Sony PS3 Motion Controller delayed until 'fall 2010' globally
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 20th 2010 1:26AM
posted January 20th 2010 1:26AM
Last official word we had on the launch of Sony's PS3 Motion Controller was Spring 2010. However, we just received a press release from Sony Japan with a revised availability of "Fall 2010." The calendar push affects Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. In the statement, Kaz Hirai avoids using the "d" word saying only: Still no mention of Arc though Sony does concede that "Motion Controller" is just a tentative name. Full press release after the break."We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users."
Motion Controller for PlayStation(R)3 to Become Available Worldwide in Fall 2010
Motion Controller, Together with an Extensive Line-up of Software Titles, Delivers Whole New Entertainment Experience on PlayStation(R)3
TOKYO, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release its new Motion Controller(1) (tentative name) for the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system in fall 2010 in Japan, Asian regions and countries, North America and Europe/PAL territories together with an extensive line-up of exciting software titles. The new controller, combined with the PlayStation®Eye camera(2), can detect the natural and intuitive movement of the hand and reflect the precise movement within the game, delivering a whole new entertainment experience on PS3.
"We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users, " said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "We will continue to work to have a comprehensive portfolio of attractive and innovative games for the Motion Controller, not only from SCE Worldwide Studios but also from the third party developers and publishers, whom we have been working closely with. We look forward to soon unveiling the exciting software line-up that further expands and defines the PS3 platform as the ultimate entertainment system for the home."
SCE will vigorously promote the Motion Controller as the de facto controller of the PS3 platform along with the DUALSHOCK® series controller and will deploy various measures to enhance the software title line-up for the Motion Controller, delivering groundbreaking interactive entertainment only possible on the PS3 platform.
(1) Motion Controller is a tentative name.
(2) Users will need to use the PlayStation Eye camera to enjoy the Motion Controller on PS3.
Motion Controller, Together with an Extensive Line-up of Software Titles, Delivers Whole New Entertainment Experience on PlayStation(R)3
TOKYO, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release its new Motion Controller(1) (tentative name) for the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system in fall 2010 in Japan, Asian regions and countries, North America and Europe/PAL territories together with an extensive line-up of exciting software titles. The new controller, combined with the PlayStation®Eye camera(2), can detect the natural and intuitive movement of the hand and reflect the precise movement within the game, delivering a whole new entertainment experience on PS3.
"We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users, " said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "We will continue to work to have a comprehensive portfolio of attractive and innovative games for the Motion Controller, not only from SCE Worldwide Studios but also from the third party developers and publishers, whom we have been working closely with. We look forward to soon unveiling the exciting software line-up that further expands and defines the PS3 platform as the ultimate entertainment system for the home."
SCE will vigorously promote the Motion Controller as the de facto controller of the PS3 platform along with the DUALSHOCK® series controller and will deploy various measures to enhance the software title line-up for the Motion Controller, delivering groundbreaking interactive entertainment only possible on the PS3 platform.
(1) Motion Controller is a tentative name.
(2) Users will need to use the PlayStation Eye camera to enjoy the Motion Controller on PS3.
who cares
@jonimo
ummm..............i do.
@jonimo: I care...about down-ranking you to oblivion.
@jonimo I don't mean to offend anyone looking forward to this, but I just find it hard to get excited about this, seeing how the motion control is something that has been unique to the Wii for some time already.
Not that I don't think the PS3 shouldn't be able to get in on the fun, but it seems that Wii went motion while PS3 and 360 did the HD angle, with PS3 more focused on performance, and 360 on online play. So each system already has their niche. To each, their own.
So, I find it hard to care much about something that the supposedly "last-gen" Wii has been doing for years.
If I want cutting-edge graphics, physics, and gameplay, I'll go to PS3 - but for just-for-fun motion control games, I'll stick with the Wii. Delay or no, each system already excels at what it was made for.
That's fine. It allows more games to be available/compatible when it launches.
Though I am disappointed, this is a clever move by Sony. The fall is the biggest time for video games, and so a release at that time should increase PS3 sales considerably. And of course, a strong lineup of motion enabled games will cause a lot of PS3 owners to purchase the PS3 Motion Controller. So overall, a good decision.
@Thinker
And can you say "I want one for Christmas"?
