Miyamoto flattered, not worried by Sony, Microsoft motion controllers

by Jason Dobson { Jun 8th 2009 at 8:00AM }

If there was one driving theme behind this year's E3, it was that motion controls are too cool for school. However, even with both Microsoft and Sony jumping onto the bandwagon with their own gesture-based antics, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto tells the BBC that he's "not worried at all" about being left behind.

In fact, the brain trust says that Nintendo's "very flattered" by the competition. Still, Miyamoto barbed his comments, stating that, based on what he's seen so far, neither competitor's motion controllers "have the type of depth that we're able to provide with Wii Motion Plus." Sony. Microsoft. You hear that hitting the floor? That's the gauntlet.

[Via 1UP]

Tags: bbc, e3-2009, miyamoto, motion-control, motion-controls, motion-sensing, motionsensing, nintendo, shigeru-miyamoto, shigerumiyamoto

Related From Joystiq

New Sony controller patent is rich with opportunities
16 days ago
Pachter: Project Natal will cost $50, 'Sphere' will be over $100
22 days ago
Blaze unveils Wii-like motion controller for PS3
24 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Victor @ Jun 8th 2009 8:10AM

Miyamoto could teach me some fashion lessons.

sp23hagbard5 @ Jun 8th 2009 8:22AM

that's sad :(

Victor @ Jun 8th 2009 9:28AM

yet as promising as a new Zelda title.

PR0F3TA @ Jun 8th 2009 10:02AM

I wear a short sleeve under my long sleeve under my short sleeve

Cody @ Jun 8th 2009 10:19AM

"However, even with both Microsoft and Sony jumping onto the bandwagon with their own gesture-based antics,"

There is no more true way to state it either.

Fuckin copycats.

Duke @ Jun 8th 2009 10:23AM

Strangely I don't recall the MS people having to stand around with a remote waving it around. Doesn't seem like much of a copy job to me.

goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Jun 8th 2009 10:25AM

@Cody, Kind of like Nintendo finally jumping on the Online bandwagon?

Cody @ Jun 8th 2009 10:49AM

@ goboColossus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellaview

Nice try, but no.

goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Jun 8th 2009 10:57AM

Oh yeah, forgot how the Satellaview let you play games online with other people. That must be why all the gamers were crying for Nintendo to release a Satellaview like add-on for the GameCube instead of actually using their perfectly capable Broadband adapter.

Nice fail.

Cody @ Jun 8th 2009 11:03AM

@ gobo,

Point is, the R&D (and product releases) has been there.

Where were the product releases or even R&D for motion gaming with Sony/Microsoft prior to, oh say 2005?

You sir, are FAIL.

goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Jun 8th 2009 11:12AM

Who gives a flying fuck... Competition is good. Point is, if Xbox LIVE and PlayStation 2's online services hadn't been so successful, Nintendo wouldn't have bothered incorporating them into Wii and DS. They wouldn't have made a point in that feature being among the first Wii/DS related announcements.

Nintendo was first to bring Motion Controlled Gaming to the mainstream as a tangible concept that actually works, and for the most part, works well. Even they are admitting it could be better and releasing Motion Plus. So who's to say Microsoft and SCE won't bring new improvements to the idea of motion based gaming. A fanboy like you should be happy that your company is directly influencing their competitors. I'm sure, four or five years from now, when Nintendo incorporates Microsoft/Sony's advancements in this field, you'll be singing an entirely different tune.

Vidikron @ Jun 8th 2009 11:24AM

"Where were the product releases or even R&D for motion gaming with Sony/Microsoft prior to, oh say 2005? "

You may want to look up the Sidewinder Freestyle Pro released by Microsoft if 1998. It was a gamepad with motion controls released for the PC. Motion controls have been around for a long time. They just never really took off before the Wii because they were limited to PC peripherals or oddball specialty controllers on consoles (think fishing). I've give credit where credit is due... Nintendo has a knack for timing and marketing, but you really need to pull your head out of their ass once in a while. They aren't the be all end all of gaming.

Vidikron @ Jun 8th 2009 11:25AM

*I'll give credit

Kiz @ Jun 8th 2009 11:59AM

Cody: "Fuckin copycats."

