Last week, we introduced Part I in a series of posts focusing on the recently announced PlayStation motion controller. Senior Researcher, Richard Marks, shed some light on the PlayStation Eye’s camera technology and how the motion controller works.
We know you guys are eager to learn more, so this week we’re talking to Anton Mikhailov, a software engineer (and right hand man to Richard Marks) in SCEA’s Research & Development department. You may recognize Anton from the motion controller demonstration at this year’s E3 presentation. Anton was gracious enough to break down the new controller’s PVC origins and some of the possible applications for this new technology. Check out the video below for more details.
Next week, we’ll be posting Part III so be sure to stop by the PlayStation Blog for more exclusive motion controller info.
@30 RICKDOEZ
By party chat do you mean in game? or like the 6 person PSEye chat features already available on the system?
How about some under the bra or unleashed puppy touching action for the ps3 chikans out there?
I won’t get burned again. I bought the Playstation Eye last year and found out there was barely any software for it. Sony has a history of doing this.
@87 skipperdylan
That article refers to an analog trigger not a stick/nub.
For those that say Sony isn’t dumb enough to not put an analog stick or whatever (aside from the analog trigger), note all versions of the PSP still don’t have dual analog sticks. Just cuz Sony does research doesn’t mean they do what’s right.
And I see this being like the PSEye. Gimmick with no games. Btw, what if I bought a PSEye now? Is it for certain the current PSEye will work with this new controller?
First I’d like to say that I can’t wait for this to come out. Thank you Sony for trying to give us a 1:1 motion controller.
For everyone who complains that it looks like crap or that they don’t want it then there is a simple solution. DON’T BUY IT!
I am willing to bet that there will be only a few games that require you to have this interface. It will not replace the joystick for the COD series so calm down.
If you think this kind of interface is only for casual games then you are looking at this with a very narrow view.
@102 spunnups
Not sure what kind of games/applications you were expecting but there are a few titles out that support it.
EyePet (Augmented reality is cool right?)
Burnout (Pretty cool implementation)
Mesmerize
Trial Of Topaq
Operation Creature Feature
Aquatopia (Very neat, like a reflection in an aquarium)
I am sure there are others I just can’t remember any more off the top of my head.
Keep in mind that the Wii has a similar control scheme so it wouldn’t be a leap to assume 3rd party devs could port their games, with better accuracy, to the PS3.
I will admit the software lineup is weak for the PSEeye but I knew what I was getting into when I bought it and I enjoy it for video chat, also the motion controller should make good use of it, so don’t get rid of your PSEye just yet!
This is going to be great
@104 chief9t9
I am 99% certain the current PSEye will work with the controller. I think that’s part of the idea/plan. Then again like the whole dual-analog-lacking PSP, Sony certainly pulls some dumb stuff. At the same time though I would welcome a new PSEye if it were HD.
I liken the analog trigger to that of the N64, I could be wrong but when I read that the N64 trigger is what I envision, so we still want/need an analog stick/nub.
To everyone asking about analog sticks, they’ve already said that devs can incorporate the dualshock and wand at once. You can hold the DS in your left hand and the wand in the right.
I do this rather often on PC games with controller and mouse. It can be quite effective, if a little strange. It doesn’t feel much different than a WiiRemote and Nunchuk.
Really like these type of interviews, +1 for more interviews with engineers. A refreshing change from marketers.
and on a side note, your earliest patent show the sphere with a raised analog stick, as well as the traditional PS buttons and on the side its marked with a slot to pair with 2nd controller.
You know the one I’m talking about it was like a Maraca(sp)
Check this link for what I am talking about with your old concepts, I hope they remain the same.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363784
I don’t mean to sound totally negative. I like that Sony is looking to incorporate new technology into the PS3. Increases the lifespan of the console. But I enjoyed the last video more. This one didn’t have any new info, as far as I could tell. Well, they did show the first prototype. Hopefully the next one has something fresh.
i like this technology a lot….imagine shooting games….i cant wait!!!
Totally agree:
Kind of DISAPOINTING this only sells with one controller.
What I’d like to know is how they plan on expanding the experience over the wii with just one…
And there is not a stick? is that the new casual eye toy?
I think you should not think about costs, and think more in posibilities.
An analogue stick is needed. Use it like half a DualShock. Have the circle, triangle, X, square on the top bit, a trigger and a button on the back, and an analogue stick under the face buttons. That way the motion sensing acts like the left stick and you could do basically everything you could with a Dualshock (but without L3 and R3.
You could then use two like a Dualshock for regular gaming, like having an extra controller.
Simples.
Good
WELL BAM!
THERE IT IS!
Will the Motion Controllers be able to function as a mouse on other devices like laptops? Would be a great way to navigate the browser or use your tv as a monitor.
I’m just not liking the look of the controller. A huge glowing ball at the end of a stick is not very appealing. The technology however is very impressive and am excited to experience it.
Sweet! This looks great!
PS When is uncharted 2 fortune edition going off?
without analog sticks this going to be bad , please add analog sticks , it’s going to suck without analog sticks on it , and why not ?
wow i cant believe this comes without analog sticks omg this is unbelievable , i was looking
for this but since there’s no analog sticks
i wont buy it .
@111 tretle
100% AGREED! I can’t stand the marketing BS. I do however like the subtle comical new ads.
