PS3 motion controller will be at GDC

By Oli Welsh Published 16 February, 2010

Sony showing it off on 11th March.

Sony is to present its PS3 motion controller at next month's Game Developers Conference in a session simply entitled Introducing the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller (thanks, CVG).

The lecture is on Thursday 11th March at 3pm Pacific time (GDC takes place in San Francisco), which is 11pm over here. We'll be sure to send the away team to check it out.

The session will naturally be aimed at game programmers, but if Sony is showing its new motion control system at the event then some sort of press launch during the week also seems likely. Will the Arc name be confirmed? Will we get a release date? Will we see any games? Post your predictions below.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Jay-ITFC #1 2 years ago

    I have no interest in PS3 or 360 motion controllers/games.

  • MasterNameless #2 2 years ago

    Thanks for announcing that to us, we can now sleep safely.

  • ShiftyGeezer #3 2 years ago

    Surely if you feel compelled to write a comment about something you have no interest in, you must be commenting a great deal? Anyway, I'm off to post on the Crotchetting Weekly fora that I have no interest in French stitching, and then on to Hello magazine's website to remark to every story I really don't care about them. It's gonna be a busy day!

  • kangarootoo #4 2 years ago

    I have no interest in using my keyboard to type words.

  • rob76 #5 2 years ago

    might go for a siesta...can't be arsed with the gym today

  • makeamazing #6 2 years ago

    I have no interest in reading anything Jay-ITFC has to say.

    Not long till all the different shows start, excellent cant wait :)

  • chubster2010 #7 2 years ago

    I have no interest in hearing the opinion of people with no interest in motion control (something that I actually find very interesting!).

    Surely Sony will have to announce the name of the controller soon? They need to start building up a head of steam, and now would be a good time to start!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #8 2 years ago

    Microsoft haven't announced the name of theirs, either. I'd expect both names and some release game showcases at the E3 press conferences and not before.

  • jefranklin18 #9 2 years ago

    Although I personally have little interest in motion control games, I would be interested to see what they will be demonstrating.

  • BritishBlue1 #10 2 years ago

    If this is going to be some lame PR pep talk, they can sod off.

    I just hope there will be some sort of practical demonstration of this "wandildo" (kudos farty), particularly how this will be applied to FPS and RTS games.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/10 @ 13:19

  • Dolly #11 2 years ago

    Shenmue 3 as a launch title, and you will be able to DP Lan-di if a friend has an Arc as well.

  • schnide #12 2 years ago

    As a hardcore gamer (and don't argue) I feel a natural inclination to reject anything that doesn't have a traditional input, especially as joypad design is so good these days. However, I do accept that motion control might have it's place.

    Given that Sony and Microsoft probably wouldn't be on this bandwagon without Nintendo doing it first though, I sincerely hope that the new advanced hardware over Wii's very limited functionality actually translates into games with that Nintendo magic as well.

    Otherwise, this could all just get a little depressing.

  • FeralGamer #13 2 years ago

    I hope they've redesigned it. The way it looks now is very suggestive and the glowing orb on top is just comical. I do want one to play all that HD shovelware!
    Edited by 2 at 16/02/10 @ 13:32

  • chubster2010 #14 2 years ago

    @ Metalist
    re 'Microsoft haven't announced the name of theirs, either.'

    This is true...but at least 'NATAL' gives something for the press to hang their hats on!

    'Sony's motion controller/Sony's motion controller wand' is a tad vague...

  • mkreku #15 2 years ago

    Has anyone played a game that got better with motion controls? Like, you thought to yourself "This game is the best ever, thank god for motion controls or it wouldn't have been possible!". Because I haven't.

    I'm really hoping Natal and Arc changes this. It feels like the controllers have so much potential that's never really realized. Sword play in real time, for example? It could be so much fun in a RPG!

  • Les #16 2 years ago

    @ mkreku

    Not games that would be considered 'gamers' games. But Wii Sport is the prime example of how something (simple) gets better with motion controls.

    I'm not really convinced by MS and Sony's offerings for as far as they're aimed at adding motion controls to 'regular control' games. E.g. I don't see myself using a dualshock for moving the avatar/camera around and then putting that down (or moving it to a single hand) to do a swordfight with the motion controller. And the same goes with a Natal/xbox controller combo.

  • schnide #17 2 years ago

    @farticus

    I'd like to, but I've not got Demons Souls yet as I don't have a PS3. Funnily enough, I've been thinking about it the past few days and looked for a Metacritic review list to persuade me this morning, but it doesn't seem to exist.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/10 @ 13:46

  • Widge #18 2 years ago

    Tennis is better with motion.

