“There are several candidates for the name of the controller,” said Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida. While still undecided, those names are making their way through Sony, being run up the flagpole and getting feedback from various internal departments.
“The SIXAXIS and the DualShock 3 — while great product names — are based on the actual tech,” Yoshida explained. “The name we pick for the Wand Controller maybe won’t be so techy.”
The reason is this: Sony is hoping to appeal to a casual and core market, so the company needs a name that can convey an image or a brand to both groups. And for Yoshida, the Wand Controller could very well expand the PS3 user base in the same way that the Eye Toy did for the PS2. That’s not to say it’s a casual-only peripheral. “Hardcore gamers are surprised how accurate and responsive the Wand is,” the exec added.
At Sony Japan’s press conference, Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi and his demo demoed a Wand version of Resident Evil 5, called Resident Evil 5 Alternative Edition. Later, Takeuchi joked that Sony should call the Wand Controller the Alternative Controller to do a clever marketing tie-up with RE5 Alternative Edition. The RE title was controlled by the Wand in one hand and the the PS3 DualShock 3 in the other hand, using the buttons and analogue thumbstick as a make-shift Nunchuk.
There have been rumblings that Sony is currently working on a proper Nunchuk peripheral — that it is already in the design phase. Yoshida was unwilling to confirm this secondary peripheral, but did concede that using the PS3 DualShock 3 as a Nunchuk was “the cheapest solution”. Yoshida wasn’t being glib: while the PS3 DualShock 3 might not make the most attractive Nunchuk solution, it does appear to work.
Meaning? Meaning that gamers won’t be forced to shell out for yet another peripheral.
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Deadlydorito
September 26, 2009 at 7:27 PM
It all sounds crappy to me! I hope natal and this fail. Just like for the wii’s best games barely require any movement (smash bros, mario galaxy) the same thing will happen with the ps3. I just hope this fad rots in hell someday.
My two cents XD.
Report PermalinkSoragon
September 26, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Make the fans decide!
Report Permalinkplmko
September 26, 2009 at 8:26 PM
It’ll be good to keep the DS3 as an alternative controller, that way we won’t feel like crap after buying all these controllers that never get used because the games are so crap…
Wii anyone?
Report PermalinkNeeds A New Username
September 26, 2009 at 11:15 PM
The lightbulb needs to be gotten rid of. I can’t take that thing seriously.
How about calling it the cash-in gimmick wand.
Why Sony, Why MS? Let the wii have its greater than fair share of crappy motion control games
Report PermalinkLazyAza
September 27, 2009 at 4:52 AM
The ‘lightbulb’ is the glowing sphere that is mandatory for the tech to work, without it the camera cant track where the device is.
Personally I couldn’t care less how it looks, function is vastly more important.
Report PermalinkJay
September 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Thats the point.. MS & Sony want to give their fair share but do it, well, correctly and how it should be done.
The Wii is just crap! Period.
Report PermalinkStinky
September 27, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Sony Woo.
Report PermalinkDr_Stef
September 28, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Sony Magic Baton.
Report PermalinkPirupirurururururu!!
Crono
September 28, 2009 at 9:23 AM
PS3mote?
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