Why Microsoft Newton is a stupid idea.
A few days ago a rumour started that Microsoft were making a motion sensing controller, codenamed Newton, that looked very similar to the Wii remote. Now fortunately I managed to resist making some stupid Isaac Newton joke in the title like: ‘New 360 remote isn’t down to earth’ or ‘360 Motion control, a bad apple waiting to fall’. Ok enough with the the Newton jokes, they barely even make sense. Lets get this over and done with.
For those of you who don’t know, the Microsoft motion sensing controller promises to have a microphone, speaker, A, B, X and Y buttons, a trigger and an analogue stick. Sound vaguely familiar to you? Of course it does, you can’t say motion sensing these days without thinking of the Wii and obviously this controller has similarities to Nintendo’s console. Now I think if Microsoft release this controller, they will be maing a big mistake. Here’s why.
The Wii has been a storming success, with casual and hardcore gamers buying the console. Nintendo are in the money once again and Microsoft want to cash in on it. After all, Sony released the SIX-AXIS so why shouldn’t Microsoft join the party? What Microsoft don’t seem to understand is that the Wii’s motion controls, while making it stand out, are not the Wii’s only selling feature. As much as I try, I cannot think of a game that has impressed me so much with its motion sensing controls, that I couldn’t play the game without it (except Wario Ware). Very few Wii games actually use the motion sensing controls to their full potential, often favouring convoluted methods. For instance to open a door you might have to draw a circle in the air while holding a button, instead of just pushing the remote away from you. It’s motion control, but not translated from real life. Motion control is just one of many selling points for the Wii and not the sole reason it is popular.
Secondly how will Microsoft integrate this new controller? They certainly won’t replace the standard controller. They have four options:
1. Bundle it with all the SKU’s, as well as the standard controller.
2. Bundle it with some, but not all of the SKU’s, further confusing the consumer.
3. Create a new bundle with the new controller in. Again, this will divide the market.
4. Release it as an optional peripheral.
I have to say I don’t see Microsoft bundling in another controller into any of the SKU’s, it’s far too generous. That leaves two options: create a new bundle, or release separately. If Microsoft creates a new bundle with just the Newton then that means all games will have to support the new controls (more on this in just a second), but if they release it separately they face low sales.
Next comes the problem of integrating the controls into games. It would be near impossible for Microsoft to integrate controls into every game released so far - it would require all the released games to be patched with the new controls and this would be impossible for games like Shadowrun, whose developers now no longer exist. That means that they could just update the popular games, such as Halo and Burnout Paradise, and then make sure all future games support it from then on. Alternatively, they could update the popular games from the back catalog, and then make motion controls and optional extra for developers to use. Obviously, we don’t know how much or how well, developers would use this new tool.
Next up, there’s the little problem of why anyone would buy this. Obviously 360 only owners may pick it up, but why would a Wii owner buy it? I do not see the majority of Wii owners heading out onto the streets (or ordering online if you prefer) to go and pick up an accessory that does the same thing that their existing console does. PS3 owners have SIX-AXIS, and if they wanted better motion controls they would probably pick up a Wii for a lower price.
Now I’ve touched on this next point already, but I decided to give it a whole paragraph to itself. Wii games are good because of their content and design, not because of motion sensing. Can you honestly tell me that if motion sensing was removed from Mario Galaxy or Metroid, they it would still not be good games? Of course they’d still be good. Both the games are well designed and fun to play, regardless of the controls. The Wii remote is a gimmick, and while it can really improve a game if done well, most of the time it adds nothing (obviously there are exceptions like Wario Ware). I mean, shaking a controller to attack doesn’t improve gameplay that much, if at all. So this means that unless developers integrated motion controls extremely well, which is unlikely given that it would not be the default controller, motion control will not add anything to an already good game. Microsoft would still sell their games based on quality, not a new control scheme, much like the Wii and this leaves little reason to release a motion sensing controller.
Finally we mustn’t forget that Microsoft have had a go with motion controls already, with the Vision camera. I know it’s not exactly the same as Newton, but it’s still a new way to play games. There are pretty much two main games that are controlled with the Vision camera on the 360: Totemball and Rayman Raving Rabbids. These games are controlled directly with the Vision camera and both are pretty weak - Totemball especially. Microsoft have barely supported the camera, and what is to say that this won;t happen again with Newton?
So, overall it’s looking pretty bleak for Newton. I reckon if it was launched, it would flop (due to gravity). With Microsoft dividing the market further and having to try and integrate controls into existing games, it looks like they would have a lot on their plate. Obviously this is a rumour and it could turn out that they have no plans of releasing a controller, but I have a feeling they will. So what do you think? Good idea, or bad idea?
