The Wii Finally Sees Some Competition

By: Pedro Hernandez, Staff Writer

When the Wii was first released, many experts and gamers blew off motion-controlled gaming as a fad, arguing that it wouldn't last and that there was no future for motion-controlled games. These doubters ate their words when many Wii games with inventive motion control schemes were released, with the Wii flying off of store shelves for three years in the process. The Wii's popularity was so strong that many began to wonder if Nintendo's competitors, Sony and Microsoft, would release their own motion peripherals or abandon the idea entirely, thanks to Nintendo's dominance. In the Wii's third year they finally got their answer.

Both Sony and Microsoft unveiled their new motion controllers at E3 2009. Sony's take on motion control is to mimic the Wii Remote's design. Dubbed the PlayStation Motion Controller, the unit consists of a handheld wand that uses the PlayStation Eye to track the its position, combined with internal sensors to sense movement. At the top is a glowing orb that can change colors, serving as a marker for the PlayStation Eye to follow. The controller was first shown at Sony's E3 press conference on June 2, 2009. The demo featured the controller turning into different objects on-screen, such as a tennis racket and a fan.

Sony already has games in the works for the new peripheral. These include Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition, Ape Escape, Motion Party, and several others. In addition to new titles, existing games such as LittleBigPlanet, Flower, Pain, and EyePet will be updated to feature Motion Controller support.

But without a shadow of a doubt, the most interesting and ambitious take on motion control comes from Microsoft. Using no controllers at all, Microsoft unveiled Project Natal at E3 2009. An add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360, Project Natal is a motion-sensing camera and bar that sits on either the top or bottom of the TV screen. The initiative is ambitious in that Natal games will use no controllers at all; everything will be controlled using the motions of the player. Natal will also be able to recognize players using its cameras and internal microphones.

The E3 demo showcased a lot of activities that benefited from Natal's implementation. A young woman was able to have a video chat with her friend while choosing a dress using a fashion game. A gamer scanned his skateboard and was able to use it in the game. Other demos showed players controlling characters using only their movements.

The most interesting demo came from Lionhead Studios. Entitled Milo and Kate, Natal's technology allowed players to engage in conversation with a digital boy. The technology was impressive in that Milo would respond to every action performed by the player.

Gamers, the media, and industry experts alike couldn't rave enough about Project Natal. Wasting no time, developers such as EA and Disney Interactive pledged Natal support, and it received press coverage nationwide. The praise was so universal that industry watchers began to see Natal as a legitimate competitor for the Wii.

At this point, everybody is wondering which initiative will prove the most successful. Did Sony and Microsoft come in too late? Will they dent the Wii's popularity? Many theories are presented each day as to the impact these peripherals will have on the wider spectrum of gaming, especially if they will be implemented in console gaming going forward, or eventually left behind. The Wii, despite its popularity, has been criticized due to the apparent limitations of developing games based around motion controls. Will Sony and Microsoft be able to solve these problems? Nintendo managed to create a new gaming audience with the Wii, and now pundits are wondering if these new ideas will create even more new gamers, thanks to the high-end technology both of these systems possess. After all, gamers and developers who have long dreamt of playing and creating titles with solid motion controls and high-definition graphics may finally have their dreams come true.

Both the PlayStation Motion Controller and Microsoft's Project Natal are set to be released next year. Will Nintendo counter-attack with new ideas? They don't seem too worried at the moment, but with the end of this generation approaching, Nintendo could already be working on a successor that makes both initiatives a moot point. Whatever happens, it should be exciting to witness what these gaming giants will come up with in the next few months.