Touch and Motion Controls: Please Don't Replace the Traditional Controller

An editorial by Pixelvolt editor Kory McGaughey looks at the concerns of touch and motion controls and how these alternate control methods will affect the traditional controller's future.

[GreenRanger]

I don't think motion controls or touchscreens will ever replace traditional controllers.

Thanks for the article, Jimmy.

[chrissx]

Yu cudnt hav said it any better.

[UltimateMaster]

Just do like PS Move, have both included, choose one or the other.

[Eonjay]

I could never imagine playing certain games without buttons. Especially fighting games. THe sore thumbs I've gotten are badges of honor and its part of the experience.

[MaxXAttaxX]

I don't think the Move controller was meant to replace traditional controls. It was given to us as an option.
The Wii, however, straight up replaced traditional controls for motion controls and with a limited number of buttons. That is a sin that cannot be forgiven.

[Fireseed]

Nah the Move was a straight up replacement. Not in the sense that they would ever stop making the Dualshock but you can't possibly use the DS in tandem with the Move. Which segregated Move to games to being EXCLUSIVELY Move games.

[duducus]

It was not a replacement, seeing as how Nintendo changed their controller again...

[Yodagamer]

In a way you're right the wii was meant to focus on the wii remote, but at the same time they produced or supported the classic controller, gamecube, and classic controller pro. The main problem is for whatever reason no one ever supported them even though they were always a good option. The wii u thankfully has all traditional inputs.

[Gaming_Guru]

I find when hardware companies leave it to developers to support an option most often they don't. I think Sony's move with Vita controls for most if not all PS4 games as long as it's compatible with the Vita will be playable natively. My guess is that time is money and implementing something that's an option is often opted out.

[Chrischi1988]

And that is why Nintendo didnt offer the Gamepad as an option, but made it available for every Wii U owner, so Devs actually know for sure, that the Wii U player has a Gamepad and so they can fully use the Gamepad for important stuff of the game, instead of being some gimmick. This is also why Xbox1 puts kinect 2.0 bundled with the console. On PS4 on the other hand, both will be options, options, that will never be more than a mere gimmick on that console.

[EliteGameKnight]

I understand the aprehension with these different controller types as familiarity is comfortable. However, their design has always been changing. After the Activision Joystick, the D-pad became popular, and after that we gained the analog stick. If the Steam Machine is a success, trackpads may become the main movement input.

The same applies to the shape of the controller. Up until the fourth generation, the rectangular design was popular. Now we have controllers where the focus is comfort.

The controller design is a constantly altering thing and I believe that we should embrace these new, possibly superb, designs before shunning them due to the comfort we have with familiarity.

(EDIT) as we gain a more perfected design of controller, the development process must try completly new things to continue to innovate, and since we can't improve on comfort as much now'a'days. Touch screens and motion have been experimented with.

[Fireseed]

I don't think they will ever replace traditional controls. But with that being said it can definitely improve our game play experience if implemented in the appropriate manner. Like give us more ways of accessing features that are otherwise cumbersome to utilize. Or making gestures for things typically assigned to the controller to free up space for more performable actions.

Personally that's why I like the concept of Kinect more than the Move or Wii-Mote, because it can be used in tandem with traditional controls rather than outright replacing them. I wish they would show this demo more publicly but there was a demo at E3 where it was a very crude shooter but all the traditional controls were mapped to the pad, but the Kinect was used for more extraneous stuff. Like tapping your right temple to activate night vision. Or leaning left and right to peek around corners. Making those actions Kinect based can free up valuable controller real estate.

[Yodagamer]

Personally i think if the game is done well with motion controls it is often as good as traditional controls. I think they work well for fps like killzone and resistance 3 (after the patch). It's a shame they never got a traditional rts on consoles i think it would have been a selling point.

[AceBlazer13]

have you seen the hate for kinect? the controller isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[arbitor365]

thank god the wii u failed. could you imagine if sony and microsoft implemented that kind of gamepad? all we need is for the kinect 2.0 to fail as well and we will be free of this casual crap.

[ChickeyCantor]

"could you imagine if sony and microsoft implemented that kind of gamepad? "

You'd be preaching and defending it.

hypocrite.

[arbitor365]

i would boycott console gaming and go to PC

[EliteGameKnight]

The PS4 Dualshock has a touch pad. Though this may very well be an original idea and may work well in many hardcore games, like the Wii U gamepad could, it'll most likely just serve as another gimmick. Many also believe it to be Sony's attempt at copying Nintendo's touch thing. It may very well not be either, I don't have that answer. Same with the steam controller.

Sony also has the Playstation Eye 2, which is basically a kinect, which was removed from being a mandatory part of the PS4 console as Sony wanted it to be cheaper than the Xbox One. They also have the Move controllers. Which will most likely be supported on the PS4.

All three systems are offering innovation to the way we play. If they fail because they're bad then it will happen and thats that.

[PopRocks359]

@arbitor

Smartglass and Vita cross compatibility offer dual screen game functionality minus certain features the Wii U has. Guess you better start your boycott.

[arbitor365]

lol delusional as always, poprocks. sony doesnt force the vita on anyone. there is not a single game announced or planned that necessitates the vita. nintendo and microsoft, on the other hand, force their gimmicks down people's throats.

nintendo forced this gimmicky turd on the gaming populace instead of just making a system with halfway acceptable hardware, a regular controller, and some actual third party support. the "pro controller" they offer as an alternative doesnt even work with most games.

and while the smartglass isnt forced on the gameing populace, the kinect 2.0 is. of course, it isnt quite as bad as nintendo since it doesnt force you to use it, unless you are playing a kinect game. but being forced to buy a 150$ peripheral that has never had a good game is pretty lame.

[Chrischi1988]

Traditional controls are bad for almost all new games coming out. Everywhere were you have to aim for example, really bad, you can get used to it, but it is really way worse then with motion controlls or a mice, after you got used to that, too, of course.

[PopRocks359]

"sony doesnt force the vita on anyone."

"nintendo forced this gimmicky turd on the gaming populace"

So in other words, it only sucks if its integral to the experience? And by the way, the vast majority of Wii U games can played with the Pro controller. The only delusional thing I see here is you getting your panties in a bunch and insulting others because you hate people having access to options other than what Sony provides.

[FITgamer]

I'd quit playing video games if that ever happened.

[JackieCruise69]

I doubt it'll replace traditional controllers, but hey, I like the options. I honestly find motion controls and touch controls very convenient when done correctly, especially with the Wii U. Even if it's just simply to check a map or change items, it's so much easier.
But of course, everyone's getting all worked up and scared over it because it's something they're not used to.