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

  • 2 motion controllers and all that comes to mind is the new oblivion! sword and shield!

  • Thank god for Sony… I love video games, and this years E3 conf was soooo disappointing to me simply for the fact that Microsoft got out there and said, “THE CONTROLLER IS A BARRIER” … I wholeheartedly disagree, I love the controller it feels like my passport to my exclusive club. I feel like it’s something for those who understand it and have mastered it to enjoy, video games are not for everyone, but I love that Sony realized that there is a way to introduce a casual audience to our little club. Games need controls, they need good controls at that, Bravo dev team, bravo!

  • Thank you Sony for these behind-the-scenes interviews. It’s a lot nicer to hear about this new technology straight from the guys who are developing it instead of having some PR guy do it, and it also instills more confidence in the product. I’m really looking forward to watching part III of the interview.

    That said, I hope that if/when this motion controller does come up, developers don’t just turn it into some casual/mini-games cash machine because if I was interested in those kind of games I would have bought a Wii instead. I want REAL “gamers” games for this motion controller. I’d love to play games like Bioshock, Dead Space, Oblivion, Shadow of the Colossus, etc with this controller. So this is my request to Sony and all the developers working with this controller-

    make hardcore games your utmost priority if you want this controller to be successful, because ultimately it’s traditional gamers that consistently buy a lot of more games, so it’s in YOUR benefit to utilise this controller in games that traditional gamers care about.

  • This actually looks pretty impressive. I personally think that if they include an analog stick and they pull off to create good non-casual games for it, this could actually kick ass on the Wii remote and even on the “famous” Project Natal which I predict will be an utter failure.
    Keep up the good work Sony.

  • i dont see why sony doesn’t just make this another form of input. kind of like joypads for a computer. then worry about games specific to the new hardware. i think this would make the most sense out of it all. make the button layout the same to the DS3 and let the left controller be the main one for games that use the six axis function today. develop better ways to use it with two controllers. LOL i wouldn’t mind playing operation on the ps3 for laughs LOL but u’ll need two. like the wii but cordless would be better :D
    even if i can’t play call of duty with the point and shoot feature i would mind having the option to use a different controller if i wanted to. but hopefully they make good use of the technology down the road

    Just mention this comment if you agree

  • Hey, what if you (say like for rgs) hold the dual shock3 and use the it as a shield while using the motion controller for the sword? that’d be pretty cool. I mean, i’d just like maybe to see SOME sort of interaction with the dualshock3/sixaxis function too…. i wish more games utilized the sixaxis function alot more like lair. Dont tell me Lair wasnt good, cause it was a damn good game, and anyone who says otherwise is hand-ey coordination retarded. admittedly the game was a bit short… I cant wait for the motion controller!

  • I liked that but the idea is the same like the wii control ?!
    you should make a new thing !

  • I love sony and where they are headed. Everybody knows the story about the tortoise and the hare and that is exactly what is happening with sony right now. First it was the x-box show for one whole year and the nintindo took over but these next couple of years looks to be when sony finally dominates the playing field. Keep up the hard work Sony.

  • My question is if the wand will have analog sticks or some type of analog thumb pad so I can use it for movement in a shooter while I use the wand for aiming? >:|

  • Looks nice, but I have a question: How many motion controllers can the PSEye track at once? Because I think there will be lag, since as they say it’s 1:1 motion, then it should be difficult to track more than two “wands” at once. OR maybe they will lower the game graphics to track more than two “wands” at once? Either way I’m looking forward to this tech.

    It would be totally cool if you actually could take the tennis ball that his playing with the other hand and then throw and hit it with the motion controller. If it’s able to do that then it’s definitely going to be one of the best controllers ever made if not THE best.

  • Are we going to need to buy a new ps eye or could we use the one we already have?
    Man i am so excited about this, mainly for one reason…disc golf :)

  • It looks like the device does have a nub or stick on it. Take a look carefully just above his index finger after the time when he says it ‘achieves motion incable of the dual shock’.

    Surely Sony wouldn’t release this without a nub. I mean, you guys are kinda stating the obvious continually posting about having a nub. (Watch from about 2.30 and look close)

    However Sony should just come out and show all the different types of buttons etc that will be on it. I’m sure they want to keep it reasonably simple but I’m sure they’ll also give it some extra functionality so hardcore gamers have something to write home about.

  • Please… do add an analog stick, do not be shortsighted… :(…

  • I think people are also forgetting that this is in conjunction with the PS Eye… You won’t necessarily need two of these controllers to do things like pick up an object or shoot a bow. The wand just gives you that added definition and trackability that the PSeye finds when you’re just standing there by yourself. If a person is holding this wand it I’m sure it will enable the eye to track your body better also as the object (You) holding the wand should be able to be parsed from the background, and other people playing with you whether or not they also have wands. I’m super excited from a development point of view to see what starts coming out with this thing in the mix.

