There had been a few grumblings going around that Sony’s PS3 Slim was about to get some changes to the Hard Drive variants. And while GameStop independently confirmed this for a little while, those ads were quickly pulled. But the rumors didn’t stop. And good thing, too — considering that they turned out to be true. Sony has just announced that there will not only be a 160GB model, but also a 320GB Move bundle coming to market this Fall.
The 160GB model will only be your standard issue. Meaning, you won’t be seeing any extra goodies in the box — at least, not at the start. And if you’re interesting in picking one up, you can actually find them somewhere in the United States (probably your favorite electronics retailer) for only $299.99. If you find yourself in Europe, you’ll be able to get your hands on one for about 299 Euros, beginning in October.
But, the 320GB Move bundle is where all the attention is. That’s due out September 19th in the United States, and September 15h in the European regions. It will cost $399, or 349 Euros, and it will come with one console, one controller, and the title Sports Champions. Anyone out there itching to get their hands on Move?
A few years back, you had the ability to actually try things before you bought them. That is, in the video game industry. Retail stores still feature demo “kiosks” where you can play on a console for a few minutes, and try out a few of the games they’ve got on some kind of demo disc in the tray, but for the most part, you’re at the mercy of other means entirely to find out whether or not you want to buy a game, or even the hardware itself. For Sony, that’s just not going to cut it, so they’re planning a huge marketing push to get their PlayStation Move into the heart and mind of all potential purchasers. And what’s a better way to do that then let them play it, right?
According to Kotaku, Sony has just confirmed to them that they are planning on bringing the motion controller peripheral and platform to malls, shops, kiosks, and even Sony’s Patrol Truck (which makes its way across the United States on a regular basis). Basically, they want to make sure that everyone has a chance to play this, and not, say, just four stores across the nation. It’s even going to be showcased at festivals like Voodoo Festival.
Best Buy and Walmart are going to be included in this, too. Rumors are sprouting up that Sony’s on a huge hiring rush right now, trying to fill the many kiosks they are going to distribute to those stores. Date wise, the huge marketing push for the entire country hasn’t been locked down quite yet, but sources say that starting September 11th, that’s when the kiosks will show up in Walmarts and Best Buys. Either way, though, it looks like you’ll have a pretty good shot at actually trying PlayStation Move before you make the conscious decision to buy it.
Sony’s PlayStation Move is just about ready to hit retail shelves, so it’s no surprise that promotional kits are starting to make their way to some testers out there in the wild. In this case, it looks like they managed to get the boxed units that will make their way to Europe later this year (minus one demo, interestingly enough). Inside the kit, Phil (who was lucky enough to get the promo kit) found two Move controllers, one demo disc, and one PlayStation Eye camera. The interesting bit comes on that demo disc, as well as the User Interface you see in the image below.
The demos are shown off in large boxes, making it easy to make your way from one title to another, and see in a clear image just what it is you’ll be getting with any particular section. It’s very similar to the “Now Playing” area of Sony’s XMB, which probably shouldn’t be a surprise, either. But, what’s most interesting, is that while the demo disc included in the kit had 8 different titles on it, all of which had been showcased at this year’s E3, you actually can’t play them directly from the disc.
Instead, you have to download them right onto your PlayStation 3′s hard drive. The titles are: Sports Champions, Kung Fu Rider, TV Superstars, The Shoot, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, Beat Sketcher, Tumble, and Start the Party. No surprises in store here, but you will need somewhere around 8GB of storage on your hard drive available to play each title whenever you want. We’re curious to see if all demos will work like this, or if it was just the promotional kit.
Nintendo has just confirmed that it has sold 30 million Wii consoles in the US alone, making it the fastest console to reach that milestone in the history of gaming. The Wii launched back in 2006, and hit the 30m mark fifteen months faster than the next best-selling console.
The strong growth comes as rivals Microsoft and Sony plan to debut their own motion gaming systems, Kinect and Move, in time for the holiday shopping season. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has previously said that he sees the competing systems as a “great honor” to the company, while also saying that the challenge Nintendo face is making the next-gen Wii experience “unique” despite generic hardware.
When it comes to CTA Digital, we can’t say that we’re surprised anymore. Truth be told, we actually look forward to seeing what the company has in store for the video game industry next. Their peripherals are some of the most inventive out there, even as they border on slightly ridiculous at the same time. This time around, following in step with the Inflatable Race Car and Rowing Machine accessory for the Nintendo Wii, we’ve got the Ultimate Boxing Gloves for Sony’s PlayStation Move.
