Moore: Sony/MS to look beyond motion

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 April, 2009

MS "constantly thinking 3-5 years ahead".

EA Sports president Peter Moore believes that both Sony and Microsoft will be looking at Nintendo's success with the Wiimote in terms of how to build on it rather than "replicate" the functionality in this generation.

Asked about motion controllers by GameTrailers, Moore said: "I think that, knowing Microsoft in particular obviously, is that they are constantly thinking three to five years ahead of where consumer behaviour's going to be, how do people want to interact with their games, and are probably thinking about - not how do we replicate, you know, motion control, but how do we go one step further?

"So, to your point, I think they're doing that and I think Sony are probably the same."

Microsoft has been heavily linked with a Wiimote-style controller in the past, while Sony reportedly had a break-apart motion controller in development - although the PS3 Sixaxis and DualShock 3 both already allow for a degree of motion control.

Having been boss of the Xbox business for several years prior to his arrival at EA Sports in 2007, Moore could well have been privy to discussions about a new peripheral, but if he was then, hardly surprisingly, he's keeping it quiet.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • robson_wii #1 3 years ago

    So will we see two 360s taped together and more casual games from MS?

  • andywilkie35 #2 3 years ago

    Christ I hope if they do something like this then they do indeed try to go past it and not replicate it. Last thing I need is all three major consoles being wagglefests

  • b00n #3 3 years ago

    3D!

  • Plewt #4 3 years ago

    The use of motion controls can be argued of course but I simply can't see them not using the pointing function.

  • photoboy #5 3 years ago

    I think motion controls are just a basic way of making interaction more visceral and realistic, e.g. swinging the remote like a bat or club.

    So to go to the next step I would expect to see something along the lines of the Power Glove on the next generation of systems. I know the Power Glove was shit (I owned one!) but I'm sure in this day and age it would be possible to create gloves that work well. Maybe some ankle sensors to detect walking/running could be added too.

  • robson_wii #6 3 years ago

    ^^ Pointing functionality would be useful and the Wii has had mixed success with motion control. The new Wii Motion plus might show real potential but it's only what it should have been like on day 1. Having seen some very good motion control (and some lousy) I would hope that Sony and MS cherry-pick the best bits and keep the competition going since the idea is still in its infancy.

  • Freek #7 3 years ago

    Isn't it more likely that he was just dodging the question?

  • oreillymj #8 3 years ago

    Would love motion tracking 3D glasses. They would be excellent for FPS shooters and driving games.

    Someone should integrate 3D glasses into a racing style helmet with surround sound. Would make rally, F1 games uber realistic.

  • Xerx3s #9 3 years ago

    I seriously hope not. They would have to get it right and like the wii, I doubt they can. Give me old style controls that where perfected by decades of design improvement any day of the week. Oh well, could always go back to the pc I suppose.

    /waits for diablo 3

  • mcbi4kh2 #10 3 years ago


    Someone should integrate 3D glasses into a racing style helmet with surround sound. Would make you look a complete nob.

    Fixed.

    +1 Xerx3s
    Edited by mcbi4kh2 at 20/04/09 @ 10:18

  • dingo75 #11 3 years ago

    Good that MS knows what I want to do in 3-5 years because right now I don't even know yet what I will have for lunch.
    Soothing to know that at least they have a clue.

  • Xerx3s #12 3 years ago

    "Microsoft may well think 3-5 years ahead, but they completely fail at introducing new technology and generally have to wait for someone else to show them how to do it properly before they copy it."

    Lol. You mean like dedicated hard drives in a console, broadband unified only console service, wireless controls out of the box as standard, HD console gaming by default, unified marketplace, etc. etc.

  • kinky_mong #13 3 years ago

    I hope they look beyond motion control entirely as it is a gimmicky waste of time.

  • adcworks #14 3 years ago

    remember watching the VR helmet on gamesmaster anyone? yeah, that didn't really work. there is only one place to go after waggle controls and touch screens and that's mind control mwoo ha ha ha haaa

  • Machetazo #15 3 years ago

    Xerx3s: "Lol. You mean like dedicated hard drives in a console..."

