Old Discussion Thread for all 3 motion controllers

[(((interference)))]

Well, Fable 3 already looks better than Fable 2, even if its not by much, though i don't know if they already have natal support in...

I wonder if Ms can reengineer their OS so they can have all the usual features + Natal support lying inside those 32Mb that already are reserved?

Does it? Maybe they're only have Natal features at certain times like the storeroom/wardrobe environments which are less resource intensive - can they load the Natal libraries in and out of RAM as required? Or will Natal support always use resources - even if its not being used?

With Forza 4, if they're using it for head tracking which is always on in gameplay, then it should definitely impact on the graphics if it uses 10% or more of system resources.
How will they compete with GT5's visuals with that kind of overhead?

And will this possible reduction in visual quality affect players who will never use Natal? Or will enabling Natal see a drop in graphics/performance

 

[Rolf N]

They really need focus, rather than their current 'lets put everything we can think of out to market and see what sticks' modus operandi, just look at their product lineup:
http://gizmodo.com/5481454/infographic-sonys-overwhelming-gadget-line+up

That's just taking the piss. Whoever made this tried very hard to prove something. When you include different color versions of the same design, why would you shuffle them around like that? Why not put them next to each other? Oh I get it, they'd line up visually and wouldn't look as messy. If you want this overview to look messy, that just won't do.

 

[Graham]

...

I'll repeat myself again: We don't know how much memory Natal requires. We only know a rumor about the total software package size.

Speculation about company strategy is fine, because realistically no one knows anything solid. If they did, they wouldn't be saying anything. However please stop talking about rumored performance and requirements as if they are established facts. And especially don't make it a Vs debate.

 

[LightHeaven]

Does it? Maybe they're only have Natal features at certain times like the storeroom/wardrobe environments which are less resource intensive - can they load the Natal libraries in and out of RAM as required? Or will Natal support always use resources - even if its not being used?

With Forza 4, if they're using it for head tracking which is always on in gameplay, then it should definitely impact on the graphics if it uses 10% or more of system resources.
How will they compete with GT5's visuals with that kind of overhead?

And will this possible reduction in visual quality affect players who will never use Natal? Or will enabling Natal see a drop in graphics/performance

The videos so far look a bit better, specially the lighting, and seems to stutter less than fable 2 did.

For the other questions, i guess we'll just have to wait and see XD

 

[patsu]

BTW, Milo demo really doesn't need the camera depth much if at all. Most of the demo is unrelated to that.

That's correct, but it doesn't matter. Natal is not about depth sensing only. It's about the benefits natural interfaces will bring.

In similar vein, PS Move (+ PS Eye) is not solely about 1-1 true mapping and absolute positioning.

EDIT: On top of this platform, it depends on how the vendors package the technology into the core/basic experience. If Sony limits/isolates the experience into selected titles, then it'd feel like a timid me-too, or a one-off science experiment, like how they restricted the AI photographer feature into just 2 camera models. If they can integrate the experience throughout PS3's daily experiences, then it would be seen as a "level up".

 

[joker454]

So essentially EyeToy. Alright.

No not eyetoy...Move, the wand. It's been around a while.

You really need to start giving examples, here.

You're asking for details on stuff that I can't openly talk about. I'm not under nda for most of it, but I am under professional courtesy to keep quiet on details. So take what I say as "my opinion", or just ignore it all if you prefer.

Why are you so positive that Microsoft will be able to deliver a killer app?

I'm not, they can bollux it all up just like the other guy. The key difference to me is that they are taking a far smarter approach to the whole thing. Sony to me is going about it wrong on all fronts, from the 3rd party approach, to marketing, to pricing (not much choice there though), to target audience, to content, etc. Add in that Move has been around for ages and hence the "wtf" frustration at the whole thing. I've already written Move off as being a game changer, it's just another accessory to me now and hence not all that interesting. Now I'm watching Natal waiting to see what will happen. So far I like their approach to 3rd parties, content (so far) and target audience. Marketing and pricing remain to be seen, as does whether or not new audiences will go for the content.

 

[tha_con]

I'm not, they can bollux it all up just like the other guy. The key difference to me is that they are taking a far smarter approach to the whole thing. Sony to me is going about it wrong on all fronts, from the 3rd party approach, to marketing, to pricing (not much choice there though), to target audience, to content, etc. Add in that Move has been around for ages and hence the "wtf" frustration at the whole thing. I've already written Move off as being a game changer, it's just another accessory to me now and hence not all that interesting. Now I'm watching Natal waiting to see what will happen. So far I like their approach to 3rd parties, content (so far) and target audience. Marketing and pricing remain to be seen, as does whether or not new audiences will go for the content.

