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The Daily Grind: Would you play a motion sensor-controlled MMO?
As great as MMOs can be, they are still limited to a mere two senses -- sight and sound -- and have their interfaces strapped to either controllers or a mouse-and-keyboard setup. It doesn't take much to spark the imagination for possibilities to expand beyond these limitations, such as using your entire body to control an avatar instead of just your hands and fingers. Lately we've been seeing a few studios and enterprising hobbyists experimenting with Kinect-like controls as a way to interact in a whole-new way with MMOs. It's not hard to see the potential for increased immersion (and increased silliness, perhaps) as you wave your hands to cast spells or chop the head off an innocent villager. Er, I mean "rampaging Orc." Yeah. So if this technology advanced to the point that your favorite MMO was using it, would you play a motion sensor-controlled game? Does it seem as if it would suck you more into the game or just frustrate you? Would this be an excellent way to both exercise and level up? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
You are the navigator: China developing motion-sensing MMO
MMO players are always looking for games that provide deeper, more immersive experiences to draw us into the game world and keep us there. China, one of the world's largest MMORPG markets, is attempting to forge ahead with the next evolution of immersive gameplay by combining online games with motion-sensing controls. Jin Gang Network is developing Land of Lords Online, an MMO that promises to allow players to explore the world and control their characters via a Kinect-like device. Without touching a physical controller or keyboard, a person can instruct his avatar to move, kill and cast spells in the game. Although details on the project are scant at this point, the company says that it will be releasing a video next month to show how the game's technology works. Whether motion-sensing controls are the next true gaming interface or just an odd fad, China isn't the only place where a marriage between MMOs and such devices is being explored. Students from the University of Southern California hacked a Kinect to interface with World of Warcraft while South Korea's GamePrix is bringing the Kinect-compatible Divine Souls to Xbox.
Ubisoft confirms Red Steel, Revolution exclusive
Ubisoft has officially announced Red Steel for the Nintendo Revolution. The game's existence was leaked late last week from the unpublished pages of Game Informer. As reported then, Red Steel will feature motion-controlled sword- and gunplay utilizing the Revolution controller's unique functionality. Ubisoft's chief creative officer Serge Hascoet confirmed that the title would be exclusive to Nintendo's next-gen platform, stating, "We have been working closely with Nintendo to take full advantage of the innovative controller to create a thrilling experience that can only exist on the Revolution."Today, Ubisoft revealed its intention to turn Red Steel into an ongoing franchise, with the first title joining the Revolution's launch lineup. The game is set in contemporary Japan where players must master both "the ancient art of the katana" and modern firearms. Ubisoft also confirmed that Red Steel would be on display at E3 next month.
