Sony's PS3 Motion Controller Gets Demoed and Named

itwbennett writes "In a 45-minute press conference at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Sony announced its motion controller, officially named the Playstation Move. The Move consists of the Eye Toy (a camera pointed at the player) and a wand-like controller with a lighted ball at the end and a range of buttons on the shaft, writes blogger Peter Smith. 'Alternatively games can use two of the wands, or one wand and one "sub-controller" that has an analog stick (the camera is always required),' says Smith. 'If this is sounding very much like the Wii's Remote and Nunchuk well, you aren't far off (though at least there's no cable between the two parts to smack you in the face when things get heated).' Here are Smith's thoughts on the demo: 'All in all, the demos seemed OK, but I, at least, wasn't really blown away by any of them. That said, it's always hard to tell how well these systems work without actually trying them for yourself. You need to feel the connection (or lack thereof) between what your hands are doing and what's going on on-screen in order to be sure. For example, in the boxing demo the player did a quick spin move that led to a roundhouse punch. It's hard to say if his motion triggered a pre-set action (a 'combo') or if the system was able to track the controller that accurately, and was able to 'connect the dots' from when his body briefly occluded the wand to when it reappeared.'"

Comments

Is the controller hard to use?

[elrous0]

a wand-like controller with a lighted ball at the end and a range of buttons on the shaft

I think I speak for all /.ers when I say that I can't wait to get my hands on this shaft. Does it require an especially tight grip? If there's a danger I can wear out my arm manipulating it, should I switch to my left hand occasionally? Are the balls just decorative or do they serve a function? And how am I rewarded at the end of the game?

Re:Is the controller hard to use?

[Anonymous Coward]

Playing with the balls is markedly different than playing with your Wii.

There's more cupping and less stroking motions.

Re:Is the controller hard to use?

[Bearhouse]

a wand-like controller with a lighted ball at the end and a range of buttons on the shaft

...And how am I rewarded at the end of the game?

Uh, with blindness?

Re:Is the controller hard to use?

[binarylarry]

Achtung! Don't not throw controller at PS3's remaining good eye!

A better name

[RemoWilliams84]

How about the "Vibrating Orb of Pleasure". If you think there were a lot of vibrating "massage" mini games on XBL Arcade, just think of what you would get with this thing. A vibrating controller with a big(lubable, not sure that's a word) plastic head on it. Lot of ugly emo girls with eye cameras are just waiting to take this thing into Playstation Home.

lol

[Pojut]

Thing totally looks like a dildo. There better be some vibraty downloadables on the PSN...otherwise, they are missing out on a HUGE market for this product.

Re:The "Move"

[somersault]

Wiimove your pweconceptions.

Simpsons DID IT...SIMPSONS DID IT..

[zcold]

I mean, *ahem* Nintendo did it! revolution in motion gaming, sha right, and monkeys might fly outta my butt... I want a pink one!

Sony's Next 'Innovation'?

[Stick32]

Judging from the successful product that Sony's 'Move' will surely be. Sony's next move will be to introduce the 'new' and 'innovative' Sony 'Step.' A new and innovative platform that you can sit and stand on and by balancing on this boar.. I mean platform one can control in-game actions [/sarcasm]