PS3 motion controller's launch titles will work single-wandedly
By Ross Miller 
posted August 25th 2009 10:08PM
posted August 25th 2009 10:08PM
[Via Joystiq]
posted August 25th 2009 10:08PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
single-wandedly. Brilliant.
If it is a single wand per person doesn't it still equals to multiples wand for more than one player or all games coming in the beginning will only be one player?
And Sony has managed to be the only console company to manage to make a 1:1 controller.
Not surprising since they are the first company to introduce motion controls into the console market years ago with the EyeToy.
Most PS3 & xbox360 hate how Nintendo makes you buy lots of controllers, so It wouldn't surprise me if they avoided buying 2 of each for single player gaming, since that controller will probably be around $60.
@Monkey with Glasses I think that they mean that instead of the nunchuck with the wii, you won't need that unless you want an "enhanced gaming expereince"
@Yoyodyne:
Two comments: first, the only motion controller on the market today is the Wiimote, so one cannot (and shouldn't) affirm anything about how precise is the Sony Wand (or Project Natal for that matter), since there has been nothing but tech demos for a few people with them so far. You don't know if the Wand will require constant recalibration like the Wii Motion Plus does to have that much precision.
And second... it's never 1:1 precision. That would imply the controller knows exactly where your hand is at *all* times, but the Wand's precision is limited by the camera, which most likely records at only 30 frames per second, while the game is playing at different (and variable) framerates. If you consider that most developers try to make console games run at 60 fps, that means that literally every other frame the controller is giving the wrong position to the game.
Now, I'm not saying the Wand won't be precise (or even the most precise of the three), but there will be obviously some interpolation and smart guessing going on to make sure it looks even more precise than it really is. Just like the Wii Motion Plus, or every other motion controller ever made.
@ DivinoAG
The PSEye can actually record at 60 to 75fps. The drawback being it has to record at this speed at a lower resolution.
@fraxyl and DivinoAG,
May I butt in?
PS Eye records at 120 FPS at 320X240 resolution. Now, in the event that the PS Eye cannot record video accurately at this sub-SD resolution, keep in mind that it will still record at 60 FPS at 640X480 resolution, i.e. 4 times the resolution of the Eyetoy, which was able to track movement fairly accurately, if I remember correctly (I only played demos at stores as I never owned a PS2).
And I do realize that Yoyodyne referred to the Eyetoy as being the first real motion controller, which he completely took out of Richard Marks' mouth (I just finished watching Doc Marks do his Motion Controller demo at E3 a few minutes ago). That fact depends on perspective/fanboyism. It wasn't a controller in the traditional sense (nothing in your hands), but the camera could be considered a conduit for your body as a controller. That's probably how Sony and Yoyodyne view this, but the vast majority of people consider the Wiimote to be the first motion controller, as you are actually able to hold it in your hand.
@MastrCake and fraxyl
I see. That is good to know. But as you said, even with the ability to record at 120 fps, we still don't know if the downgraded resolution will be enough to grant the precision necessary to use it as a "1:1" motion control camera, since it is quite a big tradeoff.
Anyway, that is exactly my point. As of right now, there is little we know about the actual operation of the device, so there is still a long road before anyone can claim it to be "the most precise motion controller".
BTW, it's only semantics, but I would say that yes, the original PS Eye is indeed a controller, since it is a "device to allow the user to control in-game interactions". I don't think it needs to sit on the player's hands or have buttons to be called a controller. This puts (or will put eventually) the Project Natal device on the same category.
In the end, the only one of those I'm even slightly interested on is Project Natal, not for being a fanboy of any plataform, exactly for the opposite reason: I don't play consoles; I'm a PC gamer, and Natal is the only one that was said (by Bill Gates in this case) to have a chance to affect my life as a gamer.
Oh, can't wait what the Japanese would come up with. LOL.
I sent engadget a link to last week daily planet with that mind control headset which was also use for game. cCheck out the link.
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/#clip206150
@Monkey with Glasses,
That was totally irrelevant, but undeniably cool, especially the gaming implications. Thanks for the link!.
Lord knows we need more dildos lying around the house.
What is wrong with a little variety?
but this one changes color XD
Best comment I've read all day.
But hey it makes parents less susceptible of what their children are bringing home.
Lets not have any comments about this "Wii Play" nonsense, a rather disgusting fetish if you ask me.
