See early prototypes of the PlayStation Motion Controller

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 8th 2009 at 5:30PM }

The PlayStation Motion Controller has been in development for a long, long time. While many make fun of its unique ball and stick shape, the controller has clearly come a long way from the earliest prototypes, seen here in the hands of SCEA software engineer Anton Mikhailov. According to Mikhailov, the first controller designs were constructed from gear purchased at a Home Depot.

A new video from the PlayStation.Blog doesn't reveal new details about the controller. You can watch it after the break, and see Sony's Wii-competitor in action.

[Thanks, jeremy23j!]

Tags: anton-mikhailov, playstation-motion-controller, prototypes, scea

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 5:33PM

you welcome joystiq....... i like to tip you guys

Extinction @ Sep 8th 2009 5:41PM

Wow, and they've been doing this since 2002?

Maybe people will finally quit ignorantly claiming they got the idea from Nintendo when it looks more like Nintendo got it from them

TypeF @ Sep 8th 2009 6:53PM

I just hope it comes in a bundle of a cam and a stick for a good price. Cant wait to kick some ass online gladiator or 300 style RAWR!

Nineteen88 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:59PM

Hats off to you, I've been telling all of my friends about that, but nobody really thinks it matters.
Let's see how the slim sales are going to hold up.

I've watched the works of Dr. Richard (Rick) Marks closely over the years since I first heard of the EyeToy technology, because of Sony's tremendous expertise in this field, I believe the new motion controller experience will be seamless.

The only thing that is left to wonder about is how many games are going to support it at launch? Surely Sony does not make the same fault twice, so they probably learned their lesson with the launch of the PS3.

Sadly that was the biggest mistake in their flamboyant history.

But all is well now, I hope.

To Dr. Richard, I know that you probably had a big "I told you so" to give to Sony, it was a painful journey but it's important not to look back on past mistakes.

Finally the guy is getting the spotlight he deserves. Let's hope for the best.

--Claps--

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 8:09PM

if you want to watch the full video of this motion control in the making you should watch this

http://lang.stanford.edu/courses/ee380/2003-2004/040121-ee380-100.wmv

Nineteen88 @ Sep 8th 2009 8:35PM

Thank you jeremy23jacinto for the insight video. I'm currently watching it & it explains many things for people interested in the history of the EyeToy.

I recommend it for those who're interested.

Pat @ Sep 9th 2009 5:56AM

Thanks Jeremy23. It's awesome that you have the full length video of Marks. I watched two long segments of it that I posted a few months back here but I couldn't find the entire piece.

Thanks for posting. Everyone should watch it.

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 8:58PM

i was trying to tip this to joystiq on how the eye toy can do what natal can do but they never post it but here you can watch it freely if you look at 1:07:00 you will see the Eye Toy doing project natal so project natal isn't innovative at all

Nineteen88 @ Sep 8th 2009 9:07PM

I agree with you, you certainly don't need to inform me of that, I just hope that others who are not well informed to learn from this.

As I said, it's kinda bitter to look back.

So let's just hope for a successful launch of the motion controller.

Kudos to you.

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 9:53PM

thanks you kudos for you too

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 9:44PM

thank you

jeremy23jacinto @ Sep 8th 2009 9:45PM

thank you kudos for you too

P @ Sep 9th 2009 7:48AM

Guys, while i'd agree the Wii's technology has been seen years earlier, and in more advanced stages and has been on Youtube for some time for all to see, regarding the initial comments, this doesnt mean an aweful lot does it. This doesnt conclusively mean that Nintendo copied Sony, as we cant know for certain who came up with the idea to begin with. Theres certainly the possibility that important aspects of both technology could have been done in the 80-90's for all we know, so i'd agree as far as saying people would be inaccurate to claim the PSMC is a copycat of the Wiimote, I wouldnt necessarily agree that actually the Wiimote is a copy of the early PSMC development.

Sony could well have developed this tech based on what they'd seen years ago and looked into it themselves, and just because they're the first people we know of to display the technology to us, doesnt mean they were first, for the exact same reason its stupid to claim the PSMC is a copy of the Wiimote simply because it was on the market sooner.
Im guessing if somethink similar was done years ago, then like we've seen in the past all too often, expect them to come out of the woodwork at least a few months after its released and file a claim for copywrite infringement or something like that.

mgsrocks1 @ Sep 8th 2009 5:43PM

Would it be considered ironic that the 2 sticks are kinda blurred out? hehe

halebound00 @ Sep 8th 2009 5:45PM

So…..anybody remember a year or so ago this dude from Britian or somewhere got everybody all hyped up saying he saw something that (paraphrasing loosely here) “would be a stepwise change in game immersion and blah blah blah” but he couldn’t tell us anything about it (slightly after we found out 8 days was canned). And then everyone got all excited thinking it was MAG after that year’s E3. Anyway, this Anton guy said he had to take this thing to London Studios. I wonder if that game he was referring to was something using the motion controller. Just a thought.

benny boy @ Sep 8th 2009 6:11PM

The guy was a journalist called Darren Waters who worked for the BBC. He actually confirmed (finally) after E3 that he was talking about The Last Guardian when he was shown an exclusive preview of it a year or two before.

