Motion Controls Shouldn't be the Future of Gaming

With the new Xbox Kinect and PlayStation Move coming out soon, I wanted to address what I think about the motion control phenomenon that is sweeping over the video game community. Nintendo, of course, are the inventors of the idea when they came out with the Wii in November of 2006. Fast forward four years and the sickly sweet casual gamer console has done very well for itself.  So well, in fact, that both Microsoft and Sony have spent years readying their own motion control hardware in hopes of getting a piece of the casual gaming pie.

The Kinect with Kinect Adventuers.  Photo Property of IGN

The Wii was the first next generation console to fall into my possession, followed a few months later by the Xbox 360. Sony still haven't received a check from me yet, as I am still hoping for a price drop on the reliable but expensive PS3.  And I can tell you, as a representative from the hardcore community, I found little interest in the Wii's technological uniqueness once I could take my more visually beautiful and online friendly 360 out on the town.

The Wii fell into a "party games only" niche, mostly due to the dodgy controls and lack of an exciting and new library.  But don't get me wrong, the Wii is probably the best system out there when you want to gather a few friends around the TV for some fun.  But recent information and demonstrations of the new motion controls coming from the Microsoft and Sony camps have me rolling my eyes, and here is why:

Video games and gaming should always be about the games. Not the controllers. A regular old plastic boomerang with buttons serves me just fine. What do motion controls give us? Let me tell you. It gives us games like- "The Shoot" and "Dukes" for the Move and "Kinectimals" and "Kinect Joy Ride" from Microsoft's creation. I suppose for the causal gamer these would provide fun games to toy around with, but are they really going to have the atmosphere of a Silent Hill or the serene beauty of Shadows of the Colossus?  Are they going to have the unique humor and puzzles of a game like Portal or a plot twist to rival Bioshock?  Frankly, I'd be really surprised.

The PlayStation Move with Sports Champions.  Photo Property of IGN

But someone will surely argue that motion controls can make gaming more immersive. It's putting the player's movements literally into the game, right?  But I can tell you, from my experience with motion controls, that the moment your character doesn't do what you thought you were motioning, it immediately breaks the flow of the game.  And before you know it you are frustratingly waving your body around hoping your motion will translate onscreen. And maybe the Kinect and Move will interpret movements better than the Wii, but you can't tell me they are going to be perfect 100% of the time. As a gamer, I want my characters to respond to smaller actions anyway- like from the press of a button- not larger ones like waving my arms.

And that whole argument is moot anyway because games played with a regular old controller managed to be immersive without the implementation of motion controls.  Maybe I'm just being pessimistic, but as someone who loves games, I'm not looking fondly at the direction video games are headed. I want stories that move me, gameplay that is intuitive and rewarding.  And the recent trend of pushing towards a more casual market, while great for business, is not really what I want.  And in case it wasn't obvious, I won't be shelling out the ridiculous sum of $100 for a Move or an extra $150 for the Kinect.

Lastly, think on this: Shouldn't Microsoft and Sony be spending their money looking for the next big idea instead of on an idea already pioneered by Nintendo four years ago?  I'm no business expert, but abandoning the fan base these companies have built for themselves to chase a market already secured by the most successful video game company ever, just seems like poor decision making.  Best of luck to us all.

My 5 Most Exciting Upcoming Games for Xbox 360 (Part 5)

1. Deus Ex 3: Human Revolution

The dead horse I like to beat here at RKReviews is how hungry I am for something new.  I want the next generation-defining game to stand up from the crowd of also-rans and turn everything we knew about video games upside down. And I want it now. The original Halo did this, forever changing First-Person-Shooters by creating a successful game that both limited how many guns the player could carry whilst adding regenerating health.  Is Deus Ex 3: Human Revolution the game I have been waiting for?

Adam Jensen from Deus Ex 3: Human Revolution.  Photo property of IGN.

In response to the above question, no. Deus Ex 3 will in all likelihood not be the game I have been dreaming about. But if the new game is anything like its predecessors, then it could be a very talented title. Some people will not remember the first Deus Ex games, which were released on the PC and last console generation. The previous installments in the series were FPS-hybrids with Role-Playing elements sprinkled in. Player character decisions played a large role, as did the story, all in a unique cyberpunk/Bladerunner sort of futuristic atmosphere.

The games allowed the player to specialize in anything from nano-augmentations to hacking and negotiation to proficiency with weapons.  And it did not discourage the player from the less combat-based options, always allowing the player to complete the missions in a multitude of ways.  The first two installments were developed by the now defunct Ion Storm Inc. The new Deus Ex, which is set as a prequel to the other games as to not alienate those who haven't played the other titles, is being developed by Eidos Montreal (who are also working on the fourth installment in the Thief series) in co-production with Square Enix. The change of developers makes me wonder if Human Revolution will carry the same pizazz that primarily existed in the first Deus Ex.