    Let me stop you there, for just a moment. Having an optional hard drive (dedicated or otherwise) is all well and good, but seņor developer cannot rely on there being a hd in every machine - which has got to be considered an oversight by Microsoft?

    "broadband unified only console service"
    Sorry, now you've really lost me. Besides, it's only 'unified' provided you are using a wired connection. If you choose to use wireless, or the console's nowhere near the router, necessitating it, you need to buy an extra costly device (but Sony's machine is wireless, as soon as you get it out of the box).

    Also, Xerx3s, it IS commonplace to find Microsoft evolving existing ideas, all the while yelling "innovation!", more so than their record of bringing entirely fresh console concepts to the table. I'd say they've a 70/30 record, in favour of recycling.

  • Xerx3s #16 3 years ago

    Machetazo: Instead of debunking that crap, I'm going to ask you to provide me with some examples from other companies do do otherwise. So by your words, anything that is not an evolution of what others did before them.

  • Garulon #17 3 years ago

    "Sorry, now you've really lost me. Besides, it's only 'unified' provided you are using a wired connection. "

    He means unified in that the console provides all the underlying functionality and the games hook into that - friends lists, messaging, voice, invites, matchmaking, achievements, parties, game defaults etc. etc. So you only have to (for example) set "I use inverted Y" once on the 360 and every single game obeys it, by law. Your saved games are grouped by your signin profile, you only have to "avoid player" once and he's gone in every game you play on the 360.

    Stuff like that, which is not only innovative in the sense that Microsoft did it first, a lot of it is stuff that only they are doing now, despite the Wii and PS3 launching a year later. The Wii was always going to have a terrible online experience (although I'm surprised at how terrible it actually is), but there's no excuse for the PS3.

  • CreepinJesus #18 3 years ago

    How are we meant to relax by playing games when we have to jump around and swing our arms everywhere when playing?

  • Machetazo #19 3 years ago

    Thanks, Garulon. I think I got thrown by the 'broadband' part of their sentence. :)
    I recognise that Microsoft did bring new, entirely fresh concepts into the console space, such as Netflix integration, the marketplace concept in general (xbox), and more. But, there's also been things like You're in the Movies, reminiscent of Eyetoy that laid the foundation, there. The NXE interface is like an expanded (and, frankly, deeper) XMB, and, of course, the Avatar concept isn't a million miles from Nintendo's Mii efforts, also, Singstar/Lips.

    You're entirely right, Xerx3s, that technology goes through revisions, and they don't always come from the one company; as the competition spurs the R&D depts on towards the next big thing. Instead of struggling to complete your challenge, I'll instead set you the task of detailing (since you've been talking up Microsoft's capabilities, and accomplishments) times where the other competing manufacturers have clearly been 'inspired' by Microsoft.

    All right. For your entertainment, I'll throw Nintendo's Virtual Boy, your way. That was really ambitious; and then, there's SEGA's 32x/Mega CD (performance enhancing peripherals - console first?) Game Gear - coloured screen: on a handheld! ;) ) Although, it's clear there's a distinct pattern in all these innovations. None of them really lasted! :)
    Oh! I just thought of a possible another one...Does Tetris count? Is there precedent for a falling blocks puzzle game before that?

    I have a better one. What did the Dreamcast's VMU evolve from?
    Edited by Machetazo at 20/04/09 @ 11:35

  • El-Dev #20 3 years ago

    MS truly are innovators. I wonder if Sony and Nintendo will start giving out 3 year extended warranties with their consoles just to copy MS's success.

  • Spekingur #21 3 years ago

    "MS has introduced the X720 which includes... THE GAMING SUIT! And with Halo6 you can now get the Master Chief Gaming Suit!" :p

  • leftlion #22 3 years ago

    If MS are always looking 3-5 years ahead, then why didn't they implement waggle when the xbox 360 was launched? Clearly (looking at the high Wii sales) it is what they consumer wants.

    And yet they implement HD when the majority of people are still on normal definition (same goes to Sony with the blueray stuff).

