PlayStation Move Hardware in detail

PlayStation Move wand and wireless Navigation controller takes a different approach to motion control

We take an in depth look at PlayStation Move hardware and what makes it work. On the surface PlayStation Move looks very much like the Nintendo Wii approach to motion control. In one hand you have your main controller and in the other a 'Nunchuk style' Navigation controller. However it is clear that Sony have taken a different approach to motion control than both Nintendo and MicroSoft.

PlayStation Move has 4 motion tracking methods

Whereas a Wii remote calculates its own 3 dimensional position, speed and acceleration, the PlayStation Move controller makes use of a large coloured ball that sits on top of the controller. The light from this ball is detected by the PSEye (a small USB camera) that is situated on or next to the TV. The PSEye can track the position of the ball and three inbuilt motion sensors are also used to track speed and acceleration.

Calculating position in the Z Axis

Calculating 3d position in the Z Axis has always been difficult. The Wii uses an infrared system, but was never that good at tracking movements in the Z Axis. If you've tried playing a pool/snooker game on the Wii you'll know what we mean here.Instead of using infrared, PlayStation Move uses the ball and the PSEye to track movement in the Z Axis. As the distance between the ball and the camera changes, the PSEye sees the ball getting either bigger or smaller.

Why the PlayStation Move ball changes colour

The PSEye can communicate with the PlayStation Move controller and if necessary, instruct it to change the colour of the ball. A colour is selected that gives the greatest contrast with the background. So if you were standing in front of a mostly blue background, the ball may change to yellow, as this will contrast well against the blue, making the ball easier to track.

The 3 built-in motion sensors

PlayStation Move has three inbuilt motion sensors; a tri-axis accelerometer, a tri-axis gyroscope and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor. The first two sensors are pretty much standard for motion controllers now, we've seen them in the Wii remote and various gadgets and mobile phones. The terrestrial magnetic field sensor is new though. It sounds exotic, but it's really just a digital compass, as you might find in a car or a GPS device.

Fewer buttons on the remote

PlayStation Move has fewer buttons on the main controller than the Wii remote. We think they're trying to make the main controller a motion only device, tricky movements and button pushes will be handled by the Navigation controller. It does however have a trigger button, as this seems to be mandatory on any games controller these days.

PlayStation Move Navigation controller

The Navigation controller is a wireless 'Nunchuk style' controller that will be used much the same way as it is with a Wii. The big difference here is that the Sony Navigation controller has no motion sensing capabilities. Hence the need for a 'dual wand' setup as we mention later in this article. The Navigation controller has a number of different buttons and a joystick, just as the Wii nunchuk does. Basic movements like forward, back, left and right can be tricky with a motion controller, so it makes sense to have an additional device like this that can provide a more reliable way to make these kind of movements.

PlayStation Move Batteries?

The PlayStation Move is a rechargeable system and does not need batteries to run. The device charges its own internal battery via a USB port. The advantages of this is obvious, you don't have to keep buying batteries. However, one disadvantage is the fact that you may have to take a mid-game break whilst your PlayStation Move controllers recharge.

Dual Wand setup

During their demonstration at GDC 2010, Sony showed us a boxing style game entitled Motion Fighters. Instead of using a controller in one hand and a nunchuk/Navigation controller in the other, the player was holding two PlayStation Move wands, on in each hand. If you've played Wii boxing you will know that that game is a bit of a one handed arrangement. The motion sensing for the hand holding the nunchuk is almost non existent. By using two motion sensitive devices Sony have created a more accurate boxing game. Maybe Nintendo will follow suit and produce some games that make use of two Wii remotes.