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Sony trademarks 'PlayStation Arc' in Japan

Console maker locks down rights to oft-speculated name for PS3's motion controller in home nation; preview at GDC next week.

In January, Sony pushed back the launch of the PlayStation 3's camera-based motion-sensing controller from spring to fall 2010. Such a delay was not unexpected, considering Sony has yet to attach an official name to the new controller or show it outside of a trade show.

It's certain that at least no one else will be labeling anything the

It's certain that at least no one else will be labeling anything the "PlayStation Arc."

One of those questions may soon be answered, as mounting evidence indicates that Sony will call its motion-sensing controller the "PlayStation Arc." As spotted by gaming blog Siliconera this week, Sony has filed an application to trademark the term "PlayStation Arc" with the Japanese Patent Office. Japanese characters accompanying the English text in the filing reiterate the "PlayStation Arc" name.

PlayStation Arc shot to prominence as a likely contender for the name of the new controller in January, when Sony registered the domain name PlayStationarc.com. A week later, THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell referred to the device as the PlayStation Arc as part of a post-earnings conference call. Of course, gaming executives have also dropped names that include the PlayStation Gem and PlayStation Sphere in reference to the device.

The mystery surrounding Sony's motion-sensing device may see some resolution next week at the 2010 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. As part of the show, Sony developer support engineer Kirk Bender and platform research manager David Coombes will deliver a session titled "Introducing the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller."

126 Comments

  • llakallaka

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:40 am GMT

    LOL, ok this thing has changed so much the names i simply dont know how it will be called 2 months from now!

  • DonTonyDeluca

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 3:02 pm GMT

    I am sure we will get an official North American release name at GDC this week

  • Dan21278

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 3:49 pm GMT

    HAHAHA!! @Mr_Manikin52 Imma send a friend request for that comment lol. That's why The "Arc" Looked so familiar I've seen it in a Lotta of videos!! lol

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:29 pm GMT

    is it just me or does the glowing testicle on the top make the thing look more like a child's toy than a piece of gaming tech?

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:27 pm GMT

    @Mr_Manikin52

    lol. i was in anne summers today and you are quite right there sir.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:20 pm GMT

    @Hvac0120

    lol. crazy.

  • scryren

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 9:10 am GMT

    Holy snot. What was Sony on when they designed that?

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 8:36 am GMT

    I recently bought a Microsoft Arc... No seriously, I did > look here

  • shaunn191

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:41 am GMT

    this looks like it can pretty much make owning a wii a joke.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:18 am GMT

    I think this will go down like the dreamcast.

  • Mr_Manikin52

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 9:17 pm GMT

    It looks like a female accessory. *wink wink*

  • wiidsduelpack

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:28 pm GMT

    How embarassing would it be for a so called hardcore player to do movements like in the Wii. /
    I mean Natal would be better because it won't look that embarassing having a controller on your hand. MS was smart not to use a controller. Probably the reason why Natal will sell better in my thinking.

  • wiidsduelpack

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:25 pm GMT

    These guys are horrible to advertise the Arc. And people critized Cammie for being a Nintendo fan even though she works for Nintendo. Had to see the technology to get interested. Its better than the Wii.

  • KaizerJinn

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:10 pm GMT

    ...intriguing

  • gobbo00

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 3:52 pm GMT

    Now I wonder what the Arc+Natal+microsoft muscle controler+AR goggles would be like.

  • wyan_

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 3:24 pm GMT

    "it is fulfilling what we all thought we would be able to do on the wii"

    @toysoldier34 That's exactly what I think too. This Sony controller is what I thought the Wiimote was going to be. I thought it would be 1:1 motion in 3D space at 60fps. The Wiimote isn't at all. Motion controls don't suck on the Wii because they are motion controls. They suck on the Wii because the original Wiimote is crap.

  • wyan_

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 3:19 pm GMT

    @DoorKnob22 I agree that the Arc is going to be a superior copy of the Wii's controller. It will allow it to overcome the Wii's many shortcomings. I think I can answer your other question. Though it's possible Nintendo may have rushed their controller slightly, I believe it's also possible that they were being a little conservative. I see a similarity to the past. When Nintendo made their analog stick controller for the N64, they only had one stick on it when it really could have used two right from the start. Sony caught on and made the dual stick controller and I'm glad they did. Now Sony is repeating history and 1upping Nintendo again. Microsoft made an unexpected leap ahead of both, but I think we will see incredibly awesome games for all motion based technologies, and though it's a bit too late for Nintendo, even the Wii Motion Plus as well. Motion control will have its success and failings in the near future, but will ultimately triumph leaving analog sticks to become a secondary (or additional) choice as d-pads have become since the N64's controller came to life.

  • warrner11

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 1:52 pm GMT

    man just gimme the controls and the tech demo.... i could throw them ninja stars and bow/arrow all day

  • krytorii

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 1:10 pm GMT

    Also, soory for the double post but in response to NATAL, it looks good in theory, and will sell better than arc in the west (mainly because of pricing of the console and how widespread the 360 is)

    The only thing is, unless it can reliably track/interprete intricate finger movements (eg trigger pulling) with zero-lag, I cant think of a way for the lack of buttons to be replaced and still have the variety of options.

    Also, 360 wont natal be harder for devs? I mean wii seems easy (pointer is pretty much like a mouse, and the gyros just sense direction). Arc will be similar, but natal it may be hard not for the camera/360 to keep up, but the game's programming. its not the roughly 15 button input of a controller, its complicated movement involving many joints and bones.

