PlayStation focuses on 3D tricks, new Move controller

Sony Computer Entertainment focused heavily on the new Move motion controller at this year's E3 in Los Angeles.

PlayStation bosses heaped scorn on competitor's motion control systems at E3, while pushing the new Move controller and showing off lush new 3D content for the PS3 console.

As expected, the tech giant was quick to push its 3D product, and there was little room for surprise after 3D glasses were handed out at the door of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the PlayStation media conference.

What was surprising was the sheer impact of the 3D in its demo of first person shooter exclusive Killzone 3. There was real depth to the whole environment across all planes, amplified by the player view down the length of the weapon. This threw the whole audience smack bang into the middle of savage combat sequences, with flying missiles, enemy attacks and explosions taking on a terrifying new lease of life.

Views down through destroyed buildings were vertigo-inducing and even simple things like moving around corners or through doorways became far more realistic, promising an incredibly engaging and immersive gaming experience that literally leaps out of the screen.

Other games that are already 3D friendly - which existing owners will be able to update to display in 3D right now on PlayStation Network for free - are Wipeout HD, Pain, Super Stardust HD and a Motorstorm Pacific Rift demo.

On the list for future 3D release is Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat, Sean White Snowboarding, Tron Evolution and The Fight: Lights Out.

Perhaps the most awaited game on Sony's release schedule - the much-delayed Gran Turismo 5 will also be in 3D, when it releases in November in the US. Footage shown looked a slick as expected, and an in car view couldn't have looked more realistic. A brief play of the game showed a ground-breaking trick - the Eye camera can track your head movements when using cockpit view.

Whether Sony Computer Entertainment's group CEO exec Kazuro Hirai assertion that this type of content will drive 3D television adoption, as the PS3 did for the high-definition Blu-ray format, remains to be seen.

But while only a small percentage of Kiwi gamers will be throwing down their dollars right now to jump into this new realm, more are likely to adopt Sony's new Move control system.

Move is an incredibly accurate control method that uses the PlayStation Eye camera to map controllers - which look like black sticks with glowing, LED-lit balls on the end - in a 3D space for excellent accuracy.

It is set to compete with Nintendo's existing Wii technology - which doesn't really cater for the core gamer audience - and Microsoft's new Kinect system, which uses no controller at all and uses a camera/microphone combo to map players' own bodies to interact with games. Move will be available in September in New Zealand.

The audience at Sony's conference were in no doubt that Sony sees it as a more precise form of control than Kinect, and more likely to appeal to serious gamers.

Some of the games that were on show really hammered home this point. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 was the most graphic example of Move's accuracy, with an Electronic Arts live demo showing how slight adjustments to the swing of the controller could draw or fade the ball - something that any golfer will attest to being a difficult task.

It is this ability to deftly and subtly alter shots that shows Move has the leap on Kinect in terms of accuracy.

After playing Socom 4 today, it showed Move as very effective for third person shooters, although it was a bit of a paradigm shift from the comfortable familiarity of the Dual Shock. The Move wand was used to aim and shoot, and tracked my view, while movements were covered by the navigation controller's joystick.

Using Move for The Fight: Lights Out was pretty impressive though - a controller in each hand, swung as you'd fight proved the one-to-on tracking was bang on, and game itself will definitely be high on my playlist when it releases.

We'll be taking a closer look at some of the game announcements and talk to developers and designers over the coming week.