And sure, they may look like any other pair of boxing gloves out there, or training gloves, but if you look close enough you’ll notice that they’ve got something else going for them. That’s right. Perfectly placed, snug, and revolutionary velcro pouches, that make it easier for you to hold your PlayStation Move’s controller, without having to actually hold it. Though, we don’t recommend you completely unwrap your grasp from it, because while velcro may be amazing, it’s not perfect.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s some more velcro at the wrists, making sure that the glove proper doesn’t go flying off your hands, too. Looks like the minds at CTA Digital have thought about everything when it comes to their latest gaming accessory. Now we just need a release date and price, and we’ll be good to go. Anyone out there thinking about picking these up?
Press Release
CTA Digital’s Ultimate Boxing Gloves Add Realism, Safety to PlayStation Move
To complement the action of the PlayStation Move, CTA Digital is introducing its Ultimate Boxing Gloves, which allow gamers to securely grip the PlayStation Move controllers during gaming. The fist-clenching ability and feel of the gloves adds realism and excitement to boxing and street-fighting games, while the secure elastic strap prevents controllers from slipping out.
BROOKLYN, NY – Preparing for the September launch of the PlayStation Move, Sony’s motion-control sensor gaming platform, as well as the game The Fight: Lights Out, CTA Digital has announced its Ultimate Boxing Gloves.
The Ultimate Boxing Gloves feature Velcro pouches on the inside of the palm to secure the PlayStation Move controller, as well as adjustable Velcro wrist straps for a snug fit. Gamers can slide the PlayStation Move controllers into the elastic sleeves in the palms of the gloves to secure the controllers while playing, and throw punches as hard as they want, since the PlayStation Move controllers are secured tightly in the pouches.
Because of Move’s accuracy, boxing is anticipated to be a lot more fun than other platforms. Gamers can experience a more realistic, intense boxing match or street fight with these padded, comfortable, lightweight gloves. With the snug fit and secured controllers, gamers can safely punch away, immersing themselves in the games. The feel of the fingerless gloves adds the sensation of really fighting, whether in a ring or on the streets. The lightweight material allows for freedom of movement during matches. The gloves adjust to securely fit all hand sizes and are fully compatible with all PS Move boxing game launches, including The Fight: Lights Out.
The Ultimate Boxing Gloves will be available for purchase on Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/2u7tebl) and will be the perfect addition to any gamers’ cache of accessories for the PlayStation Move.
CTA Digital Debuts another Unique Accessory: The Triple Port Charging Station for PlayStation Move and PS3 SIXAXIS Controllers
With the introduction of CTA Digital’s exclusive Triple Port Charging Station, gamers can charge their PlayStation Move Controller and Navigation Controller, alongside a PS3 Sixaxis controller at the same time.
BROOKLYN, NY – In time for the September launch of the PlayStation Move, Sony’s motion-control sensor gaming platform, CTA Digital has announced the release of a unique Triple Port Charging Station for PlayStation Move and Sixaxis controllers. Being the only such charger to be launched, it is a complete solution for PS3 lovers to enjoy maximum value, by being able to charge the PS Move Controller, a Navigation Controller and one PS3 SIXAXIS Controller simultaneously. Gamers can charge their controllers on an AC-powered base that requires no wired hookups to the controllers themselves.
Unlike any other charging station, the Triple Port Charging Station accommodates a regular controller, simplifying the controller-charging process for gamers. Due to be launched on September 25th, this charger is expected to be the ideal accompaniment to the Playstation motion gaming platform.
The Charge Station is powered with 5V 1.2A AC adapter, and also run on a 1200MA current, freeing up the USB ports on the PlayStation unit for other peripherals. LED light on the charger turns blue while charging, red when fully charged, and off when the controller is removed. The Charging Stations takes advantage of the PlayStation Move controllers’ internal battery by simply allowing gamers to place the controllers upright.
In addition to the Triple Port Charging Station, CTA Digital is set to release Dual Port Charging Station and a Quadruple Port Charging Station, to hold one set of PlayStation Move Controller and Navigation Controller, and two sets of PlayStation Move Controllers and Navigation Controllers, respectively.
