After September 22 but before December 21, that's when you'll see the PlayStation 3's spiffy new motion controller on store shelves, says Sony. In a press release issued late last night, the company revealed its wand-based motion control peripheral for the PS3 would ship this northern autumn in Japan, North America, and Europe with ready-to-play software. (Note to Sony: It's just 'software', 'software titles' is technically double-dipping.)

"We have decided to release the Motion Controller in autumn 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 Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kazuo Hirai in the press statement.

"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."

Microsoft's 'no controller' motion sensing alternative, dubbed Project Natal, is due to ship by the end of the year, probably in November, placing it head-to-head with Sony's product.
As expected, you'll need the PlayStation Eye camera to use the double-wand system. The Eye's been available for years, of course, and retails for about $60 today. It's also arguably the most underutilised, prematurely released official Sony peripheral in existence, so unless you're hip to play Eye of Judgment (a totally decent card game, by the way) I'd wait to pick one up until they're discounting it later this year, or, you know, bundling it with the PlayStation Arc.

Hold up, the PlayStation Arc? What the heck's that?

If you buy VG247's claim, raised 'on good authority', a Sony insider says that's what the motion controller's actually named. You know, Arc. Like the plasma bolts spit from a Tesla Coil.
Interestingly, Sony says -- my emphasis -- that it will "vigorously promote the Motion Controller as the de facto controller of the PS3 platform along with the DUALSHOCK series controller".

Translation: The Arc -- I mean Tentatively Labelled Motion Controller Wand Duo PlayStation Accessory Thingy -- gets to ride up front with the big boys. No lounging in the backseat or huddling in the trunk with neglected peripherals like the Eye, or the forlorn SIXAXIS accelerometer.

Matt Peckham

Posted by Ted Gibbons at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )

Six thousand Kiwis have so far downloaded the GT Academy Time Trial but time is fast running out if you want win the chance to drive a real Nissan 370Z for a full season in the European GT4 Cup.

At midnight on January 24th (yes, this Sunday) the top 20 triallists in the country will then be invited to a National Finals event at the new Hampton Downs racetrack on Wednesday the 3rd of February. At the finals competitors will be put through their paces, trained by some of New Zealand's top driving talent, and eventually eliminated until a Kiwi representative is found and put through their paces on the track in a real Nissan 370Z.

From there its on to a driving boot camp for the winner at the UK's famous Silverstone Circuit. Win there, and its into the European GT4 Cup for real.

Posted by Ted Gibbons at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

The much anticipated Project Natal motion-control gaming system for the Xbox 360 will be released by the end of the year, Microsoft says.

Whether the motion-controlled games will be a fad or the way of the future is yet to be seen, but it seems hardware developers across other gaming platforms - including PlayStation 3 and PC - are also moving into the area popularised by Nintendo's Wii.

In an opening address to the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices president Robert Bach said Project Natal would be a major factor behind making 2010 "the biggest year ever" for Xbox 360. The system uses an RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone to control gameplay, rather than a conventional handheld controller.

Bach also announced the Game Room - a retro gaming service that will allow gamers to play classic arcade games online against friends on either Xbox 360 or Windows PCs.

He said the Game Room would launch with roughly 30 games later in the year and would allow users to invite other Live users to check out your virtual arcade room and its collection of titles.

James Heffield

Posted by James Heffield at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )