PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai has told The Times “we are slating it for spring of next year”. “It” being the motion controller. “One of the things is that we just don’t want to put out the controller,” he says. “We need a great software that supports the controller at launch. It’s something that we’ve been working on for the longest time.”

Wonder if he means one or two pieces of genuine software, or an EyeToy-like pack-in of party games?

Sony boss reveals plans for PlayStation [The Times]

Last week, Engadget wrote that Microsoft’s long-rumoured motion controller pursuits were real and that its solution was coming in the form of a camera, with no handheld controller required. The purported features were impressive, boasting of full body motion control like kicking and punching as well as more micro-sized controls, including pinching and grabbing.

That motion detection camera may have already been publicly showcased, as Ars Technica believes it’s 3DV’s ZCam that Microsoft will be using.

The specs are certainly similar, as 3DV’s ZCam feature set—fine finger gestures, full body tracking, gesture-controlled gaming—sound a hell of a lot like what Engadget’s tip-based report highlighted.

That combined with reports from February that Microsoft was buying out 3DV make a hell of a lot of sense.

3DV’s ZCam looks decidedly different from the hardware shown in Engadget’s leaked photo. While that’s hardly substantial evidence to dispute the allegation—the Xbox 360 version could have been improved upon or altered for cheaper manufacturing—it’s worth noting.

Also interesting is the ZCam’s capabilities to determine capture facial depth and generate a 3D image using a human face as an object. Perhaps that’s how Xbox 360 Avatars could be generated in an “automatic way.”

Rumored Microsoft 3D Wii killer: we think we played with it [Ars Technica]

The controller – which reportedly uses “small LEDs” and a “small webcam” to track the players’ movement – is apparently similar in function to the Wii Remote, though because it can register “different colour lights and the shape and angle of each light”, it will be more accurate.

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumours of a new motion-sensing controller from Sony.

According to The Cut Scene’s sources, this controller is a close match in function, if not in form, to the one described in this patent.

E3, for reference, is only a month away.

Sony’s motion sensing controller for PS3 to be unveiled at E3 [The Cut Scene]

The IdeaCentre A600 All-in-One Desktop includes a 21.5-inch frameless screen, integrated speakers, digital TV tuner and a 4-in-1 optional remote controller.

“It is the first to bring PC users the ability to play games using the remote control’s ‘motion drive’ feature, which controls on-screen objects according to the movement of the remote.

Unlike competitor’s remotes, the Lenovo 4-in-1 remote controller can also be used as a VOIP handset3 to make and receive phone calls over the Internet, similar to a typical cordless telephone. The remote also serves as a media center/TV remote, and with Microsoft Vista Media Centre users can use the controller to operate DVDs, movies and TV. Additionally, the remote also functions as an “air mouse” so it can be used to operate the cursor on the screen, eliminating the inconvenience of using a wired mouse.”

That seems like an odd combination of abilities, and I’m not really sure how much I care about motion controlled games on my PC. The A600 hits from April starting at US$999.

Again, according to this rumour (by the time I’m repeating it to you, it’s fourth-hand) the controller will be sold separately and will be compatible with all versions of the 360 console. Reading the story, it sounds like you would get the controller plus an even larger list of mini-games if you buy it separately.

The new products are set to drop Holiday 2008, says Xbox 360 Fanboy. We shall see.

Rumour: New $US 199 360 SKU With Motion Controller [Xbox 360 Fanboy]