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PS3 motion controller = 'PlayStation Arc'?

  • By , GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 25, 2010 5:08 pm PT

Sony's registration of PlayStationarc.com leads to speculation that the light-wand-based system finally has a name.

Source: Domain-name search engine Better-Whois.com (via VGChartz).

What we heard: Ever since it was unveiled at E3 2009, the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller has been officially referred to as...the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller. Even in the recent announcement of the light-wand-based system's delay, Sony did not offer a name for the technology, which will now arrive this fall. It will be going head-to-head with Microsoft's controller-less motion-sensing scheme, Project Natal.

PlayStation Sphere or PlayStation Arc?

PlayStation Sphere or PlayStation Arc?

That said, since the game industry abhors a vacuum almost as much as nature, various speculative names for the PS3 Motion Controller began popping up. In a presentation at a UBS financial conference last December, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello referred to the system as the "Gem." However, a more popular contender has been "Sphere," a title that several Japanese developers have dropped in interviews and Sony reportedly has used internally.

Now another potential moniker might have become the front-runner. Sony Computer Entertainment has quietly registered the domain name PlayStationarc.com, leading many to believe the system will be called "PlayStation Arc." Though the URL is currently dead, online records show that Sony registered the domain name back in October, shortly after Sony touted the PS3 Motion Controller at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show.

The official story: "We have not announced an official name and do not discuss rumors or speculative queries."-- Sony rep.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not enough to go on. The PlayStation Arc certainly has the sort of simple-but-elegant ring that Sony favors for its products (the Bloggie excepted). However, there's no guarantee that that is the name of the PS3 Motion Controller versus another PlayStation-related product or initiative.

206 Comments

  • ziv_ew

    Posted Mar 8, 2010 2:16 pm GMT

    just think how crazy it wuld have been if GOW 3 used that, ill be swinging this till it will melt from awesomeness

  • kuvze

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 7:59 am GMT

    there sure is a way microsoft launches things..project natal launch was more complete and polished..this looks like a chineese toy and seeing the progress and accuracy of the engineers,i dont think this would come any soon..maybe after a year of project natal ruling this would pop out..!!!

  • kenkade123

    Posted Feb 19, 2010 2:58 pm GMT

    AWESOME!

  • mr-krinkles

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 6:01 am GMT

    It's Ridge Racerr!

  • MuffintopX

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 2:13 pm GMT

    Not getting the feeling that this is for casual gamers. I think SONY will be the only ones to make serious games for motion controllers. Think about Oblivion using this. I would play the hell out of that. Not to mention Motion-control in 3D.. About to get interesting!

  • penguins227

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 3:34 pm GMT

    Joysticks please.

  • omcpapa

    Posted Feb 3, 2010 2:57 pm GMT

    Wow

  • riseagainst976

    Posted Feb 3, 2010 7:51 am GMT

    If they do this right (which Wii did not), it could be great.

  • MagicOneUp

    Posted Feb 3, 2010 3:04 am GMT

    wand thingy is gonna fail epically, i mean motion controls are for people wanting less of a control to hold, not a swiss-knife of a controller

  • JESSEAARON100

    Posted Feb 3, 2010 12:48 am GMT

    Now that's a blow to the XBOX 360 Project Natal

  • Heshertonfist

    Posted Feb 2, 2010 8:57 pm GMT

    I just don't get what makes motion sensing technology so fun. It's hardly a new concept, jumping around pretending to swing a tennis racket doesn't sound like fun. This so called casual gaming trend is going to be remembered as a dark day by real gamers.

  • 30NIGHTCRAWLER3

    Posted Feb 2, 2010 6:55 pm GMT

    Wii and maybe XBOX 360 is in big trouble when this comes out

  • InsertWittyID

    Posted Feb 1, 2010 6:14 pm GMT

    Maybe I should finally invest in a PS3. I like the Wii conceptually, but the hardware limitations and scarcity of high-profile titles keep me from enjoying it as much as I could. I'd like to see another company take a stab at motion controls and so far Sony's attempt seems far more compelling than Microsoft's.

  • kikitube

    Posted Feb 1, 2010 12:06 am GMT

    I don't like motion controls at all.