  • chubster2010 #19 2 years ago

    @ mkreku
    re 'Has anyone played a game that got better with motion controls? '

    Boomblox
    Wii Sports/Resort
    Endless Ocean (it really made it feel more relaxing)
    Excite Truck
    Flower
    No More Heroes

    How's that for starters?

  • FogHeart #20 2 years ago

    The Conduit
    COD Reflex

    For me the burning question is, will the Arc provide the same control experience as the above two games (and Red Steel 2 to come?) ie, will we have a 'nunchuck'?

  • sneetch #21 2 years ago

    @Jay-ITFC

    I have no interest in ham sandwiches. Thought you should know.

  • DrDamn #22 2 years ago

    @Schnide
    You probably missed the apostrophe ... MC Link

    I'd say the EG review is a good start.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/10 @ 14:07

  • Widge #23 2 years ago

    Flower could be played better (ie. more accurately) without motion, but that would remove half the joy of soaring around using motion gestures. It depends on how much value you put in your input device as part of the experience.

    You are going to get two camps of opinion on this one, those seeing motion as an obstacle to the game and those who see it as enhancing the game. Both are probably right.

  • ShiftyGeezer #24 2 years ago

    @mkreku : Baseball is a no-brainer for improvement by ARC. Warhawk's plane flight was also superb IMO, although I'll grant that most developers have really made a mess of motion control integration. FIFA could be great with motion to apply dodge moves, but it's not used at all. A Harry Potter game seems ideally suited, and I did like the archery demo for ARC. LBP would be far more intuitive with the wand, drawing shapes instead of having to point-edit them. Although better there would be PSEye image scanning like EyePet. Controlling a torch in a horror title would also be a natural advance, but you'd want a nunchuck to go with it. Sony should have added an analogue nub controller to the wand for additional movement.

  • FogHeart #25 2 years ago

    Hm. The sixaxis motion control doesn't feel as precise as the Wiimote - I have both now and just played Flower last weekend! - but the Arc was demonstrated to be so precise you can write with is (although it probably feels like the ballpoint pen with the largest ball ever).

  • Murton #26 2 years ago

    You are going to get two camps of opinion on this one, those seeing motion as an obstacle to the game and those who see it as enhancing the game. Both are probably right.

    The majority will see it as both and neither. I can see a lot potential for how these motion controllers could enhance gameplay when used correctly but based on what we've seen of the Wii, Sixaxis and PS-Eye I remain sceptical that the implementation of the Wand/Natal in games will be something that feels as natural as the regular controller. In fact I fear it may be very much the opposite, especially in games which support both controllers and let the player decide which or games that require you to use both in the case of Natal.

    What both pieces of hardware need right now is all of the PR guys and fanboys on both sides to just stop talking for a second and show off what's possible using appropriate software. I'm sure that both the sceptics and those that show blind faith will benefit from a proper demonstration using the actual launch games for each device. Then we can decide if each device is the future of its brand or just a gimmick.

  • swissorc #27 2 years ago

    Just hope that I can shake off the post natal depression which is bound to occur post E3 unless gears 3 comes out this christmas. Otherwise, I can finally justify buying a PS3 :-)

  • FogHeart #28 2 years ago

    "You are going to get two camps of opinion on this one, those seeing motion as an obstacle to the game and those who see it as enhancing the game. Both are probably right."

    Those motion-control naysayers just ain't got no rhythmn. Get off the dance floor, granddad!

  • Moonprince #29 2 years ago

    "Given that Sony and Microsoft probably wouldn't be on this bandwagon without Nintendo doing it first though"

    I'm sure I played a mocon game with PSeye before the Wii...

  • FogHeart #30 2 years ago

    Shall we start digging out powergloves and all the other failed motion control peripherals of the past?

    We've had motion control for a long time, with each iteration being slightly better but not quite there. Only when the Wii came along was the tech reliable enough to make mass-market. Even then the most cynical gamers weren't impressed until it was improved by M+.

    Of course when it came good it was extremely successful, which is why the industry has been chasing motion control for so long.

  • Nazo #31 2 years ago

    They have to call it the Threemote surely?

    I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with, I quite like this motion controller malarkey.

    Trying not to castrate myself with the Nunchuck connector chord in EA Sports Active is half the fun though, taking that out will severely restrict the risk / reward thrill of it all...

  • Murton #32 2 years ago

    Farticus: you seem to have a penchant for trolling posts that speak of the motion controllers. Understand that not everyone shares you blind faith that they will be any good. It's all well and good to say that the launch games won't be indicative of whether or not these devices will work for gaming but showing them is at least feasible, whereas showing a theory for a game that could exist in two, three, five years time is not, and besides, will these devices be supported in two years if they fail on launch? The two PS cameras would suggest not.

