I also called for Nintendo to create original games and characters in the same fashion Xbox and Sony have. Those that can be called classics like Halo and God of War. But now the competition is trying to take some share in the motion control market.

And with Sony and Xbox trying to create the capabilities for the next Madden game to use this technology, Nintendo should be nervous.

Honestly, I'm not too concerned about this. I don't feel they can do what Nintendo hasn't done, and why would those who have Playstation or Xbox want a motion control? Chances are they have a Wii already, so it's not giving anything new.

But I could be wrong.


Here's a little video poking fun at all the motion control fun.
Warning: Explicit language used

More Videos at IGN.com

A Call for Something New!!

Hey everyone, I'd like to take this time to post an opinion piece about what I would like to see out of Nintendo.

First off, I'm enjoying Nintendo's offerings so far this year. With "No More Heroes 2" and "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom" I feel the Wii is getting some much needed exposure to the gaming community. And with the news that "Super Mario Galaxy 2" and "Metroid: Other M" will be set to release this summer, it looks like the Wii will finally be able to match up if not surpass what the PS3 and Xbox are offering game wise.

But there is something I feel has lacked for the Wii since its creation. Consistent releases of good one-player adventure games.

I say this because I feel that the Wii releases games that are very multi-player friendly. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but it's not great either. I have this conversation with many of my friends and family members about the various systems. And the consensus with the Wii is that it is a great console for when you have people over but if you are alone and want to play a game, you are better off with PS3 or Xbox.

This is a problem that Nintendo shouldn't turn a blind eye too. Sure, the "party" kind of game is what has made the Wii very popular but I feel they have become too comfortable with this "niche" (for lack of a better word).

While the Playstation and Xbox are dropping first-player adventures like "Halo" and "God of War", they have increased their fan base from all generations.

How did they do this?

Well it's simple, Sony and Microsoft have found more and more original people to create games. Original stories and original characters help make consoles new and fresh every time.

Nintendo sometimes feels like the same thing over and over. Rehashing old characters and putting them in new environments. While that may be good for some, and some of these games are outstanding, (see Mario Galaxy and Metroid) they can only go so far.

Sure we love Mario, Link and the rest of the Nintendo universe cast, but when have we had a brand new Nintendo character or story that has become a mainstay in our consciousness?

Hard isn't it?

And I really don't know why this is the case. Xbox has given us Master Chief for the "Halo" series and Playstation has introduced Kratos of "God of War" but why couldn't these titles have been created for the Wii?

Why can't the Wii have a game like Heavy Rain? A game that is quickly changing the way games are played. And with the Wii motion capabilities, Heavy Rain (or a game like it) could easily cause the gamer to be fully engulfed in the story as every movement made is essential to the story.

There is no excuse, Nintendo needs to find developers who have a game changing concept and adapt it to their console. Cause the Wii is quickly becoming a console that gamers do not take seriously.

Create original stories, come up with new and exciting characters that will change these perceptions and make the Wii deserving of the "most owned console" title. Just because many households own it, doesn't mean they're being used.

So come on Nintendo...give us fans something to be excited about....give us something new.