E3 2006: Seeing The Difference.
Wiimote vs. PS3-mote. Did Sony just steal a revolution?
by IGN Staff @ http://revolution.ign.com/articles/705/705870p1.html

May 8, 2006 - Just minutes ago, Sony made the announcement that its controllers would support tilt sensitivity and showed off the feature with a live demo of Warhawk. While this is a bit of a surprise, it also is to be expected in the grand scheme of gaming. Nintendo has been an innovator from the very beginning, and the best compliment is imitation. Of course, it's a little different when that imitation could put you out of business, right? Although PlayStation 3's and Wii's controllers may share some of the same technology, don't go counting Nintendo out just yet. There are some key differences between the controllers, and between what PS3 and Wii can do with the technology. Let's break it down.

We've known for over a year now that the Wii's input device is what makes it special. The Wiimote (as we've come accustomed to calling it), has the ability to point at any television with pixel-perfect control. In addition, it also can move in three dimensional space, meaning that if a player wants to punch an enemy in the face, they can by simply moving the controller forward. To add to the control, the nunchuck unit can team along with the Wiimote, giving tilt functionality to any game, as well as an analog joystick.

Luckily, Sony's technology isn't quite the same. Here's why:

The technology inside Sony's controller is a basic tilting accelerometer device. In a sense, that's the same style of control as the left hand of the Wii combination. Think of the technology as true 3D movement vs. basic tilt. The Wiimote will sense all pointing, motion and a new dimension of control, while the PS3 controller will expand only on the specific tilt functions. To make this a bit simpler to wrap your heads around, we've put it all in FAQ form below.

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Is this technology the same?
No. In fact, the best way to imagine it is to relate the Sony PS3 controller to the left-hand Wii controller; dubbed nunchuck. In short, you would not be able to play a game like Metroid Prime in the same way using the PS3 controller.

What is the difference for developers?
Simply put, it's tilt vs. motion sensing. Monkey Ball for Wii and PS3 would essentially be the same, since it's only using the tilt ability of the controller. On the other hand, a 3D tennis game or sword fighting game with swing control elements is impossible for the PS3 hardware, as it requires full motion sensing technology.

Why doesn't it need a sensor bar?
Since the technology is based solely off the tilt ability, it is self-contained. Keep in mind that the sensor bar is used for the point and click ability of the Wii functions. It doesn't need the bar, since it doesn't use that technology. The same applies to the Wii nunchuck. It can function without a sensor bar.

What type of gameplay styles will work on the PS3 controller?
Here are a few examples: Kirby's Tilt 'n Tumble (which featured tilt control on the Game Boy Color), Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, racing games (using the tilt to rotate), flight sims, Monkey Ball, fishing (flick the tilt controller).

What type of things won't work on the PS3 controller?
The following actions can't be done on the PS3 controller with the same precision: Throwing/Catching a ball at a specific spot shown on screen, swinging a sword in 3D space and performing stabbing motions, aiming a weapon light-gun-style, swinging a racket, punching, general 3D item interaction, 3D drum simulator, swatting an "on-screen" fly, performing two separate tilt/motion functions at the same time.

In short, Nintendo fans still have a ton to look forward to. Will Wii have what it takes to give the world a true gaming revolution? We'll see you tomorrow morning at Nintendo's E3 conference.

6 axis is not even Wii lite. The Wii-mote can certainly do more. The point of the Wii-mote is to make playing games simpler. The PS3 controller still requires two hands. Try using it as a light gun or using it as a sword.

It's basically like the nunchuck attachment.

i cant wait for Nintendo E3 conference! yay

3 axes. x, y, z, all the axes in a 3d space.

the wiimote does this without an accelerometer, PLUS knows where it is exactly in 3d space.

btw it's not confirmed yet how many axes the nunchaku component accelerometer will be able to sense.

Taken from Gamespot E3 Blog
If You're Going to Say Sony Stole the Controller...

