PS3 Motion Controller Dubbed 'Sphere'

Development community refer to Sony's new motion controller as Sphere.

There's been a lot of talk lately about motion controllers; Nintendo has its Wii MotionPlus and Microsoft is referring to its technology as Project Natal, but what of Sony? The Japanese electronics giant has yet to attach a name to its motion control tech so it’s been left to the developers who are currently referring to it as ‘Sphere’.

The term Sphere obviously refers to the orb on top of the strangely shaped device and, according to Joystiq, producers from Sega and Polyphony Digital have both referred to it in interviews as ‘Sphere’.

“The term Sphere obviously refers to the orb on top of the strangely shaped device”

Sony claims to know nothing of the ‘Sphere’ name so there is every possibility it could just be a development term but it is strange that two totally separate companies have used the term on different occasions.

Will No More Heroes on land PS3?

With the industry buzzing about another motion control device being delivered to the masses via Sony PS3. No More Heroes, game designer Goichi Suda has stated:"I originally didn't want to make another No More Heroes," The game was supposed to be a one off dealio, but when the title did well, sequels do happen." Luckily for Nintendo Wii fans there will be another No More Heroes on the horizon.

"It's not just that," Suda explains. "I wanted to revisit Travis Touchdown. I wanted to write the continuation of his story." NMH lead hero Travis Touchdown is joined by more characters and boss battles this go round in No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. The title has been in development for about a year and a half and is shooting for an early 2010 release.

"Right now, I don't think I'll make another one, though," says Suda. "This game does wrap up Travis' story nicely." But so many movies are in trilogies — a point that movie buff Suda is quick to concede.

With the introduction of Sony's new motion controls, it would not be too far stretch to see No More Heroes ported over to the PS3. "I'm not playing platform favorites," says Suda. "For me, No More Heroes is about two handed controls — the way you play. But I do very much think of the game as being a Wii title." There you go motion control fan boys, one of Nintendo's Wii most highly rated game may jump to the dark side.

It would be very interested to see how ports will be handled for the PS3 and 360. I do not see many developers having challenges with Xbox 360 Natal but I am slightly concern about the current challenges with ports in general for the PS3. Porting a Wii game in theory should be a fairly easy affair but I am no game developer I just play one online.

Via:[Kotaku]

PS3 Motion Controller Game List

The official pictures are out for Sony's new Motion Controller. We've had a chance to see the birth of the new motion controller through Sony's R&D labs releasing a series of videos. Now, thanks to an official press release we have the full Motion Controller details, along with a list of games which are being readied along side the new controller.

Check out the full press release below:
Motion Controller* for PlayStation(R)3 to Become Available in Spring 2010

Motion Controller (Unofficial Name) Equipped with High-Precision Motion Sensors, Combined With PlayStation(R)Eye Camera, Delivers Whole New Entertainment Experience on PlayStation(R)3

TOKYO, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release a new Motion Controller (unofficial name) for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system in Spring 2010. The new controller, equipped with high-precision, highly accurate motion sensors, can deliver a whole new entertainment experience on PS3 when combined together with the PlayStation®Eye camera(*1). Capable of recognizing and tracking a user’s face and voice as well as body motion, PlayStation Eye can also output the player’s image onto the TV screen. SCE will vigorously promote the expansion of this new experience only possible on the PS3 platform.

The newly announced Motion Controller is equipped with two motion sensors, three axes gyroscope and three axes accelerometer that can detect the controller’s angle and movement held in the user’s hand. Together with the PlayStation Eye camera for PS3 which can accurately track the absolute position of the controller, the controller can detect the natural and intuitive movement of the hand and reflect the precise movement on to the game. The sphere placed on the top of the controller is not only used to track the absolute position but can also give visual feedback to users by changing the colors or the illuminating patterns of the sphere. Furthermore, the new controller is also equipped with a rumble feature, familiar to the PlayStation® DUALSHOCK® series controller, delivering an immersive gaming experience to users.

Further expanding the new experience on PS3, SCE Worldwide Studios will deliver many exciting software titles for the Motion Controller in 2010(*2). SCE, with strong support from software developers and publishers, will deploy various measures to enhance the software title line-up for the new Motion Controller and vigorously promote the PS3 platform.

* Motion Controller is a tentative name.

*1 Users will need to use the PlayStation Eye camera to enjoy Motion Controller on PS3.

