[1]Sony or Tokyo Tsushin Jogyo ( Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company) was found by engineer Masaru Ibuka and physicist Akio Morita on the 7th May 1946.[1]The company was founded originally as a electrical repairing and manufacturing business,the first product they produced was a automatic rice cooker this was soon followed by an magnetite-coated paper based recording tape,which was soon followed by Japan’s first magnetic tape recorder and tape medium,the G-Type both released in 1950.[2]+[3]
The G-Types recording medium was a long fibre cart paper,onto which dissolved magnetic powder was painted.The Carrying handles on the side made the 35kg unit easier to carry.[4]
[2]The companies name soon changed to ‘Sony’,as a mix of two words.One was the latin word “Sonus”,which is the root of the sonic and sound and the other was “Sonny” a term which was used in 1950’s America to call a boy,effectively calling the company “Sound Boys”[5],the first product launched as Sony was the TR-55 transistor radio,which they had won a license to make transistors in 1954.[6] Officially the companies name did not change until January 1958. At the time of the name change it was unusual for a Japanese company to use Roman letters to spell it’s name instead of the tradition Japanese Kanji.[7]
Over the following years Sony produced lots of electronic standards such as the Betamax,3.5inch Floppy Disk,MiniDisc’s,Memory Sticks,Blu-Ray Discs.Sony soon became very successful in it’s electronics market and then soon started to evolve into other industries which one is the “Sony Computer Entertainment”.[8]+[9]
[3]Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) is a major video game company,wholly owned by Sony.The group was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo,Japan.[10]It handles research & development (R&D),sales of hardware and software for the PlayStation line of handheld and home console video game systems.It also develops and publishes it’s own game titles and is composed of several different subsidiaries covering the company’s biggest markets.As well as being hardware and software developer,it also produced it’s own games within it’s studios.In September 2005 SCE formed Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.This grouping of studios was to create a single entity overseeing all the development for the Playstation line.[11]+[12]This also enables SCE to have more control over what games are released onto it’s systems.
They also have contract deals with some studios to only release games on their platform,which stops SCE buying them (for the time being) and also still retaining some form of creative control over what they produce, for example’Heavy Rain’ by Quantic Dream and also thatgamecompany,which currently have a contract for 3 games for the PlayStation 3’s PlayStation Network service.
The origin of the PlayStation (PSX) was originally a joint project by Nintendo and Sony to create a CD-ROM drive for the Super Nintendo Console. Nintendo released a statement saying that it was breaking it’s ties with Sony and the CD-ROM drive was never released.[13] Effectively being humiliated by Nintendo they decided to create a console to rival it.Sony showed off it’s new device to several key game developers and found two key partners that made the PSX a success, Electronic Arts and Nameco,which liked the fact that the disc system would be cheaper to manufacture than the cartridge system currently used in most consoles.[14]
Key releases from Sony Computer Entertainments are -
- PlayStation (PSX) in 1994
- PlayStation (Ps One) in 2000
- PlayStation 2 in 2000
- PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2004
- PlayStation 3 Console in 2006
- PlayStation 'PSP Go' in 2009
PlayStation Vita (PSP renamed/upgraded) is due to be released in 2012 [15]
When the PSX was launched it heralded the decline of the cartridge based systems such as the Nintendo 64 and disc based systems became the norm from then on.The PSX and the PSone have sold a combined total of 102.49 million units,making it the first video game console to sell 100million units. [16]The PlayStation 2 was similar to the PSX and was simply a upgraded system with better graphics and processing power,but had nothing show stopping about,apart from owners of PSX can use them games on this system.After this several slimline iterations were made just to , well milk more money out of players.In 2006 the PlayStation 3 was launched, which had significant improvements to it. It has a Blu Ray disc player,update graphics,updated audio,huge hard drive size for saved games and it has connectivity to the internet for the PlayStation Network.[17]
Sony uses XrossMediaBar on it’s PlayStation units and other Sony devices.It was created by SCE,it is the main interface and operating system for the PlayStation 3.[18]
The PlayStation 3 also had an interesting feature called ‘Install Other OS’ this enabled you to place another operating system upon the PlayStation.When the PlayStation 3 Slim was released,Sony stated that the OtherOS feature would be removed from all devices due to security concerns.Even though of course people have found ways of cracking the system and getting OtherOS back onto it.[19]
