Sony reveals high hopes for PS3 wand

By Ellie Gibson Published 17 December, 2009

"Natal and Wii will have trouble matching."

Sony Computer Entertainment America exec John Koller has said the company is confident in the power of the PS3's new magic wand.

"We look at motion control as being that much more than what exists on the market," he told GamePro. "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically. When we provide further details, people will see exactly where we're going."

According to Koller, the PS3 wand will work with games from "a real wide variety" of genres. "The areas that are going to be really critical to our success will be family games, as well as shooters and sports games," he said.

"Those are going to be the areas that will really define success, because they're areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching, from a differentiation standpoint."

Sony's "three big pillars" for 2010 are motion control, 3D gaming and PlayStation Network. You can also expect plenty of firmware updates, excitingly. "A lot of what you'll see in terms of changes to the PS3 are going to be done through firmware for the foreseeable future. There's a lot features and functions we have planned there. I think that 2010 will be a big year for that," predicted Koller.

Then there are the games, of course. "Going into the back half of the year, we have a number of key launches. We haven't really announced all of them yet, but the titles that will be launching at the time are going to be very exciting," Koller said.

"Some of the big franchises, as well as new IPs have new ways to game, not motion control gaming, but in other ways. It's going to be a really strong lineup."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (89) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • berelain #1 2 years ago

    *facepalm*

    I seem to remember hearing this kind of talk before from Sony, most recently about Playstation Home...

  • robg #2 2 years ago

    Those are going to be the areas that will really define success, because they're areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching, from a differentiation standpoint.

    You should see what Babelfish came out with when I tried to translate this gibberish into English.

  • bad09 #3 2 years ago

    Company man excited by own product, news at eleven.

    "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically"

    Actually just really good games with no fleecing, lying, hyping, delays is the holy grail of gaming these days, you can keep your wand. Spread the word....

  • Ignatius_Cheese #4 2 years ago

    First gen PS3 wand software is currently looking like a casual wagglefest. Good ol' PR bollocks :o)

  • telboy007 #5 2 years ago

    I loathe 3D and what it represents... (me having to buy another flipping TV probably).

  • homerramone #6 2 years ago

    Boasting 'Its going to be great... ' one sure fire way of making sure its a complete disaster :-)

    Im sure there will be some good stuff for it of course... but.... Im sure there will be a shed load of games that use the new controller just because... not because it will improve the game !

  • Johnsters #7 2 years ago

    Hmm, I think motion control is a little bit weak. The Wii controls are a little gimmicky beyond Wii Sports IMHO.
    As a PS3 owner, I will step with caution on this one. Natal looks interesting though.

    I prefer a conventional pad. Maybe I am a bit set in my ways. If I want to go play tennis, then I'll go play tennis. Like wise with Golf.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 09:41

  • Alterego-X #8 2 years ago

    The majority of Wii users didn't even jump on Wii Motion+, even though that came with the sequel to the most popular game ever, and was quite popular on its own.

    The HD motion controllers can either appeal to the "casuals" who have no interest in changing to somehow better technology for higher costs, or to "teh hardcoreh", who might get used to it, but they ALREADY HAVE HD consoles, so it won't result in market expansion, or better hardware sales.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 09:42

  • Evolution #9 2 years ago

    Sony's PR department really needs to get their execs under control, they really speak crap like no other. I'm surprised they can make any of their statements with a straight face!

  • Teamallstar #10 2 years ago

    It's like some kind of strange corporate code for... "we have no idea how we are going to be competitive, but I'm sure we'll think of something..."

  • davisorle #11 2 years ago

    Im sorry I laughed hard. Not only the description of games focoused for Wand screams out Wii but the Wan will never be anything different from a Wiimote cause its got the same functionalities and the Wii has a damn huge advantage there with a humangus catalog. How can he even come out with a straight face and talk about the Wii after this rip off..? "Family games, shooter and sports" no shit Sherlock..