*2 Please see below for software titles to be released in 2010.

Product Outline
Motion Controller (Tentative)

Product name Motion Controller (tentative)

Release date Spring 2010

Recommended Retail Price To be decided.

Key Features — Three axes gyroscope, three axes accelerometer
– Bluetooth(R) 2.0
– Lithium-Ion rechargeable internal battery

Software Titles for Motion Controller from SCE Worldwide Studios(*1)
(2010 release, includes both Motion Controller dedicated and compatible titles)

Title name
———-
Ape Escape (Working Title)
Echochrome 2 (Working Title)
Eccentric Slider (Working Title)
Sing and Draw (Working Title)
Champions of Time (Working Title)
Motion Party (Working Title)
The Shoot (Working Title)
Tower (Working Title)
PAIN(*2)
Flower(*2)
Hustle Kings(*2)
High Velocity Bowling(*2)
EyePet(*2)

Via:[Press Release]

Final PS3 Motion Control Pic

You have seen the videos and you have heard the R&D blah blah. But we've never seen anything official, no final product shots, until now. Sony has officially shown us a picture of the New Motion Controller for the PS3. Looks very cool a remote control with a mini light bulb at the end. Can we think about the possibilities when Sony decides to give you the option to control other Sony device's besides the PS3. How cool?

PS3 Motion Controller Update Part III: R&D Video

Sony has released a series of videos on their blog pertaining to the development of the new PS3 Motion Control wands coming this spring. With the Nintendo Wii sales coming back to reality and Microsoft sitting in the shadows with a dirty secret--Microsoft has yet to share anymore information on (Natal?). This video replicates everything from E3 with a few additions due to time and a real camera crew. The demo, including spray paint, pencils, FPS mode, RTS gameplay and the manipulation of several different objects is all there plus--a few things Sony never had the time to share. The video after the jump shows some great potential for the upcoming PS3 wands.

Wii Shovelware expanding to PS3?

There is one thing we know for sure ever since the Nintendo Wii debut it brought with it an avalanche of shovelware-- games made on the cheap and released half ass to make a quick buck.

With Sony's new Motion Control(MoCo) arriving this coming Spring 2010 and Natal in the Fall 2010, Capcom has chimed in on the potential of seeing some Wii games ported to the PS3.

"Speaking to other developers in Japan," Resident Evil 5 producer Jun Takeuchi tells game site 1UP, "I've heard a few of them say they were delighted by the Sony motion controller because they can just port over their Wii titles to the PS3."

Multiplatform ports for the PS3 has been a hit or miss affair. But we can all assure that you cannot fuck up a Nintendo Wii port? Or can you?

PS3 Motion Control Game Revealed

EA has leaked one of the first PS3 motion control PS3 games that will take advantage of this new tech when it arrives in Spring 2010. EA Sports made it know to the world that “Grand Slam Tennis”, which originally debuted on the Wii, has been in development for the PS3 and Xbox 360 for some time but was mysteriously delayed back in August.

Grand Slam Tennis will arrive on the Sony PS3 in the Spring when Sony PS3 MoCo glowing wands arrives. Xbox owners will be seeing a similar version later on Natal in the fall 2010. With Sony being first to the HD MoCo wars it will be very interesting to see how the gaming public warm up to Sony attempted to capture the casual gamer.

Advance Facial Recognition heading to the PS3

There has been toying with Facial Recognition ever since the Sony Cyber Shot cameras days. Currently there is a primitive form of facial recognition with the recently added photo gallery app. The photo gallery app currently can tell your age, if you are smiling or if you are sad. This gives you the ability the sort your photos by emotions and age. Also let's not forget head tracking coming to GT5.

Let's fast forward one year and Sony will be planning to take Facial Recognition to the next level with Vision Library. Once a face has been analyzed, your Sony PS3 can tell it apart from others, determine orientation, identify gender, tell what expression that face is expressing, and then superimpose some big-eyed anime head right on top of it real-time. This combine with Sony MoCo(Motion Controls) and 3D can really change the way games are played.

Video after the jump:

Behind the Scenes with SCEA Research & Development (Part 1)

During E3, Sony showcased a prototype for a new controller launching next year. I have a lot of questions, so Richard Marks and Anton Mikhailov sat down to give a recap of Sony new MoCo Technology, two of the main brains behind the new controller, to get some insight on the E3 demo, the back-story behind development, and the future of this new technology.