So Is Sony Just Completely Ripping Off Nintendo Now Or What?

Seil · 08-11-2009, 12:18 AM

I'm a Sony fanboy as a few of you know, but even I'm having a little bit of trouble rationalizing Sony's new controller idea.

Quote:

Sony just announced the rumored new motion controller for the PS3 -- the prototype looks like a wand with a color-changing ball on top. It's designed to work in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye, with the wand overlaid on-screen with a weapon or tool. Unlike Microsoft's Project Natal, Sony says they've learned "some experiences need buttons," which is why there's still a controller involved. The system is said to be "sub-millimeter" precise, and it was demoed drawing and playing a shooter -- it's sort of the middle ground between Natal and Wii Motion Plus. Sony says it'll launch in the spring of 2010, but we don't know what pricing will be like yet.

It's designed to work in conjunction with the Playstation Eye - which is a little bit better than the PS2 Eye in that, hey, Eye Of Judgment. Also, you can use it to conduct video messaging, and if your PSP is connected to your PS3, you can use your handheld to look through the Eye connected to your PS3, which is kinda cool.

Kyanbu The Legend · 08-11-2009, 12:26 AM

Motion contorllers are the wave of the future. This was boond to happen. Besides it doesn't look completly like the Wiimote. Complaining about this is like bitching about How ever system has an analog stick(s). It's just becoming a standard thing now. In fact next gen's theme is mostly likly going to be motion contorl.

bluestarultor · 08-11-2009, 12:35 AM

I thought it was indicated the eye in question was a new one? That was my impression. I heard the reason it wasn't coming sooner was because the eye needed work rather than the actual controller. All of this may be wrong.

~~At any rate, the "middle ground" between Natal and Motion Plus is a Wiimote.~~ [edit] I really didn't think the logic through fully, and that actually describes it well. [/edit] This seems, from the demo I saw, to be a new idea with a new function. Like, it seems to have some sort of 1:1 in the sense that it senses its own rotation and stuff, but I can't really speak for depth, since the most they did was crack an energy whip. Motion Plus uses a gyroscope, but the PS3 is all Bluetooth, rather than IR, which I can imagine being able to sense distance, too.

Anyway, I'll be picking one up when they get the kinks worked out. It looks like it'll be sort of a magic wand of sorts, allowing you to use it in ways the Wiimote only just now is letting you with its decreased reliance on the sensor bar, only, well, a bit differently. It's a sort of difference that's hard for me to put into words because of its subtlety, but it's there. The thing lacks point and click, which means it's going to handle a bit differently and be more motion oriented. I really don't know how that'll affect gameplay.

It's really looking now like titles are going to be harder to put cross-platform, and I can't help but feel it might be better for the industry.

Magus · 08-11-2009, 12:38 AM

All that aside, does it really need to glow purple?

bluestarultor · 08-11-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

All that aside, does it really need to glow purple?

Apparently, it changes colors. I've seen video of it glowing outright red.

Edit: You know what would be cool is if they used the color-change ability as a sort of feedback for the user. It could do anything from measure health for the player and/or target to display different colors for status defects and more. Assuming the thing uses LED technology (which would make sense, as LED is low-power, bright, lasts forever and a day, and allows for a wide color gamut) rather than traditional bulbs, you could get some pretty nice effects.

Edit again: Okay, so I needed to watch the video. This thing is totally sexy and I want one NAO! XD

Seriously, though, full 1:1, color feedback, and camera feedback make this totally awesome.

Edit once more: I'm noticing a disturbing amount of red, green, blue, and purple, and I REALLY hope this thing turns out to have more than that at its disposal.

(For reference, these are just the face button colors (O, Triangle, X and Square, respectively).)

Bells · 08-11-2009, 12:53 AM

There are 2 videos about this. There is the first prototype of this controller and this is it's second form. The first one was never launched only planned.

I really don't think there is anything being stolen here from The Wii, the technology has been around since around the age of the Dreamcast. Nintendo was only bold enough to built their entire console around a Accessory that was first meant for the Gamecube...

I like what Sony is doing and i was trully impressed by their tech demo because it was plain and simple. Dudes came on the stage and showed, live, right there, how you could actually use their product to play from casual games right down to Command & Conquer, God of War, Star Wars or Resistance. That's more than Natal actually did, as the core of their gaming experience was limited to Promotional videos and the stuff they did on Stage is not revolutionary in any way...

