Tretton says PS3 motion controller can work with existing games

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 12th 2009 at 2:46PM }

It's unsurprising Sony would devise a motion controller, after the gazillions of dollars Nintendo made with its Wii platform. However, as impressive as Sony's E3 demonstration was, many fear the motion controller may signal a paradigm shift for the company. Will hardcore gamers lose out in Sony's (and Microsoft's) newfound reach at the motion-craving casual audience? Tretton doesn't think so. Speaking to CNBC, the president of SCEA promised that the PS3 motion controller (and its games library) will be far more flexible and diverse than what one would find on Nintendo's machine. "Personally, it's very difficult for me to perceive God of War 3 being played with the Wii controller," he said. "It's a different experience that doesn't lend itself to certain types of games. [But] I think our [motion] controller can be used with every game that's on the system now - and every game we're working on."

In fact, Tretton goes so far as to say compatibility with current PS3 games is "absolutely conceivable." Without being able to go hands-on with the device, it's hard to judge. Are there sufficient buttons and sticks to make a 1:1 translation between DualShock and the motion controllers? While it's certainly possible, we can't see many gamers throwing out their DualShock controllers any time soon.

Tags: controller, jack-tretton, motion-controller, scea, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Michelobius @ Jun 12th 2009 2:52PM

In b4 DS3 hating.

I love that controller.

j.howlett @ Jun 12th 2009 4:46PM

i love it too

ryan @ Jun 13th 2009 10:31AM

If you want the dual wand idea and have it work with current PS3 games, switching the analog stick placement is a must for holding it comfortably. I can imagine them maintaining the symmetrical look by switching the face button placements as well.

John @ Jun 12th 2009 2:53PM

Total 1:1 control over Kratos' blades would be friggin' awesome. Not going to happen, but still. Awesome.

KeenCommander @ Jun 12th 2009 3:44PM

For the hour before it got exhausting and dull, perhaps. Besides, how on earth would you work a camera around that?

uncle jesse @ Jun 12th 2009 3:45PM

If this ever want to Microsoft, they could use Project Natal for something like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCglGQeVnx4

SaltyGary @ Jun 12th 2009 3:51PM

^ Achievement unlocked : knocked phone off hook.

Kodros @ Jun 12th 2009 3:52PM

I don't think it would be awesome. The challenge in the game is to use certain combos and specific times. Having 1 to 1 dumbs down the game to where you would just be doing windmills with your hands.

John @ Jun 12th 2009 4:00PM

uncle jesse just made my day

stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ Jun 12th 2009 5:02PM

@uncle jesse:
you have receved a Trophy: knocked phone off hook.

Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Jun 15th 2009 7:56AM

You'd work the camera with the buttons/analog pointer on the "wand".

charlie b. @ Jun 12th 2009 2:55PM

mayeth the equestrian compatriots of Sony rejoice and sing praise from on high!

required @ Jun 12th 2009 3:01PM

are you latent?

AsherR @ Jun 12th 2009 3:01PM

Okay, I gotta say. That one was great... lol

SaltyGary @ Jun 12th 2009 3:05PM

F'n awesome.

Pepe @ Jun 12th 2009 2:56PM

I'm all for the motion controller if it means they won't replace the DS3 in any way. Hmm if the motion controller works with past titles, then it would give me more reason to keep and play older games just to play it differently.

ALBGunner04 @ Jun 12th 2009 3:32PM

Agree with you on that. I hope that we don't come to an age where we'll be forced to use motion controllers though. I mean, even if they do design a perfect motion controller, I still like the regular controller. Screw Microsoft for talking trash about regular controllers because sometimes, you want a little downtime and don't want to wave around like an idiot. Regular controllers do the job. That said, I really hope motion controllers can be perfected. Like Jimmy Fallon said in that project Natal demo, soon we'll be punching each other when playing games like Street Fighter lol

Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 12th 2009 2:55PM

If this is true (and the execution is as wonderful as was shown in the tech demo), this may end up being a Day one for me.

mr nimblewick @ Jun 12th 2009 2:56PM

I don't see why they couldn't do enough buttons. Just have them look a bit like a nunchuck with stick, four face buttons and two in back. Oh, and a glow-stick at the end for the camera.

Draco @ Jun 12th 2009 4:04PM

the only tricky thing is the Select and Start, but they can figure that out I'm sure.

are they used in any games other then to pause? put em on the side so you can't hit them by accident or something.

Dpad and Analog would be awkward though on a small device. (hehe I pressed Alt-S)

mr nimblewick @ Jun 12th 2009 4:12PM

Since Sony's Dpad is just four buttons, they could just have four buttons, like the other one. Heck, they could just make one version and have you hold two of them.

nukee @ Jun 12th 2009 2:56PM

I assume a patch would be needed to do so. But still, that is pretty friggin' sweet.

