MacDonald Was Involved With The Predecessor To The Playstation Eye.

Jamie MacDonald was the former vice president of Sony Worldwide Studios, and was directly involved with the launch of the Playstation 2’s EyeToy unit. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the former Sony man has given some pointers to both his previous employer and Microsoft regarding their respective motion control devices.

He told the website that gamers expect “more than the Wii” with both Sony and Microsoft’s devices, but warned that “traditional long-form gameplay” will not work as players will be “completely knackered”.

Speaking about pricing, MacDonald suggested that the EyeToy model is used, where a game is sold alongside the peripheral for a standard price. We agree.

Catch the full interview through here.

Kaz Says The Playstation Motion Controller Will Launch With A Host Of Exciting Software.

Sony’s just sent us word – not so surprisingly – that the Playstation Motion Controller, tipped to be named “Arc”, will not launch until Autumn 2010. The controller was previously believed to launch in Spring.

“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 SCE head Kaz Hirai.

“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.”

It seems then that Playstation Motion Controller may indeed have to go up against Microsoft’s marketing avalanche in Project Natal, and whatever Nintendo have up their sleeve. The press release does detail Sony’s “intent” to make the controller a defacto accessory alongside the DualShock. Guess we’ll see more at GDC or E3 then.

Traveller's Tales' Director Reckons Playstation Motion Controller May Just Trump A Slightly Flawed Natal Concept.

At the end of the day, marketing is what counts. But it’s reassuring to hear a developer talk positively about Sony’s seemingly “forgotten” Playstation Motion Controller tech. The Natal talk since Microsoft’s no-show “this is what it maybe can do” has stuck, but while Playstation Motion Controller widely impressed at E3 with a real-time demo, Sony’s silence on the technology has been quiet to say the least.

Of course, it may be that the company are just sitting tight on the technology, waiting to blow us all away in the New Year. And that seems likely.

Despite us not getting more on the motion controller however, Sony have been inviting developers to go hands on with the technology. One such developer is Traveller’s Tales director Jon Barton, who came away from seeing Playstation Motion Controller very “impressed”.

“I was actually more impressed with Sony’s motion capture solution than Microsoft’s Natal,” he told Develop.

“[Natal is] exceedingly clever, but the lag on the input and lack of physical buttons is really going to restrict the kind of games that can be done with it

“Sony’s solution will be cheap, accurate and will put buttons at your fingertips, meaning everything from action adventures to FPSes can be handled with the same input.”

Burton feels that Microsoft’s Natal camera may suffer from a lack of tactile response, and limiting design possibilities due to lag. Sony’s chief innovator Richard Marks hinted that in the move from EyeToy on Playstation 2 to the upcoming Playstation Motion Controller, Sony realised that buttons are paramount in gaming.

To be fair though, if you’re reading this site, you’re probably largely not bothered about either technology. The marketing will win this war however, not software.

T3 Reckon The Playstation Motion Controller Will Look Like This. We Reckon They're Right.

Beyond the smoke and mirror’s of Microsoft’s marketing department (there we said it!), Sony actually had a genuine answer to motion control that worked and did things. For reals. Live.

Of course, with a shaky, yet genuinely impressive, tech demo and no Stephen Spielberg, everyone seems to have forgotten how awesome Playstation Motion Controller looked in real time. The thing has potential.

But still it has no name, and no final design. Cue T3 knocking up what they believe to represent the final design.

It still looks like an ice-cream, but we’re almost certain Playstation Motion Controller is going to do something the Wii and Natal don’t — appeal to existing gamers. Of course, the Microsoft and Nintendo marketing arm ain’t going to give it time and day…

Ubisoft Have 4-5 Projects In The Works For The Playstation Motion Controller.

It’s been a while since we heard anything about the “Spring-launch” Playstation Motion Controller. But Ubisoft’s lead dude, Yves Guillemot, has been quick to pledge his companies support to the platform – and of course Microsoft’s fabled Natal controller.

“We have about ten games that will come for Natal during the first six months of the launch of Natal, and we expect between four to five games for the new controller from Sony,” Guillemot explained. “That’s the picture at the moment, it can change in the next twelve months.”

When asked if the games planned are motion control enhanced versions of existing properties, Guillemot further explained:

“I didn’t count the games that in fact are supporting the new functions that those accessories will bring. I was more speaking about casual games that we are doing on those two machines; we can consider that on those games it’s 70 percent new property.”

Petz: HD Edition, coming to a Playstation 3 near you.

We’re a little concerned with the discrepancy between Playstation Motion Controller and Natal projects. Both projects are complete unknowns at this point. It’s interesting that Ubisoft would put more resources into Microsoft’s product.

Sony Seem Confident That The Playstation Motion Controller Will Deliver Core Experiences.

Playstation 3’s studio boss Mike Denny reckons the Playstation Motion Controller is being treated as a platform by Sony. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Denny said of the Playstation Motion Controller: “The motion control system we’re putting in place going forward is we’re treating as more of a platform.”

“You’re right that here in Europe we have a lot of experience helping develop the peripherals for our social games but we see the motion control solution and experience as being broader than that.”

Denny was adamant in insisting that Playstation Motion Controller won’t just be about casual games, a philosophy Sony have stuck with ever since the controller’s announcement.

“We do believe it can come into a core experience as well,” Denny added. “The development of motion control software and games is a worldwide venture for us.”

Interesting. Surely Sony have to show this stuff at some point, though? We assume we’ll see it in the new year.

Aww, A Homeless Abandoned Eye Pet...

Being the good natured folk we are, we brought him inside, hooked him up to our Playstation 3 and fed him cookies. So cute.

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