[Glix]

The tech still needs to improve.

I was playing Skyward Sword and it was like "Hey, even with motion+ this thing has not fucking idea what I'm doing!"

As long as its still this janky, you will see this off-again, on-again fad-ish support.

[Dysun]

I hope motion controls are left as a supplementary type of experience tacked on and not forced. Every motion focused game has been hindered by it IMO. Notably Zelda ss

[M3d10n]

The Wii U controller has accelerometers and a gyro and asymmetrical games use wiimotes too. Kinect 2.0 will play a huge part in Xbox Next (and probably become standard).

I'd say no.

Oh God, how did I miss this. I'm literally in tears here.

[Giant Panda]

Motion control, ir pointer, and dual analog is the future.

[J-Rod]

I disagree with your premise that they have petered off, nintendo has moved on, or that MS pushed kinect to the back of the line. I got the complete opposite perspective.

It looked like wii controllers and peripherals were pretty important as they integrate with wii u controller and system. Ms seem to devote a good share of time to kinect games. Even Sony bored is to tears with their wonder book.

[Louis Cyphre]

Nintendo - Already confirmed. It will use the same controllers form the previous Wii console plus the Wii U Gamerpad will have built in gyroscopes.

Microsoft - Most definitely. Kinect sold well for them and they will continue to integrate Kinect with applications in the Windows/Xbox Live world. You can see Microsoft is starting to shy away from controller free gaming and are applying Kinect featues. They know the device is somewhat limited and are changing strategies to appeal to all gamers, not just casuals.

Sony - Probably. The Vita has motion sensors and they will likely come out with a new Dualshock controller that has built in gyroscopes, along with a (much needed) improved webcam. The camera may not be bundled though.

[border]

I disagree with your premise that they have petered off, nintendo has moved on, or that MS pushed kinect to the back of the line. I got the complete opposite perspective.

What Kinect games did Microsoft have to show?

Wreckateers - not even a retail title
Dance Central 3 - a $50 track pack commemorated with an Usher concert rather than a gameplay demo.

Compare that to previous E3 showings that were almost completely driven by Kinect and they demo'ed a half-dozen or more motion-controlled games. SmartGlass got way more stage time. I definitely feel like they've moved on to another esoteric gimmick with limited applications.

[Vinci]

Frankly, what the industry seems to be done with is IR aiming. Which is bullshit. That's something everyone should get pissed about, not whether motion controls are going to stick around or not.

The problem here is that pointer controls won't get any love.

Err... yeah... basically what this guy said.

[OmegaZero]

The problem here is that pointer controls won't get any love.

This guy gets it.

[goomba]

Nintendo - Already confirmed. It will use the same controllers form the previous Wii console plus the Wii U Gamerpad will have built in gyroscopes. Microsoft - Most definitely. Kinect sold well for them and they will continue to integrate Kinect with applications in the Windows/Xbox Live world. You can see Microsoft is starting to shy away from controller free gaming and are applying Kinect featues. They know the device is somewhat limited and are changing strategies to appeal to all gamers, not just casuals. Sony - Probably. The Vita has motion sensors and they will likely come out with a new Dualshock controller that has built in gyroscopes, along with a (much needed) improved webcam. The camera may not be bundled though.

Wait, what?.. the dualshock doesn't have a webcam..

[Derrick01]

I wish more than anything that they are done with them but E3 says no. Too much time spent on shitty gimmicks by MS and Sony. Nintendo wasted enough of their time on that tablet.

[Fancy Corndog]

Meanwhile, all three companies are currently pushing something with motion control.

[Reallink]

Pointer aiming is the greatest thing to happen to video games since buttons. I wish we could sit everyone down and force them to play through a shooter (in its entirety) that was designed from the ground up around pointer aiming.

[KevinCow]

I think we're about over the new exciting gimmicky novelty phase. But motion controls in general aren't going anywhere. I'd be surprised if the next Xbox and Dualshock controllers didn't at least have basic accelerometers and gyros like the Wiipad, 3DS, Vita. I'd also be surprised if the Xbox 3 didn't come with Kinect 2.

[Takao]

Meanwhile,Sony is probably largely done chasing after Nintendo, and instead is chasing after Microsoft's Kinect market, as seen with the hilariously bad Wonderbook. They're really the ones that don't seem to have a clear direction.

Sony's been doing AR family games since like 2003. Kinect has nothing to do with Wonderbook other than maybe making sure they got a big name behind it. Though, I have to question why in the world they got J.K. Rowling to okay Wonderbook, and not have Sorcery become an HP game.

While I very much doubt they'd ever even consider it, I could see an awesome survival horror game using that tech: "Wonderbook: Necronomicon" Heck, use it for a Persona title!

Isn't there a janky 3DS AR horror game?

