Joystiq impressions: High Velocity Bowling (PSN)

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 17th 2007 at 12:59PM }

We can't say we're too excited for High Velocity Bowling, an upcoming downloadable title for the PlayStation Network. While holding the Sixaxis controller like a bowling ball is a novel idea, it doesn't translate the sport very well, unlike Wii Sports. The game's biggest flaw comes in the way it approaches spin: instead of analyzing the actual motion of a player's swing, the shoulder buttons must be pressed while launching the ball. In doing so, the game neither provides the full motion freedom of Wii Sports, nor does it provide arcade-styled precision of traditional button-based bowling games.

While we're glad Sony is trying a wide variety of games for its downloadable service, we can't help but feel that High Velocity Bowling hurts the platform more than anything else: it encourages active comparison to Wii Sports, and doesn't offer a compelling control mechanism. Instead of paying for High Velocity Bowling, might we recommend Home, which includes its own bowling game, instead?

Gallery: High Velocity Bowling

Tags: e307, highvelocitybowling, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JonnyBoy2U @ Jul 17th 2007 1:03PM

Nice article.

And yes it does invite comparisions to WiiSports Bowling.

JodyAnthony @ Jul 17th 2007 1:03PM

those graphics are as bad as a wii game!

Negativecool @ Jul 17th 2007 1:04PM

Yes, but does Wii Sports have BARRY'S LAIR? I think not...I think not.

Konny @ Jul 17th 2007 1:05PM

Who bowls anymore? Across the country you see bowling alleys closing shop.. because its LAME.

WiiSports bowling passes 'cause its NOTHING like the real thing.. in the same way that Mario Strikers is NOTHING like real football.

I HATE BOWLING

JodyAnthony @ Jul 17th 2007 1:06PM

wii sports bowling is actually a pretty good representation of real bowling.

WizarDru @ Jul 17th 2007 2:54PM

"Who bowls anymore?"

Only around 3 million registered USBC members, their families and casual bowlers around the world. There are more than 10,000 bowling alleys spread out across North America and Europe.

And Wii Sports is actually a pretty good representation of real bowling, actually. Far better than what this game appears to be, judging from this write-up.

Vidikron @ Jul 17th 2007 1:07PM

That's dumb. Why wouldn't they use the motion controls for spin? That really ruins the whole thing after playing Wii Sports Bowling. I was hoping this game would offer a similar experience with better visuals.

Negativecool @ Jul 17th 2007 1:26PM

Probably has something to do with the fact that the SIXIAXIS isn't as sophisticated as the wiimote.

Matt B @ Jul 17th 2007 1:09PM

I don't know why you just can't spin your wrist to get the spin. It's the one advantage the sixaxis has over the wiimote is the ability to sense YAW. Someone dropped the ball on this one. No pun intended.

Blizz4l9 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:29PM

Um no, the sixaxis has no motion advantage over the Wiimote, the Wiimote has much more advanced motion tech all around. I'm sure thats probably why they didn't use motion for spin probably to complex for the sixaxis to calculate the swing and tilt at same time or something of the like.

borland502 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:43PM

@Blizz4l9,

If I recall correctly, the only thing the WiiMote does better is acceleration. This isn't surprising, since the Sixaxis doesn't have an accelerometer. Ah, and the Wiimote does have the IR sensors to provide screen positioning.

But in the matter of a gyroscope...I don't think the wiimote does any better. It's just that the other two features of the wiimote make for a better experience in this type of game.

The wiimote isn't "advanced" really, but that's a strength and not a weakness. It uses simple tricks and simple hardware to achieve the goal.

Blizz4l9 @ Jul 17th 2007 2:12PM

I could be wrong but i thought i read that the Wiimote doesn't actually use any gyros. i'll have to look into that.

Travis @ Jul 17th 2007 1:12PM

"instead of analyzing the actual motion of a player's swing, the shoulder buttons must be pressed while launching the ball."

WTF? I am shocked about this. I was imagining holding the SIXAXIS controller upside down with one hand and doing the bowling-motion. If it doesn't work like that, what is the damn point in motion controls?

Joystiq, you should really look into this further. Why would the miss the obvious control mechanic and go for a convoluted one? Is this a problem with the SIXAXIS, a Nintendo patent, or just a lazy developer?