    Natal on the other hand even if it fails it will deliver faster somethign different cause its got nothing similar and with companies like Activision working double titles on the system it will be way faster to show somethign new and different even if they both deliver the same crappy kind of family titles. Wand will not do it any different from the Wiimote and thats going to be obvious from startes to ppl that arent blind and have at least SEEN someone else using a Wiimote. Sony has used al its aces and if for the whole 2010 they are counting on the 3 exclusives and Wand then they are really gonna loose some of the steam big time.. They might as well need an Uncharted 3 which wont be bad since I'll probably own a PS3 by then. Will make it a bit more worth it :D I just find it wrong that they are talking about the Wand as if its not going to be working like a Wiimore. Respectable companies tend to say where they get influenced from and are proud of it some times and I respect that. This, I dont.

    That was the most epic fail from an exec within the past few months. Like you Brists say and I love it ( i.e. Ignatius lol ) BOLLOCS XD. Bollocks' only translation is buttcheeks isnt it? lol

  • davisorle #12 2 years ago

    @Evolution
    :o !? lol...

  • Widge #13 2 years ago

    Motion control is great for Tennis games. Looking forward to whatever EA put out regarding that. Tennis with a pad is just no once you've done it with motion.

  • Retroid #14 2 years ago

    I was almost expecting them to call it "The Real Next Gen of motion sensing".

  • muscleblade #15 2 years ago

    "Next gen starts when we say so"

    LOL.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #16 2 years ago

    Is this all the marketing they can do fo a product supposedly only three months out?

    We've still seen nothing but a hastily assembled tech demo six months ago. They haven't even produced the requisite 'lifestyle' concept video

    Nintendo's:
    [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=v3XeQxsNuv4
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=v3XeQxsNuv4
    [/link]

    Microsoft's:
    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=p2qlHoxPioM

  • GreyBeard #17 2 years ago

    On the face of it it should have a definite advantage in terms of accuracy over its rivals though.

    Bear in mind the wand itself is comparable to Wii Remote /w Motion+, as it contains both gyroscopes and accelerometers, and then the glowing ball allows for a further level of (light level independent) motion tracking.

  • Eighthours #18 2 years ago

    The main problem with the wand, as far as I can see, is that there will be no way to have analogue movement and motion control at the same time for shooters and the like. Unlike the Wiimote + nunchuck combo, you can't plug anything into the wand at present, which is leading to the horrendous-sounding "hold the wand in one hand and Dualshock 3 in another" motion control option for Resi 5.

    To me, this sounds like a pretty fundamental flaw. Anyone have any idea how Sony intends to get around this other than the above (terrible) example?

  • Darren #19 2 years ago

    I can't say I'm interested in either Natal or the PS3 wand particularly but then I haven't really had a chance to try either so I may change my mind. May being the operative word here.

    However, I'm very old-fashioned having been playing games since the Commodore 64 so I much prefer a conventional controller for its accuracy which motion-controllers unfortunately lack in my experience. They're a laugh to use but not always appropriate for certain game types IMO. The Wiimote wasn't particularly good either until Nintendo released the accelerometer thingy for it and then I still remain unconvinced that this method of control has much of a future beyond being a fun gimmick that pulls in the casual who would otherwise steer clear of video games. I guess I'll have to wait and see if I'm wrong.

  • Evolution #20 2 years ago

    @davisorle

    *high five*

    @GreyBeard

    No doubt it will also have the same problems as motion+, that being very few interesting games are using it. Just because something is better technology-wise doesn't really mean anything for how well it performs.



  • anomagnus #21 2 years ago

    All of these motion control things are beginning to annoy me. Maybe its just me, so feel free to correct me, but will the majority of core gamers actually buy these?

    I know i won't. I just don't see how the types of games i like, FPS's, RPG's, Action/Adventure games could translate into motion controlled games. I don't see myself diving behind the couch to get cover in GOW3, or climbing the walls of my living room for AC3.

    So whats the point of these things?