Released alongside the PSX the original controller featured a basic design of a D-Pad,4 Main select buttons (Triangle,Circle,Cross,Square) and start and select and four shoulder buttons,denoted as left and right (L1,L2,R1,R2).A further design was created which included two analog joysticks known as the Dual Shock controller which added vibrations to the controller which were triggered in various games,and also was another form of navigation instead of using the directional arrows.The same controller was used for the PlayStation 2 system but albeit some slight design iterations such as the colouring was changed to black.The PlayStation 3 controller had the same basic design , but is wireless using bluetooth technology and has a centre button for connecting to the PlayStation Network.[20]
The PlayStation move controller is a motion-sensing game controller for the PlayStation 3, it is roughly based upon the Nintendo’s Wii’s system.It uses the PlayStation eye camera to track the ‘wands’ (controller( position and using sensors it detects it’s motion as it’s being used.It was supplied in it's own ‘PlayStation Move’ package and included one of the motion controller and a supplementary navigation controller. It uses Bluetooth to communicate to the console and eye controller,using inertial sensors and accelerometers it can figure out a full 360 of motion,including twist and turns while holding it.It also has a system which enables the controller to know where it is in the scene,even if it’s behind the players back.[21]
[4]Move.Me is the software behind the PlayStation move, and is now being considered to be released as a software development kit (SDK),The reception to the kit has been slighty negative, as just to be able to run it, you need to own a PS3,the move controller,the EyeToy , a network and a PC to just get started with it,which seems slighty overkill.It’s main competitor the Windows Kinect SDK ,you only need the Kinect hardware and a PC to run it,no xbox needed.Although the reception was pretty negative it has a large amount of potential using the SDK in other fields other than games such as,physical therapy and rehabilitation,sports physiology,augmented reality apps and 3D applications.[22]
I found that the Move.me required a huge amount of investment just to start up, requiring at least one Move Controller, a PS3 ,a EyeToy and a PC to run the client and of course the $99 fee.The Kinect motion controller SDK requires only the Kinect and the PC to run the software,the SDK is free and requires no startup fee.Which would be a huge bonus to developers.The controller is very nice to hold as it’s really designed to be comfortable,the buttons on the controller are also very nice to the touch very well designed controller. It is also a very solid piece of kit, no matter what you do with the controller it never creaks etc, so feels very well built for purpose.The camera that comes with the Move, is very basic and isn't a great camera ,but i guess it’s good enough for what it is designed for, but cable on the back of it, is really really heavy and thick which sometimes getting it set up a slight annoyance.
While testing the Move.me software it has alot smoother and better control than Nintendo’s Wii motion controller,being able to rotate the hand control and then the default ‘sword’ on the software rotates around with it,which is very neat,as it gives you alot greater control and visual feedback on the screen.In comparison to the Kinect ,it’s nice to actually be holding something, especially if in the ‘game/software’ its a sword or other handheld object , it’s nice to feel the grip of the object while swinging it around,rather than just standing there with an empty palm.The main feature of this that it’s just so accurate out of all the motion controllers, so it could be the huge selling point to developers wanting to use it for some specific accuracy needing application.
While testing it, it was apparent alot of coding would be necessary to be able to use it correctly,if the kit had a more of a visual programming system which then can be coded into use with a game engine or other software creation package, it would become more useful.But at it’s currently state all you could do was swing a sword about and watch yourself, with the short amount of time we had with the software, i think a fully documented encyclopedia of it would benefit developers, possibly even with a few tutorials on how to do some simple operations with the software.
Ideas for application for using the Move.me, an obvious solution would be in the 3D mocap business,I think another application of the device could be handling dangerous chemicals but instead, having a robot rigged to the system and having a person standing behind glass utilizing the controllers or another dangerous activity that could be replicated using motion control.I had also thought about the possibility of a virtual sculpting application, such as you start with a virtual piece of clay within the scene and can then use the move controller to hack and slice away at the clay, with the other buttons to control which tool is currently selected.Similiar to the Painting/Music game “Beat Sketcher”[23],If Playstation teamed up with Autodesk/Adobe/Corel Painter they could create a very proffesional painting app, with a proper colour wheel, layers, special brushes , brushes that can be downloaded through PSN,whether or not they would be willing to team up with another company I don’t know.
[5]
In conclusion i think that the Move.me software is a very advanced tool and could be used for various different applications, but i think the price in which to start up with the system,puts the developers off it and would rather use the Kinect SDK,I think if Sony made it more accessible and less price intensive it would find a lot more developers creating content for it.