  • sensei_hEnRY

    Posted Jan 31, 2010 11:37 pm GMT

    arc is a nice name. Use it Sony.

  • supercaffinekid

    Posted Jan 31, 2010 10:54 am GMT

    Actually this looks pretty sweet to me. the price though, probably not so sweeet. 2 "arcs" + a psEye? ouch.

  • ps3forall

    Posted Jan 31, 2010 5:29 am GMT

    ausome motion cotrol

  • falldogout

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 8:35 pm GMT

    Didn't sega learn their lesson?

    What was that controller sega had....
    The hexagon?

  • zipnut5

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 4:37 pm GMT

    ps3 owners rejoice!!!

  • Lugia_120

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 1:58 pm GMT

    As a proud owner of both an Wii and a PS3,the question is:Why?

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 8:18 am GMT

    @TripSe7en call it "wishful thinking" - $100 was my low-end. My more reasonable guess was closer to $200, which would still be a significant discount, but would be closer to something Sony could do in reality.

    at $200 for 4 $50 and a $40 PSEye, that $40 in savings. However, there are still going to be plenty of consumers who will pay $50 for each Arc because they could be saving money or if they don't need 4 controllers. So the profits would still come around through those non-bundled items sold.

    My hope is that Sony has created the controller in a way that it is already cheap to manufacture so that they can come out at a competitive price against Natal, which I am predicting will cost close to $100 at launch.
    _

  • kongpow24

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 5:28 am GMT

    Project Natal may be another motion controller that may break your TV trying to beat Seth on SF 4, and it may involve kicking it down.

  • susil65

    Posted Jan 29, 2010 12:02 am GMT

    all you ps3 motion controller haters should shut up and stop reading this article if you aren't interested. I think ps3 motion controller is awesome as it is more precise than NATAL and i am used to holding controller in my hand .

  • boricuasnake04

    Posted Jan 28, 2010 6:22 pm GMT

    i love my PS3 but im not sure about this one i am getting NATAL even though i probably wont use it

  • Princess_Rectum

    Posted Jan 28, 2010 4:35 pm GMT

    Dan21278 appears to be a giant tool. Kinda funny..

  • Linkman0714

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 9:41 pm GMT

    whatever its called i doubt im getting it...just another gimick

  • denicola_a_god

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 6:25 pm GMT

    magic stick lmao

  • Pwnd56

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 4:31 pm GMT

    at least they didnt call it the "happy stick"

  • Dan21278

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 3:53 pm GMT

    @ Omaciel Yeah i am pretty jealous

  • tdawg2594

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 2:54 pm GMT

    @sexytyrant69


    Lol the wii is innovated but tell me this what games they have made thats new and innovated nintendo has not change a damn thing they continue milk dry mario and i laugh at some of the people saying sony isn't orginal. They continue to milk dry there old franchises notice when e3 comes all nintendo say is either new metroid zelda or mario all there e3 performances are all but boring gotta laugh at some of the people also saying nintendo dominated this gen yeah in sales but in games hell no not even close thats why ubisoft ea and all of them are not even making as much games for nintendo anymore. So we will see what nintendo has in store for us for 2010

  • Omaciel

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 2:39 pm GMT

    @ atopp399
    games sony is releasing soon or already released
    Heavy Rain, God Of War III, MAG final fantasy 13 but thats for Xbox as well MAG is a FPS but its fun though and challenging
    just thought id let you know the different types of games that are coming out

  • Omaciel

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 2:33 pm GMT

    @Dan21278

    I detect jealousy in your statement lol

    motion controllers = lame who the heck wants to move when their playing a video game on any system

  • Dan21278 posted Jan 27, 2010 1:49 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Dan21278

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:49 pm GMT (hide)

    So PS3 owners are gonna be waving around a penis shaped rod with a ball on it? I see LOL

  • rann89

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 9:28 am GMT

    It's safe to guess, if Sony actually claimed the website before someone else could. Unless Sony claimed the website of every possible name they were thinking of, Arc sounds like a pretty safe bet.

    And it doesn't too shabby either.

  • atopp399 posted Jan 27, 2010 8:49 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    atopp399

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 8:49 am GMT (hide)

    What does Sony do that is new? All I see are racing and FPS games.

