Sony: PS2 Motion Controller Not Happening
In response to the Electronic Gaming Monthly rumor that Sony is prepping a Wii-like controller for PlayStation 2 to be released this holiday, Sony has sent Game|Life the following statement:
"This rumor is absolutely not true. There are currently no plans to add motion-sensing capability to the PlayStation 2 controller."
Note that this is a categorial denial, not the standard "we don't comment on rumors or speculation." If they're being totally straightforward here, good.
Opinion: If Sony Releases a Wii-Like Controller...
The rumors section in the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly says that Sony will be "retrofitting" the PlayStation 2 console with a Wii-style motion sensing controller by Christmas.
Yes, this is just a rumor for the time being, but EGM's got a pretty good track record. I really hope for Sony's sake, though, that this isn't true. If so, it would be strong evidence that Sony is a company without a rudder. Without a clear vision of the future. With no idea which way the wind is blowing. A follower, not a leader.
First off, let's define what exactly we're talking about here. I don't think simply releasing a Wii-like controller as a seperate accessory would accomplish what they're hoping to do here. I think the thought process is that if Sony can actually reposition the PlayStation 2 as a direct knockoff of the Wii at a cheaper price point -- dropping the price below $100, packing in a controller with functionality identical to a Wiimote/nunchuk setup -- they can take some of the wind out of Wii's sails with the strong PlayStation branding and a much lower price point.
What this will really do is validate Nintendo's strategy. Even now, there are still quite a few people who believe that Nintendo's bubble is ready to burst at any moment. But if Sony follows right behind them, all that's going to do is solidify Nintendo's position. If Sony goes forward with such a product, they'll be sending a very strong message to consumers that Nintendo was right all along and that this is the wave of the future.
Even if Sony does end up taking away some of Nintendo's sales, there's no historical precedent to suggest that a latecomer to a disruptive technology concept ever gets more than a sliver of marketshare. And again: the boost to Nintendo's visibility that such a move would entail means that they could very well end up selling more, not fewer, Wiis.
Not to mention the fact that PlayStation 2 is really supposed to be selling itself by now. Its salad days are over, and Sony can sit back and rake in money from back catalog sales and profitable hardware. But by launching a whole new suite of software and a brand new controller, Sony's got to pour lots more money and effort into PS2. This is effort that they're not spending on PSP and PS3. I'm sure Microsoft would absolutely love to hear an announcement like this, because anything that distracts Sony from PS3 is awesome for the Xbox 360.
And this is all assuming that Sony actually does a perfect job of replicating the Wii package. What if the controller isn't as good? What if there's not nearly enough software, and no killer app? Nintendo had to devote the entirety of their company to this broad suite of different goals that had to be executed on perfectly. Can Sony really replicate that?
The best thing that Sony can do right now is stick to their guns: that Wii is a great product for right now, but that PlayStation 3 represents the future, and that the most powerful hardware with the highest-def games will win the day. I might not agree with this position, but it's the best one they've got.
For their sake, I hope this turns out to be one of the rare times when EGM's rumor page has it totally wrong.
Just thought I should point this out.