  • NorUraeus #22 2 years ago

    The Sony wand do have one great advantage over its competitors though and that is its high level of accuracy. While the wiimote and natal are great for things like causal exercise games etc., the lack of high accuracy has and will leave them of little interest to the so called hard-core gaming crowd.

    I am also surprised how many people seem to think natal will revolutionize gaming, the PS Eye has been out for a long time in various iterations and it isn't like PS Eye games are selling like hotcakes. So while natal do offer improvements over the PS Eye, its not like the basic concept of flailing your arms and legs to play has changed.

  • JetSetWilly #23 2 years ago

    ""The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically."

    No it's not. We have sport for that.

  • M_of_the_sys #24 2 years ago

    @Eighthours

    So you think it's horrendous to "hold the wand in one hand and Dualshock 3 in another" but would prefer to hold the wand in one hand and "insert other device that does the same thing here" in another?

    Colour me confused.

  • GreyBeard #25 2 years ago

    The problem with Motion+ is that its an add-on, and more importantly an add-on that's only real purpose is to bring the standard Wii remote's functionality up to the level most people were expecting in the first place!

    The reality is that -by and large- the Wii is graveyard for third-parties. So trying to put forward a title that *requires* the use of an add-on like Motion+ or the Balance Board is a very tough sell to publishing as its a subset of a market that's chancy in the first place.

    There's no financial imperative, so it doesn't happen.
    Edited by 2 at 17/12/09 @ 10:29

  • penhalion #26 2 years ago

    For competing against the Wii, I think just having the same games with 200% better visuals will be a winner for Sony. Heck I'd buy a few of them! The problem is that they can let anything lay. First it's going to be the insane promises, then the agressive putting everyone else down nonsense, then the lacluster rushed delivery of games that simply don't suit motion control.

    I'm going to grab a bowl of popcorn and watch them burn their potential success in a pool of stupidity.

  • BillyBrush #27 2 years ago

    "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically''

    Interesting quote

  • M_of_the_sys #28 2 years ago

    "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically''

    Think Nightmare - now that kind of interface would've made the Holy Grail of Gaming, not motion controls.

  • mkreku #29 2 years ago

    JetSetWilly: "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically."

    No it's not. We have sport for that.

    Actually, I think it is. Who hasn't dreamt of being able to walk around as a Jedi with a lightsaber in your hands? Can't do that on a tennis court! You MAY be able to within a Natal/GEM powered game though.

  • penhalion #30 2 years ago

    @BillyBrush

    "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically''

    I'm probably going to get minus'ed for this but, you're right, it is an interesting quote when coming from Sony. Especially as Natal is the only tech that actually does that by litteraly putting the player into the game in terms of directly translating their movements and actions.

  • IronGiant #31 2 years ago

    Maybe this time they will have something decent to back up the hype, merging the wand with 3D games has enormous potential.

  • Xerx3s #32 2 years ago

    "Actually, I think it is. Who hasn't dreamt of being able to walk around as a Jedi with a lightsaber in your hands? Can't do that on a tennis court! You MAY be able to within a Natal/GEM powered game though."

    The problem is, no living room technology in the world will ever give the desired experience so your better off putting in proper controls. All other things result in a waggle fest.

  • menage #33 2 years ago

    @mkreku

    It's not the freaking holodeck. You're still controlling shit on a display so the whole point is ridiculous.

  • Murton #34 2 years ago

    If released with a solid lineup of proper games it'll probably take off. The PS3 and Wand combo is just plain better than the Wii and Wiimote combo from a technical standpoint. The console can push better graphics, more calculations for more complex games and blu-ray capacity for shitloads of game content while the wand offers the proper motion control that a standard Wiimote lacks.

    However, as we often see in any tech industry, the superior technology does not automatically win, it still needs to be sold and in the games industry that means you need good games. I have no idea what sort of games Sony are planning on bringing out with the Wand but if it's a sad collection of mini-game packs then it's destined for fail. Anyone who wants to play minigames will have bought a Wii a long time ago, but if it releases with proper full and engaging games designed around the idea of motion control, then it might just work. Personally I reckon it'll get swamped with minigames like any other specialised peripheral, but I guess we'll find out next year.