...then be sure you attribute the correct source. They didn't steal from Nintendo. They actually stole from Microsoft (and Logitech). The picture you're looking at here is a picture I took of gyroscopic, motion sensing controllers that Logitech and Microsoft manufactured for the PC in 1999. Yes, 1999 as in more than seven years ago.

Contary to the rapidly developing urban legend that's forming now, the idea of a motion sensing controller is not something Nintendo invented just last year. It's just as false as the Nintendo invented analog joysticks and Al Gore invented the internet fairy tales. Actual products that you could BUY were available more than seven years ago on your PC. I used these controllers to play games like Motocross Madness and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. And they worked exactly as you saw that Sony representative playing Warhawk during the E3 press conference. So while hundreds of farked images of the Sony PS3 controller are being constructed and uploaded now accusing Sony of stealing from Nintendo, I just wanted to point out that this idea was soooo 20th century, and immediately flamed out on the PC because they were honestly more of a novelty than they were practical.

For whatever reason, motion sensing controllers are now all the rage, as two of the big three are offering this functionality in their new consoles. But unless developers really embrace the technology and use it as a basis for their game designs, it's not going to be any different in 2006 than it was for the Logitech Gamepad Extreme and Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle controllers on the PC in 1999. Here's hoping things turn out better for this new-old idea used in both the Wii and the PS3.

UPDATE: Thanks to actionjax25 for reminding me of Le Stick, a motion sensing controller for the Atari 2600 and Atari 800 that dates back more than 20 years. Aside from looking like a bomb detonator, this thing used mercury-filled sensors. I totally remember using this stick to play those classic Atari games. So while some of you may argue that the Logitech and Microsoft controllers are PC and not console oriented and don't count...the Le Stick was a true console-first. BTW, it really sucked.

ahaha, point noted. i'm sure d two consoles will fare better than pc cos developers for consoles only got the controllers to work with n it would be dumb to discard all d features. for d pc, there's always d keyboard:P

sihum, though sony might not have copied from nintendo but dont u think tht d timing is a lil more than just a coincidence?

And PS3's controller don't have rumble. It's sucks being sued by Immersion Technologies (**cough** Nintendo **cough**)

Coincidence? I think not.

Sony/PS3 had been very quiet ever since the 360 launched. Or even, when the Wii-mote was revealed. This led them to fall behind in the gaming scene. But being behind the news has them doing some smart research.

With that amount of time spent on not releasing any info(or little, yet useless and boring), they probably have decided that they need more than just POWER.. To compete with the other big two. 360 has Live!/power, Ninty is changing the way we play/NiWiFi.

And if you can't beat them, join them, am I right? PS3 will have free online gaming service(M$oft loses out, but competes with NiWiFi), and now has an added functionality which is the gyro/accelometer. (vs. Ninty, 360 is left behind with no swinging).

With that said, their conference was lined-up to be the FIRST and what an opportunity it was to speak out to gamers first. They wanna be just like Nintendo, secretive.. A-Bomb dropping news, and of course, loved.

I doubt it'd have any effect

hahaha, exactly. n the conclusion is? microsoft might lag way behind. hopefully nintendo can recapture no.2. been seeing more 3rd party support than usual.

no sihumchai, the old motion sensing gyroscopic controllers only sensed motion in 1 axis. using it for racing games that only requires left and right turns are okay, but you won't wanna play monkey ball with it.

@ nub: If you were refering to the PS3 controller, I understand it will not work as good as the Wiimote. Gyro's somewhat like Warioware Twisted.. But with more axis.

But forget how it functions, it does add an amount of playability(PS3) now that is has the gyros innit.

I may not be hardcore in gaming, but I do know my buttons in a controller and I'm well adjusted to them, as you are to your Xbox/PS2/Gamecube/PC controller. BUT with the added functionality of gyros, couldn't games be developed differently, and be more fun at the same time? (with the traditional control of course)

I admit, Sony was right on track with giving gyro a go.

