PlayStation Move: Everything we know

• by GamePro Staff
• March 11, 2010 10:28 AM PST

Sony revealed a slew of information recently regarding its upcoming motion controller system, the PlayStation Move. Here's everything we know about the product, the bundles, and the games.

The PlayStation Move was revealed yesterday at the 2010 Game Developers Conference, giving the media the first chance to see the controllers up close, while also providing the first information about the product's bundles and launch-window games. Here's the information GamePro has gathered about the product thus far.

THE CONTROLLER SETUP
The PlayStation Move controller setup has three different parts -- the Move motion controller, the sub-controller, and the PlayStation Eye camera. The Move motion controller is necessary to play all games. Some games require the Eye, the motion controller, and the sub-controller -- though a normal PS3 controller can be substituted for the sub-controller in any game. The games we observed utilized many combinations of the three; for example, Motion Fighter requires the motion controller, sub-controller, and the Eye, while SOCOM 4 requires the motion controller and sub-controller, without an Eye.

The Move motion controller itself is a standalone USB-rechargable controller that doesn't need to be hooked up to any other controllers like the DualShock 3. The motion controller contains the DualShock 3's four face buttons as well as the two additional buttons -- one on the face and a trigger below. The motion controller has 1:1 motion control along with pointing capabilities, rumble support, and a glowing orb atop the controller that can switch among at least four different colors -- pink, blue, green, and yellow.

The also-rechargable sub-controller features an analog stick, directional pad, two face buttons, and L1, L2, and L3 buttons. The sub-controller is not necessary for any games, as the Dual Shock 3 or Sixaxis both have the same buttons located on the sub-controller.

The PlayStation Eye camera, released in 2007, is required for PlayStation Move games that track body movement. The sphere on top of the motion controller is specifically tracked by the Eye, allowing it to recognize the player when other people are in the camera's view.

THE BUNDLES
While specific prices haven't been set for the PlayStation Move, Sony has revealed a few of the bundles. The only bundle with a general price window includes one motion controller, one sub-controller, an Eye, and one game, which will retail for "under $100." Other planned bundles include one with the motion controller, sub-controller, and a game as well as one that includes a PS3 system, an Eye, a motion controller, and a sub-controller. The Move system will also be sold alone.

THE GAMES
The following eight titles were shown at Sony's Move event, and are all presumed to be "launch window" titles for the product. The following Move games were playable at the event with the exception of LittleBigPlanet Move. The only games shown during the entire event were Sony-published titles, though companies like Capcom, EA, Konami, Namco, Sega, THQ, Ubisoft, and Warner Brothers Interactive will create games that utilize the Move.

The tentatively titled Move Party is a minigame collection that uses the Move and the Eye to allow a player to perform quick actions like painting shapes, swatting bugs, popping balloons, and shaving heads.

TV Superstars is a minigame collection that centers around performing on a reality show. Using the Move and the Eye, you can take part in American Gladiator-style feats of strength and agility or take part in an America's Next Top Model-esque fashion show.

Sports Champions is a sports minigame collection. Three games have been revealed so far -- an archery contest, a Roman-themed gladiator battle, and ping-pong.

Motion Fighter is a street-fighting game in which you use the motion controller, sub-controller, and Eye to move around, avoid getting hit, and attack your opponent with punches, grabs, and cheapshots like headbutts.

The Shoot is a working title for a semi-on-rails shooter. In The Shoot, players point and shoot enemies in various films, including a space invasion movie, and a western. The Eye tracks player movement, so your character can move out of the path of incoming bullets and perform special moves when you swing the motion controller down or spin around in a circle.

Sony has been talking about the virtual pet simulator EyePet for a while now, but with the introduction of the Move, players will be able to more tangibly play with their pet, using the motion controls to monitor their pet's heartbeat and health stats, bathe and clean them, and draw pictures that their pet will then learn how to draw themselves.

While SOCOM 4 can be played with traditional controls, the addition of the Move allows the player to place beacons for teammates and aim by using the pointer.

A version of LittleBigPlanet was shown in which one player controlled a Sackboy in a traditional method while the other used the Move to build, move, and rearrange parts of the environment. Move support for LittleBigPlanet will be provided via software update.

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