Please then, be so kind to show us the strategy Microsoft is using to get 3rd parties involved. I'd love to see all of this content I've been missing.

I mean, they showed Natal on the Today Show, obviously they're not going after that Wii Crowd either, their approach is wonderful. Big Red Ball and Paint-A-Thon are going to be huge hits.

 

[obonicus]

For what it's worth, I'm not saying that the E3 software is what MS will show. Rather, my remark is focused more on how we seem unable to come up with compelling new experiences for these devices even as thought exercises.

 

[Crossbar]

Right now, the situation is:

- Wii has its basic motion controller (includes a microphone, speaker and vibration) and the low priced Motion+ add-on, no camera input (yet at least)
- PS3 has its basic controller (sixaxis motion controls included), the Move controller, and PS Eye input (which has a microphone array)
- 360 has its basic controller (no motion controls) and the Natal camera (which has a microphone array)

If you were to make a graph for this in terms of how multi-platform can take advantage of its features, you'll see that there's a big overlap between the Wii and the PS3, and between the 360 and the PS3, but there's a big gap between the 360 and the Wii. It's going to be very interesting to see how this is going to affect development.

Interesting compilation of the three contenders. Another way to view it is that Sony took the Wii-controler and added depth sense and Microsoft took the EyeToy and added depth sense. I found it quite interesting to listen to Dr Marks at the Engadget show how he reaoned why they didn´t continue on the path of controler free gaming and added depth sensing. Basically it had some limits in the user interaction they wanted to overcome and is an expensive technology.

I think controler free gaming has a niche among casual gamers just like the Playstation Eye and EyeToy games and can be very successful. My kids enjoy the EyePet game and with depth sensing it can probably be improved and made even more enjoyable. It will be really interesting to see if it makes a lot of difference if you hold a controler in your hand or not when EyePet2 is released this fall.

 

[obonicus]

The Wiimote has a microphone? Or you mean Wii Speak?

 

[Arwin]

The Wiimote has a microphone? Or you mean Wii Speak?

It doesn't, does it? My mistake.

 

[eloic]

It doesn't, does it? My mistake.

No, it doesn't. It has a speaker, not a microphone.

Any known uses of this speaker in games?

 

[Arwin]

No, it doesn't. It has a speaker, not a microphone.

Any known uses of this speaker in games?

Oh yes, certainly - even as a non-Wii owner, I know that its used for sounds like hitting a ball in Wii Tennis or shooting an arrow / clanging swords in Zelda, etc. There's also one where its used to simulate a phone call on the Wii, where the phone voice comes through the controller's speaker.

 

[eloic]

Oh yes, certainly - even as a non-Wii owner, I know that its used for sounds like hitting a ball in Wii Tennis or shooting an arrow / clanging swords in Zelda, etc. There's also one where its used to simulate a phone call on the Wii, where the phone voice comes through the controller's speaker.

I don't know why but that sounds quite uncanny, to me...
Does the PSMove Remote... erm, Move controller have a speaker? Or a microphone?

 

[Rolf N]

No, it doesn't. It has a speaker, not a microphone.

Any known uses of this speaker in games?

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories uses it for phone calls. You hold the thing up to your ear.

It's a really cheap speaker though, terrible quality, so if the game doesn't make me use it, I have the grater turned off as a general rule. I don't know what they did. Maybe Nintendo could save half a penny by using a 6 bit PWM DAC or whatever they put in there, instead of something normal.

 

[AzBat]

I don't know why but that sounds quite uncanny, to me...
Does the PSMove Remote... erm, Move controller have a speaker? Or a microphone?

Neither. Only microphone is in the PSEye.

BTW, in Star Wars Wii game the Wiimote speaker has lightsaber sounds. Kinda neat if you ask me.

Tommy McClain

 

[patsu]

There you go... the light ball can show you the color of your light saber. They should be able to show 3D sound effects from your 5.1 speaker setup at the same time.

 

[Jerome]

There you go... the light ball can show you the color of your light saber.QUOTE]

That's possibly the first really interesting use of the BGB (Big Glowing Ball) on the Move controller (aside from, you know, making it work) that I've heard of. That could actually be kinda cool.

 

[tha_con]

I think it'd be sweet to use the controller for an action RPG, and have it change color according to your spell.

Though, it only does two colors right?

 

[Alucardx23]

I think it'd be sweet to use the controller for an action RPG, and have it change color according to your spell.

Though, it only does two colors right?

The move controller has a red, green and blue led, so basically it can do any color. But the way it works is that Move will choose the color with the highest contrast to the background.