X

PlayStation Move hits September 19 in U.S.; Sony focuses on Move's buttons, 3D

Sony's upcoming Move controller seems both more affordable and more practical than the Kinect. Is it the right move?

Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
See full bio
Scott Stein
2 min read
The Move: does cheaper plus buttons equal better? Josh Lowensohn/CNET

To counter Microsoft's unveiling of the Kinect on Monday, Sony's E3 press conference focused on the things the Kinect seemingly has a hard time with: buttons and affordability.

An applause-inducing price reveal of $49.99 for the PlayStation Move controller (and a less-than-thrilled reaction to the separate $29.99 for the optional second part of the controller) was accompanied with release dates: September 19 in the U.S., a few days earlier in Europe, and October 21 in Japan. A bundle with the PlayStation Eye, a necessary part of the Move's functions, costs $99 and includes Sony's Wii Sports/Kinect Sports-style game. Bundles with a PS3 will cost $399, a more affordable proposition.

Sony promises 40 Move-specific games by year's end, although they also said that older games including Heavy Rain and Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition will be Move-compatible with software updates.

The strategy on the Move, judging by Sony's demos, was a focus on the very accurate one-to-one mapping abilities of the controller, as well as a focus on making as many of Sony's future games compatible with both regular and Move controls in a single game box.

Sony also touted the effect of using both the Move and its 3D gaming technology, claiming the combination will be the equation to a more immersive experience. Upcoming games including EyePet (revealed at last year's E3) look like they'll combine both elements rather well, but Move control schemes in a game like Killzone 3 are less clear.

Of course, Sony also stressed the importance of physical buttons, mocking the Kinect's waving-arms motions in a repeat of last E3's corporate one-upsmanship. At this point, we've played more with the Move than we have with the Kinect, and it definitely does feel highly accurate. Whether the Kinect can compete on accuracy remains to be seen.