[LevityNYC]

I think people underestimate how important MS probably sees Kinect for voice recognition, as opposed to just motion controlled games.

They have yet to explain why you need a kinect for this and not a simple headset.

[Vinci]

They have yet to explain why you need a kinect for this and not a simple headset.

People prefer not wearing stuff on their heads?

[mickcenary]

I wouldn't mind it heading in the Killzone 3/Move direction. That was some serious shit; once you got to grips with it, it was quite something else and anything but a gimmick.

[Xavien]

I think that we're going to see motion control used where appropriate in the future, rather than used on every game whether it needs it or not.

So no, it's not the end, but maybe it'll become less "waggle" and become a more thought-out approach to motion control.

You could say motion controls are going to mature over the next generation rather than just go away.

[drspeedy]

I think that we're going to see motion control used where appropriate in the future, rather than used on every game whether it needs it or not. So no, it's not the end, but maybe it'll become less "waggle" and become a more thought-out approach to motion control. You could say motion controls are going to mature over the next generation rather than just go away.

Yes, please!

I for one love aiming with Wiimote and 'chuck, and would be very happy to support it with my dollars- if developers put the amount of time into it as it deserves. Skyward Sword had its issues, but it was leaps and bound ahead of controls early motion games were capable of pulling off. A little more time and even some PC gamers will see the light.

ok, maybe not.

[border]

People prefer not wearing stuff on their heads?

A microphone that you put on top of your television would probably be about $130 cheaper than a Kinect. That's why I think they will have a cheap Durango/720 SKU that contains no Kinect camera but has an optional mic hookup.

[BARKSTAR]

I don't think it will ever go away now and as long as it is used to enhance gameplay experiences as many games on the Wii have proven it can do then I am all for it. Just a pity so many forced and downright awful and inaccurate experiences have put many people off.

I would love another 'Boom Blox' with motionplus control and I really hope that this happens. That game would never be anywhere near as fun without the control system it uses. Extra accuracy from motionplus would make this series and many others even better than before. Also 'Flower' on PS3 is another great example of how the system can be put into great use.

[Wonko_C]

While I don't think motion controls are done for, we'll be seeing a bigger focus on touch technologies. Wii U, PS Vita, Smart Glass, etc.

[Goldmund]

Even if people were to lose interest, which I doubt, REMEMBER CITADEL would single-handedly prevent this cruel truth from ever becoming apparent to the rest of us.

[LevityNYC]

People prefer not wearing stuff on their heads?

Some of us keep them on for Skype and Party chat. Give us the option

[StevieP]

Frankly, what the industry seems to be done with is IR aiming. Which is bullshit. That's something everyone should get pissed about, not whether motion controls are going to stick around or not. Err... yeah... basically what this guy said.

This

What Kinect games did Microsoft have to show? Wreckateers - not even a retail title Dance Central 3 - a $50 track pack commemorated with an Usher concert rather than a gameplay demo. Compare that to previous E3 showings that were almost completely driven by Kinect and they demo'ed a half-dozen or more motion-controlled games. SmartGlass got way more stage time. I definitely feel like they've moved on to another esoteric gimmick with limited applications.

A microphone that you put on top of your television would probably be about $130 cheaper than a Kinect. That's why I think they will have a cheap Durango/720 SKU that contains no Kinect camera but has an optional mic hookup.

No, they won't. It's standard equipment. Every first party studio they have is integrating this iteration into their games in some way. For next gen, third party studios as well since its in the box. Don't underestimate it's importance to Ms.

[evilromero]

You're examples are incorrect. Both Donkey Kong and Mario Wii use motion controls. Plus Nintendoand is built upon motion controls.

[Gsak]

If true,

Good riddance, I say.

[Stet]

You're examples are incorrect. Both Donkey Kong and Mario Wii use motion controls. Plus Nintendoand is built upon motion controls.

I don't consider what Donkey Kong and Mario Wii do motion controls.

[Parn]

They have yet to explain why you need a kinect for this and not a simple headset.

Xbox, tea, earl grey, hot.

[Narcosis]

I don't think we're done with motion controlling, but i think it;s clearly gonna become secondary to touch and swipe, as evidenced by all the movements being made in gaming from all the manufacturers. Smartpohone tech has stormed the mindshare of many people and game hardware and software will continue to react.

I think the standard controller will still be the primary user interface for awhile, since buttons continue to be more accurate than motion or touchscreen.

[Combichristoffersen]

Sony's done with it. No one really cared about the Move, so they won't keep it around for PS4. Nintendo will have motion controls, but not as the main control input, like the Wii. Microsoft are, funnily enough, the ones who are most likely to keep it around with the Kinect and its eventual follow-up.

