PS3 Motion Controller vs. Xbox360 Project Natal vs. Wii:
Success or a Failure?

From a business standpoint, its not a matter of WHO invented WHAT in video gaming.
For the PS3 & 360 new motion controls its all about BUSINESS-that's why we are here in Gamsutra the Art & Buisiness of Gaming.
Its a corporate business decission (above all else) to not repeat the disaster that happened to Nintendo N64 & Gamecube's history. For any business to compete/survive it needs to keep up and adapt with the times.
What could have happened if the N64 used CD-ROM or the Gamecube used DVD? Maybe its just the Japanese code of honor or something ...... but it failed against the competition.
The American XBOX succeeded because Microsoft was quick to keep up with the Jones and now it has dethroned former console king Sony the inventor of its DVD. And now that Nintendo learned to adapt it made it easier for the Wii.
"Adapting" ,"Copying", "Improvising" or "If you can't beat them join them" generally is a good business move.
Also lets not forget that the sales of the hackable, modifiable Wii can also be attributed to the fact that its driven by millions of pirated software all around the world. Wasn't this also true of the hardware sales story of the NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, PS2, Xbox, 360, Gameboy,DS, PSP etc.

At this point in time its a no brainer to adapt motion control to the main stream of games for PS3/360 for it to compete. Not because its the trend/fad.

In a business stand point I agree with Brandon that the success of the Wii bolis down to MARKETING.

How many people are suckered in to buy a Wii hoping it will make them fit? Aren't fitness equipment big business in America. To target the kids has always been Nintendo's agenda and Sony/M$ these kids elder brothers. But actually its the parents who have more buying capacity to buy the kids' Wii.
Look at Sony/M$ line up of first party games for this market- just Little Big Planet. A game that doesn't even look & play kid friendly. Going big on motion control just states the fact that Sony/M$ regrets overlooking this market.
Sony/M$ copying Nintendo or Nintendo as the inventor/innovator depends on your knowledge of history or lack thereof. For the record many peripherals or gimmicks introduced first on a console didn't drive its sales.
Nintendo is foremost a gaming company . Sony is foremost a consumer electronics company. Microsoft is foremost a software developer company. By these basics you can already tell its streghts and weaknesses.
Sony's PS2 has had its own success with "Motion Controls" with millions of Eye Toys long before the Wii.
But was it mass marketed like the Wiimote or Wii Fit Pad? - Hell No.
But if you are in the business of video gaming ang you see demnad and a profitable market wouldn't it be wise to make business of it?
Risky Business? Hell yes! Miyamoto said they knew the risks the Wii had from the start but it was a calculated risk having all business options considered. Same with Sony/M$. However this time they have the power to play on the cheap-ass level of the Wii. Sony has been toying the motion sensing technology of its camera for almost a decade and its time they use it. The Wii's success only pushed it to be perfected and be introduced to the market as we see it today. And theoretically it goes with "It Only Does Everything" campaign.

Its what each company will make consumers believe that will affect sales. Yes hardware and software are important too but eventually Marketing the whole thing , wether effective or not, will play a very important role in their success or failure.

This past holiday SONY has pretty much proven that they CAN MARKET REALLY WELL

In america anyway

so I'm quite relaxed in terms of how they will market it, but if you asked me this around E3 2009 I would say yeah the PS Motion won't do well due to bad marketing as back then I had zero confidence in sony marketing.

If Sony (or Micrososft) wishes a chance for succes with their motion controls, they will have to do better then Nintendo. Not just better - far better.

And look at Nintendo's advertising: It's dawn good.

The new marketing for the PS3 slim was good but they are going to have to do even better and mantain it.

that can be said but can it be done?

There is more to it than advertisements. The most important is that they need to make games that generate the same word of mouth hype as Wii Fit, or Wii Sports. When a game doesn't have that universal appeal, even Nintendo-style marketing couldn't do wonders, see Wii Music, that couldn't move any hardware.

If it has no games there really is no point to market it.

There's also 3D... and since SONY's relying on 3D for the future I think marketing 3D is more important.

If I were Microsoft I would budget 1/2 to 2/3rds of a billion or about a years profit on massive advertisements and development support on top of any other advertising etc they were intending to do. I think its a battle which will be won by the $ more than anything else.

The question is, how much money can Sony budget to do the same?

The success of Arc will depend on marketing, the PS3 as a system will not suffer from a bad marketing campaign for Arc.

I can see them doing something with Mr. PlayStation, Keven Butler.

hence the delay, it had no decent marketable games ready for spring 2010.....well thats why I think it got delayed