Motion Controller Update Part II: Interview with R&D – The Sequel

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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.

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188 Comments

  • Video not available? :(

  • Video doesnt work :(

  • Can’t view the video from here either. Please fix :)

  • Waiting for the video.

  • Look forward to watching it… once it’s working =) Seems to be a theme around here lately… *cough*3.0*cough*

  • Yeah like everyone else no video. But I actually have a question. Since the new motion controller needs a camera will it come with one? If so I’m going to sell the one I have.

  • Sounds interesting! But the video doesn´t work with either firefox or safari :(

  • @6

    That is a great question. Im hoping they sell a model with the camera and one without it. I know quite a few people have the PS3 Eye already.

  • Video works now!

  • Needs an analog stick. Otherwise it’ll be pretty useless for regular games.

  • Looks cool, really hope some hardcore games take advantage of it.

  • Video works for me

  • We need an analog stick on the remote itself.

    For experienced gamers this is very clear. Let’s see if the game firm realizes this.

  • Kind of disappointing this only sells with one controller.

    What I’d like to know is how they plan on expanding the experience over the wii?

    As opposed to just taking what is done and handing off a single controller…. I mean the wii has a horrible time with traditional games and making them worth while. Last time fixed a nintendo problem we ended up with the first Dual Shock Controller.

  • btw not interested at all on motion controllers, this is more like a fashion on this generation, I like to play my games in a relaxed position like watching TV, swinging a controller arround while killing zombies is not my cup of tea, I prefer the traditional controller for traditional gaming.
    Nothing the wii have has caught my attention, thats why I got a ps3 not a wii

  • It’s funny how motion controls are just a small part of the gigantic Playstation ecosystem, but Sony’s engineering dominace has created the one thing everyone has been demanding for the past two years:

    a 1:1 motion controller

    Nintendo hasn’t delivered anything but a slightly updated Wiimote.

    And Microsoft’s EyeToy ripoff is turning out to be the laughingstock of the gaming press with their faked E3 demos and hands on tests complaing about the horrible lag and inaccuracy.

  • For some reason, I can’t get into playing Wii games, but I am definitely interested in the Sony Motion Controller. Maybe this makes me a fanboy.

    Anyways, the main draw will have to be the games/software. Hope it gets more support than the Eyetoy/PS Eye got.

  • COOL can’t wait for this!!

  • Really interesting tech. Can’t wait to see more hands-on videos.

  • i totally agree with #15.

  • Casual games (almost everything on the Wii) are fun every once in a while, usually in a party setting. However, I will not purchase these new controllers until I see a more hardcore focus on the games.

  • Incorporate this baby in Home and maybe I might actually use Home again :)

  • Thanks Chris/Richard.

    Can’t wait for this to come out and waiting for episode 3 of the sequel.

  • bbonds_007 “Incorporate this baby in Home and maybe I might actually use Home again :)”

    No one gives a damn if you ever log into Home again retard.

    With over 8 million people so far using Home you won’t be missed.

  • Controller needs Analog Sticks

  • Cant wait.

  • CHRIS MORREL,

    are we going to have analog sticks on them. can you ask the devs that question?

    we need to have analog sticks on it so that we can play games on it as well for better control

  • FlatulentGhost

    Holy heck man you need to chill, why are you so defensive. And I guarantee those 8 million are not active lol more like 1 million at best.

    Dont know what your problem is but I would like to see this in Home, they would make it much better for say dancing, interactive games…

  • SOUNDS GREAT.
    REALLY NOT FEELING THE TOP SHAPE OF YOU’RE CONTROLLER, I’LL GET THIS IF THE SHAPE WAS MORE LIKE A REMOTE THIN A REMOTE A BALL ON THE END.
    SONY I REALLY WOULD LIKE IF THE PSEYE COULD CONTROL THE XMB.I REALLY LAZY WHEN I GET OFF WORK AND THIS WOULD GET ME OFF MY FAT BUTT,TO CHECK THE P.S.STORE MORE.
    ALSO PARTY CHAT WITH P.S EYE WOULD BE A GOD SENT. THAT YOU SONY ENJOY YOUR WORK WEEK.

