subject: Why Now is the Time for Motion Controllers [print this page] It's been a few years now since Nintendo introduced the motion controller alongside its latest system, the Nintendo Wii. However, the world of motion control is just taking off, thanks to the introduction of the PlayStation Move and the Xbox Kinect. Now that more and more people are interested in the world of motion-sensitive gaming thanks to the family-friendly interface and games collection of the Wii, Sony and Microsoft are preparing to take the technology to all new heights, bringing a whole new world of gaming to their own audiences - and beyond.
One of the great things about motion control is its intuitive nature, which is an aspect that makes it welcoming to all kinds of people. We all probably know somebody who, when playing a racing game, bizarrely moved their controller as if it was a wheel the more excited they got. Now, in the world of motion control, that type of action isn't just normal, but expected - a fact that lends the gaming universe to more and more casual players who perhaps weren't all that keen on video games previously.
But it isn't just newcomers to gaming that benefit from the range of opportunities that come with motion control. The technology has the capability of completely changing the way we play shoot 'em ups, racing games, puzzle games and RPGs thanks to the sheer adaptability of the controller - or lack thereof, when it comes to the Kinect. By simply moving the controller in a particular way, you can wield a sword, steer a car, run faster, throw bowling balls, shoot zombies and connect the dots in a way that is intuitive, easy and fun. Gone are the days of slowly aiming your gun at an enemy's head - only to find that they've shot you first - as all you'll have to do is point at the screen and shoot. That's just one of the ways that motion control can change the way we play some of our favourite games.
As the technology advances, gamers are seeing more and more sophisticated motion sensing, meaning the accuracy and potential for new ways to use it will continue to increase. This will be helped a great deal by the addition of Xbox Kinect and PlayStation Move to the market created by the Wii - and who knows where the continued advances in motion controllers and motion sense technology will lead? In any case, now is the time to get involved.