  • JetSetWilly #35 2 years ago

    mkreku: Well, I've never dreamed of doing that either in a game or otherwise! It's a misplaced ideal really.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 10:51

  • Darkjinxter #36 2 years ago

    blah, blah, blah

  • JamieR #37 2 years ago

    If it works well with first person shooters and you have the ability to move around with a analog stick and aim with the wand then ill be interested in it big time. but it still look like a family game thing since i haven't noticed a analog stick.

  • Eighthours #38 2 years ago

    @ M_of_the_sys

    So you think it's horrendous to "hold the wand in one hand and Dualshock 3 in another" but would prefer to hold the wand in one hand and "insert other device that does the same thing here" in another?

    Colour me confused.

    Let me ease your confusion. The Wii's nunchuck is specifically designed to be held in one hand while the Wiimote is held in another. It is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably into that hand.

    The Dualshock 3 is designed to be held with two hands. It is not designed to be held in your left hand while the Wand is held in your right. Try it. Try holding the controller in one hand, and moving one of the analogue sticks around with the same control you would have if your other hand was also holding the controller.

    You see the problem now?
    Edited by 2 at 17/12/09 @ 11:20

  • El-Dev #39 2 years ago

    This and Natal get a massive m'eh from me. I can do without both of them.

  • Deckard1 #40 2 years ago

    isn't it just a wii-mote?


    Though I've got to be honest, the thought of Cooking Mama in HD makes me pretty hard.

  • sneetch #41 2 years ago

    "The Holy Grail of gaming is placing you as a consumer into the game physically"

    Personally I could do without being physically sucked in the game like the little girl in Poltergeist. ;)

    I don't particularly want to watch myself play some hilarious* games involving cartoon bees attacking me or pies being thrown at me or whatever. From what I saw at the E3 demo the guys using it had a lot of problems syncing up their positions and what was going on on the screen. But it was apparently hilarious*.

    "Those are going to be the areas that will really define success, because they're areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching, from a differentiation standpoint."

    Can't see why, I suppose it's down to wishful thinking. I mean, the wii mote is pretty much capable of doing whatever this thing can, especially with the wii motion plus and natal can track any object you hold in your hand (I estimate it'll be two days after launch before the first new reports about shocked people who threw a baseball bat through their TV and are blaming Natal).

    * not really hilarious.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 14:33

  • M_of_the_sys #42 2 years ago

    @Eighthours

    "The Dualshock 3 is designed to be held with two hands. It is not designed to be held in your left hand while the Wand is held in your right. Try it. Try holding the controller in one hand, and moving one of the analogue sticks around with the same control you would have if your other hand was also holding the controller.

    It's quite easy to hold the pad with two hands, take one hand away and still use the analogue stick (some of us are too impatient to pause the game when needing a drink :p). However, I concede to your point that you do infact have less control as you do with two hands. While you have less control, it's still easy enough though. That's only my opinion. Different people experience different levels of difficulty I guess.
    The Wii is more comfortable but my confusion was over how you reckon the method we've been discussing is 'horrendous' and 'terrible'.
    My view might be slightly biased though as I'm not really convinced by the whole motion control thing. Like many others, I prefer the conventional input method. Doesn't mean I can't be swayed though.

  • IneptPercy #43 2 years ago

    Motion control starts when Sony say so...

    I am not going to judge either product until they are out myself.

  • mkreku #44 2 years ago

    So none of you gets drawn into a game when you're playing it? You actually sit in your living room and see a living room and a screen when you're playing, oh, I don't know GTA4? Ok then.

  • jonfon #45 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_sys "Think Nightmare - now that kind of interface would've made the Holy Grail of Gaming, not motion controls."

    Do you mean Knightmare, the ITV show from the 80s?