Available at your local Game Stop, Toys R Us and S&M Shop
The Price on these things, will be over the top. I will buy one and the camera never the less. One question, can you use the The Ps eye camera as a mic for when you playing games?
yes you can. the ps eye have 4 mics built in
Hilarious!! Are you serious sony? HAHAHAHAHA! Who would approve this to mass produce? Hilarious. These will definitely compete with the Wii and Xbox Natal...........hahahahaha.
You mean Microsoft's lame ripoff of Sony's old EyeToy tech that they couldn't even to get to work at E3 and had to fake the demos?
It's gonna save teh Xbox!!!
@Yoyodyne yeah the fake demo that tons of people have blames, even on the tonight show. I am sure they faked it.
*played not blames did not catch that right away
I didnt know the xbox needed saving. Other than the non jasper consoles that get rrod.
Yoyodyne, while I don't like the Xbox as much as the PS3 (Sony fanboy talking here), the tech demos weren't faked. It was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and there is no way Jimmy could fake it. Nor could they at fake it E3. It just isn't possible to choreograph people well enough to know exactly how their movements would show up on screens.
Secondly, I think you took that Sony E3 tech demo a bit too seriously... I know they said they didn't show any Video (they didn't up until recently), but c'mon. The Xbox Natal introductory video may have been faked in some parts, but the technology is there. All the stage demos were real. And it is undeniably cool.
But I still like Sony's system better.
The tech demo wasn't fake but there are not a warranty that the tech demo showed a real natal or simply they used a expensive motion capture system to do the demo.
Yes, the technology exist and it is so damn expensive (over $20k), required a lot of cpu, it is unreliable without a "tron suit" and can present some lags.
Im still remember some tech demos showing the classic xbox, demos that even the xbox360 is unable to do right now.
IMHO, i think the Natal will be a powered Eyetoys and nothing much else.
Is that a Wii-mote?
i like no matter how ridiculous looking you are
that is soooo cool
The games will all work with one wand, but if you want to get past the menu screen, you'll be needing six.
*Insert lame Project Natal reference here*
Agreed. They had one of the most impressive demos I've seen.
You know what was really funny, when i saw it at e3, i thought that it was pre-release hardware. It wasn't though, it looks a little bit ridiculous. Everybody is soooo excited about project natal, i really don't think that it will be that great. It will only be good if it workes like it did in the demo. I'm not so into it as a gaming thing, but the other feautures looked much better. I think that's why they did the dashboard updated, to work better with project natal. I love the new dashboard. I use it more and stuff, because it is more enjoyable. With the old dashboard, i just went straight to my game. I'm kind of rambling her aren't i.
yes, yes you are but hey atleast sony is getting back into the game! Thought they fell off for a min
Cause everyone wants to wave their arms around and look like a moron after a stressful day at work/school. I wish console developers would focus on something other than stupid gimmicks.
Anyone else notice that the gameplay in the picture isn't in sync?
I wonder why sixaxis and the wand can't be used in tandem?
There's nothing to say that they can't.
I could see that, but im trying not to. That'd be a bit cumbersome
so if you buy two dildo shaped objects you get a better experience?
Am I the only one who thinks that the technology looks really primitive? It actually needs a glowing ball for a camera to work out the position. For a multiplayer situation, I imagine that there'd be different colours so that the camera can differentiate between players. However, I'm just judging from the tech demo, and it may in fact be more complicated and sophisticated.
I don't believe it is primitive. If you think about detecting something with a camera with the range of different background that this would be played in front this is probably one of the more accurate methods without requiring excessive amounts of processing power.
see sony does admit duel /akimbo weapons is more fun,BUT what about the legs ,head,mouth etc ?or else i will want a natal,also it better not be too expensive to buy all the extra devices !!!!
I'll care when they give it a name...
Just think a second the wii mote DOES NOT come with the nunchuck DOES NOT come with wii motion plus so buying a second PS3 stick thinggie isn't that big of an issue...if it is your a tool! how many ps3 controlers do you have? how many 360 controles do you have? more than one i'm betting... ( shut up and buy it like a good consumer ) when a game comes out that's worth playing that supports it were all gonna be there!!!
NO, No, No!!!! I would MUCH rather buy the camera with 2 controllers instead of 1. #1 so it might be a little cheaper as a bundled package, and #2 so game developers can make games that require 2 and not be pushing their luck. This is NOT good news. I'm still waiting for games that let you use 2 wii-motes. Punch-out would be SO much better with 2 motion plus controllers in your fists. For the PS3, I would love to see the so-so Onimusha series and increasingly lame Silent Hill series revamped with some motion tracking sword and flashlight action respectively. Then create some top notch motion tracking Zelda clone, with all sorts of weapons.