Playstation Sony Formally Announces PlayStation 3 Motion Controller

[moogling]

Sony Computer Entertainment took the full veil off its highly anticipated motion controller peripheral today. The device, known as PlayStation Move, will see worldwide release later this fall.

PlayStation Move is actually a set of devices. There's the PlayStation Move Motion Controller, which resembles and functions like Nintendo's Wiimote, and there's also the PlayStation Move Sub Controller, which functions like Nintendo's Nunchuck attachment.

The Motion Controller uses a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor to detect player hand movements. When the Motion Controller is paired with the required PlayStation Eye USB camera, the PS3 can precisely detect the controller's absolute position. The device also has action buttons and an analogue trigger.

The sphere on the end of the device can change color and patterns. With this and the controller's rumble, Sony believes players will be able to feel closer to the games.

The Sub Controller, similar to the Wii's Nunchuck device, is meant to be a support device for controls that would be difficult with the Motion Controller alone. The device has an analogue stick and d-pad, allowing for character movement and directional input. Players can also use the Dual Shock or Six Axis controllers in place of the Sub Controller.

Both devices are powered by built in Lithium Ion batteries and can be charged via USB, similar to the PS3's Dual Shock 3 controller. The devices communicate with the PS3 via Bluetooth. Different from the Wiimote/Nunchuck pair, there's no wire connecting the Motion Controller and Sub Controller.

Sony Worldwide Studios will be supporting PlayStation Move with over 20 titles in fiscal 2010. These will be "either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform," according to Sony.

Sony also has the support of 36 software makers throughout the world, listed here:

• Arc System Works
• Irem Software Engineering
• Activision Publishing
• Atlus
• AQ Interactive
• Electronic Arts
• Oxygen Games
• Ongakukan
• Gust
• Capcom
• Q Entertainment
• Q Games
• Crave Entertainment
• Game Republic
• Koei
• Konami Digital Entertainment
• Cyber Front
• CCP
• Zoo Entertainment
• Square Enix
• Spike
• Sega
• Sony Online Entertainment
• THQ Inc.
• Disney Interactive Studios
• Tecmo
• Pione
• Hudson
• Namco Bandai Games
• Bigben Interactive
• 505 Games U.S.
• From Software
• Marvelous Enteratinment
• Ubisoft
• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

This list is current as of March 11.

Pricing for the Motion Controller and Sub Controller have yet to be set. You can see more specific specifications including voltage requirements and operating temperatures in Sony's press release.

Source: Andriasang

 

[Abstract Debauchery]

You know what this looks almost exactly like? The Wiimote. Seriously, couldn't they have come up with an original design? It's like they're not even trying.

 

[West]

I'd have to agree that these designs look practically like an exact replica of the Wiimote and Nunchuck attachments, but... how different can you possibly make two wand controllers?

The only thing that really looks too similar to Nintendo's controllers are the triggers. Like how there are two trigger buttons on the subcontroller and one on the main controller, and even how the trigger on the main controller has more of a trigger shape rather than a shoulder button shape like the two on the subcontroller do--which is exactly how the Wiimote/Nunchuck trigger buttons are designed.

Either way, I remember watching a video about this back around when they were first announcing it, and they showed it in action. I was quite impressed with its accuracy, and excited about some of the ideas they had for how it could be implemented into various games.

 

[Fusionist]

I thought Wiimote-copy as well, but to be honest, I don't know what else they could've come up with. Motion controller would need people to move their arms freely, so a horizontal peripheral would't be that ergonomic

Honestly, I don't see myself needing such a thing. I'm not an active person - it's why I'm a gamer ;D

 

[Martel]

Wowee-wow-wow! I've always wanted a black Wiimote controller!
...oh, wait. Is that a Sony PS3 controller? For a moment there, I thought that the wrong pictures had been linked. Its like a badly doctored photoshop image, someone's idea of a rather unamusing joke. But, alas, I can see they're serious about this. If I were Nintendo, I would sue.

