Developers and PS3's motion sensing still behind; proof of tacked-on controls?
by Blake Snow 
{ Aug 18th 2006 at 6:55PM }
Game|Life got their hands on a preview of Sega's Full Auto 2: Battlelines on "real living breathing PS3 development stations" yesterday (video here). The verdict? While author Chris Kholer says the game has "lots of potential... for online fun," he was more surprised with the lack of motion-sensing controls that the developers had yet to implement, further suggesting that Sony rushed the technology to market in response to Nintendo's previously announced motion-sensing controls for Wii.
From the article: "The controllers we had in front of us didn't even have the motion sensors inside them... There was plenty of speculation after Sony's E3 conference that the motion-sensing functionality was jammed into the controller at the last minute as a reaction to Nintendo's strategy... Not to mention the fact that apparently the first many game developers had even heard of the functionality was right there at that press conference."
Regardless if Sony tacked-on motion-sensing controls or not, could its seemingly rushed delivery hurt the technology's future on the PS3?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Geist @ Aug 18th 2006 7:03PM
I don't think it matters. Driving games have done well with analog sticks. Plus, there's some expectation on developers to use every aspect of a console, when really, it should only be used if it actually adds to the game. Did the developers comment on the lack of the functionality?
For the record, I do think it's tacked on. But oh well, par for the industry lately.
DAVE @ Aug 18th 2006 7:05PM
THATS CAUSE IT SUCKS WII CONTORLLER IS MILES BETTER
Carlos @ Aug 18th 2006 7:10PM
It might hurt the technology in the early going because Sony hasn't really given it's developers the chance to work with it. However, I don't really think it will affect the sales of games that could use the technology but end up not using it. The reason I say this is because people buying the PS3 probably aren't buying it for the motion sensing technology. In fact, if it were cancelled, I don't think any Sony fans would complain. Sony is pushing great games and awesome graphics, they aren't trying to revolutionize gameplay.
LuckyT @ Aug 18th 2006 7:12PM
Rumor has it that they're working to get rumble back in. Might explain the delay in getting the motion sensing into the dev's controllers - although I would not worry to much about games being able to make use of it for launch. The more trivial uses of it should be pretty easy to just drop into games (as Warhawk demonstrated).
[-Z-] @ Aug 18th 2006 7:14PM
Isn't it kinda late for a dev kit to dont have motion sensing. Sony might need to Whip their engineer even more now...
Mark @ Aug 18th 2006 7:14PM
Im sorry a racing/smashem car game like that isnt the same without rumble. You NEED to feel the impacts too!
Agent_4187 @ Aug 18th 2006 7:16PM
I've myself am a Pro-Ninty fan, but I've got to say I'm... actually a little surprised at the lack of motion sensors. I thought that most developers working on the PS3 would be suggested to use to take "advantage" of the motion-sensors of the PS3 controller by Sony... Which I'm glad, either Sega or Sony got smart, and decided not to put an emphasis on this "addition." Good job.
CyberKnight @ Aug 18th 2006 7:21PM
Seriously, is madden commiting to it? EA as a whole? No. The PS3 is going to be getting games that will also be on the xbox 360, why add a feature that the other doesn't have unless sony is forcing you to (which they already are, they have commanded companies that they need 20 percent NEW content for a port. Watch that become a request, and then a suggestion).
The Wii's going to have great usage of the motion sensing because EVERYTHING the Wii has done is focused on it, wireless controllers, the nunchuck. The PS3 is a PS2, that doesn't have dual shock, so they had to do something to make it uniuqe.
The problem is if a company X makes a game Y and their plans is for "next gen gameplay" they arn't thinking "dual shake", they are thinking "better graphics, amazing gameplay, for both the 360 and the PS3" Let's not forget that with out the Motion sensing the PS3 is already a harder system to developer for, and expects more out of the developer.
