Is Nintendo's Wii Better Than Sony's PlayStation 3? Ask Tom Cruise in the Movie Minority Report.

I'm a fan of Minority Report -- I've seen it multiple times -- but the motion detection controllers are nothing new. And have been used by artists for years now. The work of Pamela Z, a Bay Area based sound artist, and even Laurie Anderson have incorporated sensors to digitally control sound. The Max/MSP programming language was in large part developed for this type of work.

The motion detection is not new, but it is new in the world of video games. Yes, we've had the Light Gun and Super Scope, but the Wii can detect movements in 3D space. If you hold the wii-mote in front of you, your character will do the same. If you turn the Wii-mote to open a door, your character may too.

I say "may" because it depends on the game.

Despite the Wii not having the high end technology that it's competition is relying on, it has a new way to play and interact with your game. It allows people to become more immersed in whatever game they're playing.

I personally think it's the next evolutionary step in controllers.

to DC1974:

Yes it is not a new technology, but the Nintendo Wii has made it mainstream. At the very least it has changed the way we view video games.

Towrds dc1974

your rights its not new. its NEW TO VIDFEO GAMES/ CONSOLES

Nintendo stated before it wasnt new techonlgey and they only said better technongly

Nobody says that the accelerometer-pointer technology es new. The whole thing is that Nintendo risked themselves to put massively this kind of tech into practice in gaming.

If making such tech could be that predictable, why it didn't been made before? That the thing of innovation.

I'm not a fanboy, but Nintendo has made a really good job to put emerging tech into the masses.

Alot fo work is being done on hand gesture computers. See (http://www.mathoda.com/archives/24) for my post on the subject.

Don't get me wrong. I think the Wii looks awesome, but Nussbaum did say: There are an enormous number of applications for motion-sensitive technology and Wii is showing the way. And the rest of the post also suggests that Wii has brought some unknown technology out of the lab and to the people... The technology has been out of the lab for awhile. That was my point.

I am sorry but you lost your credibility when you suggest Minority Report was an "awful" movie. I don't think you have even used either system. Shame on you.

I wrote quite a bit of analysis on what "gesture based" interactions (like the Wii uses to great effect) could mean for user experience designers and product innovators here, you might enjoy it Bruce.
http://macqueen.com/?p=51

Best,

Matt

Having worked with defense projects for a number of years, using these sorts of motion sensing devices (accelerometers, and gyroscopic sensors) I can tell you now, this is a fad, and a gimmick.

Many military places have already 'been there and done that'. We were using similar (much more accurate) devices over 5 years ago, and I can guarantee this fad will pass. It works very well, for very _specific_ uses, but it is _not_ a general solution for motion control, there are too many issues with things like gimbal lock, gyro and positional drift, etc etc.. so many litte problems, and these are even more so on cheaper systems like the Wii.

After a good 6 months, all the hype will die down, and people will realise its just a marketing gimmik/toy much like Sonys eye-toy or similar. This is not anywhere anything new, and it is not anywhere near going to be able to change the way things are done, because there are so many situations where it isn't appropriate.

In fact the Minority report is a great example of use of technology. Those sorts of gesture systems are great for making windows, but not so great for things that need to track with your eyes.. or head. There is always a correct use for a technology, there is rarely a general solve for everything (otherwise the keyboard would have been replaced 30 yrs ago).

My comment would be to say that the nintendo company havn't been giving there all in the past years as now the Wii has been a massive impact. It was unnexpected and nintendo have used the best of the best to create such a magnifisent machine.

I'm a massive fan of the PS3 and i'm not going to need to think twice about getting it!The PS3 must be brilliant- i have read a lot of magazines on this console which makes me and millions of other people like it more.

The question the everyone wants to know is whether the PS3, Xbox 360 or the Wii is better. I personally thimnk that it's between the PS3 and the Wii as the xbox 360 does not come to the standard of the other two. Draw, the Wii and PS3 are brilliant in there own way and if we want to find out for real, you might have to buy both and see!

I have played many gamee systems in my life and I am a big microsoft fan. This is my opinion on the latest 3 systems released. The xbox 360 is a great system as far as graphics and the choic of games is awesome but I think its a little overpriced. The playstaion 3 is pretty much the same system all but the blu ray dvd whahoo a riducilously price of 600+. The nintendo wii just a touch from have the graphics of the xbox and playstaion but makes up with the wirelessly motion controller...This is my opinion on the ratings of the systems out of 5...
Xbox overall 4.7
playstaion 4.6
nintendo wii 4.8

360 is good but wii is the best i cant find one for two months and im pissed offf

The wii is not as good as many people think it is.. its a type of gaame system and the only good thing to do on it is to play games involving motion. if you like madden or other things get a 360 and NOT a ps3. the ps3 is good but too expensive and i have heard rumors there mght be a call-back on a part worth 100usd or so and the 360 may not have any smash hit but will such as halo 3 and oblivian. my conclusion is get a 360, not a wii or ps3(unless your rich)=)

"After a good 6 months, all the hype will die down, and people will realise its just a marketing gimmik/toy much like Sonys eye-toy or similar." -Grover
Ridiculous. Look at the DS.. "Gimmick", right? Still, it continues to dominate AND innovate, and it's STILL fun. So you might want to reevaluate your skewed statement. It's also worth noting that the PS3 has taken a horrible hit in sales, with the consoles piling up everywhere, while Wiis are constantly out of stock a few hours after they were put on the shelves... The 360 also is outselling the PS3 by a significant margin, not even counting its extra year. Nintendo = innovation, now and forever. :D
You don't like it, bite me. XD

You know, instead of gushing over emerging motion-sensing technology and the implications of its intergration into video game systems, the time and energy of the majority of the posters here would be better spent polishing their grammar.