  • Chris Morell, Motion Controller The official name?

  • Looks crap.

  • My only worry is the lack of an analog stick to control the movement of your character. For example, in a sword-fighting game how do you make your character walk? Still confused about that.

    I assume the name for the device will be something like PS Motion or something like that. I hope Sony has an AMAZING game bundled with it to make people want the device. Nintendo gets that part right.

    I imagine a bundle with the PSEye, a PS Motion Controller, and a game for… $99.99 But would much prefer $79.99 or even $89.99.

  • I also agree with #15. If i wanted motion controls i’d have gotten a wii. I got a PS3, which means i want proper games with a control scheme that actually works. Not waggle.

  • violator i agree.

    this thing will fail if there is no analog stick on it.

  • Would there be an possibility of re-designing the existing the remote to be more rectangular please see photo

    http://www.product-reviews.net/wp-content/userimages/2008/06/sony-ps3-as-a-nintendo-wii.jpg

    While providing a darken transparent enclosure for glowing LED. Instead of a big glowing ball at the end of the controller?

  • Price wise it will costs quite a lot and if u need to use two controllers per one person you cant have a 4 player split screen + that will costs probably over £200 of equipment suggesting that this conroller is roughyl £40 – 50 which they tend to be. But one question say your playing an RPG or a shooter you can use it to aim / slash your sword or fire your gun but how do you move ? It misses a kind of wii nunchuck which i feel was very comfrtorable and very intuative and good for the wii but the nunchuck plus wiimote = £50 odd pounds and again this much for controllers is expensive id much rather spend £20 for a controller rather than the price of a high end game please take note sony if it is too expensive you wont get LOADS of sales unless by hardcore sony fans or a really really good game comes out with it? :)

  • Terrible. Playstation should just change its name to the Pii.

  • like said before, they need an analog stick. at the very least a cross b/n the nub and a stick w/ a little more control than the nub but not as obtrusive as the stick

  • I’m relieved to hear that the developers were brought in on the whole development process of this thing. Gives me confidence that they actually want to use it and CAN make good use of it. I look forward to the next part of this seven part series(?). XD
    (Seriously, I’m loving hearing about this thing, though I WOULD like to see or hear about what it can do with existing games and applications- or perhaps you guys have got a big line-up of announcements for the controller waiting for TGS.)

  • woo, i hope they get this right, otherwise it wuld fail epicly

    also im sure everyone else has heard of microsofts Project Natal, cause if they pull that off that could seriously kick this motion controller into the ground, so i really do hope that this comes out perfectly :)

  • PSP Firmware 6.0 plz. We all know its coming this week.

  • it looks kind of cool. Would love to see how its used in a FPS.

  • The lack of analog sticks on the wands means this is doomed to casuals only applications.

  • Dont listen to some of these people here Sony. Some of them I think lack the imagination to envision what you could actually do with these controllers. They hear motion controllers and all they can see is the crappy Wii and a bunch of 3rd rate casual games to go with it.

    I see more robust hardcore games coming out for yours as well as some sweet psn games. At least thats what I hope for. Im sure you probably know that no Sony fans are gonna be interested in an non-competetive basic tennis game with limited motion range and no online play etc.

    I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt in the beginning seeing as how you never let me down with producing some of the best and most creative games on the market both in disc-based and digital form. Though I do agree with the part about might want to consider putting a small analog nub on the controllers, even if its only the size of the psp nub.

  • Is there an analog stick on the wand?

  • COOL!!
    I personally never bought into the whole motion controller thing…… starting with the Wii. But if the developers can come up with some clever ways to built it into popular game genres, I will definitely try it out.

    Looking forward to part III

    SPARDA

  • Looks great. I’m sure we will see some very impressive software using this controller and the power of the PS3. Keep up the good work.

  • Listen now SONY

    WE DO NOT WANT CASUAL GAMES!!!

  • Think about a 3rd person action game… how can we move our character without an analog stick?

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