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Sony demos its motion controller, the PlayStation Move

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On March 10, 2010, 8:21 PM

At its GDC keynote today, Sony finally officially revealed its answer to Microsoft's Project Natal: the PlayStation Move. The inelegantly named motion controller will launch in three packages, starting with a standalone controller. Next up is a starter kit with the PlayStation Move, PlayStation Eye, and an unnamed game for under $100. The most expensive will include a PlayStation 3 console, the Move, and the Eye.

The Move's design is identical to the one mocked some weeks back, and the glowing "orb" will be available in can change between four colors. It also has a companion sub-controller with a directional pad and analog stick to provide additional control for menus or games -- kind of like the Nintendo Wii's Nunchuk.


Sony demonstrated the Move with a range of sports titles, including archery, table tennis, and golf, which will be sold as "Sports Champions" -- again, kind of like Wii Sports Resort. Sony also showed it in action with the SOCOM 4 beta, and LittleBigPlanet.

The PlayStation Move should land on shelves alongside Microsoft's Project Natal this fall. It isn't clear how many Move-compatible games will be available at launch, but Sony says virtually every third-party publisher plans to create games for the motion controller.

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User Comments: 57

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  1. My girlfriend already has a few of these, but they eat up batteries like crazy.

  2. I would like to see 3D motion games.I know the PS3 will have 3D(with a firmware update) but will the XBox 360 do the same?

  3. looks similar to the Wii motion controller. The competition should get very interesting this fall. I'm not interested, if a new Resident Evil game comes out for the ps3 then I will buy it. 3D motion games sound good, I guess I will just wait and see.

  4. Wendig0 said:

    they eat up batteries like crazy.

    Yeah that's the only thing i would be worried about as well. When is WiTricity going to be in all our homes? ><

  5. You mean Wii-lectricity XD

    Would be interesting to see how this would compete with the Wii....

  6. I hate to think that the marketplace will reward Sony for just blatantly ripping off their biggest competitor (oh wait, I guess they made the controller black).

    But, people will probably go apeshit for it. My experience using the PS3 controller in motion detecting mode was mediocre at best...

  7. id love to buy one of these ! im gonna buy the generic version at the porn shop tho theyre available now!!! go get em kids

  8. Sorry Wii... looks like everyone has far surpassed you.

    Time for a Wii 2, hehe.

  9. It is all deja vu again, it looked like wii all over again to me. I guess sony is really desparate in pulling in a share of non frequent gamers like the wii does, just hope that they don't forget the hardcore gamers like nintendo has.

  10. I have a waaay better name for it.............

    ......................Nunchuk

    Wait................... ???

  11. looks like the wii remote in my opinion... it'll be like the nintendo wii! except with better graphics lol

  12. The only reason I purchased a Playstation 3 was the blueray player, and the "free access" to installing another operating system. Leaving this aside.. it seems to me that they want to be like Microsoft, don't you just get tired of reading codenames here and there for their products? so confusing.

  13. How this isn't patent infringement for the Wii I have no idea.

  14. Was watching the press conference for this earlier today and the casual games they showed did look better then the Wii's. But SOCOM 4 didn't look that impressive, granted it was in beta I personally wasn't blown away. It didn't look necessary or something that would enhance the game over a standard controller. Guess I'll have to try it like everyone else. But I still feel the keyboard/mouse combo to be the most accurate way to play a shooter. In any case, like the Natal this has some cool potential that they might tap into.

  15. The reality is that all successful innovations will be emulated by the competition eventually - I suspect that with Natal and Move, that the WII's competitive advantage in this space has disappeared. That's what I like about competition - now they'll have to look for a new "edge"

  16. it looks stupid IMO! Meh I don't want motion control I do want 3D! Roll on 3D!

  17. I red last year about project Natali and I must admit that's going to change everything when It comes out. Besides project Natali, I dont like that they are trying tocopy Wii with this motion controler...

  18. gobbybobby said:

    it looks stupid IMO! Meh I don't want motion control I do want 3D! Roll on 3D!

    I agree...the controller looks dumb, almost a microphone, whats with that!? Wonder if they will make it so the little ball on the end glows different colors, then it would be something that little kids can be amazed by, or perhaps some of our not-so-smart counterparts. I really never liked wii considering most games that are made for the system look like a 5 year old should be playing them. Maby if playstation makes games that appeal to adult gamers, like with most of their other games, they might actually work out.

  19. Nintendo should hire some better lawyers - maybe poach some of Apple's ones, because this is just plaigirism of the Wii controller but with the PS buttons on it. Even the wrist strap looks the same.

    Btw does anyone know what the glowing orb is supposed to do?

  20. Still this is something interesting, but you cannot compare this with Project Natal from Microsoft, where there is no need for any controller...

  21. To late Sony, to late.

  22. good move to remain in competition against Wii! mostly people purchase Wii just to get more physical and get into that game! but now if sony comes up with that motion controller then i think that Wii is in grave danger! they need to create some plan to maintain their positon!

    SONY PS3 are already a huge hit!

  23. ah, and inferior / forced. The Light bulbs are to fkn bright and distracting, also they look frigin stupid. ( lol holding 2 gey maracas, teh mature/ hardcore) Jamming a camera on top of my LCD is also an inconvenience, the wii bar / controller integrates seamlessly. ( also this has no rumble on the nunchuk, no speaker, and is not as precise ( engadget). and this is anly another bulletpoint for sony, nintendo takes motion control seriously ( all devs 100% ) Sony? i dont think so. so rushed, super lame half arsed copy, nothing more, nothing less. fail

  24. good move to remain in competition against Wii! mostly people purchase Wii just to get more physical and get into that game! but now if sony comes up with that motion controller then i think that Wii is in grave danger! they need to create some plan to maintain their positon!

    SONY PS3 are already a huge hit!

    I think they would be even more successful if their user's had proper grammar.

  25. hello ...

    LOL, yeah the black WII-mote attack .. humm, sorry!

    No patent infringement here, the technology is quite different but the use will be same.

    To me Natal seem more appealing, yet i don't have an Xbox360 (remember i'm that PS3+PC fanboy LOL)...

    The SONY motion controller Wand/Gem/Arc/MOVE is not an original concept but will bring some quite nice addon for certain games, the only advantage is that we have the choice of not using them.

    sure there will be some WII-like games on PS3, maybe that will help some parents get the PS3 for their kids now, no lah ... no super mario, no PS3 for the kids :p

    SONY can steal a part of market from those adult loving PS3 games & wanting some exercise thingy games, more ladies will be attracted (not what you think Wendig0 ), oh i forgot star wars fans ...

    I don;t think it's bad to come up with this, it may 'MOVE' some more system, yet SONY needs to concentrate on their already good software lineup & if they do create something for that controller, make it worth it.

    i'm sure it will work, for i was surprised with Eyepet's success LOL, now we'll also be able to whip some pets too ...

    i will keep an eye or two on it & see what comes up ...

    cheers!

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