Sony briefs devs on PlayStation Motion Controller
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jun 22nd 2009 at 9:45AM } 
The device will include rumble motors for force feedback, and four of the wands can be tracked simultaneously by the PlayStation Eye camera. Motion-controlled games will also be able to take advantage of face tracking and head tracking. Sony is also investigating the possibility of combining wand and PS3 controller use, with the example of the wand as a sword and the DualShock 3 as a shield.
Wand-controlled games can also use the PlayStation Eye's microphone for voice recognition and voice control. However, all this wizardry comes at a cost: Sony told developers that the "motion-tracking library has some SPU overhead and has an impact on memory as well, although these will be minimized."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:51AM
Weak.
jason @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:55AM
Your Weak ....Troll .....give them a chance at this.
SoulBlade @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:55AM
why?
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:59AM
First of all, I'm not a troll. I've never even seen you around here before. Second of all, it's weak because why brief your devs with no information? It's a post with no real new info on the tech. Oh, and this: "motion-tracking library has some SPU overhead and has an impact on memory as well, although these will be minimized."
That's what's weak about it.
ill trooper @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:19AM
It's important because it shows it's actually happening. When Sony is telling devs about it, and how support is already in the PS3 SDK, it's on track to be utilized in games soon. So while the Natal demos all over TV are fun and interesting, we're starting to hear about waffling from Microsoft (Ballmer's retraction about when it will be released) and it's looking a ways off and might even signify a new version of a 360, so this is more than "weak" to those interested.
SoulBlade @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:20AM
hmmm seemed like there was info in there like what you can expect the thing in terms of how many wands and what kind of things you can track like faces and heads. Also the fact that you get rumble is a good confirmation since designers can give tactile feedback. Sony provided them with information that lets them figure out a decent gameplay experience based on what they got.
You didn't think you'd get the motion tracking stuff for free right? It's gotta use up system resources somewhere. I'm not surprised by it using some of the resources, but I would expect them to optimize it as much as possible.
Duke @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:43AM
ill trooper, you totally ignore that Balmer said that was a misunderstanding. He specifically said there was not a new console involved. I don't know about this waffling you are talking about either. Both companies need to be given a chance to get their prototypes into final form so lets not be unrealistic here.
ill trooper @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:14AM
Duke, I'm not ignoring anything. Actually, it looks like I might be paying more attention than you are: Balmer, quoted from the Joystiq post moments after this one: "I confused the issue with my poorly chosen words. There is no news in my comments. Things are as reported after E3. Sorry."
That counts as a waffling position, in my books. When the CEO of a company says something one week about a 2010 release, adding to the info discussed at E3, then comes back a week later and says "There is no news in my comments. Things are as reported after E3," that's conflicting information.
I'm interested in Natal working out and being released - hell, I buy all of this stuff, for all the systems. But I think this may show Sony is further along in getting their waggle/tracking/1:1 gizmo to the general public.
I also don't mind being wrong - like I said, I buy them all.
Duke @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:24AM
I'm sorry, but I still don't see the waffling there. He didn't change the dates or models or position of the company, so I just can't see it. I don't think its an issue of you paying more attention as opposed to just looking harder for validation in your initial post. He said his words caused confusion - hence this continued back and forth on the project's status.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:38AM
So one minute the PS3 architecture is bizarre because it's so difficult to use the SPUs. Now it's weak that those SPUs that apparently devs can't be bothered to use might be used for something else if they want motion tracking?
People will apparently bitch about anything.
Ashitaka @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:56AM
Yes, you are.
Cody @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:58AM
I foresee a common issue plauging both Sony and Microsoft's motion based offerings, that being the backlash of throwing everything but the kitchen sink into these ideas and implementations.
Less is more guys, less is more.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:05AM
When Natal comes equipped with the optional vitality tracker, I'll start getting worried about them going to far.
Cody @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:20AM
Irrelevant, but ok.... ?