Instead if I have a game that would be very clever on motion sensing system, why would I choose the Ps3 unless I need great graphics (clever games don't need great graphics if they are truely clever). Instead I'd probably choose the Wii, it's around 1/5th of the price for a single dev kit, the controller is built for motion sensing, as well as the nunchuck, if I want two sensors, and the system has more motion sensing than the other.
As for those saying that it's a good idea I leave you with this idea. Nintendo has developed the idea for years, Sony had the idea, developed it, stopped developing it, saw nintendo's version, and then has pushed it in the system spec and controller the last weeks before E3. That doesn't mean they weren't thinking about it but if they were actively pursuing it the developer would have some version of motion sensing even if it wasn't a very accurate one long before E3. Sony is last minuting this idea in because they are constantly second guessing themselves now. And that's what's going to destroy Sony, not their decisions but second guessing their decisions.
Pc @ Aug 18th 2006 7:22PM
I believe that Sony is still adding little touches to the controller before sending out the final version with motion sensing included. That's just what i think, but i do feel that the technology was not just tacked on or rushed into E3 just to combat Nintendo's new controller. Sony's Playstation is too big a name and brand to just throw something out there to compete with something Nintendo is doing. It all makes sense that this new motion sensing tech is being introduced now considering the still pending legal issue with Immersion. I believe that they would have indeed had both the next-gen rumble feature and the motion tech considering there were no legal issues. :) LuckyT basically has the same idea that I have.
DannyOB@360insight @ Aug 18th 2006 7:25PM
I don't think this is downright proof that the technology was tacked on at the last minute, despite how much i want to believe it, but i do believe it is some very strong evidence that sony decided to include motion sensing very late in the game. And as for the controllers not even having motion sensors inside them, how on earth are developers supposed to take advantage of a technology you've put in your product if its not even in the dev kits??
Would i be right in saying that Battlelines isn't a launch title? because, if it isn't, fair enough they haven't got motion sensing implemented yet, however if it is, they should just forget about motion sensing this late on in development, right?
DJ @ Aug 18th 2006 7:26PM
I hope to god the delay of final controllers means that Rumble is going back in. If you read the rest of the interview there's a lot of interesting information revealed. The dev kits apparently are extremely quiet and give off very little heat. They're also supposed to be easy to program for as well, which is relieving. They were also playing on the Playstation Network Platform with absolutely no glitches or lag. I'm glad Sony's got their online network set up this early ahead of launch.
goosedude @ Aug 18th 2006 7:26PM
I really don't see the big deal on this motion sensing....As veteran gamers....Haven't we all been here and done that?? BORING!!
Granted the Wii remote seems a glorified version of that PING PONG Game in the mall kiosks.....at least it is a concept they are attempting to build the entire console experience around.
This "Motion Sense" and removal of Vibration in the PS3 controller...as Awesome-O 3000 would say...is LAME.
Shady @ Aug 18th 2006 7:29PM
PS3 is gonna be crap. That game sounds fun though. They should think of porting it to other consoles.
Pc @ Aug 18th 2006 7:30PM
To CyberKnight,
Half the crap you said is just your opinion or in your head. Most of what you said is not even true. I have read a article earlier today about the developers of Full Auto 2 (on IGN) stating that the FINAL dev kits that were shiped to them by Sony are actually pretty easy to program on, also make very little noise and emit very little heat. Sony is doing a good job at making sure things are right.
sracer @ Aug 18th 2006 7:33PM
Of course the motion sensing was a last minute add-on! Sheesh, many of you are suffering from short-term memory loss. Did you forget that Sony had originally announced a Spring 2006 launch for the PS3? Did you forget that Sony said that the reason for the slip in the date was due to issues with the Blu-Ray drive?
If Sony was being truthful, then they should've had fully functioning, fully developed motion-sensing at E3. The fact that they didn't means that it was tacked on at the last minute....because it was NOT in a shape to be released at the Spring 2006 window.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 18th 2006 7:36PM
I agree with the comments previous stated, how are they supposed to create games that utilize the motion sensing if the controllers lack the technology?