All three chargers are slated for a September 25 release; the Dual Port Charging Station (http://tinyurl.com/39lmf66), Triple Port Charging Station (http://tinyurl.com/2vvpnr7), and Quadruple Port Charging Station (http://tinyurl.com/3y7usjq), and will be available on Amazon and be the perfect addition to any gamers’ cache of accessories for the PlayStation Move.
TRIPLE PORT CHARGING STATION
Keep your PlayStation® Move Controllers as well as your Sixaxis Controller fully charged, and ready to use, while keeping everything organized in a small, elegant charging station. Since Sony PlayStation 3 Controllers and Move controllers (The Navigation Controller and the Motion Controller) have internal rechargeable batteries, operating this charging base is simple. Just stand the Move controllers vertically on the base, and rest your Sixaxis controller on the base as well. You can recharge your controllers, with out having to plug cables into them, or your PlayStation 3 Console. This Charging Station is powered by an AC adapter, which means nothing will have to occupy a USB ports on your console in order to recharge all your gear.
Features:
• Powered by an included AC adapter
• Recharges the internal batteries in your controllers
• Compatible with PlayStation® Move and PlayStation® 3 Controllers
• Organizes your Controllers while recharging them while not in use
Specifications:
• AC Adapter is 5V 1.2A
• LED lights on PlayStation® Move Controllers Blink while charging
• LED lights on charge stand illuminate blue while charging
• LED lights illuminate Red when charged fully
• The packaging includes 1 piece AC adapter.
• The working current for charge station is 1200 mAh
About CTA Digital:
CTA Digital (www.ctadigital.com) has been building efficient and trusted game accessories for the past 5 years. They are determined to improve the way that we experience everyday products and consoles. Each new accessory built by CTA Digital is designed after months of careful deliberation and user testing to make sure that the final products are safe, practical, high quality, functional, and useful.
Follow CTA Digital on Facebook (http://facebook.com/CTAdigital), YouTube (http://youtube.com/CTAdigital), and Twitter (http://twitter.com/CTAdigital).
While we consider the truth behind a recent rumor of a smaller hard drive bundled together with PlayStation’s Move motion-based controller, we’re now hit with another piece of news. Sony is bringing plenty of bundles to the marketplace once Move launches, but it looks like the same Starter Pack that’s seeing both US and UK-based launches is getting a bit of a switch-up once it launches.
The Starter Pack is just what it sounds like. It includes the PlayStation Move controller, the PlayStation Eye camera, and one game called Sports Champions. You get all of that for only $99. However, the UK version of the same bundle, instead, isn’t getting a full retail game at all. According to a recent report with MCV, the UK bundle is actually going to be ship with nine demos, and not the same Champions title.
Instead, purchasers will get six snippets of retail titles like Sports Champions, The Shoot, TV Superstars, and Beat Sketchers. Amongst others. The UK Start Pack for Sony’s Move will be £49.99. So what do you think? Are US customers getting the better Starter Pack deal, or UK-based residents?
It wouldn’t be a normal day if we didn’t have some kind of rumor about an already announced product. Thankfully, we’ve got this new rumor about Sony’s Move, the motion-based controller/wand that’s due out in just a few months. It’s not groundbreaking or anything, but it may be just enough to get people who thought the original $399 bundle was too pricey to jump on board the Sony-backed motion controller movement.
Yes, we already knew about the other bundles. Sony’s got multiple ways for you to buy Move, all brought together to make something worth your time and hard earned money. Those original bundles are: a controller, PlayStation Eye, and one Move game all for $99. And then there’s the console bundle, which gives you all of that, plus the PlayStation 3, all for $399. Or, you could just buy the stand-alone pack for $49.99.
Unless you want everything and the console, then this new rumored bundle will be perfect for you. It’s everything that we mentioned up there, plus the console, but instead of the 320GB hard drive that the above bundle comes with, you’ll be getting a 120GB hard drive. There’s no official word about any of this from Sony quite yet, but these tipsters seem to know what they’re talking about. What this could mean in the long-run, though, is that the current generation of 120GB consoles out there might get a $50 price drop in general, after the release of these bundles. That’s something to look forward to, at least.
While we may not have the final packaging to showcase for Microsoft’s variation of their motion-based peripheral, we do know that Walmart’s already bundling up the next piece of Redmond-based technology. Of course, we should have realized it wouldn’t take much longer for the Sony version, better known as Move, to make some kind of appearance on the Internet, too. And sure enough, here we are with the final packaging images.
