Sony has also put a ton of emphasis on to their perfected motion controller, PlayStation Move. Without a doubt, the Sony tech will be the most precise motion controller on the market. The questions are: Do gamers really want to get off the couch? Has Nintendo already queered the deal? Are motion-controlled experiences truly more compelling than the use of standard controls?
In any case, Sony has invested a ton of money into the tech and it shows. The electronics giant revealed the dates and pricing for the controls and upcoming bundles. PS Move will hit Europe and North America on September 15th and September 19th, respectively. The Move controller will cost $49.99, with the Navigation accessory costing an additional $29.99. Bundles including the PlayStation Eye and Sports Champions will cost $399.99 or $99.99 depending on whether or not a PS3 Slim is also included.
In terms of software, Valve announced that Portal 2 is coming to the platform, which is incredible considering the early bellyaching that came from the developer at the PS3's launch concerning the difficulty developing for Sony's beast. With that as a backdrop, it is more interesting still that the PS3 version of Portal 2 will be the only console to include Steamworks support - I guess Valve figured out how to develop for the PS3 after all.
We also finally got a firm date for Gran Turismo 5. The Polyphony Digital-developed racing franchise will come to the PS3 in North America on November 2, 2010. If our hands-on time is any indication, despite all the delays and struggles, this should be the Gran Turismo title Sony fans have been pining for.
Of course, LittleBigPlanet 2 is looking great. Media Molecule was recently acquired by Sony, so expect this title to get the first-party finish this sequel deserves. It looks like the game will really emphasize the creative side of the game, even allowing players to create game types in addition to levels.
Last from Sony, the company announced that PlayStation Plus is coming to the PlayStation Network later in June. This is the premium content service Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kazuo Hirai talked about several weeks ago. For a competitive $49.99 annually, or $16.99 for three months, Sony owners can get access to early demo and beta access, free games (minis and PSN titles), and other services as of yet unrevealed. New content will be updated every month.
A lot of other stories came to the forefront, alas information overload means we can only discuss so much. Needless to say, E3 2010 was a success; a clear sign that our industry is thriving amidst tremendous external economic pressures. We can all look forward to doing it all over again during next year's E3 - June 7-9, 2011.
By
Jonathan Marx
CCC
Editor / News Director
