Culture

Platforms: Wii (coming out for PS3 and Xbox 360)

The Wii Remote catalysed the development of motion controllers for all major console manufacturers. While swinging the remote around is fun, the question remains: is this a good move for the gaming community?
Currently, the Wii and PS3 have motion controllers. The Wii remote is the current standard for motion control, and while it is fun in some games, it has proven to be nearly useless when used as a gun or sword. The PS3's six-axis controller has also been poorly implemented and has hindered rather than improved most games where it is utilised.
The Wii Remote now has an upgrade out; Microsoft is developing Project Natal; and Sony is working on the Playstation Move. These, while promising compared to motion controllers of the past few years, face two primary obstacles.
The first obstacle has to do with input and output. Traditional controllers provide simple input; current and upcoming motion controllers, especially Project Natal, take complex input that will need to be processed to produce similar output. The additional processing power required will likely result in smaller, shorter games with worse graphics.
The second obstacle is limited physical feedback. A swing, whether it hits, misses, or is blocked, gives no feedback except perhaps a rumble. The player's movement continues past the point of impact, resulting in a discrepancy between the real-world state and the state in the game. While motion-controlled games are fun at parties, the bottom line is that they are a novelty, and if they ever do become prevalent in hard-core gaming, they will involve far more advanced technology than is currently employed.
The movement toward motion-control is distracting gamers and developers from plot, graphics, and physics in favour of party novelties. It’s a gimmick, and not even a good one.