E3 2006: Ubisoft director lays into PS3

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It's been a while since we had a good old-fashioned console wars story, so thank heavens for Clint Hocking. For those not in the know, Hocking is the creative director of Ubisoft Montreal and the man behind titles such as Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. He also recently hosted an E3 workshop focusing on next-generation game design in which he attacked Sony and the PlayStation 3.

The source of Clint's ire? Yep, you guessed it - the PlayStation 3 controller, and more specifically the way in which it seems to have been - how shall we say this? - 'strongly influenced' by the motion-sensitive feature that's a part of Nintendo's Wii controller. "How much more 'me too' can [Sony] be?," spat an empurpled-with-rage Hocking, before suggesting that it wasn't only Nintendo that Sony was copying: Microsoft also has a reason to feel aggrieved by Sony's mimicking of the highly successful Xbox Live service.

Hocking also went on to have a go at the obsession with improving graphics as each generation passes. He described it as "a fundamental problem of approach" and a method which "forces game developers in to situations where they have to be factory workers. Assemble art texture here, model texture shades here. Repeat." This, argues Hocking, is a waste of time, particularly considering the pitifully slow adoption rate of high-definition televisions.

It all ended - as you might have guessed by now - with Hocking raving about the Wii, and in particular the controller, proclaiming that, "While graphics may add emotion, Wii's new controller interface is more likely to bring emotion directly to the player."

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31 Comments

renegadesx

5 years ago

1) I disagree with the mimiking of Xbox live, MS did not come up with that idea, it is not a new concept, nothing Gates has done has been origional.

2) You can also look at it as Sony maying kudo's to Nintendo thinking "hang on, your right, that IS a big deal"

3)The way the Playstation controller is designed and shaped (hasnt changed really since the Dual Shock on PSX) movment wont be as versitile as is the Wii-mote

mqphu1

5 years ago

As a researcher, I say it is not 'copying'. It is a matter of "improving and moving forward". Sony made an intelligent/smart move and have the best of both world (Wii and Xbox360).

"If you can't beat it, then use it" - SONY

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

It is totally weak of Sony to call the wii sensor system a gimmick, and then in the next breath announce the inclusion of the same system in their own controller and make out there the innovators.

There bald faced liars.

And it's hardly improving mqphu1, it's been pretty well documented that sony sensor system is a watered down version of nintendo's, limited in use, and an obvious afterthought in their original console/controller designs.

macca

5 years ago

I think it basically this E3 has shown how painfully unsuccessful Sony are at innovating. Their first attempt at innovation was the boomerang controller - it had no new functionality from what we were told (so could it be classed as innovation?)

But then in typical Japanese fashion, they simply took their old design again and added a few bits and pieces and Wa-la! new product! The Japanese electronic consumer goods market works this way; new versions of product lines are released regularly with incremental improvements, but no dramatic innovations.

There is nothing wrong with this approach to development and it works successfully in the Japanese market place, but when it comes to console wars I think people look for more than "it does a bit of this, a bit of that, it's a bit faster, bit lighter, etc..." and want some real differentiation between the offerings by each company.

For this reason I believe that many people who buy/own a PS3 or 360 will also purchase a Revolution.

Microsoft appear to have positioned themselves well with their product in terms of finding a technology/price compromise. Despite their rather shocking launch, they are on their feet now and sales are rising. The product is pretty good and quality issues aside, owners are fairly pleased.

Sony need to convince everyone that what they offer - for a LOT more money - does a lot more than Xbox360. Frankly, it doesn’t. If you buy the ‘tard’ pack (as people so lovingly refer to it) you can’t have full HD Blu-Ray digital output via HDMI, no WiFi, Memory sticks, etc… hence no PSP connectivity and so on. Not having an HDMI output on the tard’ pack is simply unbelievable! That is one of the main selling points of the console at this price.

Basically you have to buy the Premium PS3 SKU if you want some ‘basic’ functionality (WiFi, memory stick). Obviously, Sony realised they can’t afford to take as much of a price-hit on the PS3 as Microsoft can, so they released the tard’ pack (which few will buy) just so they can advertise it as ‘starting at $699’ or whatever.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

Jibbs wrote

There bald faced liars.

i'm sure some of them don't shave.

(psst, the term is BOLD faced lies/liars)

macca

5 years ago

haha. bunch of hairy-faced liars!

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

I dispute that Mr Obs.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:48DoDQ93niIJ:12.129.203.38/cgi-bin/wftwarch.pl%3F050405+bald+faced+liar&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=1

Iv'e always known it as 'BALD' faed liars.Don't ask me why, like many sayings it makes no sense, but it IS a saying, looks like either can be used.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

After this e3 it does look like Sony are copycats....they have tacked on the motion sensor technology as only 1 game displayed functionality of it....I haven't read anything about Sony calling the Wii controller a gimmick....but if they have it's an absolute joke cuz it's actually the other way around. Also Sony seem to have copied the Xbox Guide button and the whole Xbox Live service.

It seems a little like Sony are actually struggling....their games line up is the least exciting for me, the console looks the ugliest and seems to have copied features from other machines. If it wasn't for the Blu-Ray....the ps3 would be crap. I totally agree that the 'tard pack' is totally useless and they're f@#ked for even offering a package without memory stick/wifi functionality!!

Anyways there are sooo many awesome games to look foward to and i'm ecstatic that 2d games are still alive and kicking (and even happier about the public's respose to these sorts of games) so I really couldn't care less about what happens in the console war. The only thing that needs to happen is for the Wii to come out.

Basically Nintendo owned this year's E3. So many awesome announcements...the only thing missing is launch date and pricing details.

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Some dude posted a link about sony's reaction to the rev(at the time)mote and the rev's sensor technology when it was first announced, quite a few months ago, where they basically called it gimmicky.

Obviously i was not that dude haha.Some super sleuth here will rustle that article up i'm sure.

Nev

5 years ago

macca wrote

I think it basically this E3 has shown how painfully unsuccessful Sony are at innovating. Their first attempt at innovation was the boomerang controller.

Actually, I'd say Sony's first attempt at innovation was the Eye Toy - an attempt to capture a mainstream audience with simple games that used a different control method where you move around instead of using a normal controller. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn't it?

Personally I find the Eye Toy pretty gimmicky myself. Same with Singstar and Buzz: The Musical Quiz. But they still sell pretty well. They're not exactly the future of gaming (or at least I hope not), but I'm hardly convinced that a motion-sensing remote is either. This isn't like the analog stick - it's not some improved method of control that obviously lends itself to every genre.

But going back to the Eye Toy - Microsoft certainly seem to be thinking that a camera could be useful in games, but you don't see as many people sqawking about how they're ripping Sony off.

In regards to Sony's comments regarding the Wii controller, I think they're expecting the games themselves to be gimmicky - which is wrong in some cases and right in others. The new controls for Zelda seem a little gimmicky to me, but I'll have to wait and see what it's like to play.

I watched the conference live - when a guy who's had plenty of practice with the controller is getting his ass kicked because he's taking too long pulling back an invisible bow string, instead of just pressing a button, you do begin to wonder what's going on.

I remember buying a steering wheel to play Daytona USA on my Saturn. It DID make the game more fun to play, but I found that my lap times were nowhere near what I was achieving with the controller, so I soon switched back. Racing games especially will be more difficult to play with the remote (OR Sony's "Dual Shake" for that matter), because tilting your hands left and right takes hundredths of a second longer than simply shifting your thumb on an analog stick.

I think it's worrying to Nintendo's case about the controller being the next leap in gaming, when one of their premiere titles (Smash Brothers Brawl) doesn't even USE it. If you have to pack in an old controller with your new console to play a top-tier game, it sort of muddles the point about a new control scheme being the way forward. But then I guess the same could be said about the DS (Mario Kart, New Mario Brothers, Sonic Rush - all D-pad and buttons).

macca

5 years ago

I think that this generation we'll see more releases for XBox360 than the PS3 - or at least an even amount. This is because the 360 is basically a good PC with all the unnecessary bits taken out.

