PS3 Guncon relies on Wii-like pointer
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jun 14th 2007 at 12:23PM }
Much like the Wiimote (as used by Sega's light gun game, Ghost Squad), the Guncon 3 relies on two markers placed on either side of the television. A sensor inside the gun's muzzle detects the markers and automagically figures out where it's being pointed. The controller also features six buttons and a second analog stick placed on an awkward "subgrip" that you're meant to hold with your left hand. The original article points out that while Japan gets a black gun, America and Europe will have to make do with a charming orange model, as seen above (in the company of the world's mangiest jacket)..
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KingOfGods @ Jun 14th 2007 12:36PM
Is that a 360 in the background? ;)
sababaaa @ Jun 14th 2007 12:36PM
Check out Ace Combat 6 running in the background! *drools*
I wish TC4 was also coming out on 360... Chalk another title up on the the slowly growing list of games I cannot afford to play :(
megaStryke @ Jun 14th 2007 12:42PM
More reason for Time Crisis to come to the Wii: Nintendo has done half the work for you.
Syko360 @ Jun 14th 2007 12:44PM
Seriously why is the Orange gun necessary. I could probably count the yearly handgun homicide rate in America on one hand. I think we can handle a black toy gun.
NintendoFanbot @ Jun 14th 2007 12:50PM
teh GIMIK m i rite?
Hmmm... I wonder if the Wii Blaster works for Ghost Squad. I hope so.
cc123 @ Jun 14th 2007 12:52PM
Cue the Wii whiners.
In every thread on every forum for any game that's not coming to the Wii it's the same thing.
"OMG why isn't this coming for the Wii? This is perfect for it!"
"They must not like money! Waaaaaaa"
Get ready for 5 years of this...
cc123 @ Jun 14th 2007 12:54PM
Cue the Wii whiners.
In every thread on every forum for any game that's not coming to the Wii it's the same thing.
"OMG why isn't this coming for the Wii? This is perfect for it!"
"They must not like money! Waaaaaaa"
Get ready for 5 years of this...
Yoshi @ Jun 14th 2007 12:57PM
Meh, I've got a 360 and a Wii and I don't think this is one of the titles I'll really be missing. I had Time Crisis 2 for the PS2 back in the day and just found it so disappointing. Once these games leave the arcades they just aren't the same IMO.
Aram @ Jun 14th 2007 1:06PM
for once here's a game that's meant to be on the Wii... it's a shame it won't be coming (yet) to Nintendo's console
hvnlysoldr @ Jun 14th 2007 12:59PM
Cue the whiners of Wii whiners. The legitimate point is that this game would benefit from the Wii since the controller and nunchuk are already implemented and would not need an extra peripheral/controller to fully appreciate the game.
Evan @ Jun 14th 2007 1:01PM
Appearently Syko360 never reads the news.
Almack64 @ Jun 14th 2007 1:04PM
@ cc123
Thus far you have done more complaining than anybody else in this thread. It's almost like you are promoting people to whine, which is even worse than whining. Sir/Madam you annoy me.
Joshua @ Jun 14th 2007 1:05PM
I'd import the Japanese version if I had a PS3 and this game.
Jeremy @ Jun 14th 2007 1:07PM
The LCD Topgun has been doing this since before the Wiimote came out:
http://www.x-arcade.com/newsletter/Wii%20Dupe.shtml
cc123 @ Jun 14th 2007 1:14PM
@Jeremy
I think you forgot. Things don't exist until Nintendo "invents" them. =)
@Almack64
Yeah your right the Wii whiners are here cause of my comment. Otherwise they would def not be here...
Zeruel @ Jun 14th 2007 1:16PM
Six buttons?
Damn, I wonder if I can play Street Fighter on there. :)
Dustin @ Jun 14th 2007 1:21PM
To #10: Although he couldn't count gun homicides "on one hand" the number of gun murders in 2004 was 11,522. I'm sure you think 11,522 is alot, but when actually viewed compared to the population thats somewhere around .003 percent of the population, not to mention that in the same year there were 6,672 non gun murders.
Also if you look at a graph of gun violence, and a graph of video game violence the two are directly inverse, as games have gotten more violent gun crime has been DECREASING!!!!
In other words, apparently you DO watch the news, which is why you don't have a clue.
Ocho @ Jun 14th 2007 1:23PM
What about a pedal ala Time Crisis in the arcade? Seems more intuitive than a litany of buttons taped to the front of the gun.
Besides, that's where you're supposed to tape the flashlight.
a dirty bastard @ Jun 14th 2007 1:26PM
the reason we get the orange gun is because ppl. getting shot by cop because the cops think there real living in NY it happens
Dustin @ Jun 14th 2007 1:35PM
at #19: yeah it's happened, but how many times? Less than 1,000 in the history of earth? Ridiculous nanny state crap. I owned an arsenal of realistic toy guns as a kid, do you know how many cops shot me? 0
Michael McGuire @ Jun 14th 2007 1:37PM
There is one important point that everyone is missing when talking about the Wii implementation of this system. The Wii uses a standard size sensor bar. This is why there is that nagging feeling at times that you're not getting a direct pointing at the screen. It is also why some games, notably Zelda, offer the option to calibrate the aiming.
Because this system uses two separate sensors that go on the side of the TV, I doubt any calibration will be needed, other than perhaps specifying if you are dealing with widescreen or not (since the aspect ratio of TV's is widely defined). What this will probably mean is that the majority of users will be able to hop in the game and get the feeling that the gun is precisely aiming at the screen. I would guess they will still include some sort of calibration program because you could still get thrown off if the sensors are not placed perfectly or if the TV has a wide bevel.
Syko360 @ Jun 14th 2007 1:49PM
@10
Na I don't read. Is this "news" you're talking about made into a movie yet?
megaStryke @ Jun 14th 2007 1:57PM
@Michael McGuire
Unless there are FOUR sensor bars instead of two or the two sensor bars adjust to the size of any given TV, calibration WILL be necessary. Even the arcade version of Time Crisis 4 offers calibration.
samfish @ Jun 14th 2007 2:18PM
So...where exactly are all the PS3 and 360 fanboys who were shreking from the hills about how the Wii COULDN'T POSSIBLY be used as a light gun and that anyone wanting light gun games were morons for it?
No where to be found, that's where!
"I owned an arsenal of realistic toy guns as a kid, do you know how many cops shot me?"
Are you black?
kraoro @ Jun 14th 2007 2:19PM
At Syko360:
You must have a crapload of fingers on each hand.
sheppy @ Jun 14th 2007 2:21PM
Calibration is a necessity. It should be required in every Wii game. Suffice it to say, even with the two boxes, you'll still have to do the "Shoot the center, now upper left, and lower right" sequences. Small price to pay.
About the gun, more buttons mean more options. They need to be readily accessable. The only things I can truly confirm is that the following games need to come now.
House of the Dead 4
Crisis Zone
Aliens
Elemental Gearbolt 2 (PLEASE MAKE IT)
Project Horned Owl 2 (ditto)
Virtua Cop 4
Lethal Enforcers 3
and last, but not least...
Area 51 3...
And somebody please design a dual gun mode. I don't care if it's a strictly on the rails shooter. Just make it. I would love another game with environmental damage like Crisis Zone but it's you with two uzis.
Matthew @ Jun 14th 2007 2:25PM
Of course the gun is orange. There are thousands of deaths a year due to handguns (Syko must have some sort of mutated hands). Sure this is still a very small segment of the population, but it would be idiotic to make realistic looking handguns for people to swing around.
Also, Dustin, why are you even bringing up the game violence real life violence debate in this thread. You completely miss the point. No one is saying playing Time Crisis with a black gun is going to make you more likely to shoot someone than if you have an orange gun. All that is being said is that an orange gun is much less likely to be confused for a real gun.
