Targeting hardcore gamers in new era of technology

It was all about the controllers of games consoles at this year's E3 exhibition, writes CIARA O'BRIENin Los Angeles

WITH ALL three major games platforms now using motion sensitive technology, it is safe to say that new era has dawned. Both Microsoft and Sony have followed where Nintendo initially blazed the trail, and both companies have expanded beyond the Wii’s initial capabilities.

Microsoft Kinect project was creating a certain amount of buzz among those attending the E3 exhibition. The controller-free gaming system targets casual gamers, aiming to remove the last barriers preventing mass take-up of the consoles.

“This year’s E3 gives the gaming industry the first real opportunity to prove that it’s not just about making shoot-’em-up games for testosterone-fuelled boys,” Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said.

“This is because the secret to the gaming industry’s future is the realisation that game consoles are the most powerful device in the living room.”

There was speculation that Kinect’s voice and gesture control for the media stored on the Xbox could pave the way for further developments in this area. The new functions were certainly received well, setting a high bar for rival console makers.

“The presentation was a great sign of how Microsoft is transforming the Xbox into being a real entertainment platform,” said Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst Jesse Divnich.

“In a sense, they are trying to reinvent the Xbox 360, have it appeal to a broader audience.”

Sony opted for a two-pronged approach – motion-sensitive controllers and 3D – ensuring that it got the attention it wanted. The 3D content made a massive impact on attendees and Sony has already rolled out the firmware update for consoles that will allow the 3D games to be played on a compatible TV.

The addition of 3D to games will serve as a good driver for the television industry, with a lot of buzz over titles such as KillZone 3. This is perfect for Sony which at the keynote speech of its press conference described itself as providing an end-to-end ecosystem for 3D.

There is a lot riding on the success of the new technologies, with analysts speculating that the results could determine exactly how the industry develops in the coming years.

One drawback of the technologies is the sheer amount of physical effort motion sensitive controllers require.

With Socom 4, one of the games demonstrated at the conference by Sony, players use the PS Move to aim and fire weapons. It is an incredibly intuitive system, but can get quite tiring when playing for long periods of time, something that could go against it when it comes to hardcore gamers.

In a similar way, the Kinect controller will not be suitable for every game, although it will help to ease the way for those who want to try out a game but are intimidated by game pads.

The move into this sector by both firms puts Nintendo’s Wii in a more vulnerable position. Until now, it had free run in the market; it had found its niche.

After a lack-lustre E3 showing last year, Nintendo was expected to pull something more groundbreaking out of the bag. Instead of motion gaming, however, we got the demonstration of the 3DS.

The announcement was not news as such; Nintendo had already flagged its intentions weeks ago. However, this was the opportunity for users to get their hands on the device and determine if it really worked.

The enthusiasm for the console at the event was significant, but it remains to be seen if the average consumer will take to it as readily when it comes to making the investment.

Despite the emphasis this year, the casual games sector is not the core of Microsoft and Sony’s business, even if it will provide a good area for development. Dedicated gamers will still provide the bulk of the business.

According to Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald, casual gaming could be hit by an unwillingness to invest in a console as consumer uncertainty continues.

In contrast, he said sales of games like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Convictionor Red Dead Redemptionappear to indicate significant growth remaining in the hardcore gaming sector.

The reason to buy a Wii has changed dramatically over the past six months or so, he said. "The people who are still buying games are the hardcore-type gamer, and that hardcore gamer is going to buy an [Xbox] 360 or PS3." – (Additional reporting: Reuters)