Brendan Cole brings a round-up of gaming news
Playstation Move
Playstation’s next generation controller has been given a name – Playstation Move – and is on the way in the second half of the year.
The device will work with the already existing Plastation Eye camera and will contend with Microsoft’s Project Natal (due to be renamed) and several Wii Motion Controllers.
The Move can also be used with a supplementary sub-controller for two-handed action and a specially designed game is expected to accompany the device on launch. Here’s a basic demo. And here’s one that gives an idea of the Minority Report potential the device has.
X-Box Update
We’ve blogged before about issues with the X-Box but it appears likely that Microsoft will be updating the console in the near future and some of the issues that many owners have experienced will hopefully be dealt with.
Rumours emanating from China indicate that an X-Box Slim – matching Sony’s move late last year – is in the pipeline. Should be ready for Christmas.
iPhone hits specialist gaming platform
The iPhone is the gaming gadget de jour with Vodafone’s entry in the market and price reductions meaning far more people now have access to the Apple’s 3GS version.
So successful has the iPhone been that Sony and Nintendo have seen sales of their mobile gaming devices – the PSP and the DS dip as a result.
In the US in 2009 the iPhone had a 20% share of gaming, with the more expensive PSP taking 11% and the DS 70%. The PSP’s share had been most affected, dropping for 20% in 2008. The iPhone was up from 5% in the same period.
It should also be pointed that the iPhone v Gaming Platform comparison is not fully accurate. People who buy iPhone games are not necessarily potential PSP or DS customers.
Personally, my take would be that the iPhone is a reasonable games device but it lacks proper scope and a DS or PSP will offer quite a bit more.
Brendan Cole
