Gamertell

The press conferences for the Big Three - Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft - put at least partial rest to months of speculation, rumors and artist renderings of supposed motion control devices being released by each company. The good news is that all three were able to perform live demonstrations of the technology.

But, the question remains as to which of the three will have the best wireless motion-controlled device. Here’s a look at each comparing the similarities and differences with a hypothetical call as to which will be the best in several categories and the overall best of the three.

Quick Summary

Microsoft’s is code named Project Natal and features an under-the-TV box that combines a camera, microphone and programming to enable full-body control of Xbox 360 menus and game avatars sans any held device.

Sony’s still nameless motion control setup combines a wand-like handheld controller (at least in prototype form) that works in cooperation with the Playstation Eye camera and PS3 console. It can also be used with a second wand for two-hand controls.

Nintendo’s WiiMotionPlus is an adapter that attaches to the bottom (along with a wraparound case, depending on the photos you see) of the current motion-sensitive WiiMote wireless controller and works in conjunction with the Wii Sensor Bar. It adds another axis of precision to the existing handheld controller and allows the Nunchuck attachment to be conencted and used in the other hand.

Similarities

At the most base level, none of the three devices are currently able to be purchased and played at home. In terms of hardware requirements, each will work with the current generation game console (Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3) and will likely require some type of system firmware upgrade.

Two (Sony’s and Nintendo’s) involve remote-control style handheld elements, two (Microsoft’s and Sony’s) involve video camera technology and two (Microsoft’s and Nintendo’s) require some type of powered external sensor. Even with the varied interfaces with the system, each requires a well lit room to properly work.

Both the Sony and Nintendo setup will require both a component element that connects to the console - the sensor bar on the Wii and the Eye on the PS3 - and batteries to operate the handheld portion. They also remain wireless while offering the ability to use a physical motion associated with many games (pulling a trigger).

Both Sony and Microsoft’s setup allows for the potential of a gamer’s image to be represented within a game. All three allow for some type of two-handed controls.

All three were demonstrated - so working versions exist regardless of the development stage - with sports and fitness games and mentioned as being targeted to family-style games. Each also demonstrated fairly accurate real-to-virtual control translations.

Differences

With regard the hardware, Microsoft‘s looks as if it might require the most space and external power as well as taking a component slot in your setup of requiring several inches above or below your TV. The nice part is that once it is set up, it is a hands-free system. Unless it has an standby feature, after you press the power button you will be talking and waving your way through menus and dancing around the room to play. That certainly lends itself well to creating highly involved games.

However, Microsoft’s Natal may also fall prey to a lack of very fine controls. Without an analog element, for example, shooting an in-game rifle likely cannot be done with the twitch of a single finger. Also, the system will recognize multiple players in a room, so it’s not quite clear what will happen if the dog wanders by, the curtains sway or a bird flies across the window behind you in the middle of a game. The closeness of what I assume are two camera on the box may also limit depth accuracy. Microsoft certainly has an advantage with voice controls, which none of the other systems demonstrated.

Sony did a great job demonstrating that a gamer’s likeness can appear within a game, which the other two companies did not do as well (at all). Sony’s wand, however, requires a second piece of equipment to work which is essentially a web cam that most PS3 owners will not already own. That means a second purchase or separate purchase will be required, causing confusion with some shoppers and extra education of retail sales people.

Sony wisely kept a trigger button on the wand, recognizing the popularity of it’s first-person shooters. Of course, that wand will require batteries or recharging. More than one wand - another purchase - offers more precise, two-handed controls and likely increase depth perception beyond the single camera and singe wand setup. With the potential of three purchases (or a big bundle), this has the potential of being the most expensive option for multiplayer gaming.

Nintendo‘s is an add-on to the WiiMote controller and Sensor bar that all Wii owners already own, so it will likely be the least expensive of the three companies’ offerings. The WiiMotionPlus box (along with the shown slip cover) does change the profile of the WiiMote which may be a good since the WiiMote’s boxy design is not necessarily the most ergonomic. It will add to the weight, which may not be good, and will certainly increase the drain on the batteries.

It retains the trigger button element of the WiiMote, which is good, but really only adds precision to an existing controller. It’s not the big leap in controls like the other two but, then again, it was ahead of the others in terms of motion controls to begin with. The lack of camera makes this a seemingly less immersive experience than the others two (although it may not be out of the realm of possibility).

The Winners

Remember, this is based on speculation of the proposed features of each setup, so the verdicts may change. No matter the “winners,” I cannot wait to try all three.

Best (Potential) Price: Nintendo’s WiiMotionPlus
With only one small part to buy, this may prove to be less expensive than a box or a wand+camera. Obviously, time will empirically tell here.

Best (Potential) Bargain: Microsoft’s Project Natal
It requires only one item that can be used for (what Microsoft implies will be) four players at the same time. Sony’s setup requires at least a wand per player, maybe two, plus the Eye camera and a WiiMotionPlus adapter must be affixed to each WiiMote. Assuming Microsoft comes through with this feature, of course.

Best Setup: Microsoft’s Project Natal & Nintendo’s WiiMotionPlus
Sorry, Sony, but a wand (or two) and awkward camera on a stand is going to look a little silly in hands and on a TV. Natal is a sleek box that will blend in with a setup, even if a little big. WiiMotionPlus is just a one-click setup that will only change the length (and weight) of the WiiMote, not arrangement of your entertainment components.

Most Impressive Demo: Sony’s Motion Controller
They were able to not only put gamers in a game on stage but also able to show uber precise multi-depth controls as well as include analog controls. Yes, Natal promises to do more inside the system but that’s a software issue (and looked to be more canned cinematics than actual demo). Which brings us to…

Most Impressive Interface: Microsoft’s Project Natal
Video conferencing, auto-login by facial recognition, voice controls and swiping to scroll through menus? Natal was the hands-down winner here. The multi-appendage recognition was also rather impressive, allowing for multiple points of control - and contact - within a live game.

Most Precise Controls: Sony’s Motion Controller
The picking up blocks demo did it for me there. It was well reinforced by the archery demo (though the impressively creepy opponents and sound effects likely helped). Nintendo comes in a very close second only because I’m not certain you can get the same two-hand multi-depth precision with the WiiMotionPlus as with two Sony wands.

Most User-Friendly: Microsoft’s Project Natal
Spoken commands and facial recognition have so many potential applications especially for gamers with disabilities. Of course, I’m assuming that with nothing to hold there is little to learn. Let’s hope we don’t have to learn some form of yoga-fu just to get to the game we want to load. Sony came in a close second only because it didn’t include the audio element and didn’t flesh out the software as well as Microsoft.

Overall Best Bet: Microsoft’s Project Natal
I’m still very afraid of the price but, if Natal (or whatever it is called) can truly deliver on all of its promises, it will be one truly impressive non-controller. The issue may become trying to get around the lack of a trigger for stealth games and first-person shooters without requiring a separate purchase. If it can get around that, it’ll be unstoppable.

Read [Gamertell: E3 2009]