E3: Sony motion controller presentation

Published 5 June, 2009 Duration 7:45

Sony waded into the motion sensing arena on Tuesday with this wand-like controller. Here's how it panned out.

Comments (55) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Widge #1 3 years ago

    Hey! Why did you cut out all the stuff with the sword action and arrows? That was the best bit!

  • Widge #2 3 years ago

    RPG personally. That vid showed how useful it could be for a Demon Souls/Elder Scrolls thing. Esp now I know there is analogue on the thing.

  • Schiraman #3 3 years ago

    No, they've developed something that seems to be far superior to the Wiimote. Not original, but who gives a fuck - it looks like it might be a lot of fun.

  • PrivateJoker #4 3 years ago

    @gungrave

    You're a troll who has no idea what you're talking about obviously. Go back to your herd.

  • des #5 3 years ago

    Glowing dildo time...lol

  • kangarootoo #6 3 years ago

    "WOW Sony have developed a Wiimote...how original."

    The accuracy of that thing is way better than the Wiimote. Use your eyes.

  • NotSoSlim #7 3 years ago

    Demon Souls 2 with option of these controls FTW

  • Erebu #8 3 years ago

    WTF EG?
    Where are the Skeletons?
    Where is the swordfighting?
    Where is the bowshooting?
    I thought this could work so well with TES Oblivion!!!

  • Dizzy #9 3 years ago

    Far superior is streching it a bit. The only extra information it provides is where it is in relation to the screen. Not *that* amazing since most motion based games (at the moment) only require the motions and not the position of the device. The torch is a good example of how this piece of tech could be used better than the Wiimote, probably good for a survival/horror game. The Wiimote cannot do that solo it needs the extra Wii controller to indicate (relative) position.
    Edited by 1 at 05/06/09 @ 14:45

  • Widge #10 3 years ago

    heh, it'd be great for Alan Wake.

    /never happening

  • drumbaby #11 3 years ago

    Looks great.

  • MORZTAN #12 3 years ago

    Wow. Brad Pitt really is growing younger. Looks 14 now.
    Edited by 1 at 05/06/09 @ 15:00

  • dsmx #13 3 years ago

    That was really impressive, the accuracy is astounding. They also demoed it live on stage rather than using a pre recorded video like microsoft.

  • dadrester #14 3 years ago

    the wiimote is a lightgun with 2 tilt sensors and an accelerometer.

    this thing looks as though it has the tilt sensors and also tracks full 3D movement.

    Not *that* amazing since most motion based games (at the moment) only require the motions and not the position of the device.

    it's not that they only require. it's the only info they can use. it's like saying multiple buttons on a controller isn't *that* amazing, because the games that came out during the single button joystick era only required one button. SF2 for example simply couldn't have been done before that "innovation". just as the wii allowed many new gameplay innovations to be made, this will no doubt do the same.
    Edited by 1 at 05/06/09 @ 15:34

  • kangarootoo #15 3 years ago

    @Dizzy

    "Far superior is streching it a bit. The only extra information it provides is where it is in relation to the screen. Not *that* amazing since most motion based games (at the moment) only require the motions and not the position of the device"

    Haaaaaang on a minute. There is a big old chicken and egg situation you are pushing under the radar there.

    Of COURSE "most motion games (at the moment)" only use motion as an input... 'COS THAT IS ALL THEY HAVE GOT TO PLAY WITH. The position of the device has never been accurate enough for devs to apply it effectively, so its no wonder such games don't exist.

    Come on man, you can do better than that.

  • kangarootoo #16 3 years ago

    @dadrester

    snap :)

  • smelly #17 3 years ago

    @gungrave : Yeah.. i've seen the wiimote capture video of me in realtime and put a sword in my hand.

    *sigh*

    This presentation was fantastic imho. Lower key than microsofts, but the tech on display is better, and more useful for more games (and unlike microsofts demo - actually works).

    Seems to me with natal - everyone got overexcited by speilberg being there and missed the fact that it was nothing much more special than the eye toy (Which sony did years ago)

  • smelly #18 3 years ago

    "this thing looks as though it has the tilt sensors and also tracks full 3D movement"


    To be fair - so can the wiimote - with motion plus.

    But motion plus is out this year (this month in fact).. sony's motion controller wont be

  • kangarootoo #19 3 years ago

    "To be fair - so can the wiimote - with motion plus."

    I think the jury is out until we can see both these devices tested side by side. I am still a little skeptical about the extra control motion plus provides.

    Especially as the EG article about it seemed to find the results a little mixed (whereas this Sony gadget seemed to perform very accurately from start to finish).

  • dadrester #20 3 years ago

    what does the motion plus actually add/how does it work? serious question, as i've not really looked into it at all?

  • markd250 #21 3 years ago

    "large weapons"
    says the man holding easily the most phallic controller ever demonstrated!

  • Spardaaa #22 3 years ago

    This guy was nervous. Lol

  • SeesThroughAll #23 3 years ago

    EG, can you give us the FULL demonstration? You just happened to cut out the best part!

  • Les #24 3 years ago

    "You just happened to cut out the best part!"

    Coincedence?!... ;)

  • zuljin #25 3 years ago

    I don't know why, but watching this just reminded me of Police 24/7 in the arcades.

    If that game (or very similar) comes out with the wand, I'm sold.

  • Triggerhappytel #26 3 years ago

    "Seems to me with natal - everyone got overexcited by speilberg being there and missed the fact that it was nothing much more special than the eye toy (Which sony did years ago)"

    Yeah, I pretty much agree. I think the tech behind Natal is impressive, but the lack of physicality limits it's applications to certain genres. Sure, it'll be great for mini-games or ones like that Ricochet ball game, but I wonder if the lack of definitive player input will limit it with regard to more 'core' genres.

    I thought Sony's wand was impressive - certainly seems more accurate than the Wiimote (but then they have had an extra couple of years to work on it), but unless they have some proper software lined up for it I'm not really interested anyway.

  • Ducklord #27 3 years ago

    What's wrong with you all???? I've only seen one fan-boy comment so far! :p

  • Triggerhappytel #28 3 years ago

    Well, farticus isn't here yet, which usually accomodates for about 80% of the Sony hate on this site.

  • penhalion #29 3 years ago

    One question that the Sony guy kept dodging was whether you actually get 1 or two wands. I got the feeling that you only actually get 1 and that the crossbow game would require you to buy another one at about 60 bucks a pop!

    Other than that it's definitely on par with the old Wii remote so good stuff and potential from this Sony controller.

  • mkreku #30 3 years ago

    THIS is what I thought the Wii would provide. Real-time accurate visualization of what the player is doing. I imagined RPG's with real sword fighting and tennis games where player skill actually mattered.

    What we got was an inaccurate mess with predetermined animations activated by excessive waggling.

    I really hope this will be better..

    Oh, and to all those who calls it a "glowing dildo", the guy DID say at the beginning of the presentation that it's an engineering prototype..

  • makeamazing #31 3 years ago

    What most people seem to miss, is that the one reason why more hardcore gamers got bored of the wii wasnt the remote, but its poor graphics, so PS3 games/graphics with a wii remote, is win win... though I wont play games that require me to get up all the time etc... me is lazy

  • MightyMouse #32 3 years ago

    I think people are a bit harsh on the wiimote. I mean sure it wasn't very accurate but a lot of games are always going to use predetermined animations and so on just because, well, most of us aren't ninjas. Sure you can solve this problem much more easily when the controls are accurate and so on, but it's still a problem.

  • El-Dev #33 3 years ago

    I actually thought this was the best part of E3. Not because it really excited me or anything but it just seemed like someone had asked these guys about 15minutes before hand could they talk about what they have got.

    Clearly they weren't as experienced in giving presentations as the others who did. 10/10 for their effort though.

  • bioreit #34 3 years ago

    @ ducklord

    Depends on which end of the fanboy spectrum you're talking about - one 360-fanboy comment, yes, but there's been a fair few more PS3-fanboy comments...

    That on-screen translation of orientation, direction and motion of the wand looks damn impressive - very smooth and no doubt precisely accurate. Now if only it didn't look like an illuminated Lady's Friend!

