Upcoming console discussion.

[bluestarultor]

Move, Kinect, 3DS, whatever. MotionPlus for all I care.

What do you all think of it? Does any of it excite you? Will you get any of it?



To break it down in my family and friends:

3DS: Well, the people who've seen it have broken down in man-tears at its beauty, so at least the capability is there. A friend of mine said he's actually disappointed with the stuff coming out for it because it doesn't actually take full advantage of the hardware, i.e. it should all look better than the PSP, but instead he's disappointed with what they've shown, especially Kid Icarus. On the household front, we've taken a stance of waiting for the price and launch library determining if we'll bother, because unless it's affordable and has support, it's just not going to see use. We will get one eventually, given we've eventually gotten every Nintendo handheld since the GBC, minus the DSi, which we're glad we skipped at this point.

Kinect: Actually, pretty much everyone I know is unenthusiastic about it. In this case, VGCats pretty much has it covered. (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=296) My friends worry about control issues, as in they can't think of a way that you could move around in a 3D environment such as a shooter without getting frustrated and snapping the thing in half. General consensus is they all would rather have a controller to make life easier. Something like...

Move: Pretty much everyone I know is excited about it. The only exceptions are my grandparents, who don't even understand what the Internet is. To paraphrase the general consensus, nobody can understand how it's ripping off the Wii considering they already had the technology with the EyeToy years ago and, unlike the Wii, it's actually going to do what they say right out of the box. On top of that, as I've pointed out, and my friends have also mentioned, it's also capable of anything Natal is with the PlayStation Eye's abilities. Basically, my family is planning on grabbing this as soon as it comes out, as are all of my friends, funds permitting.



What about you all?

[ZAKtheGeek]

Wikipedia says Kinect has an infrared depth sensor. The PSEye entry doesn't mention anything like that.

I'm not a scientist or an expert or nothin' but I'm just saying.

[Melfice]

Upcoming console discussion.
Move, Kinect, 3DS, whatever. MotionPlus for all I care.

Of all of these, only one truly fits the bill.

Unless you meant, like, "Discussion about consoles' upcoming new peripherals", in which case I'll happily shut up.

Anywho:
Kinect: Sounds fun, if it works. I'll wait and see. Really depends on the games they're releasing for it too.
Move: Eh... I've got a Wii. If they've got some awesome games that do it well, I might be convinced to buy EyeToy+WiiMote. Not really impressed, though.
3DS: As soon as my DSLite wears out, I might consider upgrading to a 3DS. Not before, and certainly not if I can get a DSi XL for two Euro by then.

nobody can understand how it's ripping off the Wii considering they already had the technology with the EyeToy years ago and

It's a fucking WiiMote with a ball on top. How is that not ripping off the Wii?
The only difference is they're not using infrared (or whatever they used on the Wii), and instead are fucking around with said balls - which give light; it's like a sex toy gone bad - and a camera.
Like I said above: EyeToy+WiiMote.

Oh... well, my bad. It's got buttons.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Yeah pretty much everyone who's mentioned Kinect that I've seen has expressed their general hatred/disintrest in the thing. There's just no way that not having a controller is going to make it easier or any more immersive for most games and seeing as what, 80% of all games are either 3rd or 1st person shooters, this thing will just not work with any of them.


Move at least I can see them making games for it that might not be entirely shovelware (although a lot of them will be), but I think most peope still won't buy it. It is essentially a Wiimote. The Wii has been out for some time and has a large collection of games. If you wanted to play a bunch of games using motion controllers, you'd have already bought a Wii. But Move is for the ps3. People who bought a ps3 did so because they weren't interested in motion controllers.

I actually just can't wait until both of these things are released just to see how massively they both flop.

[bluestarultor]

Of all of these, only one truly fits the bill.

Unless you meant, like, "Discussion about consoles' upcoming new peripherals", in which case I'll happily shut up.

Well, thinking of it this way, they fit the bill in that it's replacing coming out with a new console this five-year cycle.

