Sony's Bombshell

Nintendo would also do well to release the Wii earlier.

I'm a bit peeved at Sony for this. It's a pretty blatant rip of Nintendo's ideas. However, since the controller is still styled in a "traditional" fashion, it could be that this is less of a focal point, something sort of like the EyeToy.

I'm pretty much decided on boycotting the PS3 for this, and rethinking my view of the PSP. Business and ideas feed on itself, and all that is fair, but this was delivered in a particularly despicable way.

Nintendo went out of their way to protect that secret. When they did announce it, they said openly that they waited a long time to make sure that other "companies" (and they couldn't be referring to Microsoft on this one) didn't steal their idea. Sony reps, when interviewed, chuckled at Nintendo's little gadget and said they were going in a different direction.

Then the Rev (Wii) picks up steam, starts garnering support from pundits and prospective buyers, and... surprise! Not only does Sony decide not to go in that different direction, but they compromise the openly stated point of Nintendo guarding company secrets. Shameless.

If you ask me, it really depends on how Sony puts these features to use. If you flail the controller around and use it as a sword, which I doubt with a normal, 2-handed controller, it's less of Sony copying and more of them competing. Obviously Sony doesn't want to lose, and perhaps they see Nintendo's new features as a possible threat to the PS3.

These may just be good for box-specifications. Let's say there's Bill, he's a consumer looking for a next-generation gaming system because they're the latest thing. He doesn't do research, rather he goes to the store and looks at the boxes.

The Wii's controller has a sensor that detects the controller in 3 dimensional space. Sounds cool.

The 360 has great graphics, but the controller simply plays games, and Bill wants something cutting edge. The 360 is out.

Then he looks at the PS3's box. Better graphics than the Wii, more power, Blu-Ray... and... oh, looks like it can be detected in its relative position to the console as well. Bill picks the PS3.

It all comes down to how Sony will execute this. I'll be dissappointed if they use it like the Wii, where your controller IS your weapon, but if it's something simple like looking out of different sides of the car... looking around a map... then I honestly see no harm in simple competition.

Obviously I have yet to see the "vid stream" but if the PS3 controller is hsaped anything like the PS2 controller I doubt it can "match" the Wii controller which can be used as a Tennis Racket, Sword, Bow etc..

I mean it would improve gameplay for PS3, but it will not come close to what the Wii controller can do. Of course it doesn't prevent 3rd parties from coming up with a similar type controller for PS3 that is close to Wii..

Actually I think the real shame of the "new" controller is the lack of strength Sony shows with it. So the fan boys were upset with the boomerang, but when aren't the fan boys upset with things about a new system? If the boomerang truly was poor, they why even present it in the first place? And if it's poor enough, that you decide to change it, why just go back to the old one? After the fan fare I'm more disappointed in seeing them just go back to the old controller. The lack of dedication to their own design and product doesn't really convince me that I should spend $600 on the new system.

The much higher than anticipated price point, combined with the lack of backbone, Sony just lost me today.

Sony's controller has a tilt sensor. Whoopie. Controllers have had that for a while now, though games haven't properly utilized it.

Nintendo's hook is a completely free range input device. The new PS3 controller simply cannot do the things Nintendo's can.

However, it is interesting to see how this was announced following Nintendo's "revolution." It's good news though -- innovation breeds progress. Competitors will and SHOULD follow suit. We'll see how Microsoft responds to this one.

When the third gens were all announced I'd already decided I was getting the Rev (Wii) and PS3 - probably not suprising as I current own the GC and PS2.

However, after todays announcements (price, PS2 PS1 style controller, etc) I don't think I'll bother with the PS3 until very late in it's life. However, the way things are going for the Wii (I've forgiven the name already) I'll be queuing on launch day...

As for Sony's tilt technology - it's not going to be the same at all but I fear the idea will be enough to convince the usual teen gaming idiot that it is the same.

Another thought on the controller... as people have noted, it's similar to the "Tilt" games like Kirby or Wario Ware: Twisted. But I also noticed the news that it will be lacking vibration functionality. Anyone else see the problem with this?

I don't know about Kirby, but WW:T relied heavily on the force feedback to give touch input in relation to the tilt controls. Tilting it a little got a little vibration, a heavier tilt got more. Controlling without the force feedback would feel "loose," in my opinion. You'd be using touch-related technology to manipulate the game, but the game would be giving you no touch-related output to base your decisions on.

So they've sacrificed something that nearly all game-makers use in favor of a pale comparison to Nintendo's idea. Great job, Sony.

I'm glad Sony's not changing the shape of the controller. It is the most comfortable and usable controller for my hands - way better than Xbox.

I honestly don't care about the new TILT technology, my upset is over the fact that the new PS3 Controller will no longer have the rumble feature "because it interferes with the new TILT technology".

Translation: we got sued over the rumble patent, and came up with a new option.

As far as copying Nintendo, one could argue that Sony copied off Nintendo by making a gaming system, or that Microsoft copied most features from the Dual Shock controllers. The Nintendo Wii is eventually going to come out, and I wouldn't be surprise if Microsoft ended up releasing something similar for its XBOX 360.

Gyroscopes are not the same as the Wii's motion sensors. You have been fooled by poor marketing that few other people are getting sold by. Gyroscopes in game pads were first brought out in 1999, I played the Microsoft Sidewinder FreeStyle. It was not adopted by 3rd party game developers because it was a bad way of controlling games.

I'm skeptical that Nintendo's motion sensing technology will be better than conventional pads also, but at least Nintendo's strategy hasn't been tried seven years ago, and failed.

I disagree that sony copied motion sensing. Ever hear of the eye toy?

Sony doesn't stand a chance against this

Heavenly sword looks cartoony at best, while that looks better than pixar.

I am not saying what it is, to prevent ruining people's surprise. You have to click the link to find out what it is

While the controller announcement is big for Sony, the console price is bigger. That's what is going to determine how many people choose that system initially. There are a lot of other criteria, but let's face it: real gamers don't put "controller" at the top of their reasons to buy a system. If so, XBox would've been a miserable failure with its huge controller combined with rock-hard buttons that make even a seasoned vets thumbs sore after some intense gaming.

Personally, I will only be looking at 3 things when it comes time for me to step-up: price, value, and what games are looking like.

And, I'll probably end up with all 3 systems just like I did last time there was the console war to end all console wars.

From what I saw on "Red Steel" (I think) for Wii, it looks like Nintendo is busy pushing the envelope, as usual. Their controller looked pretty dope the way you use it in that game.