  • SniperZoz #35 3 years ago

    What's stoping MS adding a couple of wands to natal to improve (if needed) accuracy !? I guess nothing considering the sort of image processing natal is already doing .... just a "couple" extra lines of code!

    PS - Milo sucked - too scripted .... they showed it too early imo!
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/09 @ 07:53

  • nedgip #36 3 years ago

    looks a bit shit to be honest, compared with the xbox360 project natal demo anyway

  • migasUK #37 3 years ago

    "looks a bit shit to be honest, compared with the xbox360 project natal demo anyway"

    thanks, i thought i was the only one!!!

  • Godhather08 #38 3 years ago

    Wow, the controls seem incredibly accurate and responsive.

    Hope they put this tech to good use.

    Lol @ nedgip

    Yeah, Natal is still in very very early stages of development. The demo they showed on-stage was really bad, you could practically do the same thing with the EyeToy today. WTH, kicking the balls and spraying paint on the wall, yeah very impressive.

    Natal has a lot of potential but so far it's just a gimmick.
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/09 @ 12:40

  • Hell_Toupee #39 3 years ago

    If sony doesn't get Lucasarts to develop a Star Wars lightsabre game to use this thing then frankly, they deserve to fail.

  • Olemak #40 3 years ago

    This has some actual gameplay possibilities. Call me a fanboy if you must, but Natal - impressive as the demonstration reel was - has little impact on actual gameplay. This does.

    This wand is not original; it it the wiimote working the way most gamers were hoping for when it was annouced, except it is precise enough to actually be used as imput. For "real" games, presicion and control is key. The wiimote is not precises enough to be more than a gimmick, and Natal is not precise enough to really compete with the old gamepad. Not neccesarily in terms of the technology itself, but because of the player: how do you play CoD with Natal? Would you want to? But I could see myself playing CoD with this wand. It seems to have better precision for aiming than the gamepad! So I am sold, and eagerly awaiting the games and the hardware.

    Which will come to Europe 2 years after it is released in Japan and the US...

  • r4z0rbl4d3 #41 3 years ago

    I own all three 'current-gen' plattforms and I couldn't be more bemused by the 'wandker' Sony displayed. Gimmicky, probably expensive as hell (who knows, might even require the Eye Toy = more money) and judging by what Ninty has 'accomplished' under it's years in the motion controller market (collecting dust, I very much doubt any real 'hardcore' titles for it in the first years, if ever.

    If the system is not built around it like the Wii (you have to buy it seperately since it's not comming with the system) I doubt it will be a hit. This goes for the Natal as well. The only thing that might turn things around is if it will be bundled with the system once it is released, and even then developers might ignore it, refering to the Wii again.

    Then again... The 'main screen turn off' by the third party developers for the Wii was the system specs I think... Both 360 and PS3 are HD power houses, might talk in their favour.

    One thing I find amusing, off topic, is the fanboyism effect. If your competitor does something new, you shun it. If your platform then does it, it's the 'greatest thing ever!!11!one!1'. Wii was shunned as gimmicky, worthless, ridiculed by most MS and Sony fans, but now it's happy days for the same people. I love the 'this is way better!'-comment, when it's still the same concept they trolled about a few years ago.

  • deathdealer619 #42 3 years ago

    coooooool like a better wii interface

  • deathdealer619 #43 3 years ago

    everyone banging on about natal i aint paying £149.99 for it no chance!
    Also have been playing the new ghostbusters game, its great!!!

  • Byzanite #44 3 years ago

    does it smell fishy?

  • Izek #45 3 years ago

    OOOO man i hope xbox360 will also have its motion controller becuase, sonys motion cotroller is awsom !!!!!!

  • evildunksta #46 3 years ago

    These tech toys are only as good as the software using them. Sony developed the eye toy and didn't really put much effort into supporting it imho. This looks great, but are we going to see games that will use it? How many games do you play currently that really require the use of the six axis functions? Methinks this is another peripheral that will sit covered in dust!

  • Diomedes #47 3 years ago

    As I said I hope the wand has an analogue somwhere,if it hasnt it will end up being as useless as Natal for traditional games.If it has its a win-win situation.1:1 motion controls ,the PS Eye tracking your body and being able to take your voice and recognize your factions ,augmented reality ,it has it all.