So…..anybody remember a year or so ago this dude from Britian or somewhere got everybody all hyped up saying he saw something that (paraphrasing loosely here) “would be a stepwise change in game immersion and blah blah blah” but he couldn’t tell us anything about it (slightly after we found out 8 days was canned). And then everyone got all excited thinking it was MAG after that year’s E3. Anyway, this Anton guy said he had to take this thing to London Studios. I wonder if that game he was referring to was something using the motion controller. Just a thought.
xD Good old Anton. Me and my friends were laughing at how bad be was at the games he was playing at E2 since he was so obviously nervous. >.> lol. Nice to see him all… not nervous.
So anyway, this controller is badass, and i shall give you my money in exchange for that controller.
But uhhh…. There better be more games for it than Eye Toy. I remember Eye Toy Play came out, and then like 100 years later Eye Toy Play 2 came out and they ONLY sold it with a camera. It was like WTF!?
Though, Antigrav was just badass. :D
Point is – More games are necessary.
@123 ArkLink
RELAX! Don’t get all bent out of shape yet. From the images on the above link it appears to have analog sticks. The comments here so far have been expressing our interest in the controller having analog sticks as we have not heard anything from Sony officially confirming it. Although I would say the images of the dev models show an analog stick and I would be 99% certain the final retail build will have it as well.
Awsesome
Pleas Sony dont change the ps3 game box I dont like the PS3 slim logo.
I still want to see this used in an actual game. I don’t care if the game is Lair or Haze just show me it in an actual game.
this is awsome u guys are geniouses u should consider doin war games to use this controller i mean go all out changing weapons jus really becoming the character it should mimmic a human as much as posible
Not sure if anybody will see this, but I’d like to suggest adding an expansion port to the wand itself which is behind a removable panel on the wand.
It’s essentially impossible when creating a device like this to know what sort of uses your developers are going to come up with for it, and it’s good to leave room for additional communications channels (beyond just button mapping to the dual shock).
The Wii method of putting the port on the end of the controller where you’ll be handling it just flimsy and dictates a very odd shape on its accessories such as guns. Putting the expansion in a sort of inset mount point with some hard attachment points (for plastic or metal clamps) which can be disguised with a cover is a good idea. Using something like the mini-usb or a commercially-available non-proprietary plug will most likely make your developers very happy.
This would allow the use of, say, gun grips, crossbow grips, grips designed for people with limited motor function or a weak grip (such as cerebral palsy) and would most likely improve third party developer adoption, in addition to fostering a healthy third party accessory market.
Awesome. I could imagine using the whip with the motion controller with ratchet and clank. on PS3.
Additionally, it would be a good idea to allow the accessory to simulate buttons on the controller itself, allowing non-mechanical solutions to relocating a trigger button, etc.
the wand will not have a analog stick but i do believe that the wand and the sixaxis will work like the wii controller. there will be alot of developers knocking on sony , some if not all will stop making games for only the wii and will begin making games for sony . a game like madworld could work with sony wand . lol i just don’t get some of you out there lol there are more causal gamer out there then us hardcore gamers , you guys need to get with the times the wii isn’t going anywhere soon.
the wii have proven how large the causal gamer market is and sony want in on it too. i can see alot of wii made game coming to the ps3 , do anyone here look at game sell? every week there are 6 or 7 games from the wii that are in the top ten and sony want those sells . natal is ok but at the end of the day it’s won’t win with causal gamer and the hardcore gamer will run from it, it have a long hill to climb .
It looks cool, I have a question. Would it be possible to make some hardware that plugs into the current Duel Shock? Maybe it snaps into the top of the wand like a handle guard. Or the bulb plugs into the small usb port on the duel shock. Could this save on cost by combining what already there with the new tech? The rumble, the sixaxes, buttons, and battery. Or it could be the second option for a shield. Maybe the wand sells with this add-on for two controller games. Thanks
Please bring more games for the PSEye
@137 LOL i just post that look up LMAO
so it’s 100% no analog sticks ?
@140 ArkLink
Go here and review the images.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363784
Analog stick!
Thanks to backbreaker65 for posting the link, obviously some people don’t bother to read and click.
So I would say the want HAS an analog stick!
You know what it would be cool? Is to have a role playing game using sword, archery, or magic, just switching to better suit the battle that you’re in. Then when you interact with people in the game, you can use the voice recognition to actually talk to them. Just read off the text from the ones you have to choose from. It’s like you’re really talking to them.
If you Sony guys make that kind of game, that would be most awesome game I would like to play and perhaps all PS3 gamers would too. That would definitely sell. Just have to make the game really good.
Hey Sony here is a an idea. Team up with Marc Ecko and produce some exclusive games based on his previous game:
Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.
This motion controller looks exciting. PS3 is going to need solid games unlike the ones that came out for the PS3 camera.
for this to be a massive hit sony needs two things. the wand should be in a pair. secondly. there should be analog sticks
3 there has to be a way so that both wands can join to perform the same functionality as a dual shock three.
that allows for seamless integration between the wand and the DS3. basically i have two wands in my hand. i play my casual game. i then want to switch to my hardcore gow 3 game. i join the both wands to gether to get the dual shock 3 equivalent.
if sony can achieve those things then the potential for the wand to be a hit is faily large
good work
cant wait to buy this=)
more videos soon
Now this is something that should bring in exlusives for ps3 ( I hope) but I can only imaging the price…. $100 per controller
Yeah sony, please don’t make any casual games. or at least not many. We want shooting games, sword games, no bowling or anything please
Since we can stream straight from the “What’s new” section, these vids could easily go there right? Providin more news and insight on the playstation would be more informative for many people.
go on youtube.com
“motion controller part 2” scroll down and you’ll see it.
think sometimes dudes.
Great post. Thanks for the insider look and the unique perspectives.