    Be honest, is anyone going to buy The Wand/Natal day one based on the tech demos we've seen so far? A proper demonstration using proposed launch games is the only way to give the motion controllers a fair hearing here and now, if some people are prepared to buy these devices on faith alone that's great, but you can't build a business strategy around that and expect to succeed.

  • chubster2010 #33 2 years ago

    @ Murton
    re 'Be honest, is anyone going to buy The Wand/Natal day one based on the tech demos we've seen so far? '

    Well...I am!

    I want that painting application Sony demonstrated. On that note, I think both the Wand and Natal could have great potential for non-game applications - I really hope this is something both companies explore.

  • seanthejackal #34 2 years ago

    Star Wars lightsaber game or gtfo

  • Beano #35 2 years ago

    Looking forward to ARCade announcement!

  • kangarootoo #36 2 years ago

    @FogHeart

    The issue with previous motion controllers was not so much tech reliability as their relative lack of software support and/or market penetration.

    The key difference with the Wii was that motion control was a key part of the platform. That was never the case with power gloves for PC games and their ilk. The Wiimote is not better than all of the previous solutions that came before it, it just had the might of Nintendo behind it.

    If Sony focus on making sure there are shedloads of games with motion controller support, they should avoid that particular worry in the same was the Wiimote did.

  • Murton #37 2 years ago

    Grow up, and learn to accept that people have different opinions to yours.

    Same could be said of you, you seem to disagree quite strongly on this subject and that is fine, the tone of your posts however is not. Your hostility leads me to believe that I am not perhaps not the one that needs to "grow up" as you so aptly put it.

    The "support" of the PS cameras. Well there were two Eye Toy minigame packs and that was it, maybe some little known third party features too but none that I'm aware of. This generations camera has seen Eye of Judgement, three or four mini-game titles on the PSN and Eye Pet. Oh, and filming in Singstar and photo-taking for a few games. It's hardly an exciting level of support of really is it? The wand is the first thing to come along that is making the camera is a must have accessory on PS3, and that's only because the wand requires it.

    Explaining the PS3? Comparing an entire console to a peripheral now? May as well compare an apple to a horse, but here goes. The PS3 had several key titles announced and showcased long before it was released, something which is not true of these peripherals. You may also remember that the PS3 had a very awkward start and took a while to gather steam, but there was a confidence in the brand that said it would turn around and it did. The same confidence doesn't exist for these peripherals yet, there's excitement certainly, but not confidence.

    Again, I believe there is potential in motion control, but like many I remain sceptical that the potential will be realised by these motion controllers or if we'll be waiting for the next set, and MS and Sony certainly aren't going to convert the non-believers with PR and tech demos. We need to see what the controllers can actually do, and for that we need to see the actual games that are being proposed.

  • teabagger #38 2 years ago

    I think that technology improving to the point where a reliable and neatly packaged motion controller could be built at an attractive price had a huge amount to do with it. Surely that had to come before Nintendo could even consider building their console around such technology.

  • TheRook21 #39 2 years ago

    I will let you in on a little secret...

    The new controller will come in pairs (two "wands" per pack)

    The controllers will be know as 'Dual Shakes' (did you like what I did there?)

    TheRook21

  • malexous #40 2 years ago

    "but the Arc was demonstrated to be so precise you can write with is"

    The WiiMote is also precise enough for this. Or so my quick go on Kidspaint/WiiPaint (homebrew) suggested.

  • Geordiemp #41 2 years ago

    If a wand / camera can do 60 + FPS, will we one day get a good golf sim ?

  • malexous #42 2 years ago

    @Geordiemp

    I read Tiger Woods 10 (for Wii) is a good golf sim.

  • man.the.king #43 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    "Wii Sports was a fluke as it hit the spot immediately."

    In my opinion, it wasn't a fluke - it was a success that established Wii's initial reputation because it was bundled free with every single Wii.

  • kangarootoo #44 2 years ago

    @malexous

    Whether the Wiimote is "precise enough" or not, its pointing accuracy isn't a patch on the Arc controller (without or without M+). That much is clear from the tech videos.

  • malexous #45 2 years ago

    I'd like to see them compared (probably will never be done properly). The WiiMote uses infrared for its pointing device. Arc uses the PSEye. I very much doubt Arc is that much more accurate (in terms of pointing, at least).
    Edited by 1 at 17/02/10 @ 12:26