Regardless, these guys are trying to "1 UP" (no pun) Nintendo's offering by going WAAAAYYY over the top with some things that I for one do not think will be implemented in any relevant way by any stretch of the imagination. Rememebr Sony's "7 controllers connected at a time" promise for the PS3? Or their "1080p only" promise? Natal is full of alot of fluff as well, and 360 fanboys are eatin it up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pace yourselves guys.
BTW, as we all know, the Vitality Sensor will for whatever reason undoubtably sell multiple millions. Hell, even Wii Music went over a mill.
PR0F3TA @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:35AM
Cody, your insecurities are showing...
You say less is more, but then tell us how a vitality sensor is gonna sell millions just like Wii music.... guess what? they both suck.
the huge differences is that ps3/360 owners are actually using motion sensing with REAL hardware to back it up. To me, that alone 1up'ed Nintendo even if you're to blind to see that
Matt @ Jun 22nd 2009 2:22PM
Um... you CAN connect 7 PS3 controllers. You'd probably be able to do more if it weren't a limitation of the Bluetooth standard. And they never said anything about only 1080p games. They said there would be 1080p games, and there are.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:25PM
ummmm it DOES support 7 controllers what are you talking about?? WWE and sports games hold that...
magicjohnson1 @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:02AM
Y do all of you get so upset if you like it you will buy it, if you dont like it dont f****n buy it
copa @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:05AM
Sony has the biggest financial challenges of the big three console manufacturers, so they have got to be more focused in how they are spending their money. If you are going to invest in a motion controller add-on, then invest hard, and play to win. Otherwise, don't waste a bunch of money and energy on distractions.
Instead, this motion controller add-on appears to be following Playstation Home as a project where Sony invests significant R&D dollars to bring it to market, and then it is left to die after launch.
Natal could be great, or it could be a disaster, but God knows Microsoft is putting their muscle behind it. They didn't have a couple of engineers demo it at E3. They put their top in-house developer, Peter Molyneaux, on stage demoing an actual game concept. And they are putting together a hardware-launch scale marketing plan behind it. Third party developers know that Microsoft is serious about Natal. Sony motion controller, not so much.
Sony needs to focus on a few of their core strengths (Blu-Ray, strong second party studio lineup) and work the hell out of those. Throwing half-hearted support behind a bunch of side projects is just wasting money that they could be using on a console price cut.
SoulBlade @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:22AM
they let Home die? I thought they were making some money on it. Any Home users still use home?
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:27AM
Home is a complete waste of time. There is nothing to do in there except bowl and play chess. And there's there's the hundreds of people who are MEN in real life who get their jollies by creating half naked virtual women in the game and run around and get in your face. And as shown in the video Joystiq posted a little while ago, if you want a great way to kill 20 mins by staring at an avatar doing the running man in place, Home is it.
Mr_Ahh @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:37AM
storm eagle come on now your talking pure bull. seriously now, home at lunch was really dull. home now is full of stuff to do,. I play pool daily and i met a bunch of people who play poker every Tuesday night. I mean sure there are a bunch of people who get off from dancing all the time, but it's not the wasteland you try so hard to make it seem. And by watching people run around Sony makes a killing from stuff they sell in the mall. I see it as a way to recoup from the free PSN service.
Peter @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:44AM
I don't know if them doing a presentation is a good sign of putting their strength behind it, to me it indicates that Natal doesn't work as well as they make out.
You never know, they might prove me wrong.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:45AM
Waste of time? Hmm, I wonder why its raking in so much cash then...
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:45AM
@Mr_Ahh I'm not trying hard. It's just an opinionated statement. A lot of people fail to realize that around here. If you get enjoyment from Home, more power to you. I just feel that something that took so long to get to the public in the first place should have a little more meat on it's bones, that's all.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:48AM
I didn't mean a waste of Sony's time Maverick....
I meant a waste of mine.
Maybe I'm not the virtual social butterfly that everyone else that frequents Home is.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:52AM
Storm, while I feel inclined to agree with you regarding Home in some parts, because I felt the potential could have been pushed further, thats not to say that Home cannot in fact be pushed further, I am hoping to see a day when gameplay of multiplayer matches or massive game tournaments can be streamed to home live so others can pick up interest in the game the way it is streamed on game channels and lots of other improvements, what looks sketchy now, much like PS3 at release could become a massive part of the PS3 world as it develops.