In another year most CPU's sold will be multi-core and therefore games developed for PC will be readily 'portable' to the 360, and vice versa. Brilliant! Hopefully there will be no more 'buying a <insert console name> cos I can't get the game on PC' and vice versa.

I'm also considering getting a DS Lite if they release some good 'non game' software like language learning tools etc... I would purchase it without a second thought.

macca

5 years ago

"Actually, I'd say Sony's first attempt at innovation was the Eye Toy - an attempt to capture a mainstream audience with simple games that used a different control method where you move around instead of using a normal controller. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn't it? "

Correct - I was more referring to this generation. They didn't really 'innovate' anything other than beefing up CPU power and designing a batterang controller. haha.

I really like the feel of the 360 controller - very comfy.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

I thought the new controller was a copy of Microsoft's Sidewinder controller from a while back? Nintendo use relative possitioning as well as tilt sensors that can cope with rumble, while Sony's can't. Which to me means they don't use the same technology and Sony's inclusion of the tech is kind of like a really badly aimed riposte "We've got similar tech, so you're not so special anymore."

It's nice to see that developers aren't in bed with Sony anymore. Perhaps this will be the last Sony console, they've just screwed up so badly...

macca

5 years ago

I honestly beleive the absence of 'rumble' in the Sony controller is related to the law suit they lost.

The positioning system is a digital system - a gyro of sorts. I should have no moving parts and therefore vibration won't affect it. Remote control helicopters use gyros as well - and whilst they may look 'still' in the air, the airframe on them is still vibrating heaps from the rotors, motor, etc...

So you can do it, Sony just didn't. That's why I think the legal issue is to blame...? Maybe at the time of designing the controller they hadn't had any ruling on the matter so they couldn't put it in?

ugh the boot

5 years ago

Yea i've yet to see the Wiimote do anything where it would become my preferred control method. I'm just hoping all the Nintendo games that have been announced support traditional control methods as well as the Wiimote cuz I don't really see myself using the Wiimote as the standard for controlling my games.

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Red Steel.

That would be just another generic shooter without the wii-mote.If it works the way i think it does it will add to the gameplay, it WILL make the game more fun.I'll be satisfying to slash at the screen with the wii-mote and see the in-game characters katana do the same and cut some guy kill-bill style.

David

5 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

Jibbs wrote

There bald faced liars.

i'm sure some of them don't shave.

(psst, the term is BOLD faced lies/liars)

No, it's bald - it refers to the fact that politicians don't have beards, because if you have a beard it looks like you have something to hide. And yet they still lie.

Gtpod

5 years ago

And people call Nintendo childish... Monkey see, monkey copy.

themak

5 years ago

The much fabled Sony R&D department.

chriharr

5 years ago

True Sony are running scared about their controller design for the PS3 so they decided to stick with the 11 year old dualshock controller which now features no rumble, if the ps3 fails this time round you can bet it was because of the crap old controller design and the fact that they are copying Nintendo's and Microsoft's Innovative Ideas, Sony Im ashamed to own a PS2

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

'Perhaps this will be the last Sony console'

Syb

5 years ago

[EDITED]

themak

5 years ago

Syb wrote

renegadesx wrote

1) I disagree with the mimiking of Xbox live, MS did not come up with that idea, it is not a new concept, nothing Gates has done has been origional.

...?

Excuse me?

The fully central online gaming for consoles *was* a novel idea.
P.S. I think you'll be able to attribute XboxLive to J Allard.

Gtpod

5 years ago

Syb wrote

renegadesx wrote

1) I disagree with the mimiking of Xbox live, MS did not come up with that idea, it is not a new concept, nothing Gates has done has been origional.

...?

Excuse me?

To re-word alex's somewhat cryptic post, I think renegadesx is trying to say that Xbox Live wasn't an original idea in the first place, therefore it can't be "copied" by Sony. Alex was wrong with his comment, as the DC was heavily online-orientated, arguably as much as the Xbox is (I would never say Live is "fully central" to the console, I've only ever used it four or five times); saying that it was a "novel idea" by Microsoft isn't really correct.