Wiimote Insights and Others

Next-Gen talks a closer look at the revolutionary remote for the Wii and gets there impressions on it.

Months after the Wii’s wand was introduced, we’re still eagerly lapping up every newly released detail. Also stirring up conversation is market leader Sony’s decision to implement tilt-sensing in the PlayStation 3 controller. That decision has led to piles of Internet forum “discussions” and garnered the attention of executives from Nintendo and Microsoft, who since E3 have either downplayed the feature, laughed it off or screamed “copy-cat!”

And look at Guitar Hero. It’s one of the most (if not absolutely the most) acclaimed game of the generation–and it just so happens to ditch the standard controller for an interface that has many actually convinced they can play guitar (reminder, it’s just a videogame controller). Still, it’s that immersion–that suspension of disbelief–which proves that a well-done interface can completely draw a player into a game’s world.

Speaking of immersion, the subject of rumble has been making news as of late, particularly because of Sony’s apparent snubbing of the technology, which is patented by force feedback company Immersion. Oh, and there’s that huge legal tug-of-war that’s going on between the two companies.

Some sections of the road to the next generation of controllers have been rocky (executive jabs), and some have been smoothly asphalted with groupies on either side (Guitar Hero controller), but there’s no doubt that we are in the Era of the Controller.
Read More

Around The Net: