E3 2009: SCEA SVP of marketing confirms third-party publishers and
developers are already working with the LED-based motion-sensing tech
shown during Sony's press event.
When Microsoft unveiled its motion-sensing camera, Project Natal, at its E3 press event on Monday,
it made a point of saying that software developer kits for the device
were being sent out that day. Later, in an interview with GameSpot, Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer
revealed that the device had been shown to two top developers--Epic
Games (Gears of War 2) and Bungie Studios (Halo 3: ODST)--who were
experimenting with the technology.
When Sony showed off its own motion-sensing system--based
on the PlayStation Eye, light-emitting diodes, and wireless controllers
with buttons--it appeared to be at an earlier stage of development.
Whereas Microsoft's Lionhead Studios had already created a mood-sensing
interactive program called Milo, Sony had a more primitive (but still
impressive) tech demo where objects were manipulated and foes were
slain with virtual weapons.
Now, though, it appears Sony's motion-sensing efforts may be farther
along than many thought. Speaking with GameSpot, Sony Computer
Entertainment America senior vice president of marketing Peter Dille
divulged that the technology--first revealed in a US Patent filing last fall--is already in developers' hands.
"We're a little bit past the research phase," he told GameSpot. "We're
having conversations with the third-party community. The dev kits have
started to go out to the third parties as well. They're working on the
tech. They couldn't be more excited about it."
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