Gates talks motion-sensing pads

Microsoft uberbigwig Bill Gates has questioned the wisdom of Sony and Nintendo in developing motion-sensing controllers, suggesting they could turn out to be a bit rubbish.

In an interview with MTV.com Gates said: "There's room for innovation here, but moving that controller around, it's something that's not mainstream for most games."

"It's tough because sometimes you move the controller, and you don't [want] to fly into the ground. You just want to put the controller down. People aren't that good at totally standing still. Even pilots actually sit in a chair when they do their flying. So there's a lot to be learned about these controllers."

So motion-sensing controllers aren't The Future after all, Gates reckons - but online gaming most definitely is. "Some games you are going to be playing by yourself, but most of gaming, particularly as we draw in both men and women and people of all ages, most of it is going to be social."

As for the rumours that Microsoft is developing a handheld to compete with the PSP - which were recently dismissed by another MS bigwig - Gates says it could happen one day, but not just yet.

"Over time you have to say, will you carry in your pocket a media device and a phone and a gaming device and say, a tablet device for reading? It's natural for them to be combined into one device.

"People have different blends of that now. The world isn't ready yet for a device that meets all of those needs. But go a few years out, the hardware gets a lot better, we'll be there with the software platform, and I think everybody will just take it for granted that there will be a better device."