Move ad where Kevin Butler mocks Natal

Sony has gone on the offensive with a new PlayStation Move ad that directly targets Microsoft’s Project Natal. The ad features “Kevin Butler” from a few months in the future, after the release of PlayStation Move and Project Natal. (I notice in the future they are still playing in 2D, even though Sony is supposed to have released their stereoscopic 3D system by then. But maybe those were 3D glasses he wore at the start.)

He mocks Natal for its lack of buttons, asking who wants to pretend their hand is a gun. And suggesting only third graders would. Meanwhile a player demonstrates what I believe is SOCOM 4 on PlayStation Move.

While showing the game Motion Fighters, he also seems to mock unspecified systems that only track sideways motion or expect the user to make silly hand movements in front of them. Although the only system that fits that complaint is his own PS2 EyeToy and similar webcam PC games.

By the way, this video shows that PlayStation Move’s Sub Controller (Nunchuk) does in fact have accelerometers at least (just like a Nunchuk), which wasn’t at all clear previously.

I think Sony made a mistake in highlighting their Motion Fighters game in an attack on Project Natal. Personally, I like to use kicks in fighting games, and PlayStation Move fails completely in that regard. Although perhaps Sony will add a kick button to their game.

They make a good point about the lack of buttons though. I do like having buttons, and I like having a prop to hold. By having the same number of buttons as a normal SIXAXIS, and by having the same sensors as a Wii Remote, and by having a pointer that can work like a mouse, Sony have made it as easy as possible for developers used to other systems to make Playstation Move games.

But in Project Natal’s defense, I am looking forward to new ways of playing First Person Shooters and platformers that I expect Natal to bring.

Sony showed playing the FPS game with joystick navigation, buttons, and a Nunchuk grenade throwing gesture, plus the pointer aiming and possibly ducking based on the Move’s position. I expect Project Natal would use the Xbox 360 controller for these kinds of games, with the same grenade throwing gesture and ducking and leaning gestures.

More interesting on Natal though would be an option to use your whole body for walking, running, jumping, turning, etc. in first person and platform games. Which is, I think, the idea with Natal. It makes gaming into a sport, or vice-versa. But aiming and firing with your fingers will be a definite downside.

I don’t think it’s as clear cut as Kevin Butler says. Both platforms will be very interesting. But perhaps a trigger button would improve Project Natal.

So, what do you think?