Sony delivered a solid keynote at E3 with a decent mix of complete announcements. If you are planning a considerable your console upgrade, then it is the PS3 that provides the most complete package and the information you need to adjust your budget, even if we now know that Move won’t be cheap and you will be able to sink hundreds of dollars into the controller and 3D games. Great news for GT5 fans: The game will finally arrive this holiday season.
Sony Move Bundle
All cards are on the table: Sony delivered the last of big keynote. It was considerably less flashy than what Microsoft put on stage over a period of two days, but, subjectively, it was more satisfying and more substantial than what we saw from Nintendo earlier in the day. What made the Sony keynote different is the fact that the information was complete. We know when Move will come out and what it will cost. We have no idea what Kinect will cost and we don’t know when the 3DS will come and what it will cost.
Move will be available for $50 for the Move controller if you already have the Eye. If you need the Eye you can get the $100 bundle, which includes the controller, the game Sports Champions and Eye. The optional navigation controller will be sold for $30. The Eye camera alone is available for $40, Sony said. Take a deep breath: This controller system is expensive.
If you own just a PS3, then you will need the bundle and if your family likes to play as well, at least one more controller as well as two navigation units. $210. Ka-ching! Add two more complete controller sets and we are talking about $370. You may also want to consider charging stations ($30 each and you may want at least two) as well as a shooting attachment, which goes for $20 a piece. If you lost track, we are now at $450. Prepare your credit card.
Move Charging Station
Suddenly, Kinect, which does not need controller sets, does not sound so expensive anymore, if the $149 or $189 price tags are correct. But then, we have no idea what Kinect will cost.
It’s entirely possible that Microsoft has not announced pricing simply because the sales team was waiting to see what Sony is coming up with. Kinect may be much more expensive than what we all expect.
A big deal in the Sony keynote was 3D gaming. It is going to be a huge deal for the PS3 this year and most likely next year as well. Killzone 3D is available as a 3D demo – as well as GT5. GT5 with 3D support was a surprise along with the announcement that the game will be available on November 2. While I still believe that the game should have been available at launch of the PS3, the wait was worth it. GT5 will get 950 cars (950!) and will be available as a standalone game as well as a collector’s edition for $100. Like Microsoft and Nintendo, the PS3 has scored plenty of exclusives, including Final Fantasy XIV, Portal 2 and Twisted Metal, among others. There will be about 15 – 20 launch titles for Move at launch, each selling for $40.
The immediate conclusion of the three big keynotes? Microsoft is taking the biggest risk in changing game controls and may be rewarded big time – or not. There are still answers that need to be answered, such as the price of Kinect. Nintendo seems to be stuck in the past now with little news for the Wii, except for new game titles. We don’t know enough about the 3DS – when it will be available and how much it will cost. Sony is taking a careful approach to advancing its gaming experience, with some solid titles and a technology that can grow on you. However, the PS3 may be the most expensive gaming platform in the foreseeable time. If you have a PS3, you have to invest nearly $400 into a complete controller set and if you go all the way you will about $2500 for a 3D TV. If you don’t have a PS3 and you like the Move and 3D idea, then you should have about $3000 to $3500 available for a system and more if you do not have a surround sound system, which you really need to support the 3D experience.
The Wii is clearly an even greater bargain now, but it feels like an old console now. Nintendo needs a refresh soon. The Xbox 360 is the unknown variable. If Kinect is priced around $150 or below, Microsoft may have a homerun and attract a lot of interest. To appeal to the general gamer, which Microsoft seems to be going after, Kinect should be a $99 device. At $200 or more, Kinect may have a tough time to justify its value against a Move that interacts with 3D content.
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