After this year’s E3, the big three console manufacturers brought out new hardware in the form of motion control. Microsoft revealed Project Natal, a camera peripheral for the Xbox 360 with face and voice recognition and full body motion controls, while Nintendo updated everyone on what their Wii MotionPlus peripheral can do.

Sony didn’t want to be left out of the bandwagon and showed off yet another camera based motion controller, with two wand like objects. Much like a Wiimote with the MotionPlus attachment, the PS3Wands feature 1:1 movement in a 3D plane and seems tailor made for rail-shooters and sword fighting.

While all three kinds of motion controls were lauded by most fans and critics alike, it does raise one question: are montion controls really a good thing? Sure it can help with immersion in certain types of games, I for one felt Twilight Princess was even more fun to play with a Wiimote, but what about games that actually require buttons and analogue sticks?

Can you imagine playing Gears of War with the Natal, or Uncharted with the PS3Wands? Sure it helps the casual crowd experience gaming without the controller being a barrier, but most of us play games to unwind. I can’t imagine playing Ricochet on the Xbox 360 to unwind, seeing as most hands-on features have all said the same thing: that it’s a tiring and sweaty experience.

- Are motion controls the future of gaming?

- Will you be getting Project Natal, a PS3Wands or a Wii MotionPlus?

- Do we really care what the bottom of an Avatar’s shoe looks like?