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.

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[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]

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...