You're ≠ Your.

Poor spelling detracts from whatever point YOU'RE passionately trying to make. You could have a tremendous intellect, but people will assume otherwise if you make glaring misakes that would cost a third-grader big points.

I DONT LIKE VIDEO GAMES AT ALL............................BUT I WANT A WII

what is better wii\ or ps3 and why

To be honest i think the original gameboy colour beats the 360, ps3 and wiii.

I think the Playstation 3 is better than 360 ,and the Wii.Although the 360,and the wii cost less,but the playstation 3 is still better it has better games than the Wii.You can play DVD's on the Playstation 3 ,and the 360..To me I think the Playstation 3 put more Technology into it than the Wii

It is true that PS3 can play DVD's and that wii cannot, but if I want a DVD player, I will go to Zellers and get one for 50$, instead of spending an extra 2-300$ on a PS3.

Don't get me wrong, PS3 has some good perks to it for sure. I just think that the whole "being able to play a DVD" is overated. However, the games and graphics are not. So, is wii better or PS3 you ask? I don't think either is better... just more appropriate for certian people's taste. Both top notch systems.

The Wii is better in manys ways. One way is in the ability to have large groups of friends play 1 wii with only 4 controllers. People have fun just swinging around let alone playing the game. Wii sports is a great example of this. Both the Wii and PS3 have deep games but the Wii has a larger good game library. Another way it's better is the fact that it's at LEAST $250 cheaper than the savings-account-emptying PS3. Only two things save the PS3 from certain death: HUGE fanbase and Metal Gear Solid 4:guns of the Patriots. That's it. 'nuff said...'nuff said.

WE think that playstation3 & wii is better then what other people say.You may think xbox360 better sony's ps3 & nintendowii well your wrong there you need think about that twice people.

dude, the tech for the wii is the same as the nes's duck hunt. the bad thing was they needed a new controler for the infered games

WHO CARES???? THE WII IS SOO FREAKEN AWESOME AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE!

Of course we all know that Nintendo will always be creating new games and consoles, but who cares?? just find one you like get it, play with it and THAT'S IT!

sheesh...

By the way, the x-box is the worst game system you could ever have. Don't ask why, it just is.

PS3 IS BETTER THAN THE Wii BECAUSE IT HAS BLU RAY, SIXAXIS, AND ALOT MORE FEATURES THAN THE WII.
It also detects ur movement due 2 sixaxis so take a break and research on it chicken lips.

you can dowload internet and games on a wii

ok... well its kinda obvious that ps3 and wii are the most popular. BUT thats just because both are newer. I personally own a wii and yeah some of the games are amazing, but i do wish it had some better first person shooters. The only reason that hasn't happened yet is because it is new. PS3 really has all of its game base laid out because let's face it, the controller is almost exactly the same. As the wii gets older, more ways to use the wiimote will be found and applied to games. And the whole gimmick thing is a croc... just saying.

To Sevic:
I want to know which duck hunt you were playing...

i think that the ps3 is better than the wii and x-box 360.ressons that the ps3 is better then the wii is because the internet is only downloading games and shit, for the ps3 you get to go on any website you want and get blu-ray dvds,the x-box 360 or wii cant do any thing like that,besides the ps3 has better graphics then any system.

i played all the duck hunts Blaze.

You are stupid. Ps3 also has motion sensing, only if you don't want to have motion sensing, you can turn it off. also, the ps3 has coontrollers ten times lighter than wii, and you don't need to waste money to buy batteries or recharger stands. it also doesn't need the dang sensor bar that always falls down to have motion sensing. sixaxis rules. Ps3 rules.

hey Guadzilla-justin, for your information, the wii can go on websites. and the shop channel is really cool. You can download games from a lot of classic systems, plus there is wiiware. and about the going on the internet, did i mention that the wii has 2 USB ports and you can hook up a keyboard?

this is real garbage i mean come on the wii has the ability to move your hand and make the peron in the game move his slice guy you slice a guy the ps3 has what swing a connected controller to do somthing come on the wii is the best besides wii has wi-fi and ps3 well its free but xbox 360 sucks you need to pay for xbox live thats just dumb and you cant do have the things the wii can.

the wii is crap. crap graphics. crap kids games. no game update. not enough power. no demos unlike ps3 which means you can test out games and dont end up buying crap games. no dvd player (not essential). Crap Interenet Browser (compared to PS3). Games are cheaper but they provide less fun as the wii internet sucks no decent online games. Good games not on wii (cod MW2 i think). anybody who thinks the wii is the best has not played on a ps3 or is in denial. games and console cost more but it is worth it for the internet play making games last longer. in short dont buy the wii if your over 10.

the wiis technology isn't better it just captures a big movement and turns it into a small movement on the screen. you cant presicly determine the direction of the ball you hit, you just hope it goes there.

i have a wii and playing you get a better workout playing the ps3 or xbox 360 than playing madden or cod5. the only games that get you exercersise are the ones that come with the wii.

offcaures playstation 3 is the best but
wii is not bad to

To tell you the truth the Wii is made for family fun, where as the PS3 is made for teens, and young adults. The Wii may have wireless controlling but the Ps3 can play DVDS. Although most would just and buy a DVD player. As for the graphics 90% of it is just wasted. And so to reach the ability of the PS3 all we need is Internet, a Blue ray dvd player, and a game system such as Wii, XBOX360, or PS2. Where as to reach the level of Wii you would need A motion sensor, a game system, wireless remotes, Internet, a game system. ON top of this Wii costs less. As for the Xbox360 its just a carbon copy of the PS3 without as many technologies.