  • 3william56 #48 3 years ago

    Natal couldn't do this. Although Natal could track the purple helmet in 3D, it could not to the twisting/tilting of the dildo evident in the demo, which is required for the "proper" gameplay functions, such as aiming a gun. Just as Eyetoy couldn't do the depth perception of Natal without the PSTool. Even MS would have a tough time getting a Billdo past Sony copyright if they added tilt sensors.

    The thing I like about this is it's obvious speed and accuracy - it really delivers what the Wiimote promised. Nothing, not Wiimote, Motion Plus or Natal has got the near mouselike response the PSPleasurer shows so far. OK, will have to see the final version (cough 2xHDMI cough), but it seems a heck of a lot simpler and more practical than others.

    And cost - one thing the wiimote has is cheapness. This and Natal? Have to see...

    And a game or two...

  • Steroyd #49 3 years ago

    One thing I find amusing, off topic, is the fanboyism effect. If your competitor does something new, you shun it. If your platform then does it, it's the 'greatest thing ever!!11!one!1'. Wii was shunned as gimmicky, worthless, ridiculed by most MS and Sony fans, but now it's happy days for the same people. I love the 'this is way better!'-comment, when it's still the same concept they trolled about a few years ago.

    How do you know the exact same people who shunned Nintendo's controls as gimmicky are the same people who are praising this? Or are you just lumping "Sony fans" and "MS fans" as a hive mind and they all have one thought?

    Surprised at the accuracy of Sony's wand, if/when they do roll this thing out to the public they need to get Lucasarts to make a lightsaber game, Nintendo is failing with that right now, however they may be somewhat redeemed with the new Zelda Wii game other than that I'm not a particular fan of motion sensing in general, and I hope this doesn't spell the beginning of the end of the controller. :(

  • Collymilad #50 3 years ago

    I LOVE the way people are trying to seperate this and Natal for hardcore games.

    Whats to stop you holding a piece of wood and using natal in the same way? oh yeah, nothing. Natal is by far the superior piece of hardware.

  • cairbre1977 #51 3 years ago

    The xbox one seems more ground breaking to me.......

  • DrDamn #52 3 years ago

    I think both MS & Sony's approaches have some benefits. The accuracy and application they showed in the Sony demo indicates it can be used in a more traditional game concept. Particularly with the use of two Wandildos(tm). Gets around the common issue with Wii FPS implementations as you can have one to look and one to aim with movements on a stick.

    The Natal stuff - once I got over the initial "that is really cool tech" phase I had doubts about application to games I would actually want to play. However they did talk post conference about more hardcore game application used in conjunction with a standard controller. For example face tracking with motion scaling in a FPS - that would actually be very good.

  • plastickitty #53 3 years ago

    he's not a very good public speaker is he...no wonder he hasn't been on stage talking to an audience since eyetoy

  • Skooch #54 3 years ago

    There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Natal could be far better at games such as Xbox Fit and imagine Street Fighter using your full body! The Sony Wand doesn't map full body so doesn't have a hope in hell of recreating that.

    Then again, Natal doesn't have the accuracy or the accessory to do precise FPS and RTS type control systems but the Sony Wand does.

    And in the middle is the Wii.

    It all depends on what you want to use it for at the end of the day.

  • Triggerhappytel #55 3 years ago

    "I LOVE the way people are trying to seperate this and Natal for hardcore games.

    Whats to stop you holding a piece of wood and using natal in the same way? oh yeah, nothing. Natal is by far the superior piece of hardware."

    I agree that from a tech point of view Natal is more impressive, but as I and others mentioned, I think its application in certain genres will be harder to perfect. Take a FPS for example, and say you are holding a bit of wood. How can Natal tell when you're firing? By moving your index finger? But if it's that accurate then who's to say it won't read every little hand movement you make, and fire bullets when you don't mean to? I appreciate it probably has more potential, but I think for certain applications a physical connection will be immeasurably beneficial.

    Building on this point, I think Natal would be best used in core games as a complimentary means of control, rather than exclusively - like what DrDamn mentioned.