(http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/06/03/the-last-guardian-was-the-bbc-game/)

halebound00 @ Sep 8th 2009 6:18PM

Thanks for the link, Sir.

Lookhappy @ Sep 8th 2009 5:57PM

This man makes technology sound ever so boring.

Nate @ Sep 8th 2009 9:25PM

but if you have imagination, it's REALLY awesome. it's not the guy, it's the fact that he's talking about technical details instead of games. he could make that sound a LOT MORE boring.

reckk @ Sep 8th 2009 6:17PM

this and porn videos..
i can see the potential

rells009 @ Sep 8th 2009 6:18PM

I really wish they'd change the light on the end from a ball to something else...maybe a cylider.

rells009 @ Sep 8th 2009 6:20PM

Anyone know when TGS is? Isn't it in 2 weeks?

norris @ Sep 8th 2009 6:36PM

"We went in Home Depot and got some PCV pipes"
Lol...
I like the glowing sphere idea. Say if you're about to lose a sword fight, it turns red.
Or what you're holding, it will change the color to match whatever you're holding in game.
Oh, and don't forget about buttons.

Dymphna @ Sep 8th 2009 6:42PM

I still don't like motion controllers, it's why I barely use my Wii anymore. I'm fine with it existing, as long as it doesn't become the standard. I'm not excited about this, Natal, or the Wii as the future of gaming, cause they simply aren't. They are fun for some niche titles, but not for a lot of the more serious ones (Who wants to be playing a tear-jerking scene of a FF game while waving a stick in the air like a marching band).

But as far as the technology involved, I think this looks the most promising of the three. It retains a controller and seems to have more applications for gaming than the others. Good moves, but I don't see a whole lot being developed for this that really takes advantage of it (look at the Wii, the best games are the ones that have ignored the motion controls)

toxicinzanity @ Sep 8th 2009 6:50PM

lol those look like those really weird vibes u always see in japanese pornos

TypeF @ Sep 8th 2009 6:51PM

I just hope it comes in a bundle of a stick and a cam for a good price and maybe a game like wii sport. Oh man cant wait to kick people's ass gladiator style! RAWR

Chromekreeper @ Sep 8th 2009 7:00PM

is it just me or are they really talking about using two controllers more than the single controller? maybe they will sell two of them together? just some thoughts

Chromekreeper @ Sep 8th 2009 7:01PM

is it just me or are they talking about playing them combined more than just a single controller? maybe they will sell two together? just some thoughts

ROLLING MY TRUE GAMER EYES @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:42PM

they cannot even aim with the thing the light tracking was slow laggy and silly weres the 100% true pointer i.e UR IR MOUSE POINTER LIKE WII HAS FOR FPS GAMES AND MOUSE IT LOOKS LIKE PS3 WANDS CANNOT DO MOUSE HOW OUT DATED....

ADD NO ANALOG STICK EATHER ROLLING MY EYES BIGTIME THIS IS 3D MOTION FOR BABYS

ITS CASUAL/ITS GREAT FOR CASUAL BLAR BLAR BLAR

IT HAS NO MOUSE IR POINTER IT HAS NO ANALOG STICK IT HAS NO WM+= ONE BIG FAT LIE BEING SOLD TO STUPID SONY FANBOYS

CzAr @ Sep 8th 2009 7:44PM

Your post = Fail.

Pat @ Sep 9th 2009 5:57AM

I'd like to reiterate to the members of Joystick for the 100th time that this IS NOT Sony getting into the motion control business just now to compete with the Wii. We had a motion controller since day one. It was called the Sixaxis.

ibetnoonehasthisname @ Sep 8th 2009 9:20PM

That looks NOTHING like a dildo.

Darkfocus @ Sep 8th 2009 9:44PM

Is it just me or dos that guy look kinda like nathan drake

Larry @ Sep 8th 2009 10:07PM

The PS3 Motion Controller... for HER pleasure.

I swear! The thing looks like a vibrator. Add a rumble pack and I get the female adoption rate would go WAY UP.

Also, I can just imagine the games that a homebrew developer could create.

jahd5000 @ Sep 8th 2009 10:17PM

man was this video boring!

samuelevans1979 @ Sep 9th 2009 8:44PM

I feel gaming PORN in the near future!!!!

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