PS3 Move vs. Kinect 360
By: Railey DeangMotion gaming has become a popular trend since the Nin- tendo Wii hit the consumer market. Sony has recently released the PS3 Move and Mi- crosoft came out with the X-Box 360 Kinect, moving the proverbial bar one step higher in the realm of gaming. Out of the two new game systems, the Kinect stands as the most appealing and easy to use.
According to the marketing strategists at Microsoft, this “magic disguised as technology” is definitely something to marvel at and from my experience, worth the $149.99. I found the PS3 Move to be somewhat of an upgraded version of the Wii; it is nothing new to be seen. According to PCmag.com, Microsoft sold Kinects from their January and February production supply this past December to keep up with the holiday demands for the gaming console.
After playing both systems, it is apparent why Microsoft’s production line worked over-time during the holidays. The Kinect begins a generation of full body, calorie burning video gaming and ends the stigma of “video games are for the lazy.” The Kinect establishes two different ways of detecting a player. The use of what Microsoft calls “skeletal tracking” creates a digital skeleton of each player based upon precise scans of the body.
Kinect also utilizes voice recognition through four different microphones. Once scanned into the game, I did not experience any sort of lag or malfunction. My faulty coordination proved the system’s motion-detecting accuracy.
The process was fluid and though I received a low score on Dance Central, I am ashamed to say that it was not due to a problem regarding the system, but more so my lack of “skills” on the dance floor.
Like the Kinect, the Move’s motion detecting accuracy gives controlling a “natural” feel. The Move is comprised of a PlayStation Eye camera and a Move motion controller priced at $99.99.The difference in motion detecting between the Move versus the Kinect, is the Move uses a wand-like controller to detect the player. Where’s the revolutionary technology in that?
Unless it is a Harry Potter game and players get to cast spells with the wand. The perk of the Kinect is that a player’s body is the controller, making it the more user friendly system. In terms of available games, the Move takes the lead 25-18. Both systems basically have the same games differentiating by names, such as “Kinect Sports” and PS3’s “Sports Champions.”
The graphics on “Kinect Sports” resemble that of the “Wii Sports” games. The characters are very similar looking, but the Kinect has added more detail to the surrounding graphics of each activity in the game. “Kinect Sports” contains boxing, beach volleyball, table tennis, track and field, soccer and bowling.
The graphics on “Sports Champions” are more realistic and also offer six different activities. The activities in this game are less traditional in terms of American sports, offering sports such as disc golf, Gladiator duels, beach volleyball, archery, table tennis, and Bocce.
The Move’s vice is the use of a controller, regardless of its safety strap feature. With the intensity and action that comes with Sports Champions and my naturally sweaty palms, I was afraid that the controller would fly out of my hands, smashing into my television screen.
“Kinect Sports” is indeed more active because it calls for the use of the whole body, but it certainly is very embarrassing. It can get uncomfortable playing, especially when the game calls for flailing arms, jumping in place, and smacking the air with eyes glued to the television screen.
From experience with both innovations, the PlayStation Move’s advertisements plead that “it only does everything,” though that I find that the Kinect offers much more in terms of player recognition, simplicity, and innovation.
