Why Sony Dropped Speaker and Analog From Move Controller

Thesixthaxis reports: Speaking in the comments section of a demonstration of Move’s tech on the PlayStation Blog, Anton Mikhailov of Move’s research and development department has revealed why PlayStation Move doesn’t come with built-in speaker functionality or an analog stick, and candidly discussed the Nav Controller and why it doesn’t have any motion control.

[SasanovaS1987]

basically, it cut cost...

[Jdoki]

Yup, sounds about right from the article.

But I do agree that that having an analogue on the main Move controller wouldn't be that great

[mikeslemonade]

There's gotta be a way to have two move controllers and a DS3 together. Attach two move controllers underneath the DS3 controller, and when the game permits you to use the two move controllers you can detach them and use them.

[BryanBegins]

@Jdoki: Why? Having a stick would allow you to use two moves AND control your character (i.e: not only on-rail). That makes no sense to me that Sony cut this option. And it would be quite comfortable, it's like the nunchuk. I have no problem usin the stick why moving the nunchuk.

I still see that as a missed opportunity to have the ultimate motion controller. Although not a big one since the games using two moves AND requiring that you control your character (his movements) would be rare.

[Takoulya]

Lucky son of a...

[darkdoom3000]

I agree about their reason for dropping the analouge. Have you tried playing ratchet and clank, using the tornado weapon?

You have to control ratchet using the analog; but at the same time tilt the controller. It's so hard to use.

[hesido]

No, it would be great, it is indeed a missed opportunity. Buying two move controllers would buy you the entire Move experience. For basic two player games, and hardcore games that will have the left move work as navigation controller on steroid.. I understand making moves with your arm and trying to control analogue would be very hard, but you don't need to "waggle" with your left hand while controlling it. Two controllers in your hand would be enough for every game.

[sinncross]

Cut costs indeed and the move is priced attractively.

Also, you dont need the built in speaker when the PS Eye can be used for speech: indeed some ppl use the PS Eye as a mic.

Though I am surprised that the Nav controller did not at least get Sixaxis support.

Sure the motion controller is just the Move but if you held the DS3 in your other hand a game could have made use with basic sixaxix support to compliment the full motion control from the Move.

[Jeff257]

The Nav controller does have sixaxis support. It has been stated that it has the same capabilities motion wise as a DS3. That is why for some people they may not get a nav controller but can still play the agme as intended with a DS3.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

Price attractively? It was dumbed down for cost by $ony!

I was told only M$ did that here on n4g!!!

[Trebius]

...ur an idiot...

On Topic: Everyone cuts costs, especially when it's little things like this that arent really needed.

When things get cut from a project for cost issues, they cut whatever it is that they feel is unnecessary, just like the processor was cut from Kinect.

In the end, the product stays practically the same, and everyone's happy.

[badz149]

I did't know wiimotes have color-changing LEDs. oh yeah...they DON'T!! plus, it still needs the motion+ to get 1:1 tracking matching the MOVE! If you think of Sony like THAT, what do you think about Nintendo selling last gen hardware this gen at profits from day 1?? or M$ selling propriety hardwares at rip-off prices like their wi-fi dongle and HDD? I guess you can live with those, right? why the fvck can you do exactly that with Sony? oh yeah...Kinect cost $150!! bummer!!

[Trebius]

Its funny how third party companies are making move peripherals and are allowed to make their own version of the DS3 if they want, or HDMI wires, or hard drives, or mouse, or keyboard, or bluetooth headset, anything!

But M$ dont allow ANYONE to make ANYTHING for the 360 cause that would mean they cant monopolize their own products and hike the prices.

[RageAgainstTheMShine]

could have been better if the Nav has at least SIXAXIS motion

Dr. Marks once stated that the T button since its analog, can be used for navigating 3D space by pressing on it while your character moves to where ever direction the Move controller is pointing at...

this will be a good replacement option for the Navigation controller.

using a Move controller as a mic? hmn interesting but you have the PSEye or Blueetooth headset for that so its not very important...
speakers on Move... cool feature but you have your TV speakers

[badz149]

I know, right? propriety my ass! I pity those who were banned just because they used their own cheap HDD for the 360 but M$ banned them like they're pirates!

[Boody-Bandit]

Don't blame Idle too much. He suffers from severe case hypocrisy and paranoia derived from being bent over the table at every turn constantly having to shell out money for over priced perps and online gaming for a console that is here today and dead tomorrow. Do you have any idea what constant flashing red lights do to your mind? It's a wonder he can form a coherent thought at all. So please take it easy on him.