We’ve got three different variations here: for those who’ve been waiting to buy their PS3 until Move released, those who already have a PS3, and still one that tailors to those who already own the PlayStation Eye, too. For the first, the bundle includes the PlayStation Move wand, a PlayStation 3, a DualShock 3 controller, an Eye Toy, and one Move game, called Sports Champions. That bundle will cost you a cool $399.
As for the other two bundles, you’ll get everything else but the PlayStation 3 and DualShock controller — so obviously you’ll already want to own the console, or it won’t do you any good. This bundle is only costing you $99. And finally, if you’ve already got the Eye Toy and just need the Move wand, that will cost you only $50. And, if you want the additional navigational controller, that will run you $29.99. So who’s getting excited?
It’s not just a white PS3 and a chunkier hard drive that Sony Japan are promising today; they’re also spilling some details on the PlayStation Move launch including the awesome retro ray-gun “shooting attachment” we saw at E3. Two bundles have been announced for Japan, set for release on October 21st 2010, one with a single Move wand, PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition, and another that throws in a ray-gun shooting attachment and replaces the title with Big 3 Gun Shooting.
Big 3 Gun Shooting is described as a “gun game value pack” and includes three titles: Time Crisis Razing Storm, Dead Storm Pirates and Time Crisis 4 Arcade Version. For a limited time, people buying a Move controller will also get a demo disk of game samples, which Sony are calling the “PlayStation Move Omnibus Demo Disk”.
The “PlayStation Move Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition Special Pack” and “PlayStation Move BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING Perfect Pack” will be priced at 7,980 yen ($91) and 11,980 yen ($137) respectively. The Move controller will make its debut in North America on September 19th; more details here.
Press Release:
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN TO INTRODUCE PLAYSTATION® MOVE MOTION CONTROLLER BUNDLE PACKS FEATURING “BIO HAZARD 5 ALTERNATIVE EDITION” AND “BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING”
Additional Bundle Packs to Accompany the Launch of the Motion Controller, Further Enhancing the PlayStation®Move Launch Line-ups
Tokyo, July 6, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. responsible for business operation in Japan, today announced that it will release two PlayStation®Move bundle packs, “PlayStation Move Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition Special Pack” and “PlayStation Move BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING Perfect Pack,” to accompany the launch of the motion controller on October 21, as a limited offer at a recommended retail price of 7,980 yen and 11,980 yen (including tax) respectively. Along with the “PlayStation Move Starter Pack”*1 that will also become available on the same day, SCE will offer users with more choices and opportunities to enjoy the PlayStation Move and further accelerate the expansion of the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) platform.
“PlayStation Move Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition Special Pack” comprises a PlayStation®Move motion controller, PlayStation®Eye camera and PlayStation Move supported software title, Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition by CAPCOM Co., Ltd. Since its release in February 2010, Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition continues to show record breaking sales and this new bundle pack will offer users more intuitive and immersive gameplay that only PlayStation Move can deliver.
“PlayStation Move BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING Perfect Pack” features a PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Eye camera, PlayStation Move supported software title, BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING by Bandai Namco Games Inc., as well as PlayStation®Move shooting attachment that will allow players to comfortably hold the motion controller as if they are holding a gun. Delivering exciting and realistic shooting action, BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING includes three key franchise titles from Bandai Namco; Time Crisis Razing Storm, Dead Storm Pirates and Time Crisis 4 Arcade Ver.
SCE Worldwide Studios will also continue to add new titles to the PlayStation Move software line-ups, including newly announced action game, Furifuri! Saru Gecchu, to be released in 2010. Furthermore, as a limited time offer starting October 21, users who purchase PlayStation Move motion controller*2 will receive PlayStation Move Omnibus Demo Disk (tentative name) that contains a demo version of various PlayStation Move supported and dedicated titles.
Through the introduction of these new PlayStation Move bundle packs, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation.
*1 “PlayStation Move Starter Pack” comprises a motion controller, PlayStation Eye camera and PlayStation Move software title, Beat Sketch!, for a limited offer at a very attractive RRP of 5,980 yen (including tax).
