GDC 10: Everything You Need To Know About PS3′s Move

Playstation’s Move is now officially out there, but what do we really know about it? Well after the GDC, we actaully quite a bit. Firsty it is similar to the Wii in that it has a main controller, namely the one that we’re all now familiar with but also a sub-controller that very much resembles the Nunchuk. This sub-controller has an analogue stick and d-pad incorporated into it and is intended for use on more conventional titles such as FPS’s and RPG’s. Luckily, both use the same kind of rechargeable  Lithium-ion battery found in the DualShock3 controller and so will last much longer over a period of time than the Wii Remote which uses standard batteries.

With regard to how it actually works: the Move makes use of a 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer and terrestrial magnetic field. the first two devices allow the PS3 to pick up on the movement of the Move while the magnetic field which will emit from the sphere is sued to determine the devices distance from the PS3. The coloured sphere atop the Move is purely for aesthetic purposes and will light up when you shoot as an example. The sub-controller features the exact same gyroscope technology as the wand and therefore offers much greater accuracy than we saw with the Wii Nunchuk. Unfortunately the Move requires calibration everytime you load up a new game.

Besides existing titles which will feature motion-sensitivity such as LittleBigPlanet and EyePet there is also a list of titles specifically designed for the Move, these are:

Motion Fighter

The Shoot, an arcade-style FPS

Move Party

Sports Champion

TV Superstars

The Slider (this is perhaps the most interesting of all the Move titles as it involves the player doing kung-fu while riding an office chair around town, pretty awesome: see screenshots)

Sony claims that by the end of the fiscal year, there will be around 20 Move titles. Pricing for SA is as yet undisclosed but there will be three packages available: the standalone Move wand and sub-controller, Move pack with Playstation Eye and finally a combo that includes the Move, Eye and PS3 console. Expect the Move to hit SA around the end of the year.