[Megaman42xX]

"Its funny how third party companies are making move peripherals and are allowed to make their own version of the DS3 if they want, or HDMI wires, or hard drives, or mouse, or keyboard, or bluetooth headset, anything!

But M$ dont allow ANYONE to make ANYTHING for the 360 cause that would mean they cant monopolize their own products and hike the prices. "

Almost everything you said can be used in reverse... Right now I'm able to use a voip headset that isn't made by microsoft at all. I can plug in any usb drive (as long as it's in FAT32 format) to store media/memory. I'm using a non-microsoft headset. I can use a wired usb keyboard. If it's any consolation I'm using a normal 360 controller.

And could someone explain how the ps3 doesn't have its own proprietary hdd? I thought it did.

[Christopher]

I do believe they need to stop taking jabs at the competition. It seems a bit immature, even if it is true. I think they should focus on showing how much Move can do after release through proper marketing.

[badz149]

have you actually read the article before commenting? Anton didn't mention about competition unless asked to but there's no jabbing or what so ever. the article is solely about why the MOVE is the way it is, not more than that!

[Christopher]

@badz149: Might want to take your own advice.

From the article: "The Blog also found time for a few cheeky digs at the competition, or at least that’s how it read to us. “You’ll notice that Anton was comfortably sitting on a couch when using the PlayStation Move controller,” it said. “These aren’t gesture triggering animations, folks, but true 1:1 gameplay.”"

If you don't see that as some additional quips against Kinect, then you're fairly ignorant on the topic.

[Qui-Gon Jim]

I mean, one time Mikhailov was asked about Kinect and his response was basically "Yeah, we worked with that technology and ran into walls with the possibilities. If Microsoft figures out a way around that, good for them, but I haven't seen any indications that they have" (paraphrased).

It was in HipHopGamer's interview with him. Pretty good interview, actually, but i don't have time to look for a link.

[gintoki777]

Do not let the appearance fool you the move is a highly dangerous object. Sony has been recently working with the governments around the world and to increase the use of healthcare especially in U.S., Japan, and Europe that glowing ball is a explosive device. The Move will operate for about 8-9 months before it explodes resulting in the possible loss of a hand or even death depending on length from head.

You have been warned....

[Gilliand]

Was that supposed to be funny or just to make you look dumb?

[NeoBasch]

Because it's gaudy? I mean, if it's anything like the Wii's, it won't be long before I want to kill somebody; anybody, just so I can shut that thing up. Anybody here remember Red Steel? Ever since, I've been hoping to avoid speakers at all cost.

[Consoldtobots]

does anyone know if the move controllers will have rumble support?

[danmachine]

controller does have motion...

[saint_john_paul_ii]

it doesnt.

[stuna1]

That is what he is referring when he speaks of the accelerometers and gyros in the nav controller

EDIT: My bad I misread the article, but an earlier article did say that it would operate just like an six axis controller. bubble up on my mistake.

[Qui-Gon Jim]

i haven't seen any comments that the navigator will work just like a dualshock, but I have seen it the other way around. The dualshock can be substituted for the Navigator.

[Jdoki]

Doesn't sound like it from the article, which is odd. I assumed it had similar function to the Nunchuk or SIXAXIS.

[jerethdagryphon]

nav doest have motion from what ican tell

its not needed though nav is for navigating move is for moving makes sense

[Motorola]

i think it should cuz the DS3 does...I dont see why it shudnt

[Trroy]

The DS3 would go flying out of people's hands, if Motion control games asked people to wave the Nav controller/DS3 around.

I would wager that Sony disallows use of the motion controls in the DS3 when its coupled with the Move, and they aren't present in the Nav controller, for that reason.

[exnihilonihilfit]

DS3's don't go flying out of people's hands now. Having a gyroscope in the controller wouldn't even make it all that useful for thing like waving wildly, just for position and orientation tracking.

[Double Toasted]

Only Sony is allowed to remove capabilities from their motion controlled devices....Chuch!

My name is Sony...deepthroat me...chuch!

You guys are such losers and...are...beneath me...chuch!

[Terarmzar]

It still cost less than that garbage your trying to refer to and besides at least move works correctly

[Jeff257]

Well that is because they didnt promise any features for Move that needed those specific designs. Instead they wanted to get out something that works and that is in a price range people will pay for. MS however promised a lot of things that Natal could do but took out extra hardware that would have made it possible. With that hardware removed they renamed it Kinect and it now unfortunately wont be as fully featured as earlier promised.