True, the news makes the gun violence problem out to be bigger than it is, which is why people are paranoid about guns and don't want one pointed in their face, even if it is a Guncon. Which is why they are ORANGE.
Get a clue.
Grog @ Jun 14th 2007 2:25PM
Unless you have four sensors that can be attached to the very edge of the viewing area (rather than on top/below the case around the screen), there's going to be some inaccuracy. Calibration is a necessity for super-accurate pointing, and the Wii would also benefit from optional calibration for games that use the pointer.
Dustin @ Jun 14th 2007 2:49PM
Matthew:
I brought up gun violence to point out how ridiculous the entire fear of guns is. It's the same people that site violence in games as causing real violence that also pass seat belt laws, smoking bans, helmet laws, orange toy guns, etc. etc.
You see the point is that even you, who strike me as educated and rational, have bought into the complete myth that painting a video game accessory gun bright orange does anything to save anyone. How many people are going to take their corded, gigantic, expensive light gun outside and point it at cops? No one, and if one kid somewhere DOES do this so what, we really need all toy guns to be ridiculously painted and shaped to save the rare retard from himself? from the beginning of toy guns up until the late 80's was there really an epidemic of kids killed because they waved a fake gun around? Do you actually believe that? More kids die from plastic bags every year than have ever been killed by cops for having a toy gun.
That's all I am saying, and I apologize for derailing the comments, maybe I'm just cranky today.
kraoro @ Jun 14th 2007 2:50PM
At 26:
Most arcade cab light gun shooters can be played with two guns. They're considerably harder than single player, and obviously they'll cost twice as much, though.
Matthew @ Jun 14th 2007 3:10PM
Dustin,
I understand your point, and this probably is a case of overreaction, but there really is less of a reason to make it not orange than there is to make it orange. It will make people feel better and it will make Namco not get pissed on by the press.
Also, I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with seat belt and helmet laws. There are way more auto accidents than gun deaths, that one is definitely a reasonable law to make. Some people need the click it or ticket to keep from dying from stupidity. As for helmets, those are also needed. I fell off the bike plenty of times as a kid. Sure, most kids won't die from this, but some will. It isn't about the statistical probability, it is about saving that kid who will land on his head, even if it is only one kid.
Now we're way off topic.
Also, hearing about this game really makes me regret selling off my dual gun Time Crisis 3 package :(
sheppy @ Jun 14th 2007 3:11PM
"Most arcade cab light gun shooters can be played with two guns."
I know, but no one has made a dedicated MODE for that. Take, for example, DDR. There is a mode for one person to use two pads. Now how hard would it be for a company to support such a mode in a game like this. Both guns active, unified health bar, either an increase in damage enemies take or more of them. And honestly, tell me someone who doesn't want to dual pistol a lobby full of bank robbers. The fact that a couple friends and I do this often and have one of us feed quarters is evidence enough for the demand.
Matthew @ Jun 14th 2007 3:14PM
I guess what I'm trying to say is that painting the gun orange might save one kids life over the course of the next ten years. I'm not going to argue that being spared looking at a gaudy color is more important than the life of one kid, however stupid the kid is.
dna @ Jun 14th 2007 3:18PM
you could rob someone if it's painted black
Spartacus @ Jun 14th 2007 3:27PM
Would someone like to explain to me how painting this thing orange will help distinguish it from a "real" handgun? I mean, I figured the attached SUB-GRIP WITH 6 BUTTONS AND A JOYTICK would do the trick... Or is there a handgun in current production that employs the use of such a device?
I swear humans get more irrational, more illogical with every passing minute...
Spartacus @ Jun 14th 2007 3:28PM
DNA:
I guess we should outlaw black spray paint as well then, huh?
sheppy @ Jun 14th 2007 4:01PM
Quit bitching. BIG DEAL! We get an orange controller! This is infinitely better than when Sega refused to bring their light gun to the US so with House of the Dead, your only solution was Mad Catz.
ill trooper @ Jun 14th 2007 4:19PM
"...save the rare retard from himself? from the beginning of toy guns up until the late 80's was there really an epidemic of kids killed because they waved a fake gun around?"