Joe A. @ Aug 18th 2006 7:40PM
Pc - the final devkits, though, are IBM PCs, not the console itself. Just check out the post from a few days ago:
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/17/video-of-the-final-ps3-dev-kit-and-partial-dashboard/
So, you really can't say how the final console is going to run, because that final devkit only simulates what will or won't run on the console. I'm not hating on Sony, but the final devkits sent out for the 360 was a debug version of the actual console, not a PC. And yes, I know at E3 05 that they were running on G5s.
I'm glad that there's coverage of PS3's progress and that it is coming along, instead of speculation of what or what isn't going on.
Pc @ Aug 18th 2006 7:40PM
I have to say this.....If atleast a few of the games are to have the motion sensing tech implemented into them with so little time left until launch, it must not be very hard to program this stuff into a game...right ?? I mean.. if the developers really don't have their hands on the final controller yet, it couldn't be too hard to program this stuff in. i dunno we shall see
Infil @ Aug 18th 2006 8:20PM
Whether or not something is hard is almost irrelevant. If you are given two months (or less) to implement a key function of the controller into your game seamlessly (and more important, so that it's fun), it will simply not work. Look at the Warhawk demo at E3; it got lukewarm reaction at best. I feel sorry for the guys at Incognito who were given all of two weeks to implement this.
If you don't have ample time, you will not be able to tweak the feel enough. It's that simple. I've developed a PC game, and tweaking the code to maximize the "feel" and fun-factor is 85% of the time and battle.
Look for first-generation games that use the tilt controller to implement it poorly.
Carlos @ Aug 18th 2006 8:22PM
sracer makes a really good point. Previously, the PS3 was scheduled for a Spring 2006 release and there was absolutely no mention of the tilt technology in their controller. Were they going to mention it after the console came out?
They probably thought that since they were going to be delayed because of the Blu-ray that they could add on other features.
Ethan @ Aug 18th 2006 8:24PM
umm... The reason that the dev kit did not have motion sensing tech in it, Is because the devs did not want to incorporate the motion sensing into it. So why would they buy the dev kit with motion sensing, if they didnt want to put it into the game?
Steve @ Aug 18th 2006 8:36PM
Wow, Ethan... aren't you the sharp one. FINAL dev kits are supposed to come (and be sold) complete, with every piece of hardware that will be in the final console. People don't pick and choose what's going to be in their final dev kits, it's just all supposed to be there, just as it's going to be in the console.
ill trooper @ Aug 18th 2006 8:38PM
We still have a while before this thing even comes out, so it's not a 'shock' (dual or not) to me that all features are not implemented yet. Perhaps it was added on in a pre-E3 flurry, but as I've said before, I don't believe that - it's something that requires more lead time than a few weeks to 'throw in there.' Or maybe not.
But it is there, whether you think it's a bite of the Wii controller or not.
Anyway, a little off-topic, but someone already mentioned it. The real beef I have here is that once again, I am reading someone using the quaint-but-not-necessarily-true argument that you will have to choose either good graphics (360, PS3) or clever games (Wii)... I don't think this is true. Great games can have it all: Engaging play, good control, and even good graphics.
The Splinter Cell series is a good example of this, I would also cite Call of Duty2, and G.R.A.W. on the 360. It is possible to have 'graphics' and 'gameplay' at the same time. I'm thinking it may be harder and more taxing on devs to make a Wii game look 'next-gen' than to make a PS3 or 360 'clever.' Even the reigning champ of the 'clever game vs. good graphics' arena, the DS, has some bad, unclever games...
What I can tell you is that I played the Wii, and from what I've seen, it broke my heart a little to see '480p' pop-up on the monitor - I wish they would have just gone a little bit further in the horsepower department. I think it's going to be a bit of a problem down the line - while many devs are excited about the Wii, some have also opted out of shoe-horning games in the Wii that require more might. So while the other systems be able to have both good games and amazing graphics, coaxing both out of the Wii seems to already be causing devs to draw the line - just short of the Wii.
