What Microsoft has been saying about Xbox lately strongly implies that this is a Windows handheld designed to solve software and user experience problems with using current Windows handhelds. And signs are pointing toward the next Xbox console coming sooner than the next PlayStation and essentially being a PC running a console version of Windows. Some speculation on my part, but I’m not the only one coming to those conclusions.
With any luck they actually want to bring true innovations to either Windows or Xbox. Getting support for gyros, accelerometers, back buttons or touchpads into Xinput would even benefit gaming on Linux since most games seem to default to that as a lowest common denominator.
I would prefer if gyros and accelerometers die off in controllers for gaming. Tilting and shaking the controller is not something I have ever enjoyed, except when the controller is a light gun for a game like Time Crisis or Silent Hill The Arcade.
Then you have never used it for aiming assistance. Still not as good as a mouse but it finally comes close.
The bad rep for movement controls comes from too many poor implementations. As long as it is subtle and meaningful it’s awesome.
I have used it. Played Metroid Prime 3, which is probably the best implementation of motion controls by far in any game.
I still would prefer using a normal controller with no motion controls. I would really prefer a trackball on a controller, but that likely won’t happen.
Aiming in MP3 is done through the IR pointer. I loved that game. It has the best FPS controls on the Wii. But it has absolutely nothing to do with gyro aiming.
With gyro aiming you do the large movements traditionally with the right joystick and only make micro adjustments with very small natural tilting of the controller. I thought I wasn’t using it until I deactivated it. It has nothing to do with picking up the controller and pointing it at the screen. It has nothing to do with making any gestures. An outside observer might not even notice that you’re using it.
The Wii controllers are no where near what gyro controllers have today. It’s not motion control, it’s an assist.