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PlayStation Move review: The launch games
Once you get past that initial thrill of opening the packaging, setting it up and toying around with its settings, any platform is only as good – and as fun – as the games available for it. With the launch of PlayStation Move, the lineup of what's on offer is relatively limited and, as the hardware's all about getting people to, er move around, focuses on sports and party games, with a couple of notable exceptions. Those would be EyePet, Kung Fu Rider and Tumble, all from Sony, with Tumble being a PSN game. EyePet is a virtual pet "game" that's been available as a PS Eye title in Europe for some time and has been reworked to incorporate Move. While charming, it falls under the category of a kid's title (though I've no doubt some adults will find it fun) and it won't be subject to review here; instead I'll be focusing on the more "core" games in the following pages. As for Kung Fu Rider, it's an odd creation out of SCE Studios Japan. That leaves us with Sports Champions and Racquet Sports from Sony and Ubisoft, respectively. Sports Champions comes bundled with the $100 Move starter kit and the PS3 Move system bundle, but is also available separately ($40) for those who decide to buy their Move setups piecemeal. With that out of the way – and without any further ado – it's on with the reviews: Kung Fu Rider | Racquet Sports | Sports Champions Start the Party | Tumble
PlayStation Move review: Start the Party
This evolution of Sony's PS2 EyeToy-based minigame collections combines augmented reality with a variety of challenges that transform the Move controller into everything from a flashlight to a rescue helicopter. Sports Champions should serve well as a go-to party game for most Move owners, but Start the Party is likely to appeal (and be playable by) a wider audience. Sadly, the minigames collected here are an uneven bunch. Some are just so incredibly simple as to be entertaining no more than once (like painting shapes on the screen or swatting bugs); while others, including the rescue copter I mentioned and the more creative offerings (haircuts done to spec), have more staying power. There are 20 minigames in all, so you'll probably find at least a couple you'll want to come back to, but I really can't recommend this as more than a rental for when you know younger family members or friends' kids are going to be around. This review is based on the pre-release copy of Starts the Party! provided by Sony. More PlayStation Move reviews: Kung Fu Rider | Racquet Sports | Sports Champions | Tumble
PlayStation Move unboxed, demo disc detailed
Joystiq tipster Phil received a promotional PlayStation Move kit, which included two Move controllers, a PlayStation Eye camera and a demo disc. The disc features an interface inspired by the "Now Playing" section of the XMB, allowing you to quickly peruse its contents. Included on the disc are demos for Sports Champions, Start the Party, Kung Fu Rider, TV Superstars, The Shoot, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, Beat Sketcher, and Tumble -- all games demoed at E3 earlier this year. Interestingly, it appears that the demos (at least on this promotional disc) cannot be launched directly from the disc; you must install each demo to your PS3 hard drive. According to our tipster, each demo is about 1-2 GB in size, meaning you'll need at least 8GB of free space if you want to play everything off the disc at once. In addition to the demos, the disc includes an installable "Setup Guide," which may be the most enjoyable part of the entire collection. It includes some helpful tips, like "don't use the camera upside-down" and "don't smack people around you." Truly, advice for winners.
PlayStation Move Starter Pack includes nine demos in the UK
The PlayStation Move is set to launch in the US on September 19 alongside several bundles. The Starter Pack -- a $99 bundle including one PlayStation Move controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Sports Champions -- is apparently going to be a bit different when it launches in the UK on September 15. MCV reports that the UK Starter Pack won't include a full copy of Sports Champions, instead giving gamers a taste of nine different titles. The nine demos included in the package include snippets of six retail Move titles: Sports Champions, Start the Party, The Shoot, EyePet: Move Edition, TV Superstars and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. The remaining three demos will be for PSN games: Echochrome 2, Tumble and Beat Sketchers. In the UK, the Starter Pack will have a suggested retail value of £49.99.
Visual overload: Sony's E3 PlayStation Move lineup
PlayStation Move is essentially a brand new platform for Sony. While many of the motion-sensing launch games for the new PS3 controller are "Wii HD" titles, there are a few noteworthy additions, including echochrome 2, Heroes on the Move and a Move edition of Heavy Rain. Check out trailers for all of Sony's first-party Move titles after the break.