But please don't misunderstand; I like the Wii. I played several games, I will be buying the Wii. I think this may be the machine to take the 'DDR/guitar hero' style party game away from Sony - imagine a Wii guitar controlling your pose on-screen - I love the potential, but I'm wishing the machine had a little more kick - it could have been twice the size, slightly more expensive, and put all this nonsense to rest.
Steve @ Aug 18th 2006 9:13PM
It's quite clear that Sony did indeed include the accelerometer technology in a reactionary manner to Nintendo's TGS showing... the fact that accelerometers are quite easy to implement in a controller (ask Microsoft) doesn't help their argument. Sure, they may have been tinkering around with it since the PS1 (hell, the SNES had a gyroscopic pad) but the fact that Immersion forced them out of rumble without paying, they needed something else. This technology was their answer, and its half-assed nature shows, especially in what should be a final dev kit.
ill trooper... Nintendo won't take a big loss on a product that's so risky. It's financially stupid. Conversely, they are aiming this thing at the same audience that the DS is attracting (casuals, females, non-gamers which represent billions of people, in addition to the usual 100 million people that buy consoles already), and they can't do that with a price over $200. Hell, even $200 is pushing it.
What you're forgetting is that the 720p that Microsoft is pushing is costing them $500 give-or-take per console, and the PS3's 1080p is costing Sony well over $700. Just because us 100 million gamers want to pay for high definition, doesn't mean everyone does. The $300 mark doesn't signify an impulse buy at all, nor does the $500 mark. Add to that a memory card or hard drive, online fees, and $60 games, and do you think that the PS3 or the 360 are going to reach beyond the core audience that isn't already there today? Well, Nintendo wants to go beyond that audience, and they've been pretty successful with that so far(my girlfriend and parents represent part of their success story). Whether they do that with the Wii remains to be seen, but they're not trying to take a loss-leader strategy that could very well end up sinking the company. The Wii gives the company the balance of GREAT non-HD graphics (HD is overrated, btw) and a significant step forward in console control if the final product lives up to its merits.
I hate to repeat a cliché of sorts, but twice to three times the visuals of Resident Evil 4 (which *still* didn't tap the system out completely) is freaking pretty. Go find screens of Twilight Princess - that's running a Gamecube engine, y'know. Twice to three times that sounds really nice to me, doesn't it? The resolution has nothing to do with how pretty a game is (that's what art direction is for), but merely how sharp it is. The Wiimote represents what the NES pad represented over 20 years ago, before it was released - hope.
Steve @ Aug 18th 2006 9:17PM
And ill trooper... please don't cite shooting games on the XBox 360 as examples of greatness. Yes, the games themselves were decent, but the controls leave much to be desired, especially when you've got a great alternative (the mouse and keyboard) at your disposal that doesn't sacrifice accuracy and mobility. The fact that you're using 2 analog sticks on consoles for a game that is supposed to require twitch-response control and precise aiming makes me question why people still buy shooting games to play them with dual-analogue. As Will Wright said just recently, the mouse-like control of the Wii may change how traditionally PC-oriented titles are developed for consoles, but we are yet to see the results. As with the graphics, we likely won't see the best of results with launch titles anyway. Second year should prove interesting.
[-Z-] @ Aug 18th 2006 9:18PM
WOW, you guys can argue with any given context about Sony. Do you guys get old with this?
RayRay @ Aug 18th 2006 9:18PM
I agree 100% with what (#14 sracer) stated in his post. However, the Dual Shake is better off than PS3's Boomerang controller.
Steve @ Aug 18th 2006 9:19PM
I was referring to the DS in my previous post about Nintendo being successful in reaching out to people who aren't the core-gaming young-male-oriented audience. Just to clarify :)
Ash @ Aug 18th 2006 9:30PM
I actually can't wait for the Wii. I can't say the same for the PlayStation 3. And didn't for the Xbox 360 either. :( I wish i could. Then i would be happy already (xbox 360 already out). Oh well.