*2 PlayStation Move Omnibus Demo Disk (tentative name) will be offerd to those users who buy one of the following product at select retail store: “PlayStation Move motion controller (CECH-ZCM1J),” “PlayStation Move Starter Pack (CEJH-15008),” “PlayStation®Move Bio Hazard 5 Alternative Edition Special Pack (CEJH- 15010),” or “PlayStation®Move BIG 3 GUN SHOOTING Perfect Pack (CEJH-15010).”
We are in a transformative time. Old paradigms a breaking down to be replaced with new usage models and interface enhancements. Touchscreens show how the mouse might be effectively retired in the future and last week Microsoft showed, with the launch of Kinect, just how the venerable game controller and TV remote just might become obsolete in the near future as well. The game controller is a true anachronism. Today’s models are the direct evolutionary decendents of the original NES controller from decades past. I’d even argue they might even be the decendents of the Intellivison controller. Sure, we’ve added more buttons, control sticks and triggers but the core functions have remained unchanged (right down to the fact that most controllers favor left handed players) an anachronism that continues to this day.
Nintendo evolved the controller somewhat with the Wii but now Microsoft takes it to a whole new level. No controller. None. Welcome to the world of Kinect. Why is this important? Gaming, for the most part has still been the purview of the gamer, people for whom the game controller is a natural extension of themselves for game play. While the Wii most notably made strides to simplify the human/controller input, at the end of the day, it was just a first step. Taking down the third wall between gamer and game is what will ultimately drive more users into the world of video games and that’s what’s going to drive the next wave of adoption.
For those unfamiliar, Kinect is a small array combining cameras, array microphone and other sensors that connect to any Xbox 360. The results are amazing and point to the way of the future. Want to drive a car? Simply place your hand in the air as if gripping a steering wheel and you’re off to the races. Playing a platform game? Just run in place and jump as needed. Totally natural, totally immersive. While gamers have adapted well to the infusion of buttons and triggers, the larger market of non-gamers often finds the array of input choices to be more confusing than intuitive. While I believe that Kinect will offer experiences for the hardcore gamer, the key to long term success will be how well Kinect will deliver the mainstream market. Judging by what Microsoft showed at E3 I’d say they are on the right path.
While Kinect’s game controls are impressive, I’m even more fascinated by how well Kinect enhances the experiences of other Xbox features. Want to do a video chat with another Xbox user or MSN Messenger PC client. Not a problem. Kinect’s ability to focus and frame the video properly make the experience more akin to a conversation, eyes are focued where they should be and the picture expands and contracts properly as people enter and leave the frame. Command and control have also vastly improved. Swiping, speaking and other natural gestures make media consumption easy and more importantly less complex than even the best remotes.
One can imagine a time when I turn on my TV and it not only knows who I am but what content it should present to me. Take it one step further and analytical content might not only tell you what shows I was watching but when I left the room or stopped paying attention to what was on screen. There’s a battle going on for the living room right now. The TV is among the last consumer screens that is not connected. Long term, whoever gets control of input on the TV will win. The Kinect UI shows how a complicated remote control can be replaced by gesture and voice.
I’m less sanguine about Sony’s efforts. Another set of controllers at fairly high cost doesn’t seem to move the genre forward. More than anything, Sony’s Move feels like a reactive move to the Wii of several years ago. Worse, by attempting to tie Move into games designed for controllers it feels that move is more a gimmick than a new approach to gameplay. The net result feels less than revolutionary and looks like it might be offering the worst of all words not the best. While Move may well be adopted by current PS3 owners looking for a new experience, it’s not likely to drive new consumers to the platform the way that Kinect has the potential to do.
The TV and game experience have evolved in major ways over the last decade. How we interact with them has not. Complex remote controls and game pads have alienated mainstream users. Media and core features of Xbox were often beyond the ability of non gamers in the family to effectively enjoy. Kinect demonstrates that there are ways to both increase functionality and reduce complexity. Kinect isn’t perfect but it breaks new ground and differs from Sony’s more evolutionary approach. There’s still a split personality between the normal Xbox UI and the Kinect UI (although one can go back and forth between them) and despite Microsoft’s efforts to position Xbox as a cable ready platform for MSOs, that hasn’t happened yet. There’s also missing details on what the final price will be – tipped at $150 – something that will affect adoption depending on where Microsoft comes out on this.
Nevertheless, in a world where the battle for the living room has become the battle for that all important input one, Kinect shows a strategy how to achieve victory that’s quite compelling. We’ll have to see how the competition attempts to change the game.
