Nintendo MotionPlus hands-on: blah.
By Ryan Block 
posted July 16th 2008 4:27PM
posted July 16th 2008 4:27PM
It's a tricky issue -- gyros, relational movement, real-space, accelerometers, etc., and we've already got the take of the company that helped Nintendo produce the hardware. We also asked the booth rep to explain why we needed the MotionPlus for Sports Resort. Not just because the software requires it, but why it NEEDS it, and not just a regular Wiimote. We were told that with previous Wii Sports games, players could kind of get by with a waggle (this is where he started gesticulating with some what random movements), but now you could play all this crazy stuff, like swords and jet skis.
Earlier we asserted that it felt like most of this could be accomplished with a regular Wiimote -- or what the Wiimote originally promised. That may or may not be the case -- it's hard to say for sure what Nintendo's built-in accelerometers are truly capable of, although we're supposed to take it that this level of motion control isn't in spec. The gyroscopic relational movement MotionPlus is supposed to add just didn't really seem to build on that experience. to make it more accurate and effective in real space.
So why not move to improve the Wiimote's native experience instead of trying to hock another $30 accessory? When you're basing your titles on motion control, changing your system's motion control capabilities strikes us as a monumentally bad idea. What's worse, it strikes us like Nintendo's charging consumers to make good on what we were supposed to be getting in the first place. As of right now, we'll pass -- at least until Nintendo can really bring it home as to why this is the next important thing.
@Miguel
Are you comparing the Wii + accessories to the base price of the Xbox and PS3? In case you have forgotten, neither come complete with four controllers, or any other accessories you may need (if your not buying a MotionPlus or a Nunchuck for the Wii, your buying a headset, recharge station, text pad, or Xbox Live Vision camera for the Xbox 360).
No use in comparing the one to the others.
Both the Wii Wheel and the Wii Zapper thing come with games, as will the MotionPlus. Stop complaining. If you watched the Wii Sports Resort E3 Presentation video and you didn't think you need an extra accelerometer to pull off the accuracy that was being shown when Cammie was twisting the frisbee with her whole arm, then you've never played Wii Sports Baseball and watched the bat as you tried to move it. It jiggles like hell as it tries to predict where your arm is.
Also, just asking, couldn't this theoretically eliminate the need for a sensor bar?
I totally agree. Sure, the accessories come with the game, but for multiplayer (which puts the WE in WII) requires dishing out for three more extra accessories, e.g wheels, motion plus modules.
A Nunchuk and Remote combo is a damn sight more expensive than an extra 360 pad, let alone all the attachments. The 360/PS3 pads need no extra accessories. Sure the 360 pad might need a recharge kit but hey so does the Wii!
I dig the whole casual thing, it's great. But going beyond the balance board and wheel will start turning people off. It will confuse casuals "Whats this for? What do I need to play my game? Oh, I need to buy more to play multiplayer"
Wii was about simplicty and now the slew of extras is eroding that original vision. IMO Remote, Nunchuk, board would be fantastic. No extras, leave it at that.
@Tim:
The Xbox 360 comes with a headset, you have to buy a recharger for the Wiimote too, the textpad is completely optional (you can just use the on-screen keyboard), and even mentioning the Xbox Live *camera* is really showing how desperate you are to force a point that isn't there.
The nunchuks and MotionPlus adapters will be required for some games and you have to purchase the Wii microphone separately.
@Tim
No, you will still need the sensor bar. One function of the sensor bar is to provide a reference so that the Wiimote knows that it is being pointed at the TV. This function, at least, cannot be duplicated by a new set of gyros or accelerometers as they have no way of interpreting orientation relative to another object.
Yeah, I agree. Seems kind of pointless. I dont think many people will buy it.
Older games can't use it?
So much for finally being able to putt in Wii Sports...
As it is, all the Wiimote can really detect is acceleration. That doesn't allow for much more than waggle controls, as it has almost no way to determine it's postion in space or rotation. This was necessary to attain as close to 1:1 control as possible, since it allows for much better detection of position and rotation.