RayRay @ Aug 18th 2006 9:43PM
I remember illtrooper used to diss every console not made by Sony with his -4 star opinions on every post. Nowadays he's ok with 360 and Sony but focuses all of his hate towards Nintendo and tries to seem openminded with a star on his new track record! He switched up like a crossdresser from Manhattan in the night time who walks the streets with silver glitter on his face!
Jeremy @ Aug 18th 2006 10:02PM
It doesn't matter anyway. I would rather have dual shock vibration than tilt motion anyway. Who cares about tilt motion on games? Which is better? Both would be great, but if I have to choose, no question vibration is better.
??? @ Aug 18th 2006 10:25PM
The motion sensing aspect on the PS3 won't be a problem at all if.......you can simply turn it: ON> or
idioteraser @ Aug 18th 2006 10:53PM
Nintendo didn't go for HD because it takes up between 25% and two thirds more processing power to render in HD then standard. Thats a lot of processing power lets not forget RAM.
Then you have the problems with games not being calibrated for SD like King Kong, Dead Rising and others. Basically the game looks like poo in SD which guess what most gamers around the world currently use and will be using in five years. HD hasn't reached the point in the US or Europe like it was supposed to have ten years ago. Japan isn't thrilled with HD they have had it in their tvs and broadcasts since 1965.
Also add in the new game development tools. Dual or even more core games aren't really being developed yet. It's just wasted cpu power. It's also a lot more coding. For a PC a dual or more core processer is usefull due to all the background tasks that are being run. For a pc you got a lot more going on then in a console.
Also add in game development for HD make the project triple in cost or more. Meaning games are more expensive to buy but the game development people aren't breaking even. Why do you think all this talk of in your face in game adds or paying for stuff you should be getting for free like armor or desktop screens is coming up? If the game tanks it could tank the studio as well.
Also it takes longer for the game to be developed.
The Wii like the DS is taking off in the game library since it's a lot easier to develop games for them. Cheaper as well. So the Wii will not have long droughts of games like the gamecube, N64 did.
Having a familiar set of tools makes the games come out faster, cheaper as well.
Nintendo doesn't sell it's hardware at a loss which is why their game divison console wise makes as much as say Sony.
If the third parties were to abandon Sony guess what they would be dead in the gaming world. Same with Microsoft their third parties are a huge achilles heel.
People on the other hand would always buy the Nintendo game software and the equipment to play it on.
n8dogg @ Aug 19th 2006 2:19AM
idioteraser, but wasn't one of Nintendo's major weaknesses with the Gamecube poor third party support?
So I guess their first party material, while excellent, isn't enough to help them regain the market share they used to enjoy.
And saying third parties would abandon Sony is ludacris. There is too much money to be made on the Playstation 3. Despite the horror stories of developmental hell and the reoccuring flame ammo known as the initial price, everyone pretty much knows that the PS3 will sell. Sure, it's likely that Sony won't have nearly as much success as they did with the PS2, and the marketshare will probably look a lot more even this time around, but money is money, and developers know that money can be found with the PS3.
Third parties will still stick to Sony like flies on fly paper. Even if they want to get out, they might not be able to afford it.
ill trooper @ Aug 19th 2006 4:55AM
RayRay, you're wilding out! I do tend to sound negative, but I've never taken my stars there! I like all the consoles, and own every one that has been released! And I guess if wearing a lovely dress on Friday nights is now considered 'crossdressing,' well you got me on that one!
har har
Steve - I understand fully about the costs, I agree, but I'm just sayin' I'd love to see this thing with a little more juice as it goes out to battle.
By the way, HD gaming is NOT overrated, it's awesome for games where you need to look into the distance for aiming and driving, but although the Wii seems to be avoiding HD, I still feel it's going to be a great system.
