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Speaking to VideoGamer.com during the recent Shine Week in London, EA UK boss Keith Ramsdale has said the advent of motion control technology should not be viewed as a threat to the industry.
Commenting on the recent unveiling of Microsoft’s Project Natal and Sony’s wand-based motion controller, Ramsdale said:
“I think they’re really interesting,” he explained. “What Nintendo have done is shown a fabulous interface for a mass market population. The appetite for video games has grown significantly because you don’t have to button mash. It makes the whole thing much more accessible. You’ve only got to watch who doesn’t play games as a hobby, who plays games casually, their ability to get straight into a game on the Wii is far greater than when they have to press buttons.
“It seems a logical step for Microsoft and Sony to have motion sensors or visual sensors to enable that interface with the games. It’s fantastic. It will work particularly well on some genres, maybe not so well on others, but overall I think it’s going to be a great benefit to the industry. Nintendo have shown just how it can be exploited.”
Addressing concern amongst certain vocal hardcore gamers that motion technology is damaging to the industry, Ramsdale said the reality is quite the opposite.
“People look back too much instead of looking forward,” said the UK boss. “What these devices and mechanics bring, a lot of stuff we haven’t even figured out yet. We’re going to be doing that over the next few years. The opportunities are much greater by having numerous interfaces between the player and the content. Your opportunities become so much greater.
“Is there a threat to the industry? No, not in any way, shape or form. Complete the opposite. This allows us to go into an area of entertainment that isn’t thought of.”
However, motion technology doesn’t signal the end of traditional ‘core games’ points out Ramsdale, so long as the audience is there.
“… while there remains an audience for certain traditional types of core games, and it’s a financially viable audience, companies are still going to make those games,” said Ramsdale. “Of course they are.”
Do you agree with Ramsdale; are traditional gamers too focussed on gaming in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
