Wii all want to be.

Now even Sony: At the E3 video game trade show, the group had a body-controller for the Playstation presented - one day after Microsoft with its Xbox 360 The console rivals take model Wii Nintendo's success in the pliers.

 

Nintendo has set the trend - but now get the console pioneers competition.

Video games no longer protected by button and joystick movements to control, but with movements of the whole body: That was the brilliant innovation of the Nintendo video game market in recent years has durcheinandergewirbelt. And now after competitors made.

At the E3 video game trade show in Los Angeles on Monday, Microsoft introduced its "Natal Project": a technique, the movements in space in front of the screen accurately recognize and be transferred into the game. In addition,
"Natal" and voices, faces and even facial expression capture, a controller is no longer necessary. Sony will not stand by - and now presents an approach, although at first sight a little less far.

At the E3 press conference on Tuesday evening, German time, the Sony researcher Richard Marks a prototype of a device that the Sony "Motion Controller" has christened. "His conspicuous feature is a glowing ball at the end of the console Playstation 3 Eye camera can follow," said Marks, a helper while moving two objects that look like plastic tubes with lights at the ends effect. The system was previously just a technical demonstration, but will be early next year.

The camera can the movements of the player accurately understand promised Marks. Software to translate the movements into the game then - be it as a sword swings, tennis strokes, or simply the movement of a flashlight in the virtual space. Also available as a virtual weapon can use the controller. Was demonstrated, inter alia, an arrow-and-arm game.

Man wanted for games accessible to more people, said Marks. With the same slogan had its Nintendo Wii console, which also has fernbedienungsförmigen controller, in the year 2006. The success of the innovative principle had Nintendo consoles in the three-fight in a short time led to the top. Sony had
in 2006 a kind of short-lived PR success when the company announced that the controller of the Playstation 3 will, like the Wii controller, motion and position sensors. The technology that is actually delivered with each PS3 is called SIXAXIS - but was actually marketed in the games never really profitable to use. So it seems to dare a new start.

Sony, the Playstation and the Playstation 2 a long time in the industry Primus, is now the last of the three major competitors, with a room-filling operation variant imagine. Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai told the BBC, of course, had Microsoft's "Project Natal 'own demonstration of some of their power taken. But in truth it was in this area longer leader: "With the PlayStation 2, we have the EyeToy camera in the market, we have the art of playing only with their hands already perfected." The new Motion Controller lift "precision in three dimensions to a new level. Accuracy and tracking are the most important thing."

Nintendo manager David Yarnton said however the service sector Gamesindustry.biz, it was not overly concerned about the developments of the competitors: "We can not really comment because we have yet seen nothing really running. We have our products out on the market , has for some time. "

Nintendo had its own press conference as the only new hardware product is a kind heart rate monitor for the console called "Vitality sensor presented. The device is in sports and fitness games for the Wii to use.

Sony stated at his press conference a new mobile version of its PSP console before. The PSP Go is only half as large as the previous model. It is a portable multimedia player designed with the capability built in, pictures, videos and games to download and save. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are Hirai, according to the new device installed. Nintendo also recently had a new mobile console was launched, which is also significantly stronger as a multimedia device is designed.

The console war is going in the next round, both mobile as well as in the living room. There, in the battle zone between the couch and TV, he will probably decide. And on the way will probably be some ceiling lamp the whole new gaming fall victim.

GAME CONSOLES: THE LATEST GENERATION

Wii

obs / Nintendo of Europe

The small competitor is in contrast to the rival consoles, not high-resolution graphics, but delivers traditional television resolution. Nevertheless, the device is so popular that the manufacturer has not announced prices. In the United States overtook the Wii in July 2008 Microsoft's Xbox 360, what the sales figures are concerned. The console features a motion controller and bewegungssensitiven oriented accessories, such as the "Balance Board" from. With simple sports and fun games, it has for the industry, captured new audiences. A detailed test Wii can be found here.

Playstation 3

DDP

The direct competitor to Microsoft's Xbox 360 - the two consoles to compete with the hardcore gamers who are also prepared for high-resolution graphics to a TV buy. In March 2007, the console on the market in Europe. In July 2008, there were either 40 - or 60-GB hard drive - will also soon have a version with 80 GB on the market. It is the most expensive among the current models and gives a high-resolution video via an HDMI-out output. As the only game currently available, it contains a Blu-ray drive, which is also high-resolution Blu-ray discs can play. A detailed
Test of the PS3 can be found here.

Xbox 360

Microsoft's high-definition console is of the three longest current competitors on the market, namely since the end of 2005. Microsoft has repeatedly screwed on price and features. The 360 has a normal DVD drive in its basic version, but no hard drive. In July 2008, there were a model without a hard drive, a 20 gigabyte model and the black "elite" with 120 GB hard drive. The current models of HD images on an HDMI-out output. A comprehensive test on the Xbox 360 can be found here.

Sony PSP

The Playstation Portable, on the market since 2005, is Sony's first attempt, which traditionally used by Nintendo (Game Boy) dominated the market for mobile games a bit abzuzwacken. Since 2007, there is a slightly thinner version, called Slim and Lite. The mobile console can not only games, but also movies and music. Moreover, it can be via W-LAN to the Internet. Movie downloads and other content may differ from the PS3 to the PSP will be delayed, and the Mobile Console can have Internet access as a kind of remote for the PS3 to be used. The PSP is on the market for mobile games second rear Nintendo DS. A detailed
Test of the PSP can be found here.

Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is since 2005 in a first version on the market since 2006 in an edition called slimmer DS Lite (pictured). DS stands for "dual screen". The console has a normal and in the bottom half of a touch-screen. Games will be on buttons or a stylus, the touchscreen with the edited, played. The DS is the PSP over Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, including online games and gimmicks such as pictures chat are possible. With games like "Nintendogs" and "Dr. Kawashimas brain-jogging" tapped the DS new target for mobile consoles. The DS is currently the best selling mobile game. A test report on the first version of the Nintendo DS can be found here.