As for the control issues you bring up, well, it's like comparing donuts to parking lots - you're bringing up the old 'keyboard and mouse on a PC' versus 'console controllers' topic - it's commonly known that a mouse is easier to use and more accurate for shooters, but they don't get used on consoles, aside from an occasional game that supports it. Controllers do. Halo being a good example here of a successful shooter sans mouse aiming. And it doesn't sound like you've used the Wii controller yet - while it's very accurate to your motions, it's not immediately accurate (as in, I played with it for an hour and still was a little jittery... Maybe it was all the Coca Cola I drank at the event?) for the exact same reason - it's a little wild in your hands as there's no 'reference' for your motions - when you move a joystick under your thumb, the foundation of your movement is based on the controller in your hands... The light Wii controller lacks this and it's harder to move your whole hand or wrist as accurately. We will all likely get good at it, but truthfully, only a handful of people in the world have REALLY spent time with one. The Wii remote was very sensitive and controlled Excite Truck well, with little motions and twists... But it was hard to aim on the duck hunt game, at least in the few times I played it.
***What was great-looking (I had to bounce so I only watched it being played by my friend) was Metroid - the controller and the nunchuck combined for some cool door handle-turning mechanism action, energy-cable pulling and yanking to remove rubble, and showed a lot of promise. I want to see an Indiana Jones-type thing where you need to shovel & dig, maybe some delicate brushing like an archeologist on a site, use a whip, pistols, punching... It could be amazing.
Oh yeah, back on topic, "I sure hope Sony enables that tilty-thingy soon."
Staticneuron @ Aug 19th 2006 9:35AM
Perspective is always important.
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/726/726255p1.html
"We were also told that the dev kit seemed to be extremely adaptive and easy to program for. In fact, Pseudo talked about how they hadn't put in their "planned" tilt sensitivity, but had literally dropped in the wireless support for the controllers on Tuesday. The controllers, which feel much lighter thanks to the removal of the rumble feature, nevertheless were solid and extremely responsive. While those weren't the finalized controllers for the PS3 itself, they felt much better than the ones that were at E3 (and were extremely easy to toggle between wired and wireless play)."
All in all, just like the warhawk dev team, people plan for the sensing but if they do not have the controllers with the motion sensing tech on the inside, they are not going to be able to balance or troubleshoot it. They most likely will leave that feature out of the game until they have a fully working controller. But the overal tone was very positive and they seem to be saying that the final dev kit is easy to dev for. It doesn't surprise me that someone was able to turn some positive news into something negative.
John Lucas @ Aug 19th 2006 1:43PM
Yes, it was tacked on.
How obvious can it be?
Simply put, the Wii is the future of gaming.
That's no hyperbole.
That's the patented truth.
Sony saw the writing on the wall & in an act of desperation tacked on that pale imitation of Wii's controls at the last minute. That was the reaction to the buzz the Wii has been giving off STEADILY since it was still called Revolution. People from Sony study the internet commentaries like from here at Joystiq. They got worried; they got scared after hearing the positive feedback to Wii.
The sad thing is by doing that they COFIRMED once again who the leader of the industry was. They validated Nintendo's gambit. They reduced the doubts of the Wii controller by imitating it.
Now people are thinking "is the idea REALLY that good?"
You damn right it is.
This Wii controller is like the shift from the old Atari-esque joystick & Intellivision-like "calculator" controls to the hand-fitting rectangular Control Pad/D-pad action button combo of the Famicom/NES.
It is another industry-wide shift in control interface like in those times. Once again Nintendo redefines the gaming experience.
Eventually XBox 360 TOO will bring forth a "motion-sensing" control as the Wii gathers steam (there's already reports on that now from one recent Joystiq article). Maybe they'll call it Sidewinder 2000 or something.
And once it becomes apparent that the "traditional" controller shape is unwieldy for that type of control you will see them both do what everyone has ALWAYS done in reaction to Nintendo's controls: They will make their OWN version of that remote-like shape trying to look as different as they can still showing who they're following.