    Does that mean the Holy Grail of Gaming is a bucket on your head while 3 spotty tweenagers shout "Left, left, left, RUN, RUN, RUN" at you?

    Personally I'd a bit to old / lazy / unfit to be running about waving my arms to play games. In fact I'm pretty sure the reason I started playing games was because I was too useless to be any good at sports. So thanks for making me useless at games too now Nintendo / Natal / Sony-magic-wand-thingy
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 12:12

  • Redeye #46 2 years ago

    Dumb PR chimp is dumb.

    Also, out of Sony's 'big three' for next year, why does it strike me that none of them are really set-your-balls-on-fire exciting?

    And finally, anyone who uses the term 'Holy Grail' when it comes to selling any product really does need a kick in the throat.

    EDIT: Looks like my neg-bestowing stalker has given me another one - thanks muchly, whoever you are.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 14:56

  • Abscido #47 2 years ago

    @Eighthours

    Just turn the dualshock on its side and hold it that way, using the top stick. Very ergonomical and - with the lightness of Dualshock sixes - still won't take a toll on your hand.

  • solidSnake04 #48 2 years ago

    how about that ...focus on high quality games to continue the momentum you have managed to create these past months ?

  • doulema #49 2 years ago

    @Redeye
    I agree. Seriously 2010 sounds bad for Sony. If they are counting on network they still wont catch up to XBL, if they are countin on motion control then only Natal will shine even if it fails when Wand will offer nothing new and if you consider the ones interested and their hype it will just fuck up the expectations even more. And when we thought Sony learned their lesson it seams to me they are just gonna fuck off again. And when they are talking to us as if we are all a bunch of clueless fanboys pisses me off. Motion control wont arive with he Wand as much as Next-Gen didnt arive with PS3. Are they pretending there is no competition for our shake or their own?

  • Sunyavadin #50 2 years ago

    "We've still seen nothing but a hastily assembled tech demo six months ago. They haven't even produced the requisite 'lifestyle' concept video
    Nintendo's:
    <a href="http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=v3XeQxsNuv4
    ">http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=v3XeQxsNuv4
    </a>
    Microsoft's:
    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=p2qlHoxPioM"


    Christ, the choreography work that must have gone into that "project nothing-at-all" promo video...
    Edited by 2 at 17/12/09 @ 12:52

  • Sunyavadin #51 2 years ago

    Mind you... I'm more embarassed to be a 360 owner.
    At least Sony are trading their dignity for a guaranteed string of successfully selling Harry Potter titles.
    MS on the other hand are giving us the bastard offspring of the Sega Activator...

  • Skooch #52 2 years ago

    I don't really like comparing Natal with the Sony Wand as their applications will be so different. Natal's full body motion-tracking will be amazing for fitness/exercise/fighting/puzzle/social titles but not really for FPS's and games with complex controls. The Wand I see much more as an uber-accurate Wiimote that could be great for playing CoD online but is going to be as easy to 'trick' for fitness and other titles as the Wiimote is.

  • ChthonicEcho #53 2 years ago

    I really like how hard EG tries to stir a flame war. In the title, Sony is favoured. In the subtitle, Nintendo is trampled on and an X360 accessory is subtly presented as a unique asset.

    Talented trolling, right there.

  • butler` #54 2 years ago

    2 of dem 3 pillars i have 0 interest in :(

  • butler` #55 2 years ago

    I'm not going to quote it again, but there's so much wrong with that Holy Grail sentence that I nearly choked on my lunch.

  • Murton #56 2 years ago

    Doulema: By what measure can you say that next year looks bad for Sony? They have a fantastic first party games lineup, most third party developers are upping their game to compete with the first party title (less lazy ports and more actual development) sales are picking up and they're shifting into a much stronger position as far as competition is concerned. The new peripheral is "meh" granted, but those new features coming next year through the firmware updates have me interested, hopefully it'll be the much vaunted voice chat but I wouldn't be against something to make game-sharing easier or dare I say close the service gap between Europe and America.

