The Wii shot to predominance with its motion based remote way back in 2006 – now rival Sony has finally caught up with its so-called ‘Move’ motion based PS3 controller.

Shown at the GDC 2010

Sony gave us a glimpse of its motion-based PS3 controller back at last year’s E3, but at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco yesterday we got to see the near finished product, along with Sony’s line-up of compatible motion-based games.

The Move remote

The Move remote looks just like the Wii Remote, except its rounded, black and has a small globe on the top end. There are also two of them, just like the Wii remote and nunchuk, with wrist holders naturally attached to ensure the controllers don’t go flying. But unlike the Wii, which requires you to place a separate motion sensor and then calibrate your controller, the PlayStation Move uses the Sony PS3 Eyecamera to work. Many people already have the Eye camera attached to their PS3, but for those who don’t, it is available for purchase in a bundle along with the Move controller and one game.

Better than the Wii?

Another difference we saw is that you are often required to move your whole arm, and not just your wrist like with Nintendo’s Wii. So, for example, in the boxing variety games, instead of just furiously flicking your wrist back and forth as you would do with Wii Sports, in the Dukes brawling game for the PS3 you will actually have to throw punches using your entire arm. Sony also claims "nothing has been more precise” than the Move controller, but how well does it really stack up against the Wii Remote, or Wii Motion Plus and is it vastly more accurate?

More precise?

According to the latest test reports, Sony’s assertions are, on the whole, correct. The difference in precision is especially noticeable in shooter-like games, where you aim by pointing the remote, and less so in sword-fighting, tennis, swinging type games. So, the PS3 Move is indeed more precise than the Wii MotionPlus, but only marginally so, and not enough to make the Wii obsolete or anything.

Superior graphics

Of course, one final way in which the PS3 is infinitely better than the Wii is in terms of graphics. Gamers could previously ignore the Wii’s poor graphics on account of its innovate motion controls, but now that Sony has gotten into the motion mix, the Wii’s graphical deficiencies will be far more apparent.

Upcoming game lineup

The brawling/boxing game Dukes is an example of title aimed at more hardcore and classic PS3 gamers. Somewhat like the casual Wii Sports boxing, Dukes is actually much deeper, more complex, and an actual standalone game.EA’s Tiger Woods 2010 is another in-depth title to get full Move controller functionality and could be a big hit for golf fanatics, and a major improvement over current golf offerings on the Wii. Other PS3 game titles, like SOCOM, will only incorporate parts of the movement controls, and not require its use at all times, much like some Wii games. Of course, Sony recognises the importance of casual and sports titles, so the company is releasing itsown counterparts to Wii Sports Resort, including Sports Champions, as well as casual titles like Move Party. Certain major games will also include a Move controller in the package.

When to expect it

We weren’t given any specific release dates, though we were told the PS3 Move controller will be sold in a bundle, including one game and the PS Eye camera, for under $100. We can, however, expect the Sony Move before 2010 is over, along with a strong line-up of at least 20 games. Is this the beginning of the end for Nintendo’s Wii? Microsoft’s full body Project Natal motion controller definitely has more promise, but when will we finally get it? Time will tell, but Sony looks to have scored a huge gaming coup with this recent advancement.