[giancarlo123x]

Just look at this shit from this year's E3

OMFG ROFL. This is the funniest gif from E3 hands down

[TTP]

There is no such thing as motion controls but rather motion control applications, and those are definitely here to stay and evolve.
Fun fact: the mouse you are using to browse this page is a motion control device.

Waggling is just one possible application of motion controls, not what motion controls are all about.

Here, take a look at this motion control game called Portal 2 In Motion for example. Believe it or not, that's the same tech that powers Wonderbook. Again, they both rely on "motion controls", but in a different way (different application).

Nintendo has not abandoned motion controls as they are still a fundamental part of the WiiU Game Pad.

Move got little dev support? I'm counting a little less than 200 games supporting the Move so, yeah, not sure about that.

[Louis Cyphre]

What Kinect games did Microsoft have to show? Wreckateers - not even a retail title Dance Central 3 - a $50 track pack commemorated with an Usher concert rather than a gameplay demo. Compare that to previous E3 showings that were almost completely driven by Kinect and they demo'ed a half-dozen or more motion-controlled games. SmartGlass got way more stage time. I definitely feel like they've moved on to another esoteric gimmick with limited applications.

They toned it down but Kinect was still very present at E3. From the Madden demo to Splinter Cell, all the way down the line to Wreckateers. To me it was a better show to watch as Kinect wasn't so in your face this time but it's still being utilized quite a bit.

Wait, what?.. the dualshock doesn't have a webcam..

I was referring to the situation now with the Playstation Eye camera being separate, only the difference being a vastly improved Playstation Eye camera.

I don't think we're done with motion controlling, but i think it;s clearly gonna become secondary to touch and swipe, as evidenced by all the movements being made in gaming from all the manufacturers. Smartpohone tech has stormed the mindshare of many people and game hardware and software will continue to react. I think the standard controller will still be the primary user interface for awhile, since buttons continue to be more accurate than motion or touchscreen.

The industry is always looking for something new. Funny how Sony was so aggressive with 3D and not even a peep at E3. They also showed amazing demos with the Move yet here we are today with little support. Yet I can't help but feel they will have some form of motion in the PS4.

People like holding tangible things while playing. That's why I never understood why anyone would want to play a racing game pretending to hold a steering wheel, unless you're 5 years old. The technology is still in the growing phase and things like Kinect just have too many limitations to replicate the accuracy and quick responses a controller still does.

What I find kind of disturbing moving foward is this endless need to keep people occupied. They don't even want you to watch a show now without having some Facebook message pop-up on the screen while texting with your tablet and sending video messages through Kinect. The guys from South Park nailed it at E3.

[border]

No, they won't. It's standard equipment. Every first party studio they have is integrating this iteration into their games in some way. For next gen, third party studios as well since its in the box. Don't underestimate it's importance to Ms.

What importance? If their E3 showing is any indication, they've basically just given up and decided that motion control is another ghetto for fitness garbage, dance games, and kids' titles. They demo'ed pretty much nothing new or interesting. The spotlight was handed over to media playback, web services, and SmartGlass.

Exactly how have motion controls been integrated into 1st party games? Is the motion control in Halo 4?

[border]

You're examples are incorrect. Both Donkey Kong and Mario Wii use motion controls.

I said that they didn't use motion controls very much, not that they didn't use motion controls. The games are pretty much designed as regular platformers with waggle shoehorned in.

[StevieP]

What importance? If their E3 showing is any indication, they've basically just given up and decided that motion control is another ghetto for fitness garbage, dance games, and kids' titles. They demo'ed pretty much nothing new or interesting. The spotlight was handed over to media playback, web services, and SmartGlass. Exactly how have motion controls been integrated into 1st party games? Is the motion control in Halo 4?

I'm talking about their future, you're talking about their present.
Look forward and you'll know exactly why I mentioned "Kinect" as a standard piece of equipment instead of a peripheral.

[Loudninja]

Sony's done with it. No one really cared about the Move, so they won't keep it around for PS4. Nintendo will have motion controls, but not as the main control input, like the Wii. Microsoft are, funnily enough, the ones who are most likely to keep it around with the Kinect and its eventual follow-up.

How are they done with it?

[border]

They toned it down but Kinect was still very present at E3. From the Madden demo to Splinter Cell, all the way down the line to Wreckateers.

Madden and Splinter Cell had voice recognition, not motion controls though. And those demos did little more than highlight how hopeless developers seem to be at integrating even voice commands into regular games.

In just a couple short years we've gone from the possibility of interacting with Peter Molyneux's living AI character who understands our words and recognizes our faces.......to shouting "Hey you" at some canon fodder automaton in Splinter Cell. I don't get how you can come away from the E3 2012 briefing and not think that it's about diminishing expectations for Kinect and beginning the hype train for their next thing (SmartGlass).

Look forward and you'll know exactly why I mentioned "Kinect" as a standard piece of equipment instead of a peripheral.