    It looks like a good year for Sony and PS3 next year from where I'm sitting, MS and Xbox are looking good too with another Halo (not my thing but it's big for them) and Natal which interests me from a technical perspective if not a gaming perspective. Then there's Nintendo, who are looking at a bad year in my opinion with not a lot to look forward to beyond another batch of inane mini-games and different coloured remotes.

  • M_of_the_sys #57 2 years ago

    @jonfon

    Yeah Knightmare. That's the one.

    Does that mean the Holy Grail of Gaming is a bucket on your head while 3 spotty tweenagers shout "Left, left, left, RUN, RUN, RUN" at you?

    Yes. Yes it does. "Take one step forward. Ok... one more step. Ok... One big step. Now go left. No... left! RUN, RUN, RUN!"

    You're right though. Let's stick with being shot to death by 128 spotty teenagers in games like MAG whilst being shouted at by 7 other spotty teenagers.

  • FogHeart #58 2 years ago

    I'm with eighthours here - I couldn't use the dualshock one-handed for very long. It's not ergonomic - it's fine for a few moments whilel taking a sip of choice beverage but will be painful after half an hour or so.

    So the alternative? Does anyone remember reading about a design Sony put out for a controller that would break into two pieces? Could that have been for left or right handed control to complement the wand?

    I have some confidence that Sony's direction won't fall flat. I've mentioned before I'm dying to take the Conduit/COD Reflex control methodolgy onto games like Resistance 3 and Killzone 3, and will love playing Wii Resi 4 controls on PS3 Resi 5. As for other kinds of games, it's a matter of taking the kind of games we liked on the Wii - Shattered Memories, No More Heroes - and leaving behind the cartoony minigame dross. I'm still waiting for a Motion controlled Fatal Frame.

    I bought a PS3 in anticipaqtion of the Wand, deciding against Natal. I'm very wary of the lag we saw, and with news that it can't pick up nuanced finger movements like pulling imaginary triggers or pressing imaginary buttons I can't see myself playing its kind of games. Only time will tell if my gamble has paid off.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 14:28

  • jag10 #59 2 years ago

    Good thing the PS3 Exclusive hardcore games line up is looking good, it is a games console after all, and it's the games that count remember..................

  • jonfon #60 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_sys : "You're right though. Let's stick with being shot to death by 128 spotty teenagers in games like MAG whilst being shouted at by 7 other spotty teenagers."

    Hmmm. Good point. Now I'm hankering for more innocent times when your fellow players just shouted "One step forward" over and over at you, rather than now where they call you n00b and teabag your corpse :'(

  • GreyBeard #61 2 years ago

    How hard can it be to design and manufacture a cut-down, 1-handed controller?

    Lets face it, creating a nunchuck style add-on is hardly rocket science!

  • Ryze #62 2 years ago

    @Eighthours

    I agree. They need to clarify this, and tell us how we'll circle strafe in FPS games.

    They need a solution to moving the 'look' as well as the 'target'.

    They mentioned a break-apart controller a while ago, that splits into two pieces. If they've got something planned here - they should tell us.

    I suppose they could try incorporating a right-analogue stick into the wand design, but I expect that they wont think of that, as they forgot to include one with the PSP.

    /waits...

  • Tonka #63 2 years ago

    LOL

  • canIdoyabombsforya #64 2 years ago

    The Essence of Playstation DNA is real change.

  • FogHeart #65 2 years ago

    Ah, here we go...

    http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/ps3-br...

  • canIdoyabombsforya #66 2 years ago

    It's all very well slagging down the Wii mote and Sony's copy, but games like Resi 4, PES 2008, Metriod Prime, Mario Galaxy benefited from the pointy part of the controller at least. I'm all for evolution.

  • M_of_the_sys #67 2 years ago

    @Greybeard

    "How hard can it be to design and manufacture a cut-down, 1-handed controller?

    Lets face it, creating a nunchuck style add-on is hardly rocket science!

    About as difficult as coming up with a name for it apparently.

