Sony reveals Move Server for PC
Opening up PS3 motion controller to "hobbyists"
Sony looks poised to bring its PlayStation 3 motion controller Move to PC, opening up alternative uses for the device.
The synopsis for a panel at GDC next month entitled 'Update on PlayStation Move development' includes the comment "We will discuss the new Move Server project that will make it possible for academics and hobbyists to develop software using the PlayStation Move controller on their own PCs."
The talk is to be presented by John McCutchan, SCEA's lead of the Game Systems team in Developer Support.
No further information on Move Server is available at present. Rumours are also swirling that Microsoft is soon to offer official support for its Kinect motion controller on PC, following a vast a number of inventive hacks for the device.
Razer Sixense/Hydra is also right around the corner and that hardware will have full driver support. In the end, there might not be a demand for some half-hearted attempt by Sony. Either they support the PC platform with their controller 100%, or they will concede to the competition.
Kinect will certainly push to the PC in full force with drivers and lots of software. MS won't talk about a "move server", whatever that is, and wait for users to program something. Neither will Razer.
Open up move to 'hobbyists'.
Sony is schizophrenic.
Holy crap, virtual reality's one open source project away from becoming publically accessable for the price of a console (based on my rough estimates of the cost of a kinect, a pair of those HUD screens and some move controllers)!
Cue the collective yawn.
I'm not saying it's not a positive step, but I'm not sure what the impact will be.
Voice control is certainly one of the compelling things about the Kinect, and I am entirely mystified as to why Sony isn't doing the same thing. After all, just like the Kinect, the PS Eye also has a microphone array that's capable of the exact same things. Doing this would take a bit of wind out of the Kinect's sails.
In fact, it's perfectly possible (though not as easy as with the Kinect) to do some basic gesture recognition using the PS Eye. We've even seen it in a few games, both modern (head movements in GT5) and old (EyeToy Groove, back on the PS2 in 2003 (!)).
Given the inexpensive nature of move, this is a much more affordable hobby which I cant wait to get my hands on. Be nice to see what students across the world will come up with. The real innovations will come from the weird and wacky idea's formed in bedrooms, pubs and universities.
I think it's bloody cool of Sony to make this move (sry, could not help the pun). Yes, Kinect can be used without one holding anything in the hands but just as when gaming you'll be missing the buttons.
And as for Microsoft doing the right thing and also releasing tools/drivers it's not gonna happen.
Look at the XBOX's vs. Playstation's and notice how Sony is supporting common standards while Microsoft is pulling every dirty trick to make their customers pay extra for anything. Examples. The PS3 comes with a written instruction on how to replace the hard drive while the XBOX 360 requires drives packed in special plastic boxes priced 2-4 times normal hard drive prices. The PS3 lets you use a standard USB keyboard, a standard blue tooth headset and so on - with Microsoft it's a costly different story.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Bruno Brøsted on 2nd February 2011 10:37pm