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[Shade Jackrabbit]

Well, modern PCs support output to TV's of pretty much any type (just need the right cables) so it's not impossible to use for a TV. (When my family gets around to getting a big-screen, I am SO playing Assassin's Creed on that.) But I suppose their place as a desk computer does severely limit the average market.

And I suppose nVidia has enough on its plate just trying to get their 3D glasses technology to be accepted, as well as actually finalizing PhysX as the norm.

Now... Intel on the other hand...

[Stegersaurus]

PCs do have interfaces other than the Falcon... it's just that generally developers don't make things for them, and users don't use them.

For one, the Wiimote is really easy to connect to your PC if you have a compatible bluetooth dongle. I know some prototype games made for the PC using the wiimote, as well there is a joystick simulator that you can map to your wiimote to fake keypresses and mouse movements using the wiimote. In fact a friend of mine made a drinking game for PC using the wiimote.

The other is of course, your own webcam. The basis of a lot of these motion sensing devices. The problem is that webcams don't in general pick up motion perfectly, and it takes some programming chicanery to do nice mappings. I've played a few games, even in flash that use the camera, but usually it's stuff like blocking projectiles or bouncing balls. This is why I'm so skeptical about MS and Sony systems. I have a feeling when I start moving FAST like I want the motion controlled games to be, their cameras won't know WTF I'm doing.

[Ixis]

For a non tie-in controller, the Wii Balance Board is doing pretty well, or the multitude of plastic instruments that adorn living rooms today. Modern gamers are willing to buy new controllers.

That was also well marketed, and to a new market primarily of non-traditional gamers.

[MisterX]

Before you dismiss the Wii controller as old news and say that Microsoft and Sony will now own the market, consider this:

I don't think anybody here thinks so, we clearly still have to wait an see. It's not even clear if "Project Natal" is going to be handy for more than party games and such, and Sony's motion controller seems to be far away from completition. It's also important what it's going to be like. If, for example, it will remain a motion controlling stick with only a single button i will surely be quite useless for typical action games or so.

I think getting the perihperal to the players won't be a big problem, if it's going to be bundled with at least one hit game most players of the console are going to buy.

[Eric McQuiggan]

That was also well marketed, and to a new market primarily of non-traditional gamers.

So, this new market of non-traditional gamers aren't exactly what Microsoft is targeting? It's not like it demoed the new Halo game(which you can play with that camera).

[BMcC]

Yo, the fact that it's not a tie-in and coming so late is a totally valid point.  Not to mention the number of Wii consoles in homes already.  And price.  There is a high risk of flopping here.

That having said, I'm glad Sony is back in the "gimmick" business, putting out better hardware.  The next console cycle is going to be crazy.

[Paul Eres]

That was also well marketed, and to a new market primarily of non-traditional gamers.

So, this new market of non-traditional gamers aren't exactly what Microsoft is targeting? It's not like it demoed the new Halo game(which you can play with that camera).

halo isn't really a traditional game, it's a fps

[Eric McQuiggan]

halo isn't really a traditional game, it's a fps

Who was talking about Traditional games?

Traditional gamers, as in the "mainstream" "hardcore" "core" "whatever" audience has been lapping up FPS 17 years. FPS has driven the graphical standard since Quake, graphical standards being the domain of Traditional gamers.

[Paul Eres]

doesn't the word non-traditional imply not traditional?

also, 17 years is hardly a generation -- a tradition is something passed on from generation to generation

[Don Andy]

Splitting hairs again, aren't we?

[Paul Eres]

if you think calling something traditional if it's only existed for 17 years is splitting hairs, then yes -- i prefer to think of it as protecting english from degeneration

[Corpus]

doesn't the word non-traditional imply not traditional?

also, 17 years is hardly a generation -- a tradition is something passed on from generation to generation

Well, actually... 17 years isn't far off a generation. The thing is, though, you're talking about social (and reproductive) generations now, whereas you were saying previously that Halo is not a traditional game and, as games go, 17 years is several generations, taken in terms of major technological milestones such as releases of roughly comparable new consoles.

Also, protecting languages from degeneration is for the French. In English, it's known as evolution.

[Eric McQuiggan]

doesn't the word non-traditional imply not traditional?

also, 17 years is hardly a generation -- a tradition is something passed on from generation to generation

Computer time, my man, computer time. Its been about 4 computer generations since FPS came into its own. Also this is a complete digression from the point, which is TRADITIONAL video gamers TRADITIONALLY get excited about FPS, because TRADITIONALLY FPS has driven the state of the art, with the expansion of who is within the target market of video games, shit's changed.

[Paul Eres]

fair defense -- i guess fps can be traditional. but they'll always feel newfangled to me. doom is just a gimmick.

[Don Andy]

You old man, you. :D