    We've seen nothing since E3 really. Perhaps they have, though I highly doubt it.

  • cristoflanga #68 2 years ago

    If they're going strong with the Playstation Network I hope that they activate it for Latin America. Right now I can't use my credit card so I'm left downloading only free content :(.

  • onyxbox #69 2 years ago

    This guy I believe is working for MS on Natal.

    [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
    [/link]

    If this sort of thing launches for Natal... it's a killer app. Seeing this video made the penny drop. Natal can do this without the need to strap anything to your head.

    Proper (better than 3D TV) without needing a 3D TV! If this works I think MS have a Wii / PS3 killer.

    Just a thought.

  • des #70 2 years ago

    I thought that 3D was the latest Sony gimmick...hmm
    There will be over 60 million Wii sold when Sony launches their dildo,have fun competing with that.

  • onyxbox #71 2 years ago

    @Anthony_Daniels

    ahh, yes... that's a point... I forgot about that :-)

  • BritishBlue1 #72 2 years ago

    Don't know why they're hyping it up, everybody knows they're using well-known, established and proven technology; I think that is PS Wand's biggest strength (probably been taking notes out of Nintendo's book). Traditionally the consoles have always played second fiddle to the PC where RTS and FPS are concerned, I have a feeling the Wands' responsiveness and accuracy could narrow that gap considerably.
    The only reservations I have is the fact you need the Wand *and* a PS Eye which could be troublesome and if they don't bundle it with the PS3 the adoption rate won't be meaningful.

  • Murton #73 2 years ago

    Just noticed something, everyone is getting hung up on FPS but the quote in the article doesn't mention first person shooters, just shooters. I suspect we'll be seeing some old school rail shooters, possibly a time crisis collection or something similar. Just a thought.

  • abelardie #74 2 years ago

    Maybe this has been noted already, but.....

    "The areas that are going to be really critical to our success will be family games...........areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching"

    :o

  • smelly #75 2 years ago

    >It's all very well slagging down the Wii mote and Sony's copy

    Actually sony demo'd the wand years before the wii was announced.. And unlike the eyetoy rip off (natal) i can see if being used for a lot more than just party games waving your arms about (GIMMICK!)

  • SAH1977 #76 2 years ago

    Who would have thought gamers were such a conservative bunch.

    Personally I can't wait for 3D GT5 and Sony's plan's to top Wii Sports.

  • bad09 #77 2 years ago

    @ Colossus80

    There is some early footage of Tiger Woods 11 in action here

  • VMerken #78 2 years ago

    Playing devil's advocate, there's not much else this professional suit can do but flexing the muscle and hope it attracts attention, negative or positive.

    Success.

  • MeBrains #79 2 years ago

    aaaaand it dawns on me again: a sony exec speaks and the first 10 (?) comments are (almost all) negative - why doesn't the same happen when MS talks crap? the latter discussions are a lot more polite and understanding towards the exec's plight of defending their product and painting a rosy picture.

    that being said: I too am not too sure about the gem, so I think he pushes it a bit with his wording. Then again, I am not too sure about Natal either.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 23:29

  • FladgeMangle #80 2 years ago

    I've no real opinion on this other than "will probabiy ignore unless something compelling appears".

    What I would like though is a bluetooth Playstation eye that's actually designed to rest on a LCD telly. The current one gobbles up half your USB ports and doesn't so much "sit" as "teeter", clearly designed with CRT displays in mind. How not very next gen.

  • man.the.king #81 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    "It's up to us, the readers, to take the high ground and discuss it civilly then isnt it? "

    Correct. Except for the very high probability that most of us are out on this forum just raring for a fight :)

    And EG know that.
    Edited by 1 at 18/12/09 @ 02:21

  • busboy33 #82 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_Sys:

    "It's quite easy to hold the pad with two hands, take one hand away and still use the analogue stick (some of us are too impatient to pause the game when needing a drink :p). However, I concede to your point that you do infact have less control as you do with two hands."

