PS3 motion control already in devs' hands

LOS ANGELES--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."