[Jdoki]

You mean remove features they never announced in the first place? Oh yeah! /s

[MysticStrummer]

Microsoft removed precision and potential from their motion controller, but you'll buy it anyway. Who is deep throating who?

[Qui-Gon Jim]

There's a difference between cutting costs by removing minor or redundant features, and cutting corners by reducing capabilities to a point that it doesn't work as well as promised.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Good info.

[Roozium]

Analogstick for the win.

[Subzero200x]

Because they figured that they ripped off Nintendo enough as it is?

"It still cost less than that garbage your trying to refer to and besides at least move works correctly "

lol ok it has a delay worse than the wiimote what are you talking about.

[Darth_Bane79]

The move has no delay, the kinect does. What are you talking about? o_O

[liveActionLeveler]

I believe that "copying" a product is great for the consumer, especially if it births something as good as the move.

[hankmoody]

I mean, can anyone here not see past that? Maybe it's a little fancier, whatever. It's still the same friggin' thing.

[DaTruth]

And Kinect is a PSeye, what is your point???

[Megaman42xX]

How many people besides actual gamers know about the pseye? And then how many people actually bought it? I think most people(non-gamers) know about the Wii. So when it comes down to it the move looks a lot like the Wiimote whereas kinect looks original. Either way you look at it both sony and microsoft are trying to get the casual market.

[Sarick]

"Mikhailov confirmed that the team did prototype Move with an analog stick built -in (instead of requiring a Subcontroller) but said that “using an analog stick while you’re moving in 3D is actually not very intuitive” and that a decent stick “adds quite a bit of cost to the device, and since it wouldn’t be used often that might not be justified."

They removed the analog stick to *CUT cost*. I wouldn't have because the having that would've been pure perfection with 2x moves. The sub controller is not ascetically matching and pairing 2 moves creates the same issue where the setup still lacks analog.

[nsnsmj]

That was my question they took his answer from on the blog. WOOO!!!

In all seriousness though, I understand what he's saying, but I think it would have been more immersing playing with two moves that had analog sticks. for example, the gladiator mini game in one of the move titles has the player holding a sword and shield, but the player is not really moving the character. sorta on rails i think.

It would be pretty awesome to be able to move the game character around and/or move the camera around as well. And I dont think it would be difficult to use a move with analog sticks in 'certain' games. Like the gladiator one. once you're swinging your weapon and blocking with the shield, the only movement you would do is subtle. you wont be flailing your arms around like mad

[Carlos_Irwin_Estevez]

No I think the appropriate thing would have been to make that central playstation button a better version of the platstation nub.

Simply so for casuals they would not even notice it but if needed it would have at least worked for movement control.

But then again all you really need is a button mapped to forward movement on one of the move controllers and orientation being dictated by one or both the move controllers.

There is no reason why a game like demons souls couldn't work something like that out, because you would need a button or gensture for evades and rolls anyhow.

It could still work.

[jerethdagryphon]

the reason they did it is itsa coordination thing similar to patting tummy rubbing head and reversing it, the brain mixes signals when doing things like that

to get an idea of what it would have been like tape a nunchuk to a wiimote and play red steel one handed

as you move the arm with the wiimote youll either match it with the nunchuks analog or neglect the analog

its fiddly and not very easy

[Quadrix]

I'm beginning to lose interest in Move. A lot of these cuts hinder the possibilities it could have had.

[redsquad]

An analogue stick on the move itself? That would have put the koibosh on my coordination... I can't even rub my tummy and pat my head at the same time!

[Carlos_Irwin_Estevez]

exactly why they dropped it, for those without beards.

@quadrix
worthless stealth trolling.

[xg-ei8ht]

You don't need the speaker, it's pointless tinny horrid sound on the wii mote.

I'm sure analog could have been done, but hey i'm guessing they have their reasons.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

Ive played plenty of games on wii but ive never played a game that uses the wiimote speaker in a non-stupid way. Honestly we have to remember that including these types of features DOES cost money and if having a useless speaker is just another reason to jack up the price then I dont want it.
An analog stick would have been nice in theory but in reality it would just be a pretty difficult control mechanism to use.
Now, what we NEED out of the move nav controler is confirmation of a vibration function...

So hyped for RE5¡!¡!¡!

[gamingisnotacrime]

and that matters a lot

[mac4u10]

Sony have really nailed the Move it seems very-well planned, this may have the potential to be bigger than what people may think for the future. But due to M$ marketing dollars the Kinect will sell more in my opinion.

