Cast your mind back to the launch of the PS3 sans DualShock 3 – “a next gen machine without a rumble controller!” we cried. “Rumble is a last gen feature!” Sony pleaded.
Back then Microsoft were quite vocal on the matter, strutting about the place with a puffed out chest and a vibrating controller in hand (ooh err).
How times change though, as general manager of Microsoft Game Studios – Kudo Tsunoda – has proven. Speaking to Edge about Kinect, he had the following to say;
“The thing I was most worried about was the [lack] of haptic feedback, but it’s been really interesting how much you can do with visuals and audio.
In many of the games we have, people will crash a vehicle and they’ll go totally like this [mimes dodging out of the way]! And even people playing games with a controller, there’s always people doing this [mimes driving motion]. They want to be moving. There’s natural movements and reactions involved. I’ve never seen someone doing that from rumble. It’s the audiovisual stuff.
The overwhelming thing we’ve discovered is that rumble is such a rudimentary form of haptic feedback. It’s not like a little rumble in your palm is your whole way of interacting with the world – it’s not like, oh, I stubbed my toe and I get a little rumble in my palm.
It’s almost laughable the way people hold on to rumble as the holy grail of haptic feedback. We’ve gone so far past anything that can be done with rumble, or that kind of restrictive thing you have to hold. It’s been creatively liberating to work on this stuff.”
An unbelievable bit of backtracking right there – and one we don’t fully agree with. Whilst rumble feedback is quite a basic form of interaction, it’s one that has proven useful time and time again. The approach of an enemy tank, the slight change in terrain in a racing game, the sick thud of a bullet as it buries itself into your chest – rumble lets you feel it all.
I guess the good news is that with Kinect we will actually be stubbing our toes prancing about the living room to ‘generic party game number 5’ – no rumble required.
Source: Edge
Charmed_Fanatic
Have not got a DS3, do not miss it thouugh
Jordaaaan
Not even the added weight? I get nervous around a light controller.
Guyers94
I love rumble on racing games and shooters, but the one game it reall annoys me on is FIFA. The softest shot ever taps the outside of the post and suddenly a mini earthquake starts to take place in your hands. It’s completely unnecessary and irritates me a lot.
xdarkmagician
Rumble is ok, but it’s starting to get old. Sure some games really do a great job with it, but most of the time it just seems generic in function. I usually find myself turning it off on most games so I can save the battery.
Foxhound_Solid
Rumble is a must….
I mean driving over the red edges on GT with no rumble….
Hiding in a locker in MGS with no rumble….
These little touches add depth to a game…
MS have got this wrong……
gazzagb
Rumble really makes a difference. I loved it in the first mission of BFBC2 when the Jap’s Tanks roll past and the ruble gets heavier, then softer as they move away. I actually can’t play with the DualShock 2 anymore, it feels so un-natural to not have rumble when you’ve been shot in COD.
Jordaaaan
“So instead of rumble controllers Microsoft is proud to announce, RUMBLECHAIRS, FOR YOU, FREE, FOR £15 POUNDS A MONTH!”
Porcupine_I
how many Microsoft employees do you need to change a light-bulb?
none, Microsoft will declare “darkness” as the new standard