GodisaMyth @ Jul 17th 2007 1:16PM

WTF?

Why bother with something like this SCEA?
And if you do, why do you not use the controllers Sixaxis for spin?

Leave this Crap for Nintendo please.

JonnyBoy2U @ Jul 17th 2007 1:21PM

So its crap because

A) It doesn't look good graphically. Therefore its not better than anything Nintendo can produce.

B) It doesn't have guns or violence in there? Or sex?

Usually sony hypocrite. Just like if LittleBigPlanet ends up being less than perfect you'll all scream "leave that shit to Nintendo." Or if it was on Nintendo you'd be screaming "KIDDIE SYSTEM!" over and over again.

GodisaMyth @ Jul 17th 2007 2:23PM

No, crap because it is crap, or at least looks like it. If they fix the control and allow for spin using the Sixaxis...that might make it worth the $10 purchase.

LBP is true innovation. This game will appeal to the casual gamer and hardcore. I cannot wait for this game and the demo is a few short months away.

vidGuy @ Jul 17th 2007 1:22PM

OMG GIMMICK! and not even done right at that.

super joe @ Jul 23rd 2007 1:29AM

Cant wait for Curmeo to show up with Sony's cock down his throat as usual. If he ever shook my hand I'd deform his fingers so that he would almost be able to play games with the console he hates.

hydralisk456 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:28PM

I can't give you enough pluses for that comment Joe, way to go!

Travis @ Jul 17th 2007 2:18PM

Why doesn't Joystiq ban people who post hate-filled garbage like this?

Curmeo @ Jul 17th 2007 2:27PM

this game sucks, how about that?

megaStryke @ Jul 17th 2007 1:22PM

Funny. The Wii does something a lot better than Konny's "precious" PS3, so his response is to call bowling lame. Those grapes must be mighty sour, eh Konny?

rokerovakero @ Jul 17th 2007 1:30PM

Sony fans... they always win... they always turn the story to their favor "who plays bowling anyway..." who cares who plays bowling? Sony is trying to copy Nintendo's Wii Sports and gets PWNED. If the ps3 controller doesn't work on something as simple as this, then I can't what they come up next! the only one I see making good use of the motion is Kojima and he already said that it could have been done better.

borland502 @ Jul 17th 2007 2:07PM

"Sony fans... they always win... they always turn the story to their favor 'who plays bowling anyway...'"

Yes, but while some people may play that game with more tact then others, we all do it. So I have to issue a "no shiat sherlock" to you fella as well as a probable hypocrite award. Yep, the gamer you responded to acted lame, but it's not because he's a "Sony fan". It's because his ego is wrapped up in the console so much that any hint of failure or criticism is intolerable.

And then there are others that want to see someone else's toy fail so much that they rejoice in any perceived defect...

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 17th 2007 1:39PM

I don't know I think it's a nice control scheme.

bwaahahha j/k this is horrible. Hey btw someone at Sony owes me a lot of money for spotting a couple hundred PS3s.

NintendoFanbot @ Jul 17th 2007 1:45PM

PSN Home has HOT CHICKS!!!

wut duz Wii have? Nothing!!! except Teh kiddies

[/friendly trolling]

mccomber @ Jul 17th 2007 1:49PM

This game looks like crap. I'll stick with the version in Home, whether it has motion controls or not.

dpad @ Jul 17th 2007 1:50PM

A PS3 bowling game with motion controlled actions?

Something about this sounds vaguely familiar, almost as if another console has done this...

But forget the past, this is CELL POWERED!!!

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 17th 2007 1:59PM

Wait a second, does this mean that Next Gen is starting NOW??

Rubang B @ Jul 17th 2007 7:56PM

No not yet. It's getting mighty close though. I can feel the wind changing.

deaftly @ Jul 17th 2007 2:01PM

yeah this doesnt sound like any other bowling game i have heard of before, i cant wait to play this, using motion controls to bowl, who the hell would think of that, brilliant!

Vidikron @ Jul 17th 2007 2:09PM

Damn, most of you are idiots. Yes, I'm disappointed that the game doesn't use motion for spin... but what's with all the dumbass comments about "next gen" and "cell powered"? The game is still just a PSN downloadable game. It's the equivalent of a XBLA game. It's not intended to be a technical showcase.