@Thinker it is a smart move, but it's more because there are so many good titles coming out till fall anyway. think dante's inferno, FFXIII (english), Bioshock 2 among others. but yeah, it'll be nice to have more games for it when it launches
That's unexpected. Everyone rushed to show stuff in E3 2009 and is going to be available winter 2010 and probably spring 2011...
It probably wouldn't have been delayed if NATAL was releasing this Spring. I guess being better prepared isn't necessarily a bad thing.
@Jason B I think the video of the sony-motion controller on its 'designing phase' was a bit more exhilarating than this one. Before, it was called the 'orb', 'gem' and now an arc.. perhaps, next it'll be called as something more catchy. http://bit.ly/sony-motion-controller-before but I'm still crossing my fingers that they do change the design of the stick till the fall of this year.
Can Engadget please say months or quarters rather than seasons, were not ALL from the US of A!
@mattisdada
You're either with US or the terrorists!
@WestCoastG Well, I guess I'm a terrorist then :P
@mattisdada uuuuuhhh... you do know seasons are global? Even if you are in the pole or in a tropical island, the season still changes. Did you meant holidays?
@Ridgecity ok. I didn't remember the equator division, sorry for my idiotic response lol
@mattisdada
lol
@mattisdada
I'm afraid we're going to have to let WestCoastG inspect your underwear. But thank you for cooperating.
@mattisdada well, they were just copying what the press release said. It says Fall of 2010, so they put Fall of 2010.. haha
I need to be real honest here. This motion controller of Sony's is going to fail sales wise. By putting it up at around the same time frame as the Natal people will see Natal as the better and cooler technology because its hands-free and quite frankly the PS3 motion controller can look a bit intimidating (the black color doesn't help). Not to mention, now that Natal is partially software based the price of Natal will be significantly lower, while the PS3's motion controller requires more hardware, such as the PlayStation Eye, therefore more expensive.
Take a look at how well received Xbox Live's Avatars are compared to PlayStation Home. PS Home is a full blown system, while the Avatars well, are avatars. Releasing at the same time, Avatars had a much bigger impact in Xbox Live for users than PS Home ever will. Similar to PlayStation Home, the PS3 motion controller has no killer applications for it and no real use. Neither does Natal, but the amount of hype and effort being pushed into it by Microsoft certainly leads me to believe that come fall/holiday 2010 Microsoft will have something. Also I truly believe the Xbox Live community, if there is a game, will fall head over heels for it just like they did for Avatars. Plus, if Microsoft truly wanted to, they could come up with some silly Halo mini game with online functionality bundled with Natal and it would sell like hot cakes.
I'm not being a fanboy (I own 2 Xbox 360s, 2 PS3s, and 1 Wii). But the reality is that between companies, this is a battle for market share, mind share and selling the most units and games. Motion controllers are not about gaming, nor will they ever be.
@sammymoho
Natal is not a practical gaming platform, it's more a tech demo and will be out for funsies, sort of like PS Home. It's cool but.. that's about it.
Depending on software of course, motion controller is something that'll actually be playable properly.
I don't much fancy flailing my arms around and moving around more than my hands/wrist when it comes to gaming.
@Almo
I disagree on the fact that the lower install base, combined with the PS3's audience of more hardcore-centered gamers or adults who don't care much for motion sensing will result in low sales. Therefore, very few, outside of first and second party games will support it. In turn, Natal will be claimed as more successful.
@Almo
"I don't much fancy flailing my arms around and moving around more than my hands/wrist when it comes to gaming."
Maybe moving around just your hands/wrist would work with the Wiimote, but with the introduction of WiiMotion Plus, Nintendo proved that simple hand/wrist motion is not as much fun as flailing your arms about.
Have you seen Sony's Motion Controller's tech demos during their E3 press conference? It involved a helluva lot more than hand/wirst movement.
I really cannot conceive of what you would find intimidating about Sony's Motion Controller. I own the PS3 and Wii, and I can hardly wait for Sony's Motion Controller. It is going to be orders of magnitude more accurate than the Wii's controller. I am certain that Sony's Motion Controller is going to sell phenomenally well.
