In defense of the Wiimote

So much has been said about the Wii and the PS3, two next-gen consoles that launched virtually at the same time. Sony has been very big on high technology, even claiming they are forward looking. Stepping into Sony’s shoes and seeing the world from their own eyes, it’s amusing and amazing how the future is built on graphics alone and almost nothing else.

On the other hand, you have the Wii. Some may say that it might be “poorer” in terms of graphics, but its motion-sensing controller is indeed starting a revolution. Forget the broken TVs, forget all the computer hacks –  everything good needs something that will pave its way. You may want to call it boo-boos, but Nintendo might have struck something golden and lasting this time.

Put it this way: in the movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise‘s character is a detective in the year 2054. He was depicted in various scenes, standing in front of a screen moving videos and data around by shifting his hands. The Wiimote is almost exactly like that. And it doesn’t matter how fanboys or big corporations would boast about their controller’s intelligent features, they are all still base on “the whole click and point mouse paradigm.”

Now, we are not naive. We know that motion-sensing technology is nothing new. For some time now, the military has been using the motion-sensing chip for purposes related to their craft and duties. What we are saying is that, Nintendo took this technology and made it mainstream. Old technology plus new users equals a rewarding and appealing experience.

In case you’re still having reservations about the Wiimote, just remember: the Internet itself started as a military project. The rest, as they say, is history.

Via BusinessWeek

So much has been said about the Wii and the PS3, two next-gen consoles that launched virtually at the same time. Sony has been very big on high technology, even claiming they are forward looking. Stepping into Sony’s shoes and seeing the world from their own eyes, it’s amusing and amazing how the future is built on graphics alone and almost nothing else.

On the other hand, you have the Wii. Some may say that it might be “poorer” in terms of graphics, but its motion-sensing controller is indeed starting a revolution. Forget the broken TVs, forget all the computer hacks –  everything good needs something that will pave its way. You may want to call it boo-boos, but Nintendo might have struck something golden and lasting this time.

Put it this way: in the movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise‘s character is a detective in the year 2054. He was depicted in various scenes, standing in front of a screen moving videos and data around by shifting his hands. The Wiimote is almost exactly like that. And it doesn’t matter how fanboys or big corporations would boast about their controller’s intelligent features, they are all still base on “the whole click and point mouse paradigm.”

Now, we are not naive. We know that motion-sensing technology is nothing new. For some time now, the military has been using the motion-sensing chip for purposes related to their craft and duties. What we are saying is that, Nintendo took this technology and made it mainstream. Old technology plus new users equals a rewarding and appealing experience.

In case you’re still having reservations about the Wiimote, just remember: the Internet itself started as a military project. The rest, as they say, is history.

Via BusinessWeek