MS: PS3 wand is fun like Wii, but ours is much better

[Zeus]

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has remarked that the PS3 wand will share the same 'fun' as the Wii remote. However, he notes Microsoft's Project Natal is far better than the both of them.

<blockquote>But Natal is “leapfrogging” both. Xbox 360 bigwig Aaron Greenberg thinks Sony’s motion-sensing wand for PS3 will share the same “fun” space as Wii, but believes Microsoft’s Project Natal is “leapfrogging” them both. “To me it looked similar to the Wii experience. You hold a remote or a wand: it looked very derivative of that - similar to other products on the market today,” </blockquote>

News Source: <A href="http://news.zergwatch.com/2009/06/04/news-e3-greenberg-ps3-wand-is-fun-like-wii/" target="_blank">Zergwatch</a>

[ThreeDog]

Lets let gamers determine that shall we?

[LordX]

Project Natal is far better than the both of them.
Hell Yea! :D

[RiPPn]

If the reported latency problems aren't fixed by the final release then Microsoft's tech will be worthless. Sony's tech was way early but extremely accurate and if they can meet their spring deadline, it could really help get them back in the race. It will also be interesting to see how good the Wii Motion Plus makes the Wii's accuracy since the standard Wii-motes are very sub par. Got to give it to Nintendo though, they have changed the face of gaming! (again!) And I welcome motion sensing tech to all consoles because I really enjoy it on the Wii!

[QrafTee]

Hell Yea! :D

I hope they get the lag problem fixed since it'll have to have a fast response if they're planning to use it for games. Anyway, I don't have a living room setup in my house; I have a whole setup in my bedroom and II have no room to stand so my avatar would be sitting down all the time and I wouldn't be able to utilize it for anything that requires my lower body to react.

[Sigwood]

As biased as it is, he has a point since the PS3 tech is based on tracking the motion of something you hold, like the Wii remote, and Project Natal is based on tracking the motion of the actual person. The PS3 tech, however advanced, does seem to still just be a step up from the Wii motion controls, and ultimately can only track the objects you are holding. To me, this would limit the kind of interactions you can have with the on screen universe.

That being said, Project Natal still needs some work I think whereas the PS3 tech seems to be further along.

It's hard to tell what's really going to happen with each, however, I am not a big fan of the Wii motion so I hope future versions, either on PS3 or 360, can produce a much better experience. With what is available right now, a gamepad still seems like the best way to play a game.

IMHO

:)

[pwntendo]

Does anyone honestly believe either of these motion controllers will ever be used for anything other than mini-games and tech demos?

[msanchez]

Well having motion controls is all good and dandy, but I just hope these things don't become the main focus of either console. These things are just not appropriate for a lot of gaming genres.... mostly the genres I like to play, but hey for the odd party/mini-game it should be as fun as a wii at the very least.

In the end all 3 are still gimmicks as far as I'm concerned; sure there's some cool tech, but it's not something that can hold my attention for too long.

Also while the sony displayed the wand thingy, let's try to remember that by itself the ps3eye has some limited motion sensing capabilities as well (2D as far as I can tell), and it works ok for something that hasn't been explored much. The one downside to sony's approach is that you will need 2 accessories to accomplish motion controls, while you'll only need 1 from ms...... but given ms' pricing schemes for their accessories I'm wondering it the natal camera will be as expensive as a Wii.

[Salmon-Face]

Does anyone honestly believe either of these motion controllers will ever be used for anything other than mini-games and tech demos?

Doesn't that kind of sum up the Wii?

[QrafTee]

Doesn't that kind of sum up the Wii?

I believe that was his point.

[Salmon-Face]

I believe that was his point.

No, his point was that the PS3 and XBox motion controllers wont get further than minigames and techdemos. But I countered that by saying that if motion controllers weren't successful then the Wii wouldn't be where it is today.

I hope it's clear now.

[stanleyopar2000]

Don't you realize Sony and M$?

IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY.

its amazing that the other "band-wagoning" companies are NOW making motion sensing technology because Nintendo has been successful....

no matter how many times this technology is imitated or mocked..

NINTENDO GOT IT FIRST AND GOT IT RIGHT! ALL THE COPIERS ARE FAGS...

(oh and of COURSE they are going to say "its muuuccchh better...because THEY are making it.." let gamers and the consumers decide M$ before you make ASSumptions again

[msanchez]

Don't you realize Sony and M$?

IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY.

its amazing that the other "band-wagoning" companies are NOW making motion sensing technology because Nintendo has been successful....

no matter how many times this technology is imitated or mocked..

NINTENDO GOT IT FIRST AND GOT IT RIGHT! ALL THE COPIERS ARE FAGS...

(oh and of COURSE they are going to say "its muuuccchh better...because THEY are making it.." let gamers and the consumers decide M$ before you make ASSumptions again

Who made it first doesn't really matter, nobody will care. If sony's and ms' offerings are better, then you can bet sales will start to tell us that. Sony's approach seems very similar, but ms' is different... though that doesn't mean it's necessarily going to be better.

[dsav]

might be more accurate than wii, but not much different.


natal seems different and more interesting.

i mean natal has voice and facial recognition, among other things.

that alone imo is part of the future.

BUT we'll see what happens.


i'd like to play a fps with natal, i think it would be cool, if done right.

just might be the next big thing, gaming with no controller along with the other additions.

[alkalinetrio]

I have to say i'm seeing more potential with the PS3's system, and i know many here will disagree, but seriously, Natal at the end of the day really is just an advanced eye toy. I can see Natal being cool for a while, but not in the long term. I can imagine seeing some cool mini games or quick activity based games, but playing true next gen games, I don't think it will cut it. The ps3 Wand buttons will allow for much more integration, for example, pulling triggers, switching weapons, and just basic things in general. Natal just feels too... empty. Really, i predict very soon after Natal is released, an extra accesory will be released for it, as in a single handed controller type device, for shooting games, etc

[QrafTee]

No, his point was that the PS3 and XBox motion controllers wont get further than minigames and techdemos. But I countered that by saying that if motion controllers weren't successful then the Wii wouldn't be where it is today.

I hope it's clear now.

The controls being utilize primarily in mini-games and tech demos has no direct correlation on whether it will be successful or not. For instance, it could be successful because people love mini-games so even if the motion controls will not go further than mini-games it will still be a profitable and strategic venture.

[0kensai0]

They can make a peripheral for mind reading for all anyone cares.

The real verdict usually comes through how the game developers implement it and what games actually use it.

In that sense it would seem Sony's controller is easier to implement in the short to medium term. Natal is more of a "future-of-gaming" kinda approach.

[harryisme]

I gotta say I was impressed with both the tech demo's, the 360 more so than the PS3, for one, the PS3 demo looked like it was put together at the last moment to try to take the limelight away from M$'s Project Natal, it looks very much in the early stages.

The second reason is, you need two seperate tech's to use it, you need an eye toy and a motion controller, and more most of the demo's you actually needed two controllers, thats allot of stuff to buy to play without a joystick. And knowing Sony's current charge trend it will cost £100 for the whole unit.

I mean seriously £230 for the privilage to play without a UMD drive is just plain stupid, I don't like the UMD but not enough to fork out an extra £100 to play without it.

[IBNobody]

I have to say i'm seeing more potential with the PS3's system, and i know many here will disagree, but seriously, Natal at the end of the day really is just an advanced eye toy. I can see Natal being cool for a while, but not in the long term. I can imagine seeing some cool mini games or quick activity based games, but playing true next gen games, I don't think it will cut it. The ps3 Wand buttons will allow for much more integration, for example, pulling triggers, switching weapons, and just basic things in general. Natal just feels too... empty. Really, i predict very soon after Natal is released, an extra accesory will be released for it, as in a single handed controller type device, for shooting games, etc

You are right.

Don't worry, though. Unless Sony or Microsoft (a) pack the thing in with every new system sold or (b) pack in a weight-loss-gimmic, you're just going to have another garbage peripheral with low adoption rates.

[msanchez]

I gotta say I was impressed with both the tech demo's, the 360 more so than the PS3, for one, the PS3 demo looked like it was put together at the last moment to try to take the limelight away from M$'s Project Natal, it looks very much in the early stages.

The second reason is, you need two seperate tech's to use it, you need an eye toy and a motion controller, and more most of the demo's you actually needed two controllers, thats allot of stuff to buy to play without a joystick. And knowing Sony's current charge trend it will cost £100 for the whole unit.

I mean seriously £230 for the privilage to play without a UMD drive is just plain stupid, I don't like the UMD but not enough to fork out an extra £100 to play without it.