The concept of Natal is a little nebulous at the moment and if I could guess, it is likely that we will not see Natal until 2011. But this article is really not about Natal, it is about Sony's PS3 Motion Controller. Sony has impressed us with the PlayStation 3, and I am certain they will impress us again with the Motion Controller.
@Thinker Sony impressed "us"??? Speak for yourself please.
@Thinker
My opinion is that back when Natal was first pitched to Microsoft, Xbox 360 was still dominating this console generation. They had largely defeated the PS3 in terms of winning over core gamers, but the Wii was still a runaway success with casual or nongamers. The next challenge for Microsoft, then, was to challenge the Wii for this market. Their answer to Wii's motion controls was to invent the next step, full boy motion controls without the need for a remote. Judging by the tech demos we've seen so far, Microsoft is definitely going to give the Wii a run for their money.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, Sony is back, and their popularity is starting to surge (Sony, didn't the entire world tell you this would happen if only you lowered the price on that PS3?). While the PS3 still has quite a ways to go to toppling the Xbox 360 as the king of this generation's consoles, they've finally become a serious threat to Microsoft and are stealing away their main audience, the core gamer. And to make matters worse, Sony's Motion Controller appears to be focused on bringing motion controls to core gamers, whereas Natal appears to be focusing on casual gamers (judging by the amount of families shown in the Natal promo ads).
Microsoft clearly wasn't planning on Sony's resurgence. They've gone out on a limb to develop Natal and reach for casual gamers that the Wii might otherwise claim, but Sony's trying to break through their back door. Until Microsoft develops a more long-term strategy, they're fighting the PS3 with band-aid strategies like price cuts to make the 360 more appealing. However, if Sony's momentum continues, Microsoft may find itself marginalized by Wii's command of casual gamers and the PS3's potential lock over core gamers. Microsoft will not want to be unpleasantly located halfway between these two extremes.
It's an awkward situation for Microsoft to be in, and they'll need a new strategy fast. If Sony is indeed successful is taking back the majority of core gamers, Microsoft may be forced to pick sides between committing to shoving out Nintendo in order to take the Wii's casual gamer audience and redoubling its efforts to beat back the PS3's recent successes. I don't see how Microsoft could be successful in trying to do both at once.
To be honest, I don't think either Natal or Sphere will do well at all. The Wii was the market for that, and everyone who was interested already has one.
I don't see Natal being fun at all, if there isn't anything tangible (swinging a sword by moving just your hand isn't very fun), it just doesn't feel right. And as for Sphere, they're just ripping off the Wii, and they know a nunchuk would work best but instead they're using a two-handed controller single-handedly to do everything else. The only thing it has going for it is that it actually tracks the location and isn't just an accelerometer.
@Raiki
It's easy to see how both technologies could fail. After all, core gamers have no problem with standard controllers, so why try to force them into using something that has, in the past, been largely a gimmick? It's also possible that if these controls are done right, they could offer quite a different experience.
But even if either of these motion controls succeed beyond their wildest dreams, it's not like the controller is going to become obsolete. I don't think anybody wants it to go away. So, are we going to split the market into games that require motion control and those that don't? How can either of these technologies really succeed in the eyes of the world if they only are used in a fraction of the games that are released?
I'm not sold on motion controls. I have significant doubts. We'll see how it all shapes up, but I think it'll be very interesting if I'm proven wrong here.
@Raiki its all about the games. If you can create a game that uses the tech well enough and is not as gimmicky as your typical Wii game then people will come.
I would definitely buy the arc/sphere/whatchumacallit. But only as long as there are AAA quality games that take advantage of it. I already have the Wii for the silly casual stuff.
Ugh, I was REALLY hoping for a Spring release. But I guess asking Sony for a solid release date is waaaay too much anymore.
PS3? Delayed from Spring to Holiday. Home? Delayed AT LEAST 3 times. GT5? Delayed after we all thought summer was finally it.
Sony, in return for the pain caused to millions by this delay, please come out with games for this Motion Controller that really KICK ASS. I really think this won't do as well as Natal, but it should be more fun than the Wii.
@MastrCake
So, how's that Splinter Cell Conviction delay holding out for ya? Waiting since 2006, have ya?
ALL of the consoles have had delays in some form or fashion. Just be cool, my baby. (I'm with COCO!)