It's a fucking WiiMote with a ball on top. How is that not ripping off the Wii?
The only difference is they're not using infrared (or whatever they used on the Wii), and instead are fucking around with said balls - which give light; it's like a sex toy gone bad - and a camera.
Like I said above: EyeToy+WiiMote.

Oh... well, my bad. It's got buttons.

Wellllll...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpNdkm9s8AY

Really, Sony got to the whole motion control thing first, unless you count a light gun (so maybe Nintendo did start it... back in the 1980s). Kinect? We kind of had games without controllers already with the EyeToy. It frankly sucked, but I don't think anyone's debating that the EyeToy was a failure for good reason. Kinect is likely to get some decent support, so at least that's off the table. Sony's literally just taken their own failed technology, from both this console generation and the last one, and reminded people they've had it all along now that the market is actually ready. They could have just as easily sold a simple stick with a ball on top, but they decided to give it a light and buttons to fix their past mistakes.

[Kim]

In terms of a control scheme, the PS3's Wiimote offers nothing that the Wii's Wiimote doesn't already, except HD graphics. HD graphics do not mean the games will be any good, and seeing as we're already seeing a lot of shovelware, and ports of stuff that was already shovelware on the Wii, I have very little to hope for it. That the only good games that use it can also work with a regular control scheme means most of Sony's current audience will see little point in getting it, I expect.

Kinect is different enough from the Wii and Move that even though I see it as a failure in terms of actual game control, I can still manage to be impressed with what they've done with it. At least, I want to. That their stage show at E3 wasn't actually people playing the games, and that I've heard a lot about Kinect having lag, makes me skeptical of it, even though I've liked at least two games that I've seen for it.

3DS is pretty rad. It takes a dip in graphics for the 3D effect, but that you aren't forced to use the 3D is nice. They've got a great launch line-up, too. My only concern right now is that thumbstick, since the 3DS will now have as many buttons as a PSP, but also a touch screen, and I can see that becoming a clusterfuck.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

The kinect is a good idea- first step towards holodecks!- but still doesn't interest me beyond the idea. Maybe if they come out with a fantastic game fo it.

Move- PS attempt for Wii money. I got a Wii, don't need this.

3DS could be cool but 3D is dumb on principle.

[Bells]

Now now... the Wii mote and PS Move share the same concept and design, but it's already been proved quite well that the tracking in the PS Move is way more precise. Clearly just the result of letting the tech cook for a while longer before releasing it.

Also, it goes to say something when all the most played and best selling Wii Games are the ones that barely use (or not at all) the Motion Control...

Don't forget that even the Dreamcast has Motion Controls...

As for Kinect, what feels like a failure to me is that it just doesn't improve gaming. You would have to be pretty crazy to pay a Wii's Worth of cash to buy an peripheral that so far has proved to be less immersive to game than the Wii itself.

Sure, it can do Fitness and Dancing games better than the Wii (no doubt the PS Move can too) but it's not really what gamers are looking for.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

How soon we forget the powerglove, thebest of all motion controls.

Yeah the Move may have more precise contols but that not enough of a selling point for me. And shit, it may be good in demonstration rooms- not necessarily once you get it home.

[Azisien]

Pretty much only interested in 3DS at this point. Nothing else from anyone else has stirred much interested in me at all.

Kinect, Move, Wii, they are all just shooting for a demographic that isn't me. I don't blame them, that market share is worth a hell of a lot of money, but that doesn't change my personal situation of not caring about any of this technology.

[mudah.swf]

Having seen an early release list for the Kinect floating about on the internet it's going to end up being the Wii all over again, ie it sells a shitload but ends up being largely ignored by developers unless they feel like making a quick buck with a fitness game or what have you.

[tacticslion]

How soon we forget the powerglove, thebest of all motion controls.
I love the power glove. It's so baaaaaaad.

As far as the Kinect goes, I'm just not certain we have the proper level of control and hand-eye coordination as a society to deal with that kind of thing (a complete lack of remotes), and I'm unsure we'll develop it... well, ever. We may just have to wait until we get sensitive enough vocal-equipment to handle the issue, and even then I'd imagine we'll want some kind of remote. Even the holodecks have control panels and buttons. I'd imagine we'll always need them.

