Are motion controllers a fad?
The controller as we know it is dying. With the release of Microsoft's Kinect and the PlayStation Move, the triumvirate of consoles has moved on to what I call the "motion controller era." We first got a taste of it when the Nintendo Wii was introduced, but now that Microsoft and Sony have joined the game it seems inevitable that sensors and our bodies will replace the controller we hold in our hands. However, I do not think the gaming community will ever fully reach the motion controller era.
Let's start at the beginning. We all know why the Wii became so popular: fun for the whole family and games that involved standing up and moving around so that we would not get carpal tunnel syndrome by sitting in the same position on the couch all day. Meanwhile, the majority of the gaming community stayed with the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 and didn't seem to care about the Wii and its features. Sure, the PlayStation 3 had Sixaxis motion technology in all of its controllers, but it was only really vital in one game: “Heavy Rain.”
Now fast-forward to the present day. All three consoles are now competing in the field of motion gaming. By the time all three have motion gaming in play, there will be so many people who will buy any game that involves motion, no matter how bad it is. The mindset is: If one can mix both physical movement while playing video games, we would have less people who sit at home all day and have gamers who are not lazy and will not be overweight. It all sounds great, but there is one element missing. In order for gaming to move to the motion era, each console must appeal to its most important audience -- the hardcore gamer. These are the guys that unlock every achievement or trophy in a game and can reach each Prestige Mode in “Call of Duty" -- in less than a week if it's even possible. Motion control just won't appeal to these gamers. Coming from someone who is decent in “Call of Duty," it would be a shocker if Activision or Infinity Ward announced they would make the next “Call of Duty” game to be playable on the Kinect and Move motion controls only.
If motion control were to have some sort of impact on gaming, it would be on the Wii only. The Wii was built for motion control. “The Legend of Zelda” took a giant leap from the controller to the motion sensor. Using the Wii controller, players could direct Link where to go and also use the controller to swing Link's sword. The reason why Wii games worked so well is because each game focused around the question of “How could I make this game work with motion and be fun at the same time?” Unlike the Wii, Microsoft and Sony focused around the current generation of controllers and did not even think about motion control.
Kinect and Move just will be a short fad. People are hyped right now because it is so revolutionary, just like 3D. However, once the dust settles and the hype has waned, we will see that motion gaming is not really for the hardcore gamer, but rather for the casual gamer who wants to have a workout or just impress people at a house party. The modern controller that we know and love will stay instead of shrinking away from the gaming scene. Sometimes, change is not for the best.