But when it comes down to it, I am excited and looking forward to this game no matter what. It has a killer look and feel to it, what I've heard from the main voice actor (Elias Toufexis) sounds really cool, the settings are original and not muddied by gunmetal gray or dirt brown, the different augmentations and abilities the main protagonist can get look awesome and my socks were almost blown right off my feet when I saw the E3 teaser trailer.  I am absolutely pumped for this title, even if it isn't an answer to my dream of a generation defining game.




Video Property of IGN.

My 5 Most Exciting Upcoming Games for Xbox 360 (Part 4)

2. Gears of War 3

The Gears of War series has long been my baby. The original Gears stole my heart with its intense cover-based action. I admit the game’s plot was ridiculous and over the top, but I didn’t care because the set pieces were so challengingly fun. In fact, I liked it so much I decided I needed to honor the game by beating it alone, on insane difficulty to prove myself a true “Gearhead.” Once I accomplished that feat, I did it again; to make sure the first time wasn’t a fluke.

Gears of War 3's Dom Santiago with a Pendulum Wars Lancer. Image property of IGN.

When Gears of War 2 came out I beat the entire campaign in one sitting, the day I got the game. But Gears of War 2 wasn't the game I had been hoping and dreaming about. The combat was much cleaner, but the game itself didn’t improve upon its predecessor. It just added more weapons, a plot that made perhaps even less sense (which I thought impossible), and took away the atmospheric night sequences in favor of a bunch of annoying underground bits. The new enemies were okay, but I missed having to use propane tanks to negotiate dark terrain, even if it was a bit of a pain in the ass in the first game. And what happened to Berserkers? The most terrifying enemies from Gears of War were missing in the sequel. Lastly, the host advantage hasn’t been fixed from the first game, making online play frustrating at best.

Horde mode was the saving grace for Gears of War 2. It is so fun and challenging that many other games like Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 2 and Bungie’s Halo: ODST copied the formula for their own. Without Horde mode, I might consider calling Gears of War 2 an utter misstep for the franchise.

So where does that leave Gears 3?  I’m trying hard not to read or watch anything about the final installment in the series, but I like the idea of one final stand against the Locust. And Lambants, I guess. Jesus, the plot is just bananas. Totally off the reservation. Oh well, Gears 3 should still be fun. “Beast mode” looks silly, but I won’t complain too much as long as regular Horde mode is still available. I’m crossing my fingers for more fun, intense firefights, fewer unnecessary vehicle sections and an epic finish to a series that deserves some credit for revolutionizing the cover-based shooter. And there better not be a cliffhanger ending. I hate those. If they leave the door open for another game I swear I’ll break the disc. I’m not even kidding. I hate that garbage.




Video property of IGN.

My 5 Most Exciting Upcoming Games for Xbox 360 (Part 3)

3. Dead Space 2

The number three most exciting game gave me a lot of trouble, which is part of the reason why it has been delayed for so long. At different points I had Dragon Age 2, Metal Gear Rising, XCOM, and Portal 2 occupy this spot. Those are all games that I think will turn out to be fun and or innovative. But I decided that Dead Space 2 is the best fit, for many reasons.

Issac Clarke in his new Advanced Suit.    Photo property of IGN

The original Dead Space featured a lot of good game design, which I want to mention. Enemies don't have traditional weak points, they can change the way they move after partial dismemberment. The guns were all derived from mining tools and weren't the traditional pistol, assault rifle, shotgun, rocket launcher, etc. The lack of a HUD was nice, clean and well integrated and the game itself was very atmospheric. There was also a hint of psychological trauma throughout the game which I found to be very helpful in defining an otherwise mute Issac Clarke. If the second game follows in it predecessor's footsteps, then Dead Space 2 should be a solid title.

But like always, there is another side to the coin. Dead Space did have some control issues. Issac just didn't feel very mobile, and having to hold a button to run is always annoying in my opinion. As a player you are never going to want to stroll when you are being attacked, so why force the player to always be holding the run button?

The game also didn't make use of its great atmosphere. There were times when I was literally horrified and frantically struggling for my life, but these moments were few. The game is very surprising with lots of pop-out scares, but that doesn't make a survival horror game scary. Or good.

I guess the trick is to keep the frame of the first game, but add and elaborate on the formula. Visceral Games should take a hard look at the early Silent Hill games to understand how to turn their atmosphere (or lack thereof) into true horror.



Video property of IGN