Besides, wouldn't you rather pay $30(if it's that much. They never named a price) than pay $40 for a brand new Wiimote?
They're going to pack it in with WiiSports Resort, aren't they? So bingo there's about 10 million of them in the hands of WiiOwners, right off the bat.
They really should make a WiiMote2 however that comes with this tech built into it.
Put in a golf or baseball game and you've differentiated yourself, big time.
Too bad Nintendo was too paranoid to share this with some of their closest 3rd party devs in advance so they could take advantage of it earlier.
Still, it's not pointless it will become common with WiiSports Resort (unless I'm totally off base with the pack-in thing, then fail music, please.).
Stick an APPLE logo on it and this place would be praising it.
While I agree, I have a hard time picturing Apple doing something like this.
True... Apple would just upgrade the software and add email, and make you pay $10 for it.
I was going to say the exact same thing...
Spot on, it's a shame but Engadget has become a little bit fanboyish itself, it supports Apple and all it's ventures plus it seems to love everything that the Xbox team produce.
That's what i'm thinking to because ign loves it as well.They even have video of them playing the sword fighting game and the movements are 1:1 to me or they are pretty damn close.
Nintendo can add a motor on their wiimote and gesticulate it up their alley and see how much that improves their quality of gaming. I don't care for accesories is the part where you have to have it to play a game that gets me.
go read the impressions on other sites. they all say this is what the Wii remote should have been when it first came out. don't listen to this engadget impression. i guarantee that there is no way the original wii remote could detect the subtle movements that are being detected in wii sports resort.
just watch IGNs sword-play video with the guy in the video. the response is nearly instantaneous, and it's ACCURATE. no more waggle, you actually have to do the movements. no more shake wiimote for a canned animation, that won't work anymore. This is what most of us dreamed about when the remote was announced, and it's finally here. i'm excited.
Awesome, now my minigame collections are going to be so much more fulfilling!
Yup i agree i don't know what they played.All i know is that i have a wii and i play alot of wiisports and the closes thing to 1:1 was baseball and that wasn't even close.There is no way the normal wiimote could get 1:1 with out this hardware.
The real question is, will Nintendo make this a mandatory accessory by requiring it for their future first party games? It really seems like it would undercut their cheap and simple vibe, but on the other hand, if they don't support it, nobody else will.
And, when XBox and PS3 release their rumored competing motion wands, will they including this functionality?
Can we call them something more manly than wands?
You know, we could, but I was hoping to keep Sigmund Freud out of this.
if it helps accuracy for FPS games on the wii and other devs support it, it may work out well. guess we will have to wait.
by 09 all the games ill need by Q2 '09 they'll have a new wiimote that will have this feature integrated.
They played that jetski game yesterday with the knumbchuck but I still have yet to see any pictures of the remote with the wiimotion connecting to the knumbchuck....
The motion plus has alittle flap in the back i'm assuming that is to connect the nunchuck.
This is so very Nintendo.
Reminds me of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:N64-4MB_expansion1.jpg
I don't mind that Engadget didn't like the new add-on, but I do agree that their coverage of such a major peripheral is remarkably shoddy. If you're going to get a hands-on look at one of the biggest stories to come out of E3, you ought to do better than an incoherent two-paragraph rant. In one sentence, Ryan seems to have noticed a difference; in the next sentence, he didn't. And I have a hard time believing that the Nintendo rep was as ignorant and incomprehensible as the post made him/her out to be.
That "other" tech site published a thoughtful article that took the time to offer a thorough evaluation of the MotionPlus mechanics and to place the MotionPlus in historical context.
It's very unusual for Engadget to be outdone by its peer sites on such a fundamental piece of gadget news. Given the dearth of big news coming out of this year's E3, I think it's an obvious call to dedicate a little more care to the MotionPlus report, whether the verdict is positive or negative.
