I have such mixed feelings about technology like this.
Take the Wii for example. I like my Wii a lot because there is such a great variety of games available for that console. Xbox 360 and PS3 (I have them all
) have such a limited scope of game types. I think I just bought FPS 2638 for my PS3 the other day…
Back to the Wii. Like I said, I like the game variety on that machine. But the new controller for the Wii excites me very little. It may be because I'm getting to be an old dog, but I associate game time with 'relax' time. I like to just sit on my couch and relax when I play a game. The traditional controllers of the Xbox 360 and PS3, in this regard, I enjoy very much - especially since now they're wireless.
On the other hand, there are a number of Wii games that don't require that I animate my body and work really well with the Wii Controller. Playing Monopoly with my family using the Wii Controller, for example, is a lot easier than playing Monopoly with a traditional controller on the Xbox 360 and PS3, especially for my kids.
However, in many instances, I have opted to purchase a game that is available for all 3 machines (Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii) for either the Xbox 360 or PS3 simply because I DO NOT want to play the game with the Wii Controller, when I will have to animate my body to play the game.
I sound pretty lazy here but I'm not. I have a wife, 2 kids, a full time job (50 hours per week) and I go to the gym 3 days a week and work out for 1 full hour. So I have all the excercise I need and I'm pretty fit for a 40-something.
This project natal technology looks interesting from a purely techonlogical perspective. But for me, in the end, when it's game time, I just want to plop on the couch with a controller and relax and play the game. Rarely do I want to be jumping or kicking or punching or whatever.
This is just my 'middle aged' perspective. I'm sure for younger people or people with more energy than I have this will not be a problem. Hopeuflly games will always suport a traditional controller in tandum with new controller technologies such as project natal.