Microsoft’s Project Natal might have generated the most buzz at this year’s E3, but Sony’s newly announced foray into motion detection technology, or Motion Control, was just as impressive, given that it was demonstrated live on stage in a more complete and working state than Natal. In a recent interview, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s new CEO and president, Andrew House, has described it as “stunningly accurate” and promises that it represents a “huge step” in gaming.
Andrew House has just picked up the reins from the recently David Reeves and has been chatting to GamesIndustry.biz about early reactions to the Motion Control technology, which is due for release in Spring 2010.
“What we had at the E3 showing was very forward facing technology, a firm date for launch which is important as it gives us a good lead time to assemble the right sorts of content to take advantage of it,” House explained. “It’s stunningly accurate in terms of the way it tracks movement. That sounds like an incremental step in terms of motion technology, but it’s a huge one in terms of saying ‘now it’s arrived’ and it’s really going to change the way we think about how we play games.”
House also reveals that the team behind it dates back to the original EyeToy and that Sony is “not unduly worried” about rival technologies coming from Nintendo’s Wii MotionPlus and Microsoft’s Project Natal. That’s probably helped by the fact that MotionPlus is off to a bit of a ponderous start and that Natal isn’t even due to launch until the end of next year, giving PS3’s Motion Control plenty of time to make its mark.
House even mentioned the possibility of a bundling the new controller in with every PS3 bundle, but adds that “Spring is a long way off”.
Out Spring 2010 | £TBA | PlayStation (via GamesIndustry.biz)