But part of me is still laughing. NOTHING is going to make the PS3 catch up with the Wii in terms of sales. Nothing short of an online glitch which crashes all Wiis...similar to what happened with the PSN at the beginning of this month, actually. Oh dear. This entire thing reeks of an inferiority complex. Bravo, Sony. Bravo.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Blue thing on the top . What this and that shitty Natal thing Micro$oft are developing have in common is that they're both horrendous designs that are most likely going to fail when people suss out how bad they are. They'll be flavour of the week, might sell a few here and there, then crash and burn. Chances are most people are going to have a Wii anyway which specialises in motion controls so this is just going to hitting at a very narrow audience >.>

 

[AddleBoy]

I thought Wiimote-copy as well, but to be honest, I don't know what else they could've come up with. Motion controller would need people to move their arms freely, so a horizontal peripheral would't be that ergonomic

Honestly, I don't see myself needing such a thing. I'm not an active person - it's why I'm a gamer ;D

It's hard to not think of it as a Wii-mote copy because it basically is. But I don't see anything particularly wrong with that. If there's a certain controller layout that's simple and easy to understand, then just go with that. I feel that Sony is known for taking a good layout and improving upon it. When you think about it, the first Playstation controller is very similar to the Super Nintendo controller: a directional pad, four buttons on the left, start and select buttons in the middle. The only difference was the addition of two extra shoulder buttons, and the shape.

Nintendo has been experimenting with different controller layouts for sometime with hits and misses (N64 controller being an example of a miss). But when Nintendo gets a hit, it usually impacts other system controllers. As Fusionist said, this layout is just good for motion control. I'm interested in what kind of games will come about now that PS3 has motion control. Will they try to beat the Wii? Other than being simple, fun and cheap, the Wii doesn't have much else. If the PS3 takes that away, what will the Wii be left with? Does Nintendo really care about this? Will they try something new to keep the competitive edge? The article says that the Playstation Move is very accurate, but how accurate is it compared to the Wii motion plus? How much will it cost along with the price of the Playstation Eye? How many games will be able to use this controller?

Those are just a few questions that came to mind.

Motion controllers don't really require much activity, honestly. People just tend to exaggerate their movements a lot.

 

[West]

Here's a link to the E3 2009 tech demo of Sony's motion controller that I had mentioned in my previous post. I'm not sure how much the Wii's Motion Plus improves the control, as I haven't seen it in action yet, but, like I said, this tech demo really impressed me.

Also, while the Wii may specialize in motion control, I don't really think it's going to deter sales of Sony's motion controller. I hate to say it, but it really seems like a lot of games for the Wii that focus on its motion control are just shovelware titles that more or less just kick the dead horse and make it seem more like a fancy gimick than a legitimate feature (of course, this isn't to say that all games that support the motion sensing in the Wiimote are guilty of this, but some certainly are). It's really what makes the Wii so approachable by family and what makes it a more "casual" console. It's what Nintendo was going for: to appeal to a wider audience.

But I think this gives more seasoned gamers a chance at motion control, too, and could potentially take a more gamer-ly approach to the whole thing where it can be implemented into more "hardcore" games.

P.S. Forgive my use of the terms "casual" and "hardcore" in this post. I hate the comparisons myself, but there's just no other way to articule these points.

 

[AddleBoy]

Here's a link to the E3 2009 tech demo of Sony's motion controller that I had mentioned in my previous post. I'm not sure how much the Wii's Motion Plus improves the control, as I haven't seen it in action yet, but, like I said, this tech demo really impressed me.

What I've seen in that video is definitely way more impressive than anything I've seen on the Wii sans-Wii Motion Plus, and I doubt that they Wii-mote will be that good even with the Wii Motion Plus. I'm getting excited just thinking about what it would be like playing all my favorite Playstation games with this. Like him using Ratchet and Clank as an example.

Nintendo never took advantage of this technology to make anything really amazing, so I'm hoping Sony can live up to my expectations.

 

[moogling]

Uh-oh! Someone may have accidentally let the cat out of the bag regarding PlayStation Move’s standalone controller price. GameStop Canada has just recently gotten up a listing of the item with a $59.99 price tag.

Unfortunately, they’ve quickly taken it down, but not before our friends at Engadget were able to grab a screen cap of the item listing and price.

E3 is next month, which is where Sony will most likely announce the official price. Don’t be surprised if it’s somewhere around or exacltly to the amount that GameStop Canada is listing, though.

Source: ScrawlFX

 

[DeadFantasy]

So, around $60 buxks Meh.

I'm not going to buy something that I already almost have. It's practicly the same thing as the Wii remote.

Though the demo West posted, I watched part of and it looks interesting

I'll wait and see what happens for now.

 

[Zhen Ji]

It does look like the Wii controllers, I don't think it's too amazing hopefully it doesn't fail as much as that motion skateboard Tony Hawk made.