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EA says Wii MotionPlus has too much Plus photo

We can get all up in arms about how the Wii should have had one-to-one motion controls since the launch of the system, and how Nintendo will be making a killing over yet another add-on for their little white box that could, but we all know that once Wii MotionPlus hits, we're going to be waving our arms like maniacs and enjoying games like Grand Slam Tennis. Or will we? Cue dramatic music.

It seems that one-to-one controls don't always make for the best gaming experiences. In talking with TechRader, Grand Slam Tennis producer Thomas Singleton said the dev team had to scale back the responsiveness of the controls in order to make the game fun. "At times it's overly responsive. It had so much fidelity that at times we have limited that fidelity to make it a compelling experience and giving you full total control," Singleton said.

I suppose too much sensitivity could be a problem, but it sounds more like a good thing than a bad one here. If a dev can tweak the sensitivity up and down to work for their game, as EA is doing here, then a control with high fidelity is a great thing and it's up to designers to make it work for their games. Now, if they'll take the time to do that is an entirely different question.

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18 comments | showing # 1 to 18

AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:24
AgentMOO
Shouldn't they internalize insignificant issues like this? It's a given that any analog input needs to be calibrated to find a "dead zone" where input is too small to deem a response. Phrasing it like a potential issue with the Nintendo hardware isn't necessarily the best way to go - I can only assume he was trying to stroke their ego.
BikeZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:30
BikeZombie
Call me dense but, what are "one-to-one" controls ?
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:43
Druid 01
if when you move the wiimote in your hand 45% the racket on screen moves 45% as well, thats whats iv assumed its meant
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:46
AgentMOO
@BikeZombie
"one-to-one" is the concept that the exact motion you do with the remote is transcribed into the game. This is in contrast to "mapping", where you just have to swing it in a vague direction in order for the game to register as what might be a "Y" button on an XBOX 360, or a square on a PS3.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:47
atastysammich
I wonder if this means we'll have another two-hit wonder like the e-Reader on our hands. How many developers will want to take the gamble and bust their asses to give that extra oomph to games that have managed fine (fine-ish) without it so far?
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/04/2009 23:50
John B
I suppose too much sensitivity could be a problem, but it sounds more like a good thing than a bad one here.

Agreed. It's like I always try to do when ordering network cables for a datacenter - order more than what you need. If you have too many, then just put the extras away. If you don't have enough, then you have to go through a requisition process, which needs approval, then place the order, wait for the cables to come in ... urgh.

At least this way, Nintendo went overboard, but that can be tuned down. If it wasn't sensitive enough, people would bitch and complain about it (rightfully so), but then Nintendo would have to go through re-engineering, manufacturing, etc., but confident would have been lost.

Of course, the next game needs to be a Star Wars light sabre or medieval knight game with 1:1 response. **drool**
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 00:41
pedrovay2003
Yeah, it's way more of a good thing than a bad one. If anything, this should reassure gamers that it does what it's supposed to. (I personally don't buy the argument that it's something the Wii should have done from the beginning --- Personally, I don't remember Nintendo ever once saying that the Wii would have 1:1 motion right out of the box.)

It is good that the sensitivity can be tweaked. I'm hoping some of these games will actually let us tweak the sensitivity on our own when we play the game, too.
HydroTonix's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 00:50
HydroTonix
In conclusion, matthew is awesome.
Mirax's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 00:50
Mirax
To me it also sounds like more of a good thing than a bad one. Of course, I need to play something with the MotionPlus to be sure, but so far, I'm looking foward to it.

I'm glad we'll be able to tweak the sensitivity, though.
dmgi's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 01:08
dmgi
I think that it is easier for developers to work backwards and have less sensitivity, rather than make an incredibly accurate game with a inaccurate system.
SantanaClaus89's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 01:16
SantanaClaus89
Matthew, why does your avatar look like you're waiting for a giant cock in your mouth?
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 01:29
Chronic Logic
Isn't there a option menu or something to change the sensitivity of the controls? Do people actually use their wii-motes in exaggerated motions? More specifically, is it fun to wave your wii-motes like a spaz than using your wii-mote as a traditional controller?
Zeno's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 01:50
Zeno
It's all about the blades model with Nintendo...
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 03:23
Kyousuke Nanbu
The best Wii games are the ones that used the motion controls in a very minimal capacity, hopefully this motion plus crap doesn't mean an influx of waggle only games.
Occams electric toothbrush's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 05:22
Occams electric toothbrush
All I know is if someone comes out with a sword fighting game with one to one controls that gets it right, I will be a very happy camper. First time I heard about the Wii and what it was shown to be capable of achieving, my first thought went to a sword fighting game. Here's to hoping this means that one day I'll get to play that game.
SilverChaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 11:56
SilverChaos
I bet this is EA covering their asses so that when people say that the Motion Plus games are dissapointing, they can say "Well, we had to tone it down or it would have been 'too sensitive'. Trust us, it's better this way!"
Kidding, kidding. But yeah, "too sensitive" isn't a problem if the dev can tone it down. So, *high hopes*
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 14:22
Naim Master
I'm still waiting for more suport for the Wii Pee acessory ...
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/05/2009 16:39
B-Radicate
This is the problem I've always had with any sort of motion control in games: MY HANDS MOVE WHILE PLAYING.
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