@Wiizer
Well played, my friend. Except one thing...
I'm all for COCO on the tonight show, but why not...
"COCO and THE CHIN Present The Tonight Show: REVAMPED! REARMED!!! AND RELOADED!!!"
That would solve EVERYTHING!!!
Actually, I've kind of thought this over and changed my mind.
I think neither will sell well and I strongly believe that the market for motion sensing gaming has throughly died down. It doesn't have the legs it once used to. Take a look at the Wii Motion Plus, the thing has gone no where since summer. All these add-ons that don't come bundled with the system are useless since rarely any games support it to the full extent. Same thing will happen with this Sony motion controller and the Natal. Launch will go alright, maybe better for Natal but by spring 2011 all hype and interest will have thoroughly died down.
@sammymoho
That does kinda make sense, I'll have to agree.
@sammymoho Yup, that's pretty much how "Add-ons" work in the Console world. And, that's pretty much what happened to Sega, around the Megadrive/Genesis era. They kinda killed themselves, there.
The fact that the WiiFit Balance Board actually sold anywhere near as well as it did is pretty much dumb luck on Nintendo's part!
Either it's there from the start, or nobody cares.
However, in Microsoft's case, I can imagine all us coders actually getting a lot out of having the whole "2 cam, 3D" setup, so I think that might actually achieve something, albeit not in the gamer's sector!
@sammymoho Sorry, but the sales numbers don't lie. Week in and week out, the Wii is still cloberring the PS3 and XBox 360.
There are definitely opportunities for both casual and hard core game experiences with the arc.
Sony, here is your to-do list for the fall:
XMB control, Internet/youtube browsing
Support using the controller as a wand/staff with spell selection controlled by the buttons
Support using the controller as a tool: sword, hammer, golf club
Support using the controller as a pointing device: gun, hose, grappling hook
Create a common set of gestures much like multi-touch smart phones.
Create a hardcore game that requires the controller and is a 10/10 (Media Molecule? Next Ratchet and Clank?)
@Jayenkai Wii Fit wasn't luck. The board is a necessary accessory for a game that was in demand. Rock Band/Guitar Hero all sell very well because the demand for the game justifies the purchase of the accessory. These accessories only work for these games and people still buy them.
MotionPlus bombed because there wasn't enough of a difference in the games to warrant the add-on. Its still the same tennis, golf e.t.c just "more accurate".
Sony needs a killer app to be bundled with the game. That is what will give the Arc legs.
I remember getting a 32x for the Genesis back in the day. Since then I haven't bought any add ons for any game system lol.
Are they going to be selling these glowing sticks in Ann Summers as well :-/
When will MS' Natal come out? Microsoft could own Japan if they release Natal and THE killer app for it, a Para Para dance game. You cannot do that seamlessly on the Wii nor with Sony's dil... I mean "Motion Controller."
@pika2000
Get off your parent's computer pika.
@pika2000: You can do that already with the playstation eyetoy (Natal is really nothing more than an enhanced eyetoy)..
Seen this coming...
I am not getting that piece of monstrosity. It is simply horrendous
I would love Wii controls for PS3, but this single "wand" thing will not be practical. I love the "nunchuck" on Wii for the analog movement. It's perfect for FPS's. I've heard Sony say that we can use the PS3 controller for analog, but that sounds cumbersome and weird. Why not add a "nunchuck" type thing to plug into your "wand/sphere" thing.?
This thing has FAIL written all over it. Controller PLUS you need the Eye toy device?? Most people don't own the eye toy, and if they bundle it with the motion controller +game, the price will put it in a "niche" category. sony is late to the dance once again. They used to innovate, now they just do what everyone else does, encase it in black, slap "SONY" on it and over charge you. MEH.
Sony drop the ball on this one.
I think we should all wait a bit on both Natal and the Orb, Sphere or whatever its called, before we comment on whether each device is a "practical gaming platform". I love comments about the performance and viability of a device that has not been released to the public.....
@teiranis I enjoy how motion controllers were for the "kiddy, last gen" console...until MS& Sony decided to jump on board. So what's next, people will realize good graphics don't make better games? Doubtful...
would totaly get it if the controller looks like this:
http://ps3maven.com/ps3-wand-controller/