Yeah the Move may have more precise contols but that not enough of a selling point for me. And shit, it may be good in demonstration rooms- not necessarily once you get it home.
This is, terrifyingly enough, a valid point Smarty's making (why no, I didn't think it possible either! :dance: Zing! {sorry}). I've seen stuff "demonstrated" that's not anywhere nearly as good at home. That said I think (?) that Sony tends to be upfront about what their system can do in demos and thus the reports are accurate. Such a thing seems promising. As I don't own a PS3, however...

Having seen an early release list for the Kinect floating about on the internet it's going to end up being the Wii all over again, ie it sells a shitload but ends up being largely ignored by developers unless they feel like making a quick buck with a fitness game or what have you.

?
I'll admit I may not fully understand the argument, but I own a Wii, and enjoy the motion-sensitive non-sports/excercise games.

NON-EDIT: Oh, you mean 3rd party developers. Yeah, I guess it doesn't have much, but I enjoy Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, which is a third-party Wii game that uses the motion controls fairly well (though imperfectly, I admit), but isn't an excercising/fitness game. Then again, I fully admit I'm uneducated about new games for the most part.

[Azisien]

Thing is, almost all first-party Wii games would work better without any motion business. That Sin and Punishment is probably an exception to the rule, but the point stands. In some magic world, I'd rather play Mario/Zelda/Brawl on an Xbox or PS3 controller.

[Aerozord]

doesn't matter the support, they are trying to get into the casual market, they wont know much about what exists. What they will know is that you have three consoles with simular promises but one is about half the price. Considering the economy what do you think mom and pop are gonna buy?

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Also the casual market is pretty heavily saturated by the Wii. Average mom and pop are going to be liek "But I've got a wii- whydo we need another system?"

[bluestarultor]

Quite frankly, I think the aim is less to sell systems to the casual market and more to sell games to the casual market, which is where the money is. Systems are generally sold at cost or at a loss to get them out there and the money of a console is made licensing games for the hardware. Nobody is going to move PS3s or 360s based on the new technology, but it will encourage older and younger people to use the systems already owned by the original target demographic.

Then Sony and Microsoft get to license the casual games that people will be buying for the systems and make more money off them.

On top of that, there is still potential for hardcore games using the technology. Shooters could benefit from the targeting ability, for example, and it'll make RTS an actual option by introducing point and click. Heck, it might even be useful with MMO setups.

[Bells]

Well, the kinect is actually more oriented to families that already have older gamers.

Like, a dad or older brother who likes to play on his Xbox, but also has Kinect for the young ones, or for those who like the fitness thing which SEEMS to be better on Kinect, but since the Peripheral can't read people sitting down, i'm thinking it will be a tad limited on how you may use it to actually exercise.

[RobinStarwing]

I will probably get a 3DS when they announce a 6th Gen of Pokemon (5th Gen is pretty much confirmed for the DS/DS-L/DSi/DSi-XL but if anyone finds anything different to prove me wrong, let me know.)

Till than, I am happy with my DS-Lite and it's GBA slot. ^_^

As to the other systems...bah. I got a PS2 Slim and an original X-box. I"m good to go for the meanwhile so I got no interest in Kinect or the maleformed thingy-ma-jig. Besides, Wii does the same stuff without issues in controls or looking like some deranged thing I would find in a certain store in Downtown Minneapolis.

[akaSM]

I got a Wii and I'm happy with it. Also, I got a DS lite. I'm not really interested in a 360, and even less in the kinect. As for the PS3, I got a dual shock 3 yesterday, not because I have a PS3, but I bought it to play with my phone ^_^. The 3DS? I'll get one, maybe not the first version that gets released, but I'll get it. The move? I would have to get a PS3 first, it's a nice all in one thing I could mess with but, it's kinda expensive and I don't know how many games would I actually buy for it.