Sony Controllers Catch Up To Nintendo Wii Gear - Circa 2006

Sony has unleashed Move, the PlayStation 3 motion sensor sticks coming out this fall.

The gamer blog Kotaku:

Yesterday, Sony took the wraps off the PlayStation Move, which some people will call Sony's next big thing in video gaming, and others will call a shameless Wii Remote rip-off.

To recap, the Nintendo Wii launched with its motion sensor sticks - the Wii-motes - in fall 2006. It broke sales numbers. It changed the recognized gamer demographic. It was innovation. The Microsoft XBox 360 became a favorite of average gamers, based on its healthy online community and plethora of games.

The Sony PlayStation 3 became an also-ran for several reasons:

• Sony waited for Blu-Ray technology, delaying it for more than a year
• The Blu-Ray technology still makes it the most expensive console
• Though powerful, the high-end technology was more difficult to develop for than the XBox 360

Here are the attributes:

• Uses lithium ion battery instead of disposable batteries: OK.
• Can be used in conjunction with Sony EyeToy webcam: OK.
• Requires recalibration when starting a new game: Bad, as the Wii doesn't require it.
• 36 video game companies are supporting Move: Good, but still a fraction of the hundreds of Sony developers.
• High-level motion sensing: Excellent, better than the Wii.
• Sold separately: Bad, as there's no announcement of packaging it with future PlayStation 3s - something that makes Sony's commitment seem more dubious.