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April 15th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I agree completely. Very well written article. Good job.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I disagree that they would have to go back and rework older games to be compatible. It would make the most sense as an optional extra going forward, with some games developed primarily for the interface. I’m thinking RTS.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Very well written with excellent points made.I think it’s an awful idea for MS to do this but they’re idiots anyway so let them do it and then abandon it all together, they may not want to do anything more than draw attention away from the Wii.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Of Course, the controller could just be for their next console. “Xbox3 to have motion controller”
April 16th, 2008 at 8:04 am
apart from Ms those idots Sony are also copying it calling it waggle.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
i just want 2 c ms fail again . a gun would b a good idia considering ther sweet tooth 4 shooters
April 16th, 2008 at 9:52 am
i agree with k a gun would be a nice idea .but make it for ps3.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:56 am
yeh that sounds beater .i sopose motion senceing is a big part of games thes days
April 16th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I disagree with this part:
“Very few Wii games actually use the motion sensing controls to their full potential, often favouring convoluted methods. For instance to open a door you might have to draw a circle in the air while holding a button, instead of just pushing the remote away from you. It’s motion control, but not translated from real life. Motion control is just one of many selling points for the Wii and not the sole reason it is popular.”
The motion control IS the sole reason the console is popular.
“The Wii remote is a gimmick, and while it can really improve a game if done well, most of the time it adds nothing (obviously there are exceptions like Wario Ware). I mean, shaking a controller to attack doesn’t improve gameplay that much, if at all.”
That part is true BUT people don’t know this when they buy a Wii. They buy the Wii for the motion control.
The Nintendo Wii has nothing that the Gamecube didn’t have except the Wii-mote.
The rest of the console is a gamecube. (Or a gamecube that has advanced in technology by 18 months.)
You can’t claim its the games doing it (except Wii sports). I had a gamecube with all the Nintendo franchises, they were all great, and they didn’t sell much. Why?
The cube had Mario, it had Smash Brothers, it had Mario Kart.
All the Nintendo franchises that are on the Wii were still there on the Gamecube. And in most cases in a virtually identical form. (Well they had to be the Wii has only advanced 18 months technologically from the gamecube in the space of 5 years.)
People love a gimmick. They love Buzz lightyear dolls. Tamagotchy and Robosapiens.
Like I said the Wii has nothing that the gamecube didn’t have … except the Wii mote. So claiming that people are Nintendos for any other reason is utter rubbish. Why wasn’t Smash Brothers Melee as much of a smash hit on the Gamecube as Brawl is on the Wii?
Why didn’t double dash sell as well as Kart Wii EVEN when Nintendo have killed 4player versus battle mode?
Answer the Gamecube didn’t come with a Wii-mote.
Sure the people that loved Double Dash have bought Wii Kart, but why are all the other people buying it all of a sudden?
April 16th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I think this is a very good move for Microsoft, IF, they plan to make this controller an optional one. Its cost effective way for them to expand there market from the hardcore gamer to the casual gamer. The fun of the Wii-mote has caused the Wii to sell almost more systems worldwide than 360 and PS3 combined. But the 360 just dominates them both on games sold. That means more people are buying and playing more games on 360. And thats where the money is, not on systems. People are realizing that the novelty of the Wii-mote wears off after Wii-Sports. And the controls just do not work well for many games. Which is why more games will be designed for the regular controller. The hit Smash Bros. Brawl is made for the Gamecube controller. Nintendo will always be strong with its first party brand of games and characters. Ask people who have multiple consoles and you will find that they got the Wii because it was cheap of because of the Wii-mote, but its not the system that gets most of the use.
Microsoft can add the “Newton” to its lineup, and expand its library of games with products aimed at casual gamers and kids. When people are searching for a Wii, they can go buy and Xbox instead. You can expect to see a package that has the controller, sensor bar, wii-sports type game in it. And there is also rumor of a Mii style avatar in the future. And that would work great with Xbox Live.
If this “Newton” does come to life. I dont expect it to kill Nintendo, just be a good expansion to the Xbox library. The Wii will always be the cheaper, family friendly choice. And Sony would be smart to do the same thing. The Six Axis was just a poor idea.
In business, if a company is doing something that is working, the competition would be stupid not to do something similar to compete for the consumers money. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have all copied each other at one point. Companies always try to come up with their own original ideas, but need to pay attention to what their competitors are doing, and try to do it better.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
[...] Much more where this came from [...]
April 16th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Have you considered that MS is doing this to just get a foot in the door. Like anything, technology is an investment and bringing this to the market might not bring them much profit it certainly would give them feedback on how to improve for the next generation. It would also make them more competitive even if it flops (due to gravity).
May 11th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
[...] to the PS3 and potentially with the Xbox 360’s rumoured new motion sensing controller: Microsoft Newton. So I think that different input methods such as motion sensing are the way forwards. While [...]