Look forward to what? E3 showcased Microsoft's next 9-12 months, and even their support for the platform seems dwindling and halfhearted. Major third parties don't seem to be doing much of anything either.

[injurai]

I think they are done getting it off the ground, now its just permanently there on the side. Kinect seems to still have another year left in it.

[PantherLotus]

I think it will just be adjusted. While less of a focus, I fully expect it to remain a viable genre, like driving wheels and edutainment.

[evilromero]

I don't consider what Donkey Kong and Mario Wii do motion controls.

In NSMBW you have to tilt the controller on certain platforms to make it angle up or down. You also shake the controller to make him fly in the copter suit and there's a search light motion control thing I believe as well.

[MrCunningham]

Motion control is finished when Nintendo says so. But yeah, I don;t see it going away either.

[Louis Cyphre]

Madden and Splinter Cell had voice recognition, not motion controls though. And those demos did little more than highlight how hopeless developers seem to be at integrating even voice commands into regular games. In just a couple short years we've gone from the possibility of interacting with Peter Molyneux's living AI character who understands our words and recognizes our faces.......to shouting "Hey you" at some canon fodder automaton in Splinter Cell. I don't get how you can come away from the E3 2012 briefing and not think that it's about diminishing expectations for Kinect and beginning the hype train for their next thing (SmartGlass). Look forward to what? E3 showcased Microsoft's next 9-12 months, and even their support for the platform seems dwindling and halfhearted. Major third parties don't seem to be doing much of anything either.

I don't mind Kinect being in the background in games we are already familiar with. I'd rather play Madden with Kinect like that than to pretend to throw a football. The point is Kinect is being utilized in games. What EA games had Kinect support at last years E3? Seems rather ironic people complain about E3 in the past being too ficused on Kinect and now we have you saying because they didn't show as much you feel they are dropping it.

As for what to look forward to there is still quite a bit. They have a new Forza, Halo, Gears and XBLA games. Microsoft never really had a plethora of ip's of their own. There's still lots of third party games too, Tomb Raider, Assassins Creed 3, Bioshock Infinite, Watch Dogs, Sleeping Dogs and many more. Remember, the Xbox 360 came out in 2005, of course it's on the downturn of new ideas and fresh ip's. Soon we will be in a transitional phase which is a perfect time to come out with new ip's.

[StevieP]

Madden and Splinter Cell had voice recognition, not motion controls though. And those demos did little more than highlight how hopeless developers seem to be at integrating even voice commands into regular games. In just a couple short years we've gone from the possibility of interacting with Peter Molyneux's living AI character who understands our words and recognizes our faces.......to shouting "Hey you" at some canon fodder automaton in Splinter Cell. I don't get how you can come away from the E3 2012 briefing and not think that it's about diminishing expectations for Kinect and beginning the hype train for their next thing (SmartGlass). Look forward to what? E3 showcased Microsoft's next 9-12 months, and even their support for the platform seems dwindling and halfhearted. Major third parties don't seem to be doing much of anything either.

Lets just say its in MS' plans going forward, and in a big way

[Jive Turkey]

Dogs dragging ass are always funny but then to pair it up with that luge gif is pure genius.

[CoffeeJanitor]

Hell no. Did we forget about Kinect...

[Shidosha]

Lets just say its in MS' plans going forward, and in a big way

I'm amped to see where they take the kinect in the next few years.
I'm even hyped about what smartglass will be capable of...
but MS needs to do something about Internet Explorer first

[border]

Seems rather ironic people complain about E3 in the past being too ficused on Kinect and now we have you saying because they didn't show as much you feel they are dropping it.

Well yeah, the first party support for motion control is little more than Fable-On-Rails and an XBLA game for children. I think it's a little questionable how much motion control figures into future software and hardware. It seems pretty clear that MS is done with that aspect of the technology.....if not literally done, then at least creatively done. Nothing has lived up to the promise that we saw in Natal, and it doesn't look like they intend to push the envelope much further.

When Kinect launched it had Microsoft publishing Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports, Dance Central, Kinectimals, and Joy Ride (XBLA). 4 retail titles and one XBLA game. 2 years later and their fall lineup is......Dance Central 3, Wreckateers (XBLA), and Fable: The Journey. 2 retail titles and one XBLA game. One of the retail titles isn't even internally developed by Microsoft. Is it that ridiculous to think they are less interested in supporting the platform, when they're making only half as many retail titles for it as they were at launch?

As for what to look forward to there is still quite a bit. They have a new Forza, Halo, Gears and XBLA games. Microsoft never really had a plethora of ip's of their own.

When I said the platform support was dwindling I meant the Kinect.....not the 360 specifically. Kinect in general seems to be getting little attention from 3rd parties beyond some basic and perfunctory voice functions.