Why Motion Controls Will Never Be the Focus of Hardcore Sports Games

[RaychelSnr]

Motion controls being used in sports games? Bah Humbug! In today's world of gimmicky gaming control schemes, there is nothing more infuriating to me as a hardcore sports gamer than for people to think that motion controls are the future of the genre. I could go off on a long-winded diatribe explaining my disdain for motion controls in sports gaming, but it is far easier to point to the historical failure of existing motion-control schemes to illustrate what a mistake it is to believe this gimmick will catch on.

As my colleague Jared Sexton mentions in his article taking a "pro" perspective on motion controls, the Power Glove teased sports gamers with the possibility of actually interacting with our favorite Nintendo sports personalities. Like Jared, I too was beyond disappointed to don the glove, only to find that its motion capabilities were severely limited, and that you still had to rely on a controller that was conveniently hidden on the forearm of the unit -- I never noticed that in The Wizard. It was at this moment my confidence in motion-controlled sports gaming was shattered. Even at the ripe old age of eight, I knew when I had been swindled, and my distrust of anything mentioning "motion" with regards to gaming was in full effect.

Read More - Why Motion Controls Will Never Be the Focus of Hardcore Sports Games

[jestep123]

If we arent talking about Golf, Bowling or Tennis it just doesnt work. I tried the motion controls for NBA 2k11..for 5 MINUTES and havent tried them since.

[dannyr326]

Definitely true. Although motion games may win in the sales column in other genres, people don't play sports games for physical activity.

[BaylorBearBryant]

I was in your camp until I played The Bigs on the Wii. That's my favorite game on the console. It blew me away how well they worked the motion controls into the game. If you have a Wii, I suggest you rent it at the least, just so you can see what I'm talking about.

Football, basketball, and soccer are little harder to do. But I think you can add Baseball to the Golf, Bowling, Tennis, and Boxing plausible list. Hockey's somewhere in between. I know Slapshot came out, but NHL11 is just so **** good with the sticks.

[Cardot]

Re: Why Motion Controls Will Never Be the Focus of Hardcore Sports Games

I won't disagree with you. Most hard core gamers are set in their ways. And I don't believe the technology is quite there yet.

Although I still see some potential in the motion controls.

And one comment made me think a bit:
"You can not tell me that the average sports gamer is going to spend hours and hours standing and making real-world gestures over the course of an 80-100 game season in a game."
....Currenty video games attempt to mimick the dog days of a long season with things like "chemistry" or being in a "zone"...stuff I don't think works very well. They need to do this because even when we are tired, we can handle a controller as good as any other day. However if we actually had to get off the coach, those "dog days" might be alot more realistic.

[threes_co]

Good read. Why the hell would I want to be active while playing a video game. If I wanted physical activity, I would go outside and play the sport.

[milesizdead]

Wouldn´t mind trying playing goalie in an NHL game using Kinect...

[CreatineKasey]

Motion controls have never been a draw to me. I can imagine some as fun gimmicks... but for hardcore online sports gaming? I don't think that'd go over well...

[Pete1210]

It could work in a Be A Pro mode where you are only controlling one player.

[charter04]

I agree with both articals. I don't think it's motion control versus traditional controls. I think they can both be used. I agree that when it comes to a normal basketball or football game you just can't fully play with only motion control. In those games you are switching from player to player and it just wouldn't work. But it could work in a mode like my player or superstar mode when you only control one player. With the kinect and move they could put you in a a qb or something. With the kinect it tracts you movement going forward or back and side to side. Also the kinect would work great in RPGs. Instead of chosing somthing to say you could just say something. Although I want to keep playing my hard core sports and FPS games with a controler on the couch you can still see possibilities to use motion control in more than just a mini game.

[rudyjuly2]

Traditional sports games just won't work as well with motion control. I have no interest in motion based sports games.

[Smokez4DAyz]

I don't disagree with your post, but I'd say this, don't be too short sided, all it takes is one idea, that hasn't been realized by anyone else. Just dismissing it, might put egg on your face. Tech moves too fast these days, you didn't think your cellphone would become so essential in everyday life, did you? So don't think for a second that somebody out there already hasn't got a comfortable combination of the motion and controller. Don't wait until they display it, expect that it CAN happen. Wii Madden passing is very fun, thats the easiest way to explain that its almost there. Hardcore just means you play 5-12 hours a day, instead of 1-3, it doesn't mean somehow that you WON'T play a video game because of motion controls. it means, you are USED to the ten buttons and two analog sticks. Some are used to the genesis with 3 buttons, Tech moves fast.

[JokerswildXOXO]

I'm playing on the new motion device. It's called my new hand-held controller!!!

[Gordy748]

I think there is an opportunity for Move and Kinnect in sports games. They're just too much fun (well I only know Move, but think that Kinnect has to be equivalent).

The limitation is how exhausting playing the game would be. At 120 plays a game, the average couch potato would be shot. And unable to play the next game.

[supermanemblem]

couldn't agree more. you cannot get sim games out of the current motion tech. impossible. also, i know guys who go through an nfl season in madden in days. couldn,t happen with motion controls. there are some great uses for motion controls but sports gaming beyond golf or tennis is not one of them.