The adding of Buttons and a Analog stick on that thing actually means that a Producer could choose to add this controller as a optional setup for mostly any game (since it does seem to have as many buttons as a regular Dual Shock). This is akin to have a "Classic Controller" Option on the Wii, only with the possibility of it being better.

More and more reports come around about the PS3 Slim, and now there is a French Source putting the thing at $299, if Sony actually manages to put a pair of these wands in the market for around $100 and the Playstation eye going for about $30 these days, it would be quite something

Mirai Gen · 08-11-2009, 01:06 AM

Eh.

In all honesty dicking around with the Wii has taught me I don't care that much about motion control, and certainly not as much as I thought I did back before the Wii got released. Pass.

phil_ · 08-11-2009, 01:10 AM

Haven't read the thread, but I was really hoping Sony had made something like this.

Professor Smarmiarty · 08-11-2009, 02:40 AM

I like the fact that over companies are starting to learn that "new generation" of games doesnt' mean taking your old console, upgrading the graphics and then putting the same effective games on it. Say what you like about the Wii but at least it was actually the only console that I would call next generation because it was different, it tried something new. And the industry needs to change. What disappoints me is that this is just like the Wii whereas really a new generation should ideally have different directions from allt he companies rather than "zomg, motion controls" from all 3.

Aerozord · 08-11-2009, 02:57 AM

Basically anything nintendo does becomes standard. Nintendo did the d-pad, every following system had one, nintendo added rumble rumble became standard, four buttons, shoulder buttons. Its ripping them off but its nothing new, its how business works. If you see something is a good idea you adopt it. Just like Nintendo did when they started using CDs and built in hard drives

08-11-2009, 12:26 AM	#2
Kyanbu The Legend Local Rookie Indie Dev Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,497	Motion contorllers are the wave of the future. This was boond to happen. Besides it doesn't look completly like the Wiimote. Complaining about this is like bitching about How ever system has an analog stick(s). It's just becoming a standard thing now. In fact next gen's theme is mostly likly going to be motion contorl. __________________

08-11-2009, 12:38 AM	#4
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	All that aside, does it really need to glow purple? __________________ The Valiant Review

08-11-2009, 12:53 AM	#6
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	There are 2 videos about this. There is the first prototype of this controller and this is it's second form. The first one was never launched only planned. I really don't think there is anything being stolen here from The Wii, the technology has been around since around the age of the Dreamcast. Nintendo was only bold enough to built their entire console around a Accessory that was first meant for the Gamecube... I like what Sony is doing and i was trully impressed by their tech demo because it was plain and simple. Dudes came on the stage and showed, live, right there, how you could actually use their product to play from casual games right down to Command & Conquer, God of War, Star Wars or Resistance. That's more than Natal actually did, as the core of their gaming experience was limited to Promotional videos and the stuff they did on Stage is not revolutionary in any way... The adding of Buttons and a Analog stick on that thing actually means that a Producer could choose to add this controller as a optional setup for mostly any game (since it does seem to have as many buttons as a regular Dual Shock). This is akin to have a "Classic Controller" Option on the Wii, only with the possibility of it being better. More and more reports come around about the PS3 Slim, and now there is a French Source putting the thing at $299, if Sony actually manages to put a pair of these wands in the market for around $100 and the Playstation eye going for about $30 these days, it would be quite something __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

08-11-2009, 01:06 AM	#7
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	Eh. In all honesty dicking around with the Wii has taught me I don't care that much about motion control, and certainly not as much as I thought I did back before the Wii got released. Pass. __________________

08-11-2009, 01:10 AM	#8
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	Haven't read the thread, but I was really hoping Sony had made something like this. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

08-11-2009, 02:40 AM	#9
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	I like the fact that over companies are starting to learn that "new generation" of games doesnt' mean taking your old console, upgrading the graphics and then putting the same effective games on it. Say what you like about the Wii but at least it was actually the only console that I would call next generation because it was different, it tried something new. And the industry needs to change. What disappoints me is that this is just like the Wii whereas really a new generation should ideally have different directions from allt he companies rather than "zomg, motion controls" from all 3.

08-11-2009, 02:57 AM	#10
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	Basically anything nintendo does becomes standard. Nintendo did the d-pad, every following system had one, nintendo added rumble rumble became standard, four buttons, shoulder buttons. Its ripping them off but its nothing new, its how business works. If you see something is a good idea you adopt it. Just like Nintendo did when they started using CDs and built in hard drives __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done." Last edited by Aerozord; 08-11-2009 at 03:00 AM.