Text References:
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(2)Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones-Home Audio. 2012. Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones-Home Audio. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory-a.html#g-gata. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(3)Sony Global - Corporate history. 2012. Sony Global - Corporate history. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/history.html. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(4)Flashback Friday: 1950, G-type Tape Recorder « SONY make.believe. 2012. Flashback Friday: 1950, G-type Tape Recorder « SONY make.believe. [ONLINE] Available at: http://blog.sony.com/flashback-friday-1950-g-type-tape-recorder. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(5)About Sony,Sony Corporate History.[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sony-europe.com/article/id/1178278971500 [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(6)Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones-Radio. 2012. Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones-Radio. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory-b.html. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(7)Sony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2012. Sony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
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(9)Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones. 2012. Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory.html. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(10)History for Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated. 2012. History for Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mobygames.com/company/sony-computer-entertainment-incorporated/history. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(11)SCE Worldwide Studios - About Us. 2012. SCE Worldwide Studios - About Us. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.worldwidestudios.net/about-us. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(12)History for SCE Worldwide Studios. 2012. History for SCE Worldwide Studios. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mobygames.com/company/sce-worldwide-studios/history. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(13)History of Sony Playstation - Who Made the First Playstation. 2012. History of Sony Playstation - Who Made the First Playstation. [ONLINE] Available at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_playstation.htm. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(14)History of the Sony PlayStation – Kick-Starting the Disc Revolution. 2012. History of the Sony PlayStation – Kick-Starting the Disc Revolution. [ONLINE] Available at: http://classicgames.about.com/od/consoleandhandheldgames/p/History-Of-The-Sony-Playsation-Kick-Starting-The-Disc-Revolution.htm. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(15)MegaBitsOfGaming, (2010), video-game-timeline.jpg [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.onlineeducation.net/videogame_timeline/video-game-timeline.jpg [Accessed 24 February 12].
(16)PlayStation - Video Game Sales Wiki - Video Game Sales, Charts, NPD, Graphs, Video Game Figures, and more!. 2012. PlayStation - Video Game Sales Wiki - Video Game Sales, Charts, NPD, Graphs, Video Game Figures, and more!. [ONLINE] Available at: http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/PlayStation. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(17)PlayStation 3 - PlayStation 3, PS3 system. 2012. PlayStation 3 - PlayStation 3, PS3 system. [ONLINE] Available at: http://uk.playstation.com/ps3system/. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(18)PS3™ | About the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu. 2012. PS3™ | About the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu. [ONLINE] Available at: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/basicoperations/xmb.html. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(19)PlayStation News: Lawsuit over PS3 'Other OS' removal dismissed - ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2012. PlayStation News: Lawsuit over PS3 'Other OS' removal dismissed - ComputerAndVideoGames.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/329501/lawsuit-over-ps3-other-os-removal-dismissed/. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(20)The Evolution of the PlayStation Control Pad. 2012. The Evolution of the PlayStation Control Pad. [ONLINE] Available at: http://kotaku.com/5816069/the-evolution-of-the-playstation-control-pad/gallery/1. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(21)Sony reveals how the Playstation Move works. - Knoxville Video Game | Examiner.com. 2012. Sony reveals how the Playstation Move works. - Knoxville Video Game | Examiner.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.examiner.com/video-game-in-knoxville/sony-reveals-how-the-playstation-move-works. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
(22)Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. 2012. Playstation Move - Move.Me. [ONLINE] Available at: http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/move-me/. [Accessed 24 February 12].
(23) Review – Beat Sketcher | PSNStores. 2012. Review – Beat Sketcher | PSNStores. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.psnstores.com/2010/11/review-beat-sketcher/. [Accessed 24 February 2012].
Media References:
(1)Sony Corporation, (2011), Playstation Move Logo [ONLINE]. Available at:http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4702905833_18e7c243c1.jpg [Accessed 23 February 12].
(2)Sony Corporation, (2011), Sony_Founders [ONLINE]. Available at:http://worldbrands.blox.ua/resource/sony_founders.jpg [Accessed 23 February 12].
(3)Sony Corporation, (2011), Sony_Timeline [ONLINE]. Available at:http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2012/01/457ba129ef389a40c3aba24da5a4a134.jpg[Accessed 23 February 12].
(4)Sony Corporation, (2011), Move_Controller [ONLINE]. Available at:http://www.pspgweber.com/images/PSPNews/PS3-PlayStation_Move-Game-Titles.jpg [Accessed 23 February 12].
(5)PlayTheStation (2010) Beat Sketcher | PlayStation Move Trailer | GamesCom 2010. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83aAKe4bo98 [Accessed: 24 February].