It's early days, the ambitious project of Home is still slowly getting better, so lets see what it's flower blooms into.
I only wish that Sony didn't have so many XBMs, if home became to standard XBM, that would be fine for me.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:01AM
@Maverick I completely agree. Home intrigues me as much as anyone and I hope it continues to grow and get proper attention. However, in it's current state, it just doesn't appeal to me. Plain and simple. Being able to view game trailers and jump into matches from a central space with other players is indeed a great innovation. But it needs to improve in terms of depth before it strikes a chord with me.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:32AM
No problem, I have the same feelings towards home, but even I can't deny I use it from time to time, have made friends on it and feel it has much potential, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But anyone is within thier rights to believe it does not appeal to them, I just dislike when people make general statements, thats without saying you were doing so.
Mr Khan @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:59AM
Far, far too early to be saying anything about Sony's strategy with this thing. It would be like speculation about the Wii remote after TGS 2005.
We have absolutely nothing on their final plans for this, so its too early to judge
ToTheMoon @ Jun 22nd 2009 1:55PM
Just because Home doesn't interest one person doesn't mean it won't interest another. I play a lot of FPS, RTS and other games that would be labeled as non-casual games but I also enjoy the Sims 3 a ton (to the utter disbelief of my wife). Point is, just because you don't think something is interesting, doesn't mean that other people will feel the same way.
Heck, I find Facebook the biggest waste of time but I'm not going to say something like "Why would anyone use that? It's a waste of time...." but yet I realize that millions of other people are fascinated by it.
I log into home about every 2 weeks to check out what's going on and I'm quite surprised at how much is has grown since launch. It's a pretty impressive virtual avatar world for the price of $0.
Pat @ Jun 22nd 2009 5:09PM
@Cops:
your statement seems a bit contradictory. If Sony is, indeed, facing financial difficulties (i'll get back to that in a second) and they need to be more focused on their offerings, then when they push a product they are obviously backing it up focusing on it in order to make money out of it and recoup the investment. In this case they have been doing the R&D for many years (since the inception of the Eyetoy and Sixaxis) and now is when everything comes together.
Now, in regards to Sony being in financial trouble, if you mean reporting a loss last year then you are correct. If you meant being "in trouble" then no. Having a loss, while certainly not what companies want, doesn't mean the company is automatically in trouble. Specially when considering the size of the company (compare how many divisions and products Sony across the board to what Microsoft and Nintendo do) it was bound to happen in the current economic climate. SCE is doing fine, though.
Finally, in regards to "(Microsoft) put their top in-house developer, Peter Molyneaux, on stage demoing an actual game concept". What are you trying to say? That the nicely choreographed pre- recorded video that showed a concept of how to create water ripples (Aquatopia anyone?) or a virtual kid reacting to pre- established lines, or the nicely produced but pre- recorded and heavily post produced video of a family using Natal showed that Microsoft is putting all their "muscle" behind it? How is it that a developer who has nothing to do with the actual device shows more "muscle" than the creator of the actual device showing interactive tech demos on stage as Sony did? Let's be honest: while concepts always sound wonderful for the moment Natal is nothing more than a sugar- coated PSEye wannabe.
Caveman @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:42AM
@ Pat
The difference is Natal was PLAYABLE at E3.
Go to Engadget and Gizmodo and read their reviews. They raved about the potential.
They even had video of it from Jimmy Falon's show and they had like 4 different guys jump in a start playing. That's pretty impressive.
However Sony's tech demo on stage at E3 was sketchy at first, mostly because the 2 guys giving the demo seemed really nervous, but at the end they pulled it off and made it look like it's going to be a lot of fun.
Both MS and Sony's tech is going to be great for getting more people involved in games.
Pat @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:05AM
@Caveman
I know Natal was playable at E3. At least the Tetris- like demo shown on stage and Milo. The reviews of Milo have been abysmal saying what we all knew from the get- go and what I described in my previous post. The Tetris like demo that you talked about worked, but it is nothing that you can't get with the Eyetoy/ PSEye.
