Motion Controls VS Traditional Button Controls: Which is truly superior?

Since the dawn of video games, game worlds have become increasingly immersive. Thanks to leaps in CPU and GPU power, visuals are quickly approaching near life-like quality. However, the way games are controlled has remained pretty stagnant in comparison. Since the mid-80s, nearly every game console released has incorporated a d-pad, a joystick, and buttons into its controller. This all changed when the Nintendo Wii launched. For the first time, a motion controller was used as the primary form of command.

The Wii Remote allows the player to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing. This is achieved through the use of an accelerometer and optical sensor technology. Later on in the Wii's lifetime, an attachment called the Wii Motion Plus was released. This add-on granted the Wii Remote the ability to detect motion with 1:1 accuracy- rather than simple gestures. This made games even more immersive, and finally gave developers the tools they needed to give gamers the feeling of holding an object in virtual space. The Wii was very successful, and a variety of games in particular such as Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Metroid Prime: Corruption, Red Steel 2, Boom Blox, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword demonstrated the intriguing potential of motion controls. For the first time, gamers truly felt like they were within the game worlds.

 
Now that you have a brief history of game controls, let's decide which is the superior method. It really is a tough question, and the answer largely depends on the game you're playing along with the precision you require. For a complex fighter such as Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, motion controls are simply too simple and imprecise. A traditional controller gives players the ability to perform advanced combos and techniques using complex button combinations. The same is also true for tactical MOBAs such as League of Legends, if you replace the controller for a mouse and keyboard that is. However, for a fun, party oriented game like Wii Sports, motion controls are clearly the better option. They give the player the feeling of playing sports without the harsh reality leaving the living room. Mario Kart is also a good example. If the stakes are low, and fun is the primary goal as opposed to competition and technical skill, motion controls are the way to go. I hate to end it this way, but it's a Bit Brawl tie!