What is it?
I'll be quick to point out that the Nintendo Wii, the console and motion gaming system with which the Move is competing, wasn't the first such platform. Funnily enough, Sony's PS2 beat the Wii to the punch, with the EyeToy. And that was beaten to the market by Sega's Activator, which, in turn, was preceded by the Nintendo Power Glove.
If history is anything to go by, motion gaming is doomed to failure. None of those older peripherals were successful and, more often than not, game makers seem intent on making gimmick games that take advantage of the motion controls, rather than real games with motion functions implemented in useful ways.
Does it work?
Thankfully, the Move does work. It doesn't yet have the stable catalogue of games that seamlessly implement the motion controls - those will come in due time, as they did with the Wii - buth the technology works. It's not invasive and there isn't a catch to making it work properly.
The Move ecosystem consists of two parts; a handheld, motion-sensing controller and the Playstation Eye. Let's not forget that the Wii also uses an 'eye' - it has the sensor bar.
What makes the Move different is that the Eye visually tracks the lit orb on the end of the handheld wand. While the Eye camera isn't high-definition, it is capable of discerning the relative size of the illuminated orb, allowing the PS3 to locate it in 3D space. Footage captured by the Eye can also be used in games: Eyepet Move, a virtual pet simulator, uses the player as a character in the game, with the Move augmenting motion input.
On a technical level, the Move wand is superior to Nintendo's Wiimote. Spec for spec, the Move has better and newer technology for more accurate motion tracking. The Wii's system is more rudimentary, but with the (optional) Wii MotionPlus addon, the Wiimote almost matches Sony's newcomer. Although, in practice - and I'll admit limited time with the Wii - the Move just feels, and plays, much better.
Small, precise motions are perfectly interpreted. Spatial recognition, while present in the Wii, is just better on the Move. Two Move wands can also be used by one player. In Sports Champions, for example, the archery event has an option for the player to use a wand in each hand. Playing with a single unit is great, but two just makes it a walk in the park. I can't wait for future games to implement dual-Move control schemes.
Just imagine a boxing game where each hand has a Move, allowing for perfect tracking of punches, or a medieval arena fighter where one Move controls a shield and the other the sword.
The current crop of games is Move-specific, though. That is to say, they shove the whole motion-control aspect down your throat, and not always for the better.
Up to four Move wands can be linked, wirelessly, to the PS3. Each one will have a differently-coloured orb, with the full-colour LED array inside the unit automatically being assigned a unique colour. Like the Wii, there is a navigation controller that can be used in conjunction with the Move.
Essentially, this is just half of the usual PS3 controller, offering a directional pad and analogue joystick for additional control. A standard Dual Shock controller can be used instead, but probably won't be as comfortable for long sessions. Sadly, the navigation controller doesn't link up with the Move, and using one of these will take the place of a Move - only four controllers can be linked to the PS3.
Should I buy it?
If you have a PS3 and a Wii, the Move might not offer much more for the time being. Nintendo's console already has a full complement of sports games and the like, along with some less-gimmicky titles. I predict that the first wave of games for the Move will focus heavily on using the controller exclusively, but the next round of titles might use it to complement existing control schemes - one such title from the current crop is Tiger Woods 11, which can be played using a normal controller or a Move, if you have an inkling of actual golf skill.
The investment isn't that steep. R699, less if you shop around, gets you a Move and the PS Eye camera, along with a demo disc. Most of the current games are reasonably priced, too. Expect to shell out R300 or so for Sports Champions, which is definitely the pick of the bunch. R350 will get you a second Move - essential, given the social nature of this kind of gaming.
I was sceptical when Sony announced the Move, but now I'm convinced that they have something great on their hands and I'm glad that we have it in ours.
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