The Changing Face of the Console Wars

[wraggster]

An article at Gamasutra explores the decisions by Microsoft and Sony to launch significant hardware additions — their respective, upcoming motion-control schemes — in the middle of a console cycle, rather than waiting until the next generations of their systems are ready. It's indicative of a change to the established pattern of console wars; nowadays, it's more about adding features and gadgets to improve existing products than developing entirely new ones. Quoting:
"... for Sony and Microsoft, motion controllers are their next-gen consoles. And it's a damn sight easier than launching Xbox 720 or PS4. They can debut these peripherals without needing to engineer completely new boxes for consumers, potentially bundle them over time, and they have a much better chance at getting exclusive games, thanks to the specificity of the hardware (something that's happened a lot for the Wii). Thus, both hardware manufacturers and publishers like EA see these controllers sparking new interest in Xbox 360 and PS3, which will delay the next dreaded console transition for another few years."

http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/1...e-Console-Wars

[osgeld]

motion control is a lame gimmick that doesn't even work correctly in a system that was engineered around the entire concept

Microsoft has always made clumsy peripherals, and while sony might make a nice one, its going to cost 499.99$ and not work with anything 2 years down the road

[wraggster]

its funny but i was all up for the motion devices but after all this time it really isnt as precise as a real gamer needs it to be

[symbal]

Simple really, without motion controls the WII would have gone the same way as N64 and Gamecube and be a sales failure, the Ps3 and 360 have the extra horsepower to match and better WII games, if they promote them right they can steal sales from Nintendo by showing them as a system for everyone, Sony's been a bit crap the last years and more interested in just selling hardware, but MS has a chance.