Here's what I think- Nintendo has full-swing controls, M$oft still is traditional, Sony just jumped on the gyro bandwagon PLUS traditional controls.

With THAT said, devs. who usually does multi-platform porting(EA) will have trouble porting games from one to the other. Well, I think 360 to Wii/PS3 port would be easy, but not Wii(PS3 maybe) to 360.

Developers now have to choose on who gets the (full)support. Nintendo has always had few(the least la) among all. Unlike Sony games churning out 50 titles a month. Sony would probably retain them(devs), but Nintendo is getting more like you said. (I gonna type out something nice about 360, but I keep thinking about sports and racing titles)..

We'll have to see.. When you wake up tomorrow morning, start screaming "NINTENDO PRESS CONFERENCCEEEEEEEE, NINTENDO PRESSS CONFEEREENCCEEEE!! WHEEE!!!"

This post has been edited by sihumchai: May 9 2006, 07:20 PM

actually i was referring to your "If You're Going to Say Sony Stole the Controller..." post. it is unfair to say nintendo or sony stole the motion sensing idea from old microsoft controllers because those old gamepads only sensed motion in 1 axis.

who are going to watch Nintendo's Press Conference live later?

come let's go mamak watch together

The Sony Online service is not CONFIRMED to be free yet. During the conference the guy said that the basic community services will be free. This would probably be like XBox Live silver, scoreboards, friendslist, messages. etc. etc.

who got skype here?

i think when it comes to online services i somewhat doubt sony. they have never been able to come up with a good interface or software. sonic stage anyone?

yea, watchin conference later thought 1.30 am here!

Joystiq:Xbox 360's third-party support may suffer, says analyst

Gyro controllers aint new, quite a few companies have try to make them and they never caught on. I don't see how just because the PS3 has a Gyro controller that developers will take more advantage of it and abandon the 360.

Can't belive Sony ripping off Nintendo again, this tilt sensor is quite similar to that Wario game for the GBA. This time they ripping something and sacrifice the vibration thing.

I won't argue with you on that. Games will be games and they will still be played [well] using the conventional controller. Even the Wii has released the 'traditional' control method.

I also believe that 360 won't lose it's developers just because of these two companies(Sony, Nintendo) using gyro mechanism. It's still about faith in which console will make more money from software.

Nintendo games are built around the sensory/gyro gimmick, while Sony just incorporates the add-on. Thus the use of gyro is NOT necessary for Sony's success for the PS3. (meaning, traditional control method is still in priority, PS2 controller + gyro? Now that's gimmick)

So, the statement above may be flawed, but it would be a horror to see it happen. A good year for next-gen console war. (but Reggie did say that Wii was not next-gen )

I just realised, with microsoft getting their next gen out a year ahead, they should be able to keep their lead on the next next gen console too. And if they can get it out faster it would be a cool if they got a whole generation infront of sony and nintendo (although strictly speaking they would have caught up with sony and still be lagging behind nintendo in terms of console numbers)

why would mc be lagging behind nintendo? aint nintendo no.3 at d moment? in terms of console sales? if sony keeps its promise to ship out 6 million units in six mths, i would say tht would negate any advantage mc had on time. ps3, though of the high price tag is gonna sale like hot cakes, esp here in japan. i was in my class talkin today and everybody was 'ps3,ps3,ps3,ps3,ps3, i want one. nintendo what?' blahs. n dont think just tht they're 16-17 means tht they cant afford it. not tht they're rich but part time jobs are are lucrative. tht said, japan is a weird market where xbox will never reign!

Maybe they are taken by the fact that FFXIII is coming out for the PS3?

Y'know, Japan's crazy over FF.. right?

In my defence: I got to know this through lik-sang on 'Most wanted games in Japan'.. FF will always be on top.. Since XII is out, maybe XIII will be next on #1 most wanted.

This post has been edited by sihumchai: May 10 2006, 06:45 PM

ahaha.. seems that way. but the other franchise sony holds tht has japs hearts set is gran turismo.