Your mistaken there, sony has taken it upon themselves to charge crazy amounts for their systems, more so in the EU, but ms are by far the kings of overpriced accessories.... need I point you to retail price for HDDs, wifi adapter? if we take the ps3eye as the model, then I doubt this will be all that expensive. Really there's 1 thing that's overpriced when it comes to accessories.... that psp chatpad, the DS3s, and the official BT headset, are fair, then the rest are pretty well priced.

[kcvfr400]

I gotta say I was impressed with both the tech demo's, the 360 more so than the PS3, for one, the PS3 demo looked like it was put together at the last moment to try to take the limelight away from M$'s Project Natal, it looks very much in the early stages.

The second reason is, you need two seperate tech's to use it, you need an eye toy and a motion controller, and more most of the demo's you actually needed two controllers, thats allot of stuff to buy to play without a joystick. And knowing Sony's current charge trend it will cost £100 for the whole unit.

I mean seriously £230 for the privilage to play without a UMD drive is just plain stupid, I don't like the UMD but not enough to fork out an extra £100 to play without it.

Given that the playstation eye is available for as little as £20 and even if they went for wiimote prices of controllers thats £30 a control so if they packaged it I think more likely Playstation eye, motion controller and game for between £50 and £70 myself. The ps3 demo make have looked less swish but it also looked real and less gimmicky. I thought the Natal looked more like an evolution of the dance mat into full body myself than a good motion control for lots of games. And given the fact the ps3 option is planned for earlier release next year and the Natal is very unknown I wonder how much of the Natal demo was glossed up or how few developers are on board for games. Not that I think the ps3 option is going to be inundated with titles.

[Boulos]

Don't you realize Sony and M$?

IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY.

its amazing that the other "band-wagoning" companies are NOW making motion sensing technology because Nintendo has been successful....

no matter how many times this technology is imitated or mocked..

NINTENDO GOT IT FIRST AND GOT IT RIGHT! ALL THE COPIERS ARE FAGS...

(oh and of COURSE they are going to say "its muuuccchh better...because THEY are making it.." let gamers and the consumers decide M$ before you make ASSumptions again


Rofl, the wii is a peice of ****. Thats final.

[sirxlaughs]

Does anyone know if the Wand is much more different than the Gametrak Freedom?

[danight]

Well the ps3 wand... besides looking like something you would give as a wedding gag gift, reminds me of wii motion plus.
Also looks way to early... like sony said "crap now microsoft is making something we better do it to". Now to sonys credit a hd wii game would be nice as wii games look like crap a lot of times. Tiger woods or boxing could make use of this.
Without a solid title already in the works its gonna be hard to make a game in less than 2 years using this tech. Its not like ps3 has a zelda franchise that makes use of the bow and slash stuff and is a big name.

Wii motion plus is here..... and The big N has franchises titles that will sale.

Microsoft really showed potential. Now if that was accurate and could play a fighting game or tiger woods or maybe even tennis... it would trump wii fast.
But unless microsoft already has games in the work then its gonna be a while if they are making the tech first then making games for the tech.

The biggest issue here has to be price. Wii motion plus pissed me off because its like something i should have had from the start and now i gotta buy it just to fully enjoy it.

Ps3 isnt short of pricey controllers either... im sure its not gonna have people jumping up and down for. Without a killer game title to push the tech it might be hard to move.

Microsoft is in the same boat... games sale the addon. Only nitendo is capable of pushing games to push wii motion plus atm.
But microsoft with the natal and with the zoom screen stuff. Kinda makes you feel like a game of lawnmower man should be coming soon.

[put4558350]

I think that. It's impossible to attract 3rd party to using this peripheral device. except they get money form 1st party for make it.

Reason i IF your game "NEED" the device. the install base that can play your game (have peripheral device) will reduce. And that kill profit.

So far less than 10 game on xbox360 and ps3 "need" camera. eg. ps-eye, xbox-cam

But game that using peripheral device as "optional" is more - like in game webcam chat.

I think that xbox-cam2(natal), ps3-eye-and-ward or Wii pulse oximeter sensor "can't be optional in controlling". Code need big change. And it's more like big Loss in profit.

While motion-plus only add accuracy. it's can be optional in controlling. Or using Wiifit as alternative nunchuk can be optional. And not hard to update code.