    It only seems to be nintendo that genuinely releases a product that the market it ready for. I mean, like I said above about HD, the Wii doesn't do HD yet, but when most consumers aren't ready for HD what is the point in including it....it just makes the cost of the console, and cost of games more to produce. Just like the gamecube didn't use broadband as most people didn't have it, but now they do.

  • IneptPercy #23 3 years ago

    Overclocked 360s and PS3's with waggle sticks it is then...

  • Jasugun #24 3 years ago

    What Moore means:
    EA Sports president Peter Moore believes that both Sony and Microsoft will be looking at Nintendo's success with the Wiimote in terms of how to build on it so that very few notice that they actually "replicate" the functionality in this generation.
    Edited by Jasugun at 20/04/09 @ 12:55

  • andijames #25 3 years ago

    @Garulon

    "but there's no excuse for the PS3"

    In all fairness Microsoft had pretty much laid the foundations for the xbox live experience in the original xbox and just matured it more with the 360. Sony on the other hand are only just getting into the online experience with the PS3 so, for what started out as even having online gaming being optional (E.G. Virtua Tennis 3) now we have a pretty robust online experience.

  • NotSoSlim #26 3 years ago

    Well said andijames

  • Quak #27 3 years ago

    although the PS3 Sixaxis and DualShock 3 both already allow for a degree of motion control.

    LOL. Yeah, "control".

  • Wickedbug #28 3 years ago

    Most of the posters must be really young.

    Microsft already had a gamepad with motion control back in the Motocross Madness 2 days, it was called the Sidewinder Freestyle:

    [link url=http://www.s2.com.br/s2arquivos/361/Imagens/671Image.JPG
    ]http://www.s2.com.br/s2arquivos/361/Imag...[/link]

    So, yeah, they were pretty much ahed of Nintendo and Sony on this one.

  • djed #29 3 years ago

    MS "constantly thinking 3-5 years ahead".

    Not so much their hardware department, eh?

  • smelly #30 3 years ago

    >MS "constantly thinking 3-5 years ahead".


    I read that as "MS - constantly looking at what the competition is doing now sucessfully and thinking about how to rip it off in 3 to 5 years time"

  • patchbox360 #31 3 years ago

    think ahead and make console that works jackasses

  • AOFanboi #32 3 years ago

    <em>Sony on the other hand are only just getting into the online experience with the PS3</em>

    ... if you ignore a number of PS2 titles with online play, including two MMOs (EverQuest Adventures and FF XI). But the broadband adapter was optional until the PSTwo was released though.

  • andijames #33 3 years ago

    @AOFanboi

    Yep they did a few online games but they were all pretty independent of each other. It only really became more unified through the PS3 as, like you say, the adaptor was optional until the slim came out.

  • robg #34 3 years ago

    MS are great at improving their products through innovation.

    Internet Explorer is getting better and better each day it looks more and more like a slow Firefox, Silverlight increasingly has more and more of the features of Flash, Windows' user authentication looks more and more like Unix's, Windows 7 has much more of a Mac feel to the UI and .NET looks like Java.

    They just improve them through someone else's innovation.

    (360 and Wii owner here, I'm just not a partisan moron)

  • Sesonic #35 3 years ago

    Someone tell me why I can't get an ultra accurate gun that i could shoot at the screen, that would be realy cool. I'm thinking gun in one hand and direction / movement / zoom in the other!

  • Linkified #36 3 years ago

    We already know what they are looking at and its semi vr. They bought the company which uses ahigh precision camera to replicate punches thrown in real time. They are bound to have in their next program some console level api which turns games into 3d. Theres your answers ladys and gentlemen.

    Plus I think we can all agree motion controls in every game have been shit and no point. No point in uncharted, and certainly no point in mario and more recently. Just cos some fucking retard can't figure out our to press a button should games developers be replacing motion for a simple press of a button.

  • AOFanboi #37 3 years ago

    <em>There hasn't been a worthwhile sixxaxis motion implementation</em>

    fl0w and flower want to disagree with you there. Don't measure everything by Lair.