Dude, I know. Nintendo ripping off XBox Live Arcade with the VC. Lame!

trunks @ Jun 8th 2009 12:04PM

@PR0F3TA : I love that scene from Family Guy hehe

Cody @ Jun 8th 2009 12:21PM

@Kiz

You got a good point. lol

And the other Cody gives me a bad name.

Vidikron @ Jun 8th 2009 1:53PM

@Cody (the second one)

Yeah, you may want to change your name in some way. The other Cody is incredibly annoying and I doubt you want to be mistaken for him.

Nmaster @ Jun 8th 2009 4:05PM

I want that damn shirt!

1cc @ Jun 8th 2009 8:10AM

Duel Mr.Miyamoto?

No, that was DUELTASTIC!..

Night Elve @ Jun 8th 2009 8:16AM

Me neither Miyamoto.

Even that I'm all about SONY I doubt I will ever buy those new motion controllers.

Anyway good morning! (GMT-06 Here).

Heimbachae @ Jun 8th 2009 9:05AM

i'd like to see what sony and microsoft say when the next nintendo console comes out in HD. i'd imagine it's along the lines of they are "very flattered"

Nineteen88 @ Jun 8th 2009 9:34AM

@Heimbachae, Nice one ..

guttertalk @ Jun 8th 2009 10:05AM

And then Nintendo says, "Nice gamepad controller," of course, right after they remark on the game console itself.

Antagonist @ Jun 8th 2009 10:37AM

@guttertalk

Then the Magnavox Oddysey says it's flattered by all the consoles that came out after it, and then it sobs uncontrollably while playing Pong and Hockey.

Boop...Boop...boohoo...bidoop!

guttertalk @ Jun 8th 2009 11:47AM

@Antogonist:

But we were on a break . . . the game crash of 1983/84.

Few game console ideas are all that original. Nothing is created in a vacuum. The fact is that Microsoft has had to make several adjustments to contend with Nintendo's successful but less powerful console. Natal is one of them. It's clearly not derivative of the Wii's motion controls, but it's just as clearly a response to them.

Anticrawl @ Jun 8th 2009 1:46PM

@Antagonist

Then Ralph Baer glaces over with humble eyes at the industry he singlehandedly created by inventing video games and shrugs his shoulders and goes back to making toys for children in his basement (in a very non creepy way).

Maverick Saturn @ Jun 8th 2009 8:19AM

Someone should do a three way comparison :D

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 8th 2009 9:09AM

I love three ways.

Mouthsmasher @ Jun 8th 2009 10:21AM

I agree.

Russ W. @ Jun 8th 2009 11:10AM

Wait a minute, isn't Xbox some sort of PC game?

Maverick Saturn @ Jun 8th 2009 11:21AM

No, it's a cross-box, so it should in theory be able to handle the power of a video of a threesome

BananaBoat @ Jun 8th 2009 12:13PM

Don't you pronounce the "X" in "Xbox" as "Axe" as in "Axemas"?

Have I been playing my Axebox 360 all wrong for these past few years?

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jun 8th 2009 1:00PM

I love "crossing-boxes"

Hedgeson @ Jun 8th 2009 7:13PM

Hehehehehe.
Cross-box Three Sixty.

Kekekekekekeke.

Kenofthedead @ Jun 8th 2009 8:20AM

I can't say I blame him.

Wii has the installed base, years of games to use with the Remote, knowledge on making such games, and is focused on just making games for Wii.
Sony has a lot of things they try and then give up on, and are currently stuck in the mode where they aren't the system focusing on games that would use such controls well.
Project Natal is amazing to be sure, but all the legitimate complaints about Wii's motion controls are just going to be doubled with Natal having nothing to hold on to or companies forcing plastic shells onto customers.
Plus as much as Microsoft showed this off at a gaming expo, Natal's real focus (just like Surface) will be PC first and foremost. Which is where I'm looking at with the most interest. Can't wait for my web cam to recognize me instantly, log on with all my settings, and have simple commands for basic things like pausing in media players or scrolling through pictures (anything more then that and it's a waste though).

Saying all that though, I'm glad Sony and Microsoft are doing this. Some good competition might make Nintendo actually do better then they would normally on their next console and helping other companies to make better use of the Remote.
Plus they are bound to make some good games of their own to enjoy, or get others like Namco Bandai or SEGA to do it.