[kingkneal09]

hey guys...what about the extremely fat gamers that don't leave their couch??? yet alone leave the ground??? microsoft, there are fat 360 users out there also .that skateboard game might have to come with a weight limit instead of an age limit. also project natal will be very tiring...have you ever had to suspend your hands in midair with no support for extended periods of time??? lactic acid is a b!tch

[ChaosKiller]

The biggest problem I've noticed with natal is that it lags and with the avatar demo that it doesn't recognise it properly. Also I'm concerned about how well it preforms with low light. I think both the ps3 wand and natal will be cheaper than the wiimotes (wiimote(39.99)+nun-chuck(19.99)+motion plus(19.99)=79.97!!!)

[unreal maniac]

thats just ms's opinion they cant prove anything till it comes out

[Cue]

Does anyone know if the Wand is much more different than the Gametrak Freedom?

The technology is different but it still provides the same 1:1 tracking. There are many ways to skin the cat.

@ everybody else

Can't believe people are so excited about face recognition, even more silly, voice recognition. Do any of you own a DS? The DS has had voice recognition for quite a few games Brain Age is one of them are you excited about the DS? hell SOCOM has voice commands are you excited now? I can't believe people are excited about NATALs trivial things and totally ignore the only extra thing it adds to the table DEPTH PERCEPTION how many times do I need to tell you this.

For the people comparing this to Wii motion+ and the wands, wondering whether you can use this for things like tennis and golf; highly unlikely it won't work well for that it will have to determine your wrist movement which in theory it can do close to the camera but to track a full body swing I doubt it can determine your wrist movement well. The further back you are from the camera the lower the resolution so when you go further back so that your full swing can be tracked your wrist cannot be (least not very well). you cannot escape the inverse square law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law

I can only assume that they (MS) will also sell a wand/wiimote clone with natal but for now stop comparing them if you do not know the advantages/disadvantages.

[Cue]

The biggest problem I've noticed with natal is that it lags and with the avatar demo that it doesn't recognise it properly. Also I'm concerned about how well it preforms with low light. I think both the ps3 wand and natal will be cheaper than the wiimotes (wiimote(39.99)+nun-chuck(19.99)+motion plus(19.99)=79.97!!!)

The lag is likely to be it determining (processing) your "figure" but to me it seemed to do this relatively fast (it apparently has an onboard processor for that). You need to be concerned about the two extremes, both low and bright light, because in low light the colour camera will have a hard time ( which MS called an "RGB sensor", AKA "we're not selling you a camera twice and it's not an Eyetoy" :rolleyes:) . on the other hand very bright light can drown out the signal (reflected light) for the TOF sensor used for depth perception.

[Cue]

hey guys...what about the extremely fat gamers that don't leave their couch??? yet alone leave the ground??? microsoft, there are fat 360 users out there also .that skateboard game might have to come with a weight limit instead of an age limit. also project natal will be very tiring...have you ever had to suspend your hands in midair with no support for extended periods of time??? lactic acid is a b!tch

simple, they will use a controller but your last comment was on my mind too even without any weight try holding your arms out for half an hour. Now imagine doing that for say a game like GT with its 24hr races. that is if forza 3 has Le Mans.

[EliteStance]

might be more accurate than wii, but not much different.


natal seems different and more interesting.

i mean natal has voice and facial recognition, among other things.

that alone imo is part of the future.

BUT we'll see what happens.


i'd like to play a fps with natal, i think it would be cool, if done right.

just might be the next big thing, gaming with no controller along with the other additions.

How do you think FPS would work with this, because I just don't see it myself - i.e. you, no controllers, just thin air and Natal camera. How do you play an FPS like CoD4 with that control scheme? And I mean a full on, 3 to 4 hour gaming session, not ten minutes hoping around then collapsing back onto the couch.

I'm very interested in Natal, etc. but it is very unlikely on the evidence it could ever be more than an optional augmentation for genres like FPS, driving, etc.

[dsav]

^i'm sure it can be done with motions, you really think it's not possible ? lol.

it might not be easy to play the game for periods of time this way, but again it all depends on how ms chooses to incorperate natal, i for one would like to see the possibilty to play full retail games thru body motions.

just make it an option tho i suppose, an then for those who are lazy and get tired quick can always fall back on the controller, but again if would only be good if your motions were accurate and did everything onscreen that they're supposed to.

full body motion = immersive.

just imagine playing 3d games with something like natal, if that were to ever happen (which i doubt) not for awhile anyway, i think it would real fun expierence.

definitely a step ahead of the controller days.

natal + maybe mind control lol.

thats about the only thing it seems to be missing, and maybe more accuracy.

anyway i think all of this is possible and will be very fun for most of us when it happens.