Or maybe you both can except the fact that the big N just wants your money and puts out crap accessories to take your money :).
It was plainly obvious what they were saying.
It shows slight improvements in games (that require) where it can measure more movement, but nothing fanatically different that the wiimote couldnt do before. In other words nintendo put this crap out to sell maybe 4-5 first party developer company games and make another quick buck.
The review seemed very on point. Its a waste of money, just like the other crap they announced, the wiispeak.
Hello? Remember how you felt when Zelda sword swinging wasn't 1:1 but it was still an amazing game??? I'd have no problem paying $30 for a little 1:1 action.
"I'd have no problem paying $30 for a little 1:1 action."
That sounds like something you'd say when you're desperate for sex.
From the pictures in the gallery it looks like the nunchuk will still plug into the bottom of all this
Honestly, this is why I've stopped using the system. I absolutely love the idea behind it, but every time I try to play a Wii game, I just end up frustrated. It never feels like I'm particularly in control of what's going on; I can do all sorts of things, and the response on-screen remains the same.
A lot of people harp on the graphics being behind the times. And sure, they're not fantastic, but it's not something I even notice most of the time. It's the control that lets me down every time.
Hands up who thought this would revolutionise the way you play games?
Nobody? Good. My faith in humanity is restored.
Snake oil.
Yeah no go on this. This will be a total failure. I can see it now....... parents and "the targeting a broader demographic" folks won't buy this. A: "It makes the motion better!" B:"But isn't there already motion???" A:"yeah but this makes it more accurate" B:"how much?" A:"30 bucks"= no go. If nintendo decided to make this a new wiimote and ship it with all consoles starting today.... I could see this as an must have. Was gonna get a wii but after e3 the big N smells alot like pee.
It's bundled with Wii Sports Resort. So it will "sell".
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=28237
"Another new addition for Nintendo is the Wii MotionPlus, an accessory for the Wii Remote that includes a gyroscope which improves the precision of the motion control. With MotionPlus, the controller can now offer true one-to-one movement. The accessory will be bundled with Wii Sports Resort next spring."
Yeah...... maybe if its a pack in with the system as well. Actually since just about nothing was shown except for Animal cross, wii musux and this with resort I guess it will sell because there is nothing else out there coming along to the system. It just seems so dissapointing that with all the money nintendo has been making they haven't come up with some more game development teams. Where is the platformer??? or how about an wii earthbound? You know something with a story to go along with it. Are they really going just the party game route. You don't need a wii to play beer pong or stay in shape.
Thanks for your response, Dan. I gather that you believe the MotionPlus is "crap." That's fine. Like I said, I don't mind that Engadget had a negative take on the accessory. I don't have much invested in the MotionPlus one way or the other. What surprised me is that Engadget's reporting was so hasty and underwhelming compared to other sites' coverage. It's not about "excepting" [sic] facts, it's about getting the facts from a usually reliable site.
But this is an aberration from some usually fine work by the Engadget crew, so it's probably not worth hammering the point home any further.
After Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Wario Ware and some virtual console games I wanted to try my Wii feels useless. I just play Gamecube games on it now.
We need some PROPER GAMES. Don't forget about the people whove stuck by you for 20 years.
i trust ign better than you anyway...
seems to me you already have the mindset of the peripheral to fail before you tried it so as i can see, i fail to see how the peripheral can do any better.
so what if you can golf... have you tried it? it isn't perfect.. if you move your wiimote, the game will think you're swinging; if this helps correct that then i do believe it's worth it. it eliminates the waggle issue everybody brings up or complain about - and now it's fixed.
besides you do the things you do to act out for real and now this can actually help the games move as realistic.
it wasn't on the console to begin with because technology did not allow it and/or it would have made it a little more expensive. nintendo did not predict their console to become this big. at least now they're trying to make their console better. hell, xbox has a lot of add-ons to improve their system, why couldn't nintendo.
plus i doubt this is the final product. for all we know it is still in development.
not to mention, nintendo only announced to make xbox360 and ps3 to hold off their own motion-sensor controllers.
