14 DAY TRIAL // With Microsoft changing the name of its motion tracking system from Project Natal to Kinect and preparing for a November launch date, it was Sony's time to make a move in the field, announcing that the PlayStation Move system would be launch on September 15 in Europe, four days later in North America, while the Japanese market will have to wait until October 21 to get it.
The main new element of the system, the wand-like controller, will cost gamers 49.99 dollars when bought by itself, while the navigational sub controller will cost a further 29.99 dollars. These can only be used in conjunction with a PlayStation Eye camera. Those who do not have it will be able to pick up a bundle including the Eye, the two controllers and a copy of a game collection named Sports Champions for 99.99 dollars, a price point Sony committed to before the launch announcement.
There's also the option of picking up the new motion tracking system together with a fresh PlayStation 3, for the price of 399.99 dollars for the version of the console including a 120 GB hard drive. There are rumors that Sony is also thinking about introducing bundles with a hard drive twice the capacity of the current one.
The Japanese giant is claiming that once the holiday season rolls around, players will be able to choose from amongst approximately 40 titles that support the PlayStation Move. The line up includes: Killzone 3, which is also coming in full three dimensional mode; NBA 2K11, Time Crisis, Echocrome II, Eye Pet, SingStar Dance and the new Tiger Woods PGA game.
Jack Tretton, who is Chief Executive Officer and president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, told the audience that “The difference comes down to one word: realism,” talking about the Xbox 360 bound Kinect system that Microsoft is also set to launch in time for Christmas.