PSP World

Wagging the Dog

Wagging the dog is any case where something of greater significance is driven by something lesser.

I'm starting to ask myself that every time I pick up the Wii-Mote. Here's this little piece of white plastic and its matching nunchuck. Like the millions of people around the globe, this is the reason I bought the Wii -- for the waggle control. It's not because of the Wii's compelling library of titles. A sober me realizes the Wii catalog is nothing more than an endless slew of minigame collections, plus a meager scattering of mascot mainstays like Mario and Zelda to quell the Nintendo faithful.

Regardless of how revolutionary the Wii-Mote control scheme is, it seems nowadays gameplay is taking a backseat to the "waggle" gimmick and its various permutations. Sadly, the Wii continues to sell so well partly because of its parade of kitschy plastic accessories, and no longer for its promise of innovation. Wii Fit, Wii Wheel, Wii Zapper, Wii MotionPlus, Nerf Sports Pack, EA Sports Active, Vitality Sensor -- the list goes on and on. We're no longer controlling the controller, the controller is controlling us and our buying practices. And the promise largely goes unrealized.

Who would have thunk it that Nintendo's "Revolution" was actually a revolution in marketing rather than hardware. They successfully introduced the mainstream world to gaming simply by simplifying the interface. Seems like a no-brainer now. No complex controller means low barrier to entry for casual gamers. Nothing too fancy to boggle the minds of your poor, hard-working parents who've little time or patience to figure out a dozen different button inputs. Here's a controller that's as simple and familiar as your average TV remote.

Rather than harnessing the potential of the Wii-Mote for exciting new gameplay ideas, the inherent limitations of marketing to the casual audience has also forced developers to keep gameplay safe and simple. Hence, the value of waggle control is hard pressed to rise above gimmick -- which, albeit being wildly appealing and profitable, fails to reach a level of sophistication beyond on-screen TV pointer.

Eyeing the Wii Fit success story, game companies chase for the next hot accessory. The industry focus has shifted from pushing hardware, technology, and game design to designing and marketing the next fad accessory. In a sense, plastic peripherals have become the tail that wags the dog. They have become a dominant factor in video game sales. An innovative control scheme like the Wii-Mote was the proverbial tail for Nintendo, a piece of technology that was an extension of its greater body, the Wii gaming system (aka the dog). It was the olive branch that would invite in the casual market. Ironically, like the joke implies, the tail (the Wii-Mote) has become more important than the body and now controls it.

Peripherals are what drives the current market. Look no further than Tony Hawk's Ride, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Scratch, EA Sports Active, Tekken 6 Joystick bundle, or even a version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that comes with working night vision goggles -- you'll see the glee in publishers hoping to sell you a packaged bundle at prices northward of $100-200. This hurts consumers in the long run because it gives publishers an excuse for driving up prices. Throw in $10 worth of rubber bands with Sports Active and EA can now charge $60 for what is essentially a $20 game.

The bitter pill is that the Wii-Mote control scheme has potential to move the industry forward and allow exploration of new forms of game interactivity. Unfortunately, there has been few instances of truly creative uses of the Wii-Mote. Notable attempts include Boom Blox.

There is hope yet. Natal embodies this elusive spirit. If Microsoft can avoid Nintendo's pitfalls and build on the possibilities that Wii Sports introduced, Natal can be used to advance the industry and radically change how audiences interact with entertainment and technology.

Chasing peripherals may be a financially sound choice at the moment, but just like the public's waning interest in plastic instruments, the appeal of kitsch will soon wear thin. To save the industry, the dog must regain control of its tail.