Comprehensive Playstation Move Review

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Everything you need to know about the new PlayStation controller.

After the Nintendo Wii swept the competition off the court thanks to its motion-controlled solution, with low prices and wide selection of games (of varying quality), both Sony and Microsoft now want their share of the cake. They also want their players to be able to wave their arms while playing, because this obviously attracts this mystical "casual" sector. Families, grandmothers and children that is happily united in front of yet another collection of mini games.

Sony is first up with the PlayStation Move. Microsoft will follow up in November, with the Kinect camera. Two different approaches: Move is a more advanced, high-tech version of the Wii controllers. While Kinect will remove the controllers completely.

Layout:
To set up Move you of course need the Move controller, plus a PlayStation Eye camera that reads the movements. There is, of course, support for multiple controllers, so it is possible to play against/together with your friends. Besides, alot of games support two controllers simultaneously, so you can perform tasks using both hands.

Sony will sell different packages, with the camera, with separate controllers, and so on, so you can customize your purchase with the equipment you already have.

There is also an addition to the normal Move controller, a kind of "Nunchuk", with the analog stick and several buttons. Though, a regular sixaxis PS3 controller can also be used in games that require more buttons. The Navigation Controller, as the "Nunchuk" is called, is really just for comfort.

The huge LED lights on the Move are not just for decoration - the PS Eye camera uses it to read the distance and position of the controller. That is why it is so precise. But it does not look particularly elegant, the clean appearance of the Wiimote is a bit more sophisticated.

Ergonomically the Move is quite brilliant. It sits perfectly in the hand. Better than the Wiimote. It is not painfully heavy, but feels solid.

Flexibility:
There are quite a few buttons on the controller. On top sits a Move button (the most often used to enable features in games), around it you will find the usual four symbol buttons, as well as the PS button that pauses the game and opens the XMB menu.

On the bottom there is a trigger button, and it feels very easy to press. On each side of the controller you find the start and select buttons. These are quite difficult to reach, actually.

The layout of The Move is completely unproblematic. Connect the PS Eye camera into the USB port and put it above or below your TV. Then plug the Move into another USB connection, which automatically connects it to your console (the controllers also charge through the USB). You must of course download the latest firmware for the PS3 and it includes a calibration menu. Most of the calibration is however done in the games.

Navigation:
Move currently do not give very many opportunities beyond controlling the games, but you can navigate around the XMB by pressing down a button on the Move and then move it in different directions. However, it is not very accurate, so you would be better off sticking to the normal controls when scrolling through the menus.

But what about the games then? All this hardware is nothing without the games. Does Move bring something new when it comes to actually control the games?

Yes - precisely. Move is exceptionally accurate, there is no doubt about it. The ugly lump of LED do exist for a reason, and it is this that ensures accuracy. In collaboration with various accelerometer and other mysterious devices. The result is true 1:1 control, even more precise than the Wiimote with MotionPlus attached.

Game Commission:
Most of the launch titles are not very spectacular - Sports Champions or Start the Party are not games that will be remembered in a few years, but they do a good job when it comes to showing what the technology is good for. It's really impressive to hold the table tennis racket in your hand in Sports Champions, and notice that it does exactly what you want it to do. The archery game and the frisbee-golf game are also excellent examples of how precise it is. Most of the mini games are certainly entertaining, and allow several people to compete against each other. The same goes for the more colorful Start the Party, which is a collection of short minigames. This again shows how accurate the controller can be.

When all is said and done, Sports Champions stands as the most entertaining of the launch games. If you want a Move game that can be enjoyed by the whole family, buy it.

It has the potential:
There is no doubt that the technology works. Move is very accurate. However, what is the most exciting is how the technology will be utilized in the future. And not least, how it will be used in more hardcore games. This is what distinguishes the PS3 from the Wii, after all. Significantly larger graphic potential and better selection of more serious titles. It is already well known that games like Killzone 3, Little Big Planet 2 and SOCOM 4 will be launched with the Move support, while the existing games like Heavy Rain and Resident Evil 5 will have updates or new versions that will also enable the Move.

The future will certainly bring even more innovative ways for the Move to be used. I look forward to seeing what the developers can come up with in time. As of today - the games released with the Move are not revolutionary, but solid enough, the controller itself looks ok, but it feels good in hand and is technically superior.

Only time will tell whether or not the Move is an essential addition to the PS3.