So, PlayStation Move it is then. Sony has officially named its motion controller, previously known as Arc, and confirmed an autumn launch date - placing it in direct competition with Microsoft's Natal motion control system for the Xbox 360.
And to confirm the rumours that have been circulating the industry of late, the microphone-shaped device will now be accompanied by the release of a sub-controller - a supplementary device which, like the Wii nunchuck, will handle precise character movement and other functions. However, gamers will also be able to use a standard DualShock or Sixaxis controller for these elements.
Working in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye camera, the Move system is able to detect the precise movement, angle, and position in 3D space of the motion controller. The movement tracking is accompanied by the high-tech innards of the Move which includes a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor. So whether you're swishing a tennis racket or stabbing someone with a sword, the movements are accurately read and transferred to the onscreen action. "Furthermore, PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player's voice or image, enabling augmented reality experiences," says the press release, clearly keen to corner every facet of the alternative interface gaming scene.
Apparently, 36 third-party developers and publishers are supporting the device, and this year SCE Worldwide Studios is set to release more than 20 games, "that are either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform". It seems that you'll be able to buy it in a console bundle, in a starter pack (complete with PlayStation Eye and a game) and alone. Pricing is yet to be officially announced but $100 is being batted about for the Starter package.
Sony has been showing off the tech at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and reports suggest that it is every bit as precise as the company has suggested. The demo titles include Move Party, a sort of augmented reality video chat system, and Sports Champion, a multi-event title, complete with archery and table tennis (Joystiq has some images here).
Clearly there are going to be both favourable and sniffily dismissive comparisons to the Wii set-up. Some gamers believe Move is desperately off pace, the device's resemblance to the four-year-old Nintendo technology symptomatic of Sony's inability to lead in the current generation. Others however, think it's a brilliant trade off between the ambition of Natal (which uses a sensor array to detect the player's 3D movement with no need for controllers) and the tactile feedback of the Wii control set-up. The immediacy of the motion technology would seem to contrast with early reports on the Natal, which have mentioned latency issues. (Though those worries have been countered to some extent).
So what do you think?