  • krytorii

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 1:04 pm GMT

    I'm not saying that sony hasnt copied from the wii, but I think this is gonna be better, if less successful.

    The high ps3 price discourages shovelware, so it wont sell as well with the families. On the other hand, think of the mechanics, on the wii, the controller is not ergonomically designed (nor is the classic controller for it as well IMO). Hopefully sony would have learned from this.
    Also, the arc controller should (in theory) have better pointing abilities as you dont have to point it at the screen to get a pointer to appear like you do on the wii.

    This is all speculation though, Im no expert. I'm imagining a shooter where you use 2 of these to point a gun, make CoD alot harder for those pesky 12 year olds who plague the online.

  • yixingtpot

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 11:58 am GMT

    you can still be a winner, just buy a PS3 and extended warranty just to be safe.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 11:02 am GMT

    Sure this will work for Sony... if the PS3 can count til the end of the year.

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 10:46 am GMT

    Still, I don't think it'll do good for PS3 anyway.

  • commanderPOWER

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 10:29 am GMT

    Kewl.

  • one_of_panda

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 10:24 am GMT

    I might get the controllers if their bundled with the PS3 Eye at a reduced price.

  • Dantefan1

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 9:51 am GMT

    Doom, no, it doesn't mean it's the final name. just means it's one they're strongly considering, so they trademarked it in case they do decide on it. the way an 8 year old "calls" bus seats

  • Cabal23

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 9:13 am GMT

    Looks like my wife's reproductive organ massager (won't let me spell that out). You will look uber fairy swinging that around. Just goofy.

    @yixingtpot Taking over? Sarcasm...right?

  • InfamousJihad

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:50 am GMT

    I'm not exactly big on the whole motion controlling myself, the only thing I see going good with this toy is great new Star Wars games haha

  • firesage423

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:41 am GMT

    @Azorean269 i have nothing to be jealous of I OWN BOTH!! and i am on vacation waiting for my damn friends all the time..

  • Doolum

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:34 am GMT

    take what someone did first and make it better

  • undeadmarv

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:26 am GMT

    ...okay my time to chime in...first off natal is nothing but the playstion eye...they did the motion controls last gen...and the camera is still capable...they just realise people want a controller. Hence they've been working on this since the ps2 days...so it'd been on par in development as the wii...And natal isn't better, even people working with it says its just a pseye.. So...here's the thing. you want it? buy it. if not, move on, their all doing the exact same thing at the same time. (and side note...if you really look hard at the ps3 it does have more to offer than any other system so stop putting down a system, just because your a fanboy)

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:25 am GMT

    I love how so many PS3 fanboys have just turned face and now doff their cap to Sony for having what is essentially a copied device from the Wii... the very device they've been mocking the Wii for... funny stuff. MS are no better - OK, theirs is a camera based system, but it's the same concept - games based on body movements.

    I won't be buying an Arc or Natal - i'm just not into motion control games. They're never, ever as accurate as a proper controller, not even with these "motion+" things and other bells and whistles attached. Sure, I like the odd Wii game like Mario Galaxy and Zelda, but I always played those with the minimum of movement because I find it very annoying to be sat there swinging arms wildly...

    And if the day comes that all consoles are motion control everything as standard, I'll just chalk my displeasure up to old age, and sit and be happy with my 30+ years worth of games using a classic controller.

  • Smithers2286

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:18 am GMT

    I'm pretty sure that Sony and Microsoft won't get the results their looking for with their respective motion control solutions. I love the Wii, because how it redefined the idea of "next generation." Not to mention the companies that embraced this idea and trully designed great games for the platform. I think the problem with Microsoft and Sony is the fact that they denounced the Wii when it was unveiled originally, and was very forward on how they thought it was a fad. I think those statements will come back to haunt them even more now that they have gave in and adopted this new style of play.

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:10 am GMT

    dont hate me for saying this, but it seems cool and all, but it looks like a female pleasure device

  • atopp399

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:07 am GMT

    I do not think an optional accessory is ever going to be a Wii killer. The Wii remote is required to play Nintendo games. Optional accessories never really take off that well.

  • HavocV3

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:06 am GMT

    Flipyap28

    _____

    I agree, add-ons years after initial launch are bound to fail.

  • atopp399

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:04 am GMT

    Looks like a vibrator. Should appeal to the soccer moms.

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 8:03 am GMT

    @wonzan: You act as if Natal will never exist and people will go off wiis and go for PS3s instead, if anything both new motion controllers will flop and Nintendo Wii will continue to take the lead, or the casual gamer audience will want something new or better... which they will go for Natal.

    I am not saying Natal is better than the PS Arc, but from a non gamers point of view, it just looks like the PS3's wii remote, but it will be more expensive. Natal on the other hand looks completely different, something which the casual audience can switch to.

    Also take into account that PS3 Slim is still the highest price console on the market with the 360 Elite following, not necessarily all 360 models and the NIntendo Wii. IMO, I dont see any change happening in Sony's favour in terms of sales in the future.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 7:59 am GMT

    @wonzan

    Certainly, no video game company is immune to borrowing ideas. I just personally find it amusing that the Gamespot crowd spent the last three years mocking the Wii for motion-control gimmickry, and are now forced to either stick it to Sony or do a hypocritical 180 and salute the Arc. I'm sure it will be an improvement to the Wii model - why even bother otherwise? - but you're still swinging an imaginary tennis racket while bouncing around your living room.

    Sony's recