At first glance, it would seem as if Motus Games is looking to cash in on the Wii craze with its introduction of the Darwin controller, but as Galagabug highlights in his community blog, nothing could be further from the truth. However, it's still all too easy to forget that the technology predates the Wii by more than a few years, especially when the product you unveil not only looks like it was the bastard son of a lightsaber and some sort of electronic bug -- but comes with an obvious Xbox 360 color scheme.
However, it's not looks that are important here -- it's refinement. According to Motus Games, the controller is superior to the Wiimote in every way, and they claim to have the videos to prove it... or do they? Although the split controller idea is quite attractive, footage of LEGO Star Wars II in action -- controlled by what appears to be a PS3 version of Darwin -- shows some obvious lag time between swings and what's seen onscreen. Then again, a lot can change between now, and when the controller is finally available in stores. Perhaps this can be fixed.
Don't let my cautious tone give you the wrong idea, as this controller not only shows promise, but also fills the void that some Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 fans currently suffer through. Many of us enjoy the Wii experience, but wish that Nintendo had only put some more muscle under the hood. If Motus makes good on its promise of producing the consummate motion-sensing controller (and developers line up some quality games behind it), the Wii could suddenly find itself a lot less attractive. That is, if the price is right. The question is, will it work... and is it already too late?
[Thanks, Adam]
Contest:
4:20 PM on 07.11.2008
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The bad news: It looks like a detachable sex toy.
Also having 5 different control schemes for Wii games is actually really disturbing.
The sentence above is a lie.
My magic ball predicts this going the way of the EyeToy.
But on the other hand if it works well with a couple of games, it has potential to work, but I'm not holding my breath.
If they make that ONE good game which uses this controller effectively, at BEST it might prevent a non-Wii gamer from buying the Wii... such as myself.
I only have a *mild* interest in motion controls, so give me that one game on 360 that makes excellent [fun] use of this controller- and my motion control itch will have been scratched.
If that's what the goal is with the Darwin/Newton- then they'll succeed. However, this could never hurt the Wii unless they've got some sorta deal with Microsoft to include this controller with the all new 360 consoles.. which they will NOT do.
I fully expect the next Xbox to have motion controls, so this could be seen as a trial-run, or a way to get used to creating motion control games [and getting user feedback] before the NEXT gen of consoles rolls around.
..
I Xbudz I
If these are legit and nintendo doesn't unleash its corprate banhammer on them then this really does hurt nintendo alot. cause 360 and ps3 will be like yeah well we have them now, but if these come out it really will bring nintendo back into the console war under a big microscope it doesnt want to be under cause once you get beyond hardware sales they don't got much.
I see the positive in the long run and the short term negatives, i'm just hoping this can bring some competitiveness out of nintendo cause they have just been sitting on thier hands over here in europe.
I just bought a Wii,
Now it's going to become redundant, booooo.
Ah well at least i already have a 360.
There are actually a number of Wii games with great motion controls, but the fact that only a handful of developers (including Nintendo itself) have truly grasped the concept does not bode well for this new device.
This sort of thing was inevitable, I think, considering the Wii's success, but I can't see it succeeding. Wii (and Wii Sports) are such a hit partially because it includes the controller, console, and a nontraditional gamer-friendly game -- all in a (relatively) cheap package with the Nintendo brand on it.
I just can't imagine this thing getting the support it would need from developers either (or from Microsoft and Sony for that matter). Wii owners are still waiting for the first set of projects from many developers who failed to predict the console's success and have only since shifted their resources towards Wii development. That kind of skepticism could kill this device in its infancy, as it does not have Nintendo-developed games to carry it.
But hey, maybe I'm wrong. In my mind, anything that challenges Nintendo to innovate is a good thing, so more power to them. Then again, how many 360 owners (of which I am one) would actually buy something like this? Considering the derision the Wii typically earns from "teh hardcorez," I'd be surprised if this thing didn't fail spectacularly -- unless of course there's been a lot of posturing going on.
I can't see this challenging Nintendo's market position at all, and I haven't seen the Wii controls offer anything more than superficial gimmicks, so I can't see the edge here for the other companies to embarris themselves by ripping it off.
Do not want.
The source is Motus' own site, which was noticed by Galagabug, and brought to our attention by BlindsideDork. That's why I linked it ;-)