Sidebuster @ Jun 12th 2009 2:59PM

I should be safe as mainly a PC gamer. Should be... (worries)

Dan The Man @ Jun 12th 2009 3:00PM

I hate all these motion controller ideas especially Netal. They are all just Wii knockoffs and I have yet to find a game on wii other than a slew of sports games that uses the wiimote in a fun way. Maybe Im just getting old or something but I grew up on holding a controller. Yes, it only had 2 buttons at the time but it was a controller nonetheless. If gaming was like it seems to be going today, I dont think I ever would have gotten into it. Now it just seems that they are trying to simulate people exercizing and running and playing tennis...well seriously, why dont you just go out and play tennis for real? or run, or play baseball or something? Why are they trying to simulate real life? It is not the same and it never will be. I want games that are fun, entertaining, have a good story and allow me to sit on my ass after a hard days work, drink a beer and play a game.

SaltyGary @ Jun 12th 2009 3:09PM

Back in my day we had to walk to school. And we liked it dammit!

jason @ Jun 12th 2009 3:23PM

Have you Forgeten about the PS2 Eyetoy ? yeah the Wii is a knock off from that Noob

SaltyGary @ Jun 12th 2009 3:29PM

Well have you heard of the Virtual Boy? yeah the PS2 Eyetoy is a knock off from that noob... Yea I feel cool now.

Noshino @ Jun 12th 2009 3:55PM

huh? I beg to bring up the question, how is the EyeToy a knock off of the Virtual Boy?

The Virtual Boy was basically just a pair of glasses that displayed 3D graphics, it had zero gesture recognition....

Kodros @ Jun 12th 2009 3:55PM

"Well have you heard of the Virtual Boy? yeah the PS2 Eyetoy is a knock off from that noob"

I don't see the correlation between a Virtual Boy and an EyeToy.

SaltyGary @ Jun 12th 2009 3:59PM

I only said that because there was no need for Jason to comment like that and call the guy a noob. Just as you find my statement looking stupid and uninformed I found Jasons to be the same thing.

Noshino @ Jun 12th 2009 4:09PM

Well, the difference is that his comment does have some merit, although they aren't really use the same technology, both product offered gesture recognition.

Yours in the other hand was just grasping at straws man....

Jack Spicer PSN: watsuke @ Jun 12th 2009 4:35PM

Only TWO buttons? Bah! When i played Atari i had a whole number pad! 17 buttons on that controller. You kids these days have it so easy, you know what your buttons do.

http://www.atariage.com/5200/images/controllers/con_Atari5200.jpg

jia @ Jun 12th 2009 3:01PM

this would be weird for shooting games, but also fun instead of just sitting there. i'm just hoping they create a shinobi game that uses this function, to control blades and dashes.

Sidebuster @ Jun 12th 2009 3:02PM

Back to the Future II had it right.

Quote from the kid to McFly, "You use your hands to play? That's a child's toy!"

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 12th 2009 4:23PM

LOL...No Back to the Future Quotes please...lol

Gun Barrier @ Jun 12th 2009 3:04PM

"While it's certainly possible, we can't see many gamers throwing out their DualShock controllers any time soon."

Especially after throwing out their sixaxis' out the window.

bulgod @ Jun 12th 2009 3:08PM

did it get priced yet?

Shingo_E_X @ Jun 12th 2009 3:08PM

Power Glove 2.0 detected.

Also, isn't this just subliminal admission that the Sixaxis motion control is a piece of crap?

Extinction @ Jun 12th 2009 10:36PM

You'd have to be an idiot to think that

Shingo_E_X @ Jun 12th 2009 10:57PM

It's a late-released peripheral with a radically different method of control, and a promise to work with ALL existing PS3 software.

Actually, it takes an idiot NOT to think that.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 12th 2009 3:09PM

Most interesting....

Christian @ Jun 12th 2009 3:54PM

ur the most famous black man i've seen on this site posting comments.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 12th 2009 4:15PM

that was a random reply... aggie, how do you get so many comments about your avatar? that's so strange... it's like they've never seen a black dude haha.

and christian, that award is debatable since sprinkles is black too...

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 12th 2009 4:26PM

see what I mean...CRAZINESS!!!!

I mean its OTHER black people on here I know...they just dont have their pics up..

LordToastington @ Jun 12th 2009 6:04PM

Yeah, but Sprinkles is a fanboy asshole, and Aggie is cool.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 12th 2009 6:30PM

he only said "most famous" which i take to be "most well-known".

sprinkles is infamous around here. he raises a shitstorm whenever he posts.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 12th 2009 7:26PM

Sprinkles is a hilarious dude...but I dont think even he gets shit for being black like I do...

Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Jun 12th 2009 3:13PM

""Personally, it's very difficult for me to perceive God of War 3 being played with the Wii controller," he said. "It's a different experience that doesn't lend itself to certain types of games."

Jesus! Finally someone who understands. Yeah, motion control can be fun but not when you force it on EVERYTHING. That's why every game that requires you to waggle for no reason makes me mad (I'm looking at you, New Super Mario Wii and your Propeller suit/also Heavenly Swords stupid aftertouch).