Week 9- An introduction to game technology

The hardware for games and the interface which we use to interact with them is rapidly changing. In the early days of the Atari and simple arcade games, a single dial or joystick could do everything needed in order to complete a set of actions. As games have become more and more complex, we have had to learn to use increasing amounts of buttons and dials. Not only this but the appearance of consoles has also had a considerable evolution.

Taking a look at early console controllers such as the ones for the Atari and the NES there are very few things needed in order for them to complete their purpose. A couple of buttons on a very square chunk of plastic. During the age of the Playstation and the N64, analogue sticks allowed for joystick-like control and ergonomics were starting to be considered with the playstation adopting "handles" and the N64 taking a three pronged approach to its controller to seperate the different types of interface. Since then many new ways of playing have been explored such as tilt technology along with things like Eye Toy.

In the current generation of consoles, there seem to be 2 different paths that controllers are taking. The Nintendo Wii is at one end of the spectrum. focusing on simplistic control and movement based technology. On the other hand, is the Xbox 360, which is continuing the "traditional" control system of analogue sticks, triggers and buttons. The PS3 seems to hang in the middle in a kind of personality crisis, not sure whether it wants to conform to the seemingly crazy new ideas of motion sensitivity or play it safe.

There are advantages to both motion sensitivity and traditional controls. It feels frustrating to play a game on the Wii that doesn't utilise many movement sensitive controls as you expect an alternative experience and its equally as frustrating when it's done badly. I believe that traditional controls work very well but are becoming a bit stale and that very little can be done to change them for the better. It seems that improvement has been mainly focused on power and graphical capabilities and that now the control systems have to catch up in order to complete this experience.

Consoles themselves are looking more and more stylised. Nintendo is trying to make it's consoles more a part of a technology filled home like a DVD player or surround sound system while PS3 and 360 are trying to look like powerful stylish additions to a home.