    When you let go of the dualshock to get a drink . . . do you drink for an hour? The weight imbalance of the standard controller (Dualshock or 360 controller) makes using it one handed for more than a few minutes impractical. Its not a question of "control", but rather of comfort. After a few minutes you will feel the controller trying to twist in your hand, and of necessity people are going to grip it tighter to counteract that. That's going to be very, very uncomfortable for people after a very short amount of time. Any hand movement (raising your left hand up or down) will cause the exposed (right) side of the controller to try and "see-saw" in the player's hand.
    CAN it be done? Sure. And a thumbstick is a thumbstick, so the controls are arguably similar. But it's like the difference between using a cellphone headset and cradling your cellphone between your shoulder and your head. You CAN do it, and get essentially the same results . . . but it's not as pleasant, and that negative feeling is going to infect the action iteself.

  • busboy33 #83 2 years ago

    @onyxbox:

    Yes -- Johnny Lee has been working on project Natal for about 18 months now. MS say his videos and snapped him up right quick (as millions of people wondered who the FU@K Nintendo didn't give him a job). His other videos are brilliant, like the "virtual whiteboard". Its ideas like his that IMO really give Natal a shot a consumer penetration. Natal paired with a PC takes "ease-of-use" computing to another level, and could represent LOTS of sales. And a Natal in the office can easily be unplugged by little Johnny and hooked up to the 360 in the living room after Mom is done scrolling thru Facebook photos . . . so now the hardware is in the Home.

    @Anthony-Daniels:
    And has anybody seen the head tracking in GT5? Johnny Lee was doing this (demonstrably) long ago, on a Wii, without stereoscopic cameras. Will I have to wear special glasses with reflectors? Since I wear glasses normally that's a problem, and I assume the colored balls on the Wand mean that the EyeToy needs that sort of visible marker. Will I have to re-configure my living room to give the head tracking the optimal lighting/angle to see my head motions (i.e.: Eye of Judgment)?

  • BabyJesus #84 2 years ago

    As someone else alluded to NATAL's success isn't that dependant on 360 pick up, it's Microsofts first testing of the water for the tech before they roll it out for pc's, tvs etc.

    They are guinea pigging it on the 360.

    Anyway, on topic, the sony exec was talking out his arse, but he's paid alot of money to talk out his arse so I can understand it. Still funny though.

  • Quint2020 #85 2 years ago

    Oh Sony, do shut up.

  • M_of_the_sys #86 2 years ago

    @busboy33

    Yes. I agree completely. That was the point I was trying to make. While specially made remotes are far more comfortable and durable, I still didn't get the point of the method in question being 'horrendous' and 'terrible'.
    Some people will have a problem with this and some people won't I guess.

  • busboy33 #87 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_Sys:

    I guess it depends on how you use those words.
    I could certainly see being constantly drawn to the fact that the Sixaxis was "drooping" in my left hand (especially since I'm left-handed, so I would want desperately to hold the wand with my left and the Sixaxis with my weaker right hand). Constantly thinking about the controllers would effectively "ruin" most games for me -- its one of the reasons I dislike most Wii games. I could see that being "terrible" for some people.
    On the other hand, its certainly do-able without excrutiating pain,, so "horrendous" and "terrible" might be too extreme for the reality.

    Even if you change the adjectives to simply "not-optimal", I think that's a major problem for Sony. A new system like the Wand needs to be as instinctively adoptable as possible. They (and MS) face a pretty steep hill in getting people to adopt a new system, and "not-optimal" pushes consumers away from adoption.

  • gjgjg #88 2 years ago

    best comments ever. Sony this could be a fail for you. just make sure you get some good uses for this magic intrument!

  • Ryze #89 2 years ago

    I can't wait.

    Sony have forgotten how to sucessfully promote their products in recent years, so they could fall flat on their face with this if they don't launch it well.

    If all goes well, then this could be wonderful. My PS3 is waiting for more reasons to turn it on than a few marvellous exclusives + network + Blu-Ray video playback...