One confusing question is how will Sony track its Move sales.

1. will it be by every controller sold
2. or every Move bundle sold
3. maybe every Move controller and a game sold as a pair

???

[Skadoosh]

Wait they removed the analog from the controller? How in the hell are you supposed to move? You can go ahead and put this up right up there with the dumbest moves in gaming history. Being able to move and aim at will playing SOCOM would of been epic and a nice fresh experience. Looks like MOVE is also not for the hardcore.

[liveActionLeveler]

idiot...

[Skadoosh]

LOL! Oh yes. We have an educated one here. Must be a Stanford grad.

[badz149]

"Being able to move and aim at will playing SOCOM would of been epic and a nice fresh experience." - THAT's exactly how you'll play SOCOM4! that game uses the MOVE+nav controller for it to work or MOVE+DS3. who the hell told you that SOCOM4 will be an on-rail shooter?? at least look for the correct info before even trying to be a douche! (doosh - for the sake of name pun!)

[GarandShooter]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait! Are you saying to move, or to use another word, NAVIGATE, you would use a thing called a NAV controller?

Wow, use the nav to navigate. I wonder if that's a product of coincidence or intent.

/s

[devilhunterx]

SKADOUCHE!

[N4PS3Fanboys]

Microsoft removes unnecessary features from Kinect and the PS3 fanboys mercilessly attack them.
Sony does the EXACT SAME THING with Move and now it's no big deal.

Destructoid is proven more and more right every day...

http://www.destructoid.com/...

[badz149]

if you want something or anything like the Wiimote, buy the Wii for god sake! no one is forcing you to buy the MOVE and here you are acting like an internet police, which is stupid by the way! plus, NONE of the removed features from the wiimote was promoted/advertised by Sony EVER! and they have their reasons and MOVE is the way it is! are you trying to teach them how to make a hardware? last time I check, Sony is the one coming out with the PS3 and all the awesome games and now MOVE - NOT YOU!

using your analogy, should I blame M$ for selling me Windows without Office? NO I can't do that because M$ has always promoted Windows and Office as 2 different products no matter how much I think they should have been put together!

[ninpo14]

grrr i buy pc with no office!!!!

[matey]

Wiimote kills the competition easily for quicker response ie why dance games are best on wii and FPS controls and arcade shooters play like ur at the arcades ect the Wiimote is just perfect and well thought out period even in QTE the wii excels like in RE4 ect amazing u need speaker on Wiimote for NMH2/SILENT HILL WII ect to use as interactive phone its a decent addition to makes games more engaging ect and anologue is a must for nunchuck for 3D movements Wiimote is used for the strict/demanding gameplay of NBA JAM for dunking ect and they wouldnt input motions if they were not as precise as buttons FULL STOP ps3 MOVE is better than Kinect but not Wiimote/NES PAD no way Nintendo implied motion controls in a Home Console in 2006 they did it first ie why they will be better at what they disigned to be core to there console,Mclarren invented F-duct theres is the best,Nintendo invented Motion controls in gaming theres is best.Im not saying Ninty invented motions they invented them to be core controls for a Home console FACT.

[ivant]

...with a Dpad and stick on the move, you could do most of what the Nav does, on the one controller.

Alternatively, Sony would have just needed to make one kind of controller, instead of making two different types; you just need to buy one controller for each hand.

This is not rocket science, Sony!

[WLPowell]

you have no idea how the human hand works if you think throwing a dpad And a joystick on the already covered move controller is a good thing.

edit@N4PS3fanboys: ANYONE claiming Dtoid, especially Jim Sterling, is right is an idiot. He talks big in his comment section, but when put on the spot just like when Epic Battle Axe interviewed him, he turns into a scared little girl and they had to go easy on him. But it's funny you brought up THAT article after all the crying about Mass Effect 2 going to the PS3.

[OSU_Gamer]

It is funny to see people defending Sony and their choice just because its Sony and they have blind love for anything they do.

[wenaldy]

I can't aiming and moving at the same time using Move controller (if it has analog), except i have ability writing using my both hands at the same time...

[jneul]

look at all the trolls in here what about when ms actually to cut something that was useful like the internal processing chip, having an analogue stick on the move would be awkward, think about it for one moment, that is why they made the navi for shooters and games like sorcery, trolls are only in here because they are jealous because move works really well andf has nothing but positive feedback.

[Subzero200x]

actually is does move it just a retarded version of the wiimote.....it's just inferior.

[jneul]

tired of trolling yet all?? the reviews disagree with you by the way