Since it launched in 200X, the Wii has perhaps been the forefront of gamers minds in terms of its intuitive controllers. Sony PS3 are looking to snatch this crown with the release of its new Motion Controllers.
The BBC showcased this video showing the controllers in action.
Like the Wii, a sensor in the top of the PS3 Motion Controllers send messages to a receiver at the top of your television set which tells the console the position of the controller. Unlike the Wii, the PS3 controllers can measure the distance from the receiver too, adding the element of depth, so that a true 3D image can be built up.
The motion controllers work in conjunction with the Sony Eye to create an image within the game, replacing the controller with various items (see the picture above).
Although the company have said the controllers are just a technology demo, they expect to have them ready for sale early next year.
Guardian games journalist, Steve Box, told the BBC he wasn’t sure whether this would be true.
“I thought the basic idea behind the controller was sound and could lead to some interesting gameplay, but it was very much a tech demo, and compared to [Microsoft’s] Project Natal, it didn’t look quite so compelling,” he told them.
“But kudos to Sony for recognising the need to make some sort of physical controller.”
Sony’s announcement comes just days after Microsoft announced their new, controller-free gaming, Project Natal.
Source: BBC News
One thought on “Sony PS3 takes games controllers to next level”
I know I have a tendancy to jump on the XBox 360 bandwaggon, but I think Project Natal seems the better of the two. I do like the detail of the PS3 controller, but it just seems like an advanced wii-mote (although admitedly infinatly smoother and more precise) whereas the Project Natal full body mapping just sounds like the immersive experience games keep promising but not delivering.
(I hope they change the name though- the pronunciation of ‘natal’ irrationally annoys me! lol)