I just did a google search for "cop toy gun" and got a lot of results. You're being naive if you think only 'retards' need saving from themselves.
Cops have killed a lot of people who had toy guns in their hand. That's the way it is. If you think you can handle it, just paint it black. And while you're at it, paint that red door over there too.
mattydread @ Jun 14th 2007 4:20PM
With all of the buttons on the gun one would think that it's going to be near impossible to pick up 2 guns, as player 1 and player 2, for one person.
Dustin @ Jun 14th 2007 4:25PM
Helmet and seatbelt laws only protect an individual from there own stupidity, which is not the purpose of laws. Laws are supposed to protect you from me and me from you. If I choose not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle the only person hurt by that is me, so why do I not have this choice? That is why seatbelt and helmet laws are stupid.
This all assumes we are talking about adults, I could see a point for making childrens use of them mandatory in todays society since resonable sane parents are a dying breed. I still am principly against them, but they dont bother me. Having said that, suddenly they start making all children uner 12 stay in a car seat which IS stupid.
Wow, this has almost nothing to do with the Guncon, ha! I haven't played a light gun game since Lethal Enforcers 2.
Dustin @ Jun 14th 2007 4:25PM
and lastly to ill trooper, instead of just doing a google search try actually reading the results, most of them are about the subject and not actual events and then the ones left are when mostly people using toy guns while committing a crime and then pointing them at the cops, black spray paint can achieve this and has nothing to do with the argument. Find me a story about a kid that "accidently" points a toy gun at a cop and gets shot while he is playing. I'm waiting...
cc123 @ Jun 14th 2007 4:33PM
I painted my real gun orange so I can carry it in public and bust caps in peoples asses without getting caught.
Nobody suspects the orange gun.
Word.
jfls @ Jun 14th 2007 5:00PM
@32:
I don't want to. For me the enjoyment in this type of game is quick, clean, and accurate shots, not wildly shooting with two pistols. For me, Crisis Zone (and other machine gun games) are the biggest yawn fests ever because they're all just "hold down the trigger and vaguely point at stuff." Conversely, Time Crisis 1 and Virtua Cop 4 are great games to me because they reward careful and accurate play.
I could care less if a dual-wield mode were ever implemented, but I do agree it would be easy enough to do should a developer want to.
x876543 @ Jun 14th 2007 5:10PM
Why hasn't anyone painted a real gun orange to make the police think twice before shooting?
I know I'm evil.
paradox @ Jun 14th 2007 5:11PM
@ Dustin
Seatbelts and helmets, saving the world from overpopulation, one libertarian at a time.
I highly doubt that I will care what color the controller is, as long as it works and the game is fun. I doubt that such silly precautions on this one product will send our society spiraling into an Orwellian dystopia.
Justin @ Jun 14th 2007 5:11PM
I dont know why you people are bitching, just import the jap one. Its easy.
ssuk @ Jun 14th 2007 5:53PM
@4: PROTOTYPE. They make it out of cheap plastics to start with, then as it reaches final form they make it into more fetching designs and colours, it probably wont be orange when it comes to the final thing...
ill trooper @ Jun 14th 2007 7:48PM
Oh dustin... Here's the search:
Google: "cop toy gun"
First link under "product search results:"
http://www.topix.net/city/sterling-heights-mi/2006/10/061014TSJT03
Wii360dsPC @ Jun 14th 2007 10:22PM
Yes, that is a 360 in the background. It looks like a white dev box running Ace Combat 6.
Sidepocket @ Jun 15th 2007 8:42AM
Bottom line to stop this argument: The reason why we have dumb laws is because we have crafty lawyers.
I mean, how stupid would you have to be to hold hot coffee between your legs and drive?
Someone did, and sue McDonald's for tons of money that could be used to pay for people. Happens all the time. Therefore, companies push all they can to cover their asses.
End of Line.