    I see this helping a lot with console RTS development, and yes I was influenced by the little RTS demo shown. Also hack’n’slash types like Baldurs Gate and Planescape Torment would be gorgeous to see as downloadable titles on PSN.

  • I’m really concern about this tech because I’ve had plenty of issues playing “The Eye of Judgement” due to low lighting conditions. How will low lights effect this ball glowing wands? These tech demos are usually shown in a well lite area. Nothing like a real life situation.

  • this is AWESOME!! im lovin the evolution of video gaming, cant wait fo this to come out

  • kittonwy,

    can you imagine killzone 2 with the wand. move with the analog stick and aim with the wand.

    how cool would that be

  • Two things: make it affordable, and avoid casual/mini games.

  • When will this motion controller be released for the public?

  • I think a great Idea for a future FW update would be allowing Playstation Eye owners to be able to control the XMB with use of the camera like reaching for an icon and tapping it to select it or even voice commands like saying “Music” the XMB would go to the music category, then saying the artist “Metallica” the XMB would open up the Metallica folder then you say the song you want “play Master of Puppets” then the song starts playing and of course other controls while playing music “Pause”, “Next”, “Back”, “Stop”, “Fast Forward”, “Rewind”. Also to turn if the system you could say like ” Turn off System”
    But of course every time you say a command maybe a confirmation window could pop up making sure you said the right command. It’s just an Idea I’ve had for a while maybe the FW creators can use it for a future update.

  • i think the motion controller is looking very good, they just can’t rush it and they need to make it a polished, smooth experience (AND FUN). they also have to get third party developers to make games for the controller. i would also like to see full games (not little mini-games on the PStore) created for the controller. if they can do a better job with all of this and the advertising than they did with eyetoy, it will be a good move for sony.

  • I agree with a lot of people here…no analog nub means we’ll never be able to actually control the movement of a character….so no LOTR style games…unless they’re like….rail shooters….which gets old incredibly fast.

    Analog please? or else I fear it’s doomed to very casual games…

  • put this in some basket/football games and im good.

  • i cant wait

  • Looks good, an analog stick on it is a good idea.

  • This is just some gay garbage. Why not just track the ds3 controller? I think the devs are taking some sissy pills up in there considering the latest xmb ui has girly colors and glitter as original default settings… What’s up with that?

  • he seemed pretty nervous at E3 :/

  • rick seemed even more nervous even though it wasnt his first e3 lol

  • Please, please, please make sure the controller will integrate say with a gun attachment where on can pull a trigger to shoot, another button for grenades and with the ball on the end of the gun. Different colour bulb indicates a different gun being used in the game. Would be very cool to have the gun move as I move…and I can still sit on the sofa but get a bit more movement on the screen. This combined with the face position detection would be wicked awesome.

  • I like what he says at the end about how the developers “just know” where it is. Compare this to the Wii Motion Plus which is completely fake. You can hold a sword at your chest or above your head and the Motion+ doesn’t know the difference because it just adds extra wrist control.

    The PS3 controller however shows exact coordinate position, instead of the developer having to guess what the user is doing based on the twist of the remote.

  • man it’s gonna be awesome playing nhl11 with this awesome tech

  • It Gonna Be Awesome!!!! But Sony Will Probably Make Them Have To be Able To Have More Capabilities Than Just Spray Paint. Having A Light On Both Ends maybe would give better precision. and u can turn off one light when you dont need it.

  • lol, SONY, why didn’t you make them use the ps3 slim in this video… You are advertising your old product ;)

  • Very excited to see digital objects surround me on screen. It will feel like WHO FRAMED ROGER RABIT. In fact, that could be a good spin off game. You can have those black slabs that make your hand go through walls, giant cartoon hammers, the CARTOON GUN that shoots talking bullets – lot of potential there.

    Also, it’d be really cool to see this technology been taken further. Perhaps provide little sticky dots like they use in MOTION CAPTURE creation for people to easily clip to specific parts of their body and clothes. Imagine just behind the shoulders, you could have a cape on yourself on screen. Maybe Dante’s jacket from DMC. But so far the hand held technology is exciting enough and I can’t wait to be lashing a virtual whip all around my room. Good stress relief if I set up virtual objects that are breakable.

    Keep up the good work.

  • Video not available?

  • Only 2 controllers? Lame. The Wii supports up to 4 controllers.

  • They could have an analog stick attachment, like the Nunchuck controller for the Wii.

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