
In conclusion
The Move isn't for everyone, but now that I've been playing with the Move for a while, it's becoming harder to go back to the Wii. The Move is just more accurate, it gives you a better range of motion, and the PlayStation 3 is a graphical powerhouse. It used to be that you'd tolerate the Wii's graphics in order to use its motion controls. Now you don't have to.
PlayStation 3 games can now use the standard controller, the Move, or some combination of the two with the Navigation controller. Hopefully developers step up and support the system properly, because as of right now the PlayStation 3 can do it all. It's just a matter of releasing games that are worth playing.
The combination of PlayStation Network and retail titles built from the ground up for the Move and existing (Move-patched) games like PGA Tour 11, Heavy Rain, and Killzone 3 really gives Sony's library a boost. Still, I didn't find that one game that will make you want to run out and buy the hardware the second it's released. There are many games that are fun, some games where Move control adds to the experience, but the hardware is not a necessary addition to the PlayStation 3 yet. That's going to take time.
The Move isn't a brand new platform for Sony, as Kinect is for Microsoft's Xbox 360; it's another option for developers to play with. By adding Move support to a game while having the ability to keep standard controls, publishers can support the Move hardware without having to bank on it. This also means that developers can freely port between the Wii and the PS3, or give their existing Wii games a nice graphical overhaul and a new release to broaden their market. That's an advantage the Kinect won't be able to match; it's all or nothing with Microsoft's take on motion control.
Sony did many things right with the Move, and now it's up to the market. Do PlayStation 3 fans want motion controls, and can the developers deliver the necessary titles? We'll be posting more Move-related material in the coming days. For now, if you have any questions about the hardware, feel free to ask them in the comments.
Aurich's graphic design note: For the uninitiated, the opening image of this story is a mashup of HBO's guilty pleasure True Blood. And yes, the scene in question is as awesome and hilarious as it looks.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/09/playstation-move-1.ars/3