Sony is playing the middle ground with the upcoming release of the PlayStation 3. Contending with the graphical horsepower of Microsoft?s Xbox 360 and the innovative approach to gaming provided by Nintendo?s Wii, the PS3 must find its own place. The PlayStation 3 is attempting to compete with each side by not only providing HD quality graphics that compare with that of the Xbox 360, but also with a motion sensitive controller that could make flight simulation and racing games that much better.
Sony would not comment on rumors of controversy surrounding their new Blu-Ray technology or on problems with hardware size, but one thing is for certain: as of E3, the PS3 was still not available in its final form. Sony has announced a world-wide release for the PS3 in November. While shortages on the unit are more than likely, Sony believes it will be able to handle the high demand.
Sony put together an impressive show with many new and exciting titles for the PS3, such as Warhawk, the sequel of the PlayStation hit, Genji 2, and Rachet and Clank: Size Matters. We were most impressed, however, with upcoming PlayStation Portable titles like Killzone: Liberation and Lemmings.
We had the chance to test out the PS3?s new controller with Warhawk and were struck with the ease of flight it brings. Moving the controller in any direction controls the flight of a fighter jet, freeing up your fingers for more important things like shooting the enemy out of the sky. The PS3 controller has had a complete makeover from its earlier design and now looks and feels much like the PS2 controller fans have come to love, with only minor tweaks and additional buttons. Any PlayStation fan should be immediately comfortable with this controller, hopefully diminishing some of the learning curve on new games.
Like the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 will hit store shelves in November, in time for Christmas. Sony?s middle of the road approach to competing with Microsoft?s technical advancements and Nintendo?s revolutionary control format may prove to be a smart move, though it is too early to tell if the controller?s motion sensitivity is truly worthwhile.
» By Stephan Mack, Plain Games. Published 6/12/2006.