My problem is not with the tech itself. Like you I believe that both are going to bring new things to the table and that a whole new style of gaming can appear. My issue is with those dissing the PS Motion Controller and praising how incredible Natal is even though it is, at this stage, exactly what you said: just a concept. What currently works in Natal is nothing we haven't had on the PSEye for a long time. (Btw- The Eyetoy can track multiple people as well) The Sony guys may not have had a long speech prepared like Peter Molyneaux who told the demo more than showed it (for a reason) but they had everything the system can do right there in real time. No videos, no concepts, but actual functionality. And Sony had also playable demos of EyePet and Invizimals that I haven't heard as much fuzz about those even though they were more impressive and tangible than Milo was.
So, (and this is not directed at you since you didn't say anything in this regard) let's wait until the devices are out before dismissing one and praising the other. Concepts are good, but they are just that. From idea to execution there is a huge stretch.
Magresda @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:08AM
Post about Sony? Check
Post about an upcoming Sony product? Check
Post about an upcoming Sony product that will compete with an upcoming MS product? Check
150 comments, at least.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:12AM
Yeah, it's gonna be a muthaf'n war in here today. And I'm too tired to participate.
GiggMan @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:14AM
Storm you got the ball rolling with your "Weak" comment.
Orion @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:15AM
I hear ya Storm Eagle. I often post 3 times on articles I don't want to participate in.
Young_Nastyman @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:17AM
I just had a Deja-Vu
Markez @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:21AM
Sony's motion controller is going to fail, so stupid, like anyone is going to want to play a game wielding a big stupid stop sign controller. Way to go braniacs, further cementing PS3 in 7th place this generation OMG
Markez @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:33AM
Given that a few people thought I was serious when I said previously that I thought Lincoln wrote the Inferno, I should clarify that the above post of mine was sarcasm.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:46AM
Markez, be careful, some people don't understand sarcasm :)
Sarcasm? Does not compute....
Duke @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:51AM
Made me laugh Markez. (Seems people are a little oversensitive today.)
Orion @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:57AM
Wow.. now he's contributed 20% of the posts here. That is one dedicated non-interested individual...
Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:09AM
I've had my coffee....
Sly @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:41PM
more like a gallon of cappuccinos...
verymetal @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:14AM
When the Wii was first introduced, Sony at E3 stated "We are not into gimmicks." What happened? Is this because the Wii is outselling them? I don't think following Nintendo's vision on next generation controls is the way for them to go. Sony will always be remembered as the system that went the Nintendo way.
GiggMan @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:36AM
Companies do that stuff all the time to downplay other companies tech. The sad thing is that consumers fall for it every time. What company is going to publicly say "Aw shit I wish we would have thought of that Nintendo FTW screw us"
All companies do this (I believe the technical term is called reverse physiology flippedity fluck). Nintendo downplayed HD graphics, Sony downplayed motion controls, and MS downplayed Bluray and the fanboys follow suit.
Don't get flippedity flucked!!!
Mr Khan @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:07PM
Nobody wants to be completely left behind. The problem besetting both Sony and Microsoft is that they don't want to gamble their existing bases with this move, so they're still very much focused on trying to keep each other at bay (by providing a solution that is less alienating for their current owners), which will mire them down, instead of taking the bolder steps necessary to catch up to Nintendo
jason @ Jun 22nd 2009 2:21PM
dude im sorry to say this but gimmicks are use to sell things ...like the Wii it has a gimmick that sells it .....and once some one hacks in to the Wii they will run Roms on it for free lol ...
MS and sony is doing something that Nintendo cant do and even turn it down .....every one forgets about PS2's eyetoy MS is copying from that but dont you think sony would sue MS for that no b/c they are being nice ....
look this shit up before you Fanboys start posting shit .......dont you all rememebr the power gove of the late 80's to 90's ? that fiall b/c no one liked that ideal ...thats what your people are saying now ...so back off and give sony and chance at this .