OXCGN’s Playstation MOVE Review

Part 1: Hardware

Yes a 360 site has an honest & serious look at MOVE

by AXIS of Reality

©2010 Alex Baldwin

What an interesting gaming time we live in. It’s inevitable that Microsoft and Sony will be locking horns at every opportunity, but both releasing motion control systems within 2 months of each other makes for great (but expensive) choice for gamers and plenty of material for journos.

So, before we jump into taking a good look at Sony’s offering, I think it’s best I clear up some questions for any non-regular readers of OXCGN.

1. Yes, we are an Xbox-centric site.
2. No, we are not fanboys.
3. Yes, we appreciate good games and hardware no matter what the platform.
4. No, the purpose of this review isn’t to trash an opposing system.
5. Yes, I personally own and play all current consoles and handhelds.

With that out of the way, time to have a look at the hardware for the PlayStation MOVE’s Australian release.  In Part 2 we will have a software review and final verdict.

The name MOVE covers a range of both mandatory and optional hardware for use with MOVE games, but the absolute minimum is a Move controller and PlayStation Eye camera.

• Part 2: – The Games (Start Pack)

Move Controller

The controller has the appearance of a rounded, black Wiimote but for the prominent rubber ball on top. Using an internal accelerometer and gyroscope (like the Wiimote with MotionPlus attached) it’s able to detect not just directional movement or tilting but actual twisting and orientation.

Combined, it’s incredibly accurate and seemingly flawless at knowing exactly how it’s being held, which is a plus when there is little noticeable lag between performing actions measured using these sensors and the feedback on screen in most games. A quick game of table tennis in Sports Champions will demonstrate this, but more on that in part 2 (games).

The ball on top is where it differentiates itself, lighting up in any colour for the PlayStation Eye camera to track. The ball itself is very squishy; a useful trait that prevents the need for the rubber jacket Wiimotes, softening the impact of my wild flails from injuring spectators.

It’s actually very attractive to see, although the trade-off is the distraction it can cause, especially when playing in a darker environment. I also noticed it very brightly reflected in glossy screens.

However, the positional information it provides in addition to the internal sensors definitely expands its gameplay options and prevents the motion ‘cheating’ and vague flicks that worked on the Wii.

The orb also has the ability to change colour during play, acting as an additional feedback device (along with the serviceable but not overly prominent buzzing rumble) by lighting up in an appropriate colour for various events.

Sony have seen fit to include a built-in rechargeable battery which I can’t praise enough after the endless swapping of Wiimote batteries, and can be charged by plugging into the PS3 or a computer.

The latter point is especially important, as the PS3 is still limited to 2 USB ports which makes charging multiple controllers tedious, especially since it does not charge them when the console is switched off in contrast to the Xbox 360′s ability to charge when not in use. If you don’t have spare ports on your computer, Sony have released a (very overpriced) wall charger for AUD$49.95.

Comfort-wise, I found it to be quite nice. The rounded shape moulds to the hand, and actually looks more at home sitting next to my black Xbox 360 controller than the PS3′s Dualshock 3.

It’s lighter than expected, and did not become uncomfortable after extended periods of play although it was a bit more difficult to gauge when it’s held in a horizontal position than the Wiimote’s flat top. It also feels bigger in the hand, which is a good or bad thing depending on your taste.

The must-publicised buttons on the controller consist of the traditional four PlayStation shape buttons surrounding a large new MOVE button that takes the role of the Wiimote’s A button as the general ‘do everything’ selector.

While it was comfortable, it took a bit of getting used to the tiny protruding shape buttons and their quite different (although logical once thought about) location on the controller.

Underneath  is the expected trigger, and thankfully uses a concave shape that prevent finger slipping compared to the quite terrible Dualshock 3 triggers. The trigger is completely rounded which I actually do not find as comfortable as the Wiimote’s trigger, but it’s not something immediately noticeable unless both are held together.

The price is definitely right, incorporating all the sensors, light orb and rechargeable battery for the same price (AUD$70) as a Wiimote lacking MotionPlus and using disposable batteries.

Move Controller: 9/10

Playstation Eye

The second mandatory piece, the Eye has been around since the launch of the PS3 but only now found its real use. With the lens switched to wide-angle, it can track the glowing orb on the MOVE controller with a quite fair degree of accuracy, but there are some issues.

Firstly, because the Eye existed before the MOVE was conceived it does still only function at basic VGA resolution, making augmented reality games that display the images it captures on the screen look very low-resolution and grainy. It also has the occasional issue with seeing the MOVE’s orb in brightly-lit areas, but this was rare.

Handily the two lights on the front serve as indicators of whether it’s turned on and if it can see the MOVE controller. A red light will appear if the controller goes outside its view instead of the annoying pop-up messages so common in Wii games.

It also contains stereo microphones, but as yet these don’t appear to be widely used in MOVE games.

An annoyance I found was the thickness and firmness of the USB cable connecting it to the PS3, which is much heavier than the camera itself and prone to pulling it off your TV. I used BluTak to stick it down, but a thinner and lighter cable would have been ideal. (You could also use double sided tape to secure it in position for a more professional appearence)

Overall the Eye serves its purpose, but I have to wonder how much it could have been improved if designed specifically for MOVE.

PlayStation Eye: 7/10

Navigation Controller

This non-essential extra controller serves the same purpose as the Wiimote’s Nunchuck by providing an analogue stick and triggers for movement in more involved games.

It lacks any form of motion sensing including a light orb or even rumble, which I find confusing considering its similarity in size, shape and price (AUD$50). I have to wonder whether the addition of the MOVE’s sensors could have lead to more two-handed MOVE games.

It’s slightly thinner than the full MOVE controller and houses an analogue thumbstick, another set or X and O buttons (useful for one-handed menu navigation), a D-pad and the L1 button and L2 trigger that sadly has the same spongy feeling as the Dualshock 3′s triggers rather than the MOVE trigger. Another confusing design choice.

The thumbstick is smaller and springier than than Dualshock, having a clear resting zone that requires a bit of extra pressure to push it out of. This makes it more difficult to make fine movements. It’s not bad, but its movement could definitely be smoother and more consistent in pressure.

The Navigation controller isn’t necessary, even for games requiring a left thumbstick as using a Dualshock 3 in one hand is also supported. Preferentially I use the Naviagtion controller however, leaving me free to sit my hands wherever and keeping it nice and light.

As for price, while the MOVE controller is a bargain, the Navigation controller is definitely on the other end of the scale with your AUD$50 buying one something far more threadbare. Whether you feel the need for it will be completely up to your taste in games and your tolerance for one-handed Dualshock use.

Navigation Controller: 5/10

©2010 Alex Baldwin

• OXCGN’s E3 2010 feature on both MOVE and KINECT, makes a great read, and not what you might think.

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Filed under: Console gaming, E3 2010, Editorial, Events, Hardware News, Industry News, PS3 Reviews, Software News & Updates, Xbox 360 Tagged: | Alex Baldwin, DualShock, Playstation, Playstation 3, PlayStation Eye, PlayStation Move, Sony, Video game, Wii MotionPlus, Wii Remote