With the dust settling on this year's E3 we thought we would look into our magic ball and try and understand who might win the "movement wars." All three of the big players are sticking their futures on new fangled movement controls. We will try and wade through the PR rhetoric to give you a real taste of what to expect in the coming months.
All three console giants had a impressive E3 with major announcements on new hardware and games that will be ready in time for Christmas. The "movement wars" have been set in place and many of us are wondering who will win?
Microsoft splashed the cash this week, with their Cirque De Soleil show, which tried to capture the imagination of the gaming fraternity, with a fancy stage show to show off the magic of Kinect. Sadly it left a sour taste in our mouth. The Pre-E3 event came across more than a little bit stage-managed. After all if Kinect is a natural, visceral and fun experience. Why would it be necessary to have actors on stage - trying to interpret how fun it is. If it's that good. The stage show wasn't necessary to convey this. Normal people having fun would have captured this so much better.
Many of the sceptics were still left with many unanswered questions, is there lag? How much will it cost ? Is it just for my Mum & Dad? And sadly we still can't answer these. We've trawled all four corners of the internet to try gauge the press reaction and we've read some interesting thoughts. One this is for sure, Microsoft can't just aim the causal market and forget about the people who actually own the Xbox at the moment, which in general are the hardcore variety. Microsoft have certainly taken the biggest risk with their controller-free ethos. I for one are yet to be convinced. But I am keen to try it out and hope it lives up to the massive hype.
Nintendo were the first console to target the casual gamers and have had movement controls for a while now. So they left their big E3 announcement to the new 3DS - quite clearly the most technologically advanced handheld that they have ever created and it stole the show this year. After all 3D images without glasses, is a man on the moon moment for Nintendo. Especially in light of their shunning of HD gaming with the Wii. I have no doubt that the new 3DS will be the must have gadget this Christmas, if it is out by then. Nintendo have cornered the casual market and that's a given. But the question to ask, is the casual market worth more than the hardcore one? Obviously Microsoft think it is and have staked a big bet that they can corner both markets - even if they're poles apart.
Sony made fun of both Nintendo and Microsoft event with cheap shots at their future plans - Sony feel that realism through Move and 3D is the future. But with their Move controller they have cynically copied the Wii remote and this is obvious to any gamer, casual or hardcore. At least Microsoft and Nintendo are trying to push the boundaries of technology and hardware. Sony have just re-hashed the wand and 3D - marketing as the future of gaming, but it's common knowledge that 3D is just the same as what we were getting in the early 90"²s. 80"²s styled glasses in all.
One thing to take from E3 is are the game companies really giving us what we want? Nintendo certainly are - they have stuck to the fun casual market since day 1 and they must be applauded for this. But Sony and Microsoft have been scrapping over the hardcore market for the last 3 years with neither able to call a victory. So it would seem that they are both looking to steal Nintendo's monopoly of the casual gamers. However it just looks a little late and cynical.
We will know more in the next 6 months, but the lines have been draw in the sand and the "movement wars" are going to be the most exciting time to be a gamers and that can't be a bad thing. Who do you think will come out tops? Leave us your thoughts below"¦
5 thoughts on “Sony Vs Nintendo Vs Microsoft: ‘Movement’ Gaming Wars”
Nintendo sets the trend, everyone else follows.
Very true – I think Microsoft has the best chance of stealing a piece of the pie – just because of how well the handle Xbox Live – mini arcade games for few quid would be a great idea. But the thought of having to stand up and play just won’t work a lot of gamers. And the thought of just bolting Kinect support into games like FIFA and COD is a step to far. It now up to the creatives to see what they can do with it. And I bet they’ve got some amazing ideas.
I couldn’t agree more. When the wii come out, I remember playing wii sports like I was really pulling moves. Now, I just sit with my legs up and just use my hand with minimal wrist movement. Nevertheless, times are changing. Where there used to be one console per household, these days some households have all the different consoles hooked up. Many of my friends have more than one console and it seems that at least everybody has a wii. I think pricing does also matter.
Sony take all the ideas, and make them 10x better,
Nintendo is awesome! Everyone else is just “Me Too, Me Too!”. Every time Nintendo releases a new system, It’s crazy! (in a good way) The 64, the very first 3 Dimensional gaming. Gameboy, first portable gaming. Gameboy color, putting the NES in peoples hands. DS, two screens with a microphone, touch screen and is wireless. Wii, motion sensing with wi-fi, customizable avatars, wireless, and lots LOTS More. 3DS, a 3D with no glasses device and 3D Video Camera, augmented reality, a slide pad, and so much more that no one can list. It’s only a matter of time til’ sony makes a 3D PSP with cheap features. Plus, nintendo LISTENS to the public.