  • atopp399 posted Jan 27, 2010 8:47 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    atopp399

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 8:47 am GMT (hide)

    This may be the last generation of console I purchase. I can't imagine the gimmicks that are going to be in the next generation. I mostly play my PC now but will probably give up on consoles entirely based on the current trends.

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 8:21 am GMT

    Why don't they call it the "no one wants this, the casual crowd already have a Wii" remote? Not catchy enough?

    I swear if decent titles start declining on Sony and MSs platform because of these devices, I'll just end up sticking to PC gaming and screw all the consoles.

  • player_leo

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 7:02 am GMT

    How many people actually believe that this WILL be realeased in the fall. It doesn't have a shape. People are speculating over this thing and it appears to still be in prototype form. Games haven't been introduced yet. I smell another delay until next year. Given Sony's track record for announcing things far before a concrete release date is set, just to steal the fire from it's compatition. Anyone remember when Sony said the PS3 will release along the xbox360, then changed it to a spring release date, only to change it again in February before the March release date they told everybody. And don't forget about KillZone2 and GT5. The next new update about this thing will be another delay.

  • samnov

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 5:42 am GMT

    In the end, this and Natal will be about the same. PS3 and Xbox360 are about the same and they always will be... Microsoft and Sony sould work together and make console, that would be the best... (and maybe with a little Nintendo)

  • Darkman2007

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 2:06 am GMT

    I really dont care what its name is , it needs games , and good ones, it could be called the "ultra super duper motion controller of doom" but if it doesnt have good games, I wont buy one.

  • sexytyrant69

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:23 am GMT

    Also i'm still gonna buy them both. The Playstation Eye/Arc and Natal.To show some support.

  • sexytyrant69

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:20 am GMT

    dawg2594:
    They came up with the Wii.
    and look how it selling. Even Sony and MS is threatend since they making motion control devices to win the casual crowd themselves.
    I would give U a history lesson on Nintendo but i don't have the patience ot explain but i will say this.To prove my theory is correct.Wait till next gen.You'll see what i;m talking about.

  • sexytyrant69

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:10 am GMT

    fps_d0minat0r:
    What are U blind.
    Don't U see the picture Sony is copying the wii remote now.But adding new extra unique features like they did with the dualshock and the SIXAXIS controllers.
    Also it's true that nintendo tech isn't as good as MS or Sony but what they do have is innovation since it's obviously working since the wii is outselling both of them.and having Microsoft and Sony following Nintendo's paths making motion sensor devices.Think about it if they was confident in their system they wouldn't fall into the motion sensor idea in the first place and just have faith in their own skills.

  • eastwoodmaniac

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 12:56 am GMT

    How about the 'Threemote'? Haha...meh.

  • sexytyrant69

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 12:50 am GMT

    izmickey:
    I'm just judging from the last 12 years and currentlyNintendo has been coming up with new ideas that sell,But U are right thro.I shouldn't sell the other systems short, and their ideas but 9 timer out of 10 MS or Sony is gonna take one of Nintendo ideas and either make it better or worse.The analog on the control pad for one ,then the SIXAXIS MC for the PS3 controller and now (Above) the wand like remote.Don't get me wrong i'm not against sony i'm just stating the facts.

  • mourad_essa

    Posted Jan 26, 2010 11:44 pm GMT

    always good stuff has a bad name...

  • JamesMilligan_5

    Posted Jan 26, 2010 11:12 pm GMT

    PS starf is a better name than PS arc

  • hoossy1

    Posted Jan 26, 2010 10:51 pm GMT

    eh.... they should have just made it a full fledged lightsabor

  • tdawg2594 posted Jan 26, 2010 9:34 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    tdawg2594

    Posted Jan 26, 2010 9:34 pm GMT (hide)

    Nintendo innovated lmfaoooo ??? oh please when was the last time nintendo did something truly original ? they have 3 main ip people kill for on there console zelda mario metroid if u wanna throw pokemon in that nintendo is the top milkers of all time they fail to come up with anything new at least with sony i get something new every few years or so

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Jan 26, 2010 9:08 pm GMT

    The playstation "TV remote with a glowing ball on top...thingy..."

    Sorry, I still dont see why we need to compete with the Wii, let them have their "niche"

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