Look for that development about mid-generation. At the latest near end of generation.
Good luck to Sony & Microsoft on their plans.
Soon they'll just be squirrels trying to get a nut in Wii's world.
John Lucas
Steve @ Aug 19th 2006 3:27PM
John Lucas, the only problem with bringing out controllers mid-life or later is that they are not standard. You won't be seeing any wide support because they are accessories. Accessories are cool (God knows I love bongo-fests and guitar hero) but aside from a few games, they aren't likely at all to see wide support. It is the next generation of gaming that Sony and Microsoft will absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, be adopting similar controls. Yes, MS is working on an FPS controller that may contain motion sensing or a trackball(with Razer, no less) - and yes, Sony's controller has an accelerometer... but Nintendo is the one that's putting this controller balls-out as a standard. Therefore, all developers can take advantage of it, and most of them certainly are. THAT'S what redefines gaming, and why Nintendo is considered a risk-taker in this industry. Without them, things like true motion sensing would likely take far longer to become any kind of standard.
Ill trooper, no I didn't get to attend E3 this year, unfortunately. With that said, you were playing on dev kits, with unperfected controls. With unadjustable sensitivity as in the final product. Hell, the launch games may not even have it perfected - but the technology is there to BE perfected, make no mistake. Dual-analogue control STINKS for games that require accuracy. It is great for things like driving and sports, but anything that needs a cursor - I don't want to be playing with an analog stick. The primary reason I don't own a 360 right now is that much of its focus is on shooting games, much like the original XBox... and SO many of those shooting games are ports. Why in the name of hell would I want to purchase a game like that when I have a perfectly good PC with a large widescreen display and 5.1? I realize that I may have a better machine than many, but at least I can play these first-person games without getting frustrated, and without the barrage of hit-boxes and auto-aim treating me like I'm stupid. I say, bring on the Wiimote - by the time next-next gen rolls around, and HD penetration reaches more than 50% as it MIGHT, Nintendo will be ready. Until then, 480p - just like my DVDs - look great on the big screen TVs AND the small ones that don't support HD. (PS HD has NOTHING to do with draw distance btw). As I said, I can't wait for the "new" gen.
Juan Yatiz @ Aug 19th 2006 6:28PM
My only complaint about this controller is the fact that they are doing without the force feedback feature; otherwise it's ok. As for this guy complaining about the tacked on motion sensing technology...maybe he's rushing things in criticizing it...I'd say let's wait...it'll work itself out
Antonio @ Aug 20th 2006 3:23AM
ALL PS3 FANS AND XBOX FANS CAN SUCK MY BIG FAT DICK!!!
THE NINTENDO WII WILL KICK THE PS3 AND XBOX ASS DOWN THE FUCKEN DOOR!!! $600 MY BIG ASS!!!
John Lucas @ Aug 20th 2006 5:48AM
Steve from Msg #38:
[[37. John Lucas, the only problem with bringing out controllers mid-life or later is that they are not standard. You won't be seeing any wide support because they are accessories. Accessories are cool (God knows I love bongo-fests and guitar hero) but aside from a few games, they aren't likely at all to see wide support. It is the next generation of gaming that Sony and Microsoft will absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, be adopting similar controls. Yes, MS is working on an FPS controller that may contain motion sensing or a trackball(with Razer, no less) - and yes, Sony's controller has an accelerometer... but Nintendo is the one that's putting this controller balls-out as a standard. Therefore, all developers can take advantage of it, and most of them certainly are. THAT'S what redefines gaming, and why Nintendo is considered a risk-taker in this industry. Without them, things like true motion sensing would likely take far longer to become any kind of standard.]]
Agreed. You are absolutely correct in everything you typed. But I guarantee you that's exactly what they're gonna do. Sony 1st Playstation started in 1994 & with the advent of the Nintendo 64 in 1996 with yet another standard in the fully functional analog stick, here came the Playstation stopping midstream to add TWO analog sticks onto their very SNES-esque controller.