Come on. I expected more fro mengadget. They post an uninformed article and then state the accessory is useless when they are wrong. People described why this is needed. It adds gyroscopes to the controller. Which are different then accelerometers.
Inexpensive gyros where not available to nintendo until now.
Other gaming sites have shown and stated themselves that its much better tracking motion now with the accessory.
Come on I excpeted better from this site.
Just so you can't twitch it. bullshit.
seems to me you already have the mindset of the peripheral to fail before you tried it so as i can see, i fail to see how the peripheral can do any better.
so what if you can golf... have you tried it? it isn't perfect.. if you move your wiimote, the game will think you're swinging; if this helps correct that then i do believe it's worth it. it eliminates the waggle issue everybody brings up or complain about - and now it's fixed.
besides you do the things you do to act out for real and now this can actually help the games move as realistic.
it wasn't on the console to begin with because technology did not allow it and/or it would have made it a little more expensive. nintendo did not predict their console to become this big. at least now they're trying to make their console better. hell, xbox has a lot of add-ons to improve their system, why couldn't nintendo.
plus i doubt this is the final product. for all we know it is still in development.
not to mention, nintendo only announced to make xbox360 and ps3 to hold off their own motion-sensor controllers.
This accessory is going to end being neglected by developers just like the N64 Memory expansion or the Genesis disk drive. Maybe we will get 2 or 3 games that supports it and that's all.
I don't see any need for this, the current Wiimote works fine as it is and people love it. Nintendo should have saved this technology for the successor to the Wii in the future to be built in on the controllers.
Synopsis:
With the Nintendo MotionPlus, concentrate on your game as you may, you're still just as likely to be defeated by a four year old waggling their WiiMote around as if they're having a seizure.
Personally I can't wait for this, the number of times I've been playing Wii Sports, Wario Ware, Pro Evo, etc. and completed the motion I was told to do only to have nothing happen is immeasurable. When you try to do too much with the current Wiimote, it just gets confused and does nothing. Which can be a touch annoying when playing Drinking Wario, and trying to make that damn pen write or straighten those freaking papers up...
Well, there is likely a difference, but the games shown to demonstrate it probably aren't great examples. I think the problem here is that people are expecting improved tracking of the remote's physical location in 3D space, when the location of the MotionPlus on the remote suggests it's for tracking the remote's orientation. The Wii does a pretty impressive job of approximating the orientation of the remote, it's still pretty easy to confuse the thing. My guess is that the MotionPlus will alleviate that problem.
What I'd really like to see though, is a future firmware update to the Wii that allows the MotionPlus to be used retroactively with current Wii titles by calculating the average of data from both the remote and the MotionPlus to improve overall tracking and allow it to prevent errors in absolute orientation tracking. (I could see games like Boom Blox or No More Heroes becoming a lot more comfortable to play as a result.)
Well, the Wiimote right now kinda fails when you aren't pointing the controller in the direction of the IR receiver. All bets are off then. Doesn't the MotionPlus add-on help to fix that?
I entirely think that engadget completely missed the boat on this one, and am quite disappointed in it, being a gadget site for having such a near-sighted review of the peripheral. Anyone who has any basic combination of physics and technology knowledge was extremely excited when the peripheral was announced, shocked by its low pricepoint of 30 dollars, and is utterly shocked by Ryan Block's suggestion that the motion of the bat in Wii Sports is in any way comparable to the motion of the frisbee in Disc Dog. Among other things which make it clear to me that this review was done with an incredible lack of knowledge and charity to Nintendo (who have created very nearly nothing but quality since the Wii, maybe even the DS) is the fact that the jet-skiing game is assumed to require the Wii MotionPlus peripheral, when all other actual video game reviewers made it clear that it doesn't require it. Please, leave the video game reviewing to your Weblog partner, Joystiq.