Microsoft and Sony Play Follow the Leader with Their Respective Motion Sensing Controllers

The current generation of home video game consoles is more diverse than ever before. In previous generations, the hardware had been similar and consoles succeeded or failed on the strength of their software libraries. This is no longer the case. The hardware market is split in two with the Xbox 360 and PS3 offering similar HD capable consoles while the Wii is significantly weaker but focuses on motion controls. So far, Nintendo's approach has proved superior as the Wii is outselling the competition handily and is on track to being one of the best video game consoles ever released.

When the specifications for the various machines were made public prior to launch, the industry almost unanimously slotted Nintendo's little white console for a distant third place finish. Many analysts even suggested that the Wii would be so far behind it would be the last console developed by Nintendo. Fast forward 4 years and the situation is turned completely upside down.

The runaway success of the Wii has prompted both Sony and Microsoft to venture into motion controlled gaming themselves. They both showed their offerings at this years E3 convention. Sony showing their Wii Remote clone Move, while Microsoft is going down a different path with their Kinect camera. Both companies claim to offer better motion precision than the Wii.

The Sony Move is a new controller for the PlayStation 3 that immediately upon release became the butt of many jokes about the obvious similarities to the Wii Remote. The technology is similar to what the wii mote does, but the Move uses the PlayStation Eye camera to track motion in contrasts to the dual lights sent from the Wii sensor bar.

The Kinect is Microsoft's entry into the motion controlled market and takes a totally different technical approach. The Kinect is basically a camera and a depth sensor that captures movement in 3D space. The Kinect does is marketed as allowing controller free games. This allows players to control their game characters just by moving their body in different ways.

With the release of Move and Kinect, motion controls are all but confirmed as the next step in video game controls. With the gaming community is already starting too look forward to the next generation of consoles it is hard to imagine motion controls not being the new standard for all the console makers. What is more uncertain is how Sony and Microsoft's entry into the fray will affect the current generation.

So far, Kinect looks to be the odd man out. The technology is new and innovative and presents a new step forward in motion controlled gaming. Unfortunately it also faces some additional hurdles. Initial reactions to the technology is that it works impressive most of the time, but there are situations where the technology is not able to pick up motion correctly. The number of people who can play at the same time is also limited. Finally, the high price might be a deterrent for many consumers. At $149 Kinect is dangerously close in price to the grand old man of motion sensing, The Wii itself.

Price will also be an issue for Sony. The PlayStation 3 is already the priciest console, and the Move package will add additional cost. Consumers have already shown that they are not attracted by the best technology, but rather by a reasonable price point and compelling software. Ultimately, the biggest hurdle for Move and Kinect might still be the Wii itself which will continue to offer motion sensing out of the box at a low price point. Gamers interested in motion controlled games will also find a very robust software library on the Wii. In the end, Sony and Microsoft might just find that they are too late to the motion control party.