Then with the out-of-the-blue addition of the Rumble Pak with the debut of Starfox 64 in 1997, once again Sony (along with everyone else) was caught with their pants down & the just-put-together Dual Analog quickly became the Dual Shock.
If the idea is good enough & is accepted enough companies HAVE AND *WILL* halt pre-existing designs to match the innovation.
The Wiimote is ONCE AGAIN another standard-maker from the king of standard makers. And Sony has *already* tried to match this with their limited motion-sensing control that we've seen at E3. And HELL the Wii ain't even OUT yet! LOL! They *KNOW* it's the Ess Hit (put it together). The E3 lines proved that already. But they implemented the design wrong in their imitation still trying to resist the telltale signs that they are once again following in Nintendo's footsteps. It won't work in that old controller form.
Eventually after the Wii's out & that controller does what I'm absolutely certain it will (reinvent gaming as we know it) we will see Sony AND Microsoft put out similar remote shaped devices signing off once again on who's the leader & who's the followers.
Much as how analog control & force feedback standards made the pre-existing seem dinosaurian this Wii-style will do the same with our current controls.
And if the others don't want to be left behind they will adapt & follow Nintendo's lead.
It's things like this that make me like supporting Nintendo. They are a company that is good for the gaming experience as well as good product makers & designers. You gotta rep when someone is getting things right. It's all too easy for a company to screw you & give you the half-assed.
John Lucas
~Definitely by next-generation (I really see it even in this one) the Wii will have made its lasting imprint on the industry. But by then Nintendo may have already coem up with something ELSE off-the-wall making ANOTHER standard. Always one step ahead.
Todd @ Aug 21st 2006 9:56AM
Sony is suffering some Wii envy!
Bub @ Aug 21st 2006 10:59AM
Once again, Joystiq puts a negative spin on a positive ps3 article, failing to mention the article said the graphics looked better than 360, and that the sense of speed was at times 'overwhelming'. Also, note in the title the word 'proof'. This is pure disinformation, generated from you by the joy boys who all got 360's. Microsoft was brilliant here, giving the writers of joystick free xbox 360's, and then encouraging them to dig up and post negative news and 'analysis' about ps3. When you read joystiq, to stay informed, it's like reading Pravda. You hold it up to the light, turn it this way and that. If joystiq says something negative, you read the original article. Joystiq ALWAYS puts spin on news. In fact, they're like pundits, for Microsoft, spouting their own version of everything.
Rootbeer @ Aug 21st 2006 1:26PM
If PS3 launch titles have substandard tilt control features in them, don't blame Sony; blame the developers who decided to tack on tilt functionality to their titles even though they knew there wasn't enough time to do it right.
Every PS3 controller is going to support tilt. Developers can go with the familiar control schemes they already know how to use at launch, and freely implement tilt features in later titles. They don't (and CAN'T) wring every drop of performance out of the PS3 hardware at launch; I mean, not every launch game is going to support online play or run at 1080p or utilize all 7 SPEs effectively, so why should they be expected to use the tilt controls at launch either?
Todd @ Aug 21st 2006 2:44PM
Ah, the constant problem of trying to create games for a fledging new system when ALL are being released at the same time. Usually takes advanced knowledge of the console tool set, time for design, and probably console age to develop finely tuned games.
When Sony announces that their new system is coming out in x months, and the tool set is only available x months before release, everyone tends to scramble to make crap-games to be available for the launch date. In a year the PS3 will probably see some decent games since the developers will have a year post-launch to really come out with some cool stuff.
Now for my Nintendo fanboy comment. It takes a lot more than beautiful graphics to entice me to even be interested in a game. I need something called "fun" for me to spend $80 on a game. At the moment, it seems as if the majority of the PS3 titles are war sims and racing games. I've played these before. Adding a fresh new coat of paint doesn't make a car run better. Pimping up the system's motor doesn't make the experience suddenly new. I need new options.