Hell, maybe we can finaly get Star Wars Arcade Trilogy onto Xbox Live or PSN. I want that game so badly.

mirakutea @ Jun 8th 2009 8:35AM

If the microsoft thing works out, it has the wii beat.

guttertalk @ Jun 8th 2009 9:54AM

@mira:

That's a big "if" especially considering this is the company of RROD. :)

Natal looks neat but when you get to actual gameplay, there are still questions. But I think the biggest question will surround its ability to succeed as a $150-200 accessory. The Wii provides you the motion controls with the console. For the 360, you'll have to buy the 360 and this for a total of $350-400 at least, $450-500 if it requires a hard drive. That is not going to get the 360 competitive with the Wii for the casual market. It better have one heck of a bundled game(s).

Still, even the successful Wii Fit, only a handful of games support the Balance Board.

I'm all for competition, so I'd like to see Natal released. I just think Natal has some significant hurdles that a controlled tech demo doesn't address.

FNG @ Jun 8th 2009 11:04AM

I don't understand the blanket assumption by you and others that states natal can't and won't be used in conjunction with a controller. I imagine natal with dual nun chuck like devices would be quite enjoyable. full wireless of course. unlike the wii.

Mr Khan @ Jun 8th 2009 11:15AM

I do agree that Natal seems to be more of an effort to replace the vaporware that was Surface than anything else. The non-gaming applications seem to be much more viable than the gaming ones in that case

bongoes @ Jun 8th 2009 3:09PM

I agree, I'm not interested in Natal for gaming I'm more interested in the applications it has on a computer for interface and other things.

Phil Fauble @ Jun 8th 2009 5:46PM

@FNG

How cool would it be to do that...

When I was talking to my brother about Natal.. all I could say was "I think this would be absolutely horrible as a standalone controller.. but say as a device that works with another controller.. such as the wiimote/nunchuk (you know all three of them at once) or even a standard Xbox 360 controller.. to just add some depth it would be amazing"

Woot..... Oh and if you want full wireless with Wii there are some extra things you can buy... I think after I get done buying WiiMotion Plus I'm done buying accessories for a while... To fcking many!

XStray @ Jun 8th 2009 8:22AM

thats big talk but we will see what happens when both sony and microsoft release their motion controler. i guess that wont be for a year from now. so good news mr. Miyamoto

verymetal @ Jun 8th 2009 8:21AM

Yeah,

Sony stated that were not into gimmicks when the Wii was first introduced. If you cant beat them, then join them, right?

Tony @ Jun 8th 2009 5:26PM

I know the Wii is first, but the idea that these two other options with greater abilities than the Wii Motion Plus won't provide such a "deep experience" is kind of illogical. They both clearly can handle that.

I have no idea if Natal will really turn out, but as a concept I really could bet Nintendo wished they came up with that first for Wii 2 or something.

Dummy00001 @ Jun 8th 2009 10:55AM

Do not forget that we compare technology which is already in hands of developers (Wii Motion Plus) vs. prototypes of unfinished products.

Natal looks interesting, yet that would be another -huge- step away from core console experience. That would be a different gaming. And it would be very long time before we would be able to really enjoy it. You know, people had problems accepting WiiMote because suddenly you can't game in basement anymore: you need a spacy room for it. Anyway I look at it, atm it is best suited for arcades.

Sony's Wand looks more pragmatical and logical as developers already quite verse (thanks to Nintendo) in the technology.

Nevertheless, I'm all for it.

I just hope that we will not end up with "Waggle Mk II, now in HD."

ac @ Jun 8th 2009 8:28AM

maverick, how can they do a 3 way comparison, when MS and sony aren't even ready to launch any time soon? all they have are tech demos and no games. its a bit premature to say the least. maybe in a year or 2 we can do the comparison. we don't even know right now if any 3rd party devs are even going to support these new controllers? as we all know, motion controllers are the darling of the 'casuals' say the 'hardcore'. motion controlling with 'hardcore' players and devs......that is still a work in progress trying to convert people. i still think people on here in general still prefer either the keyboard and mouse set up or the classic controller. these controllers may die from the lack of support.

Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Jun 8th 2009 1:48PM

"how can they do a 3 way comparison, when MS and sony aren't even ready to launch any time soon? all they have are tech demos and no games. its a bit premature to say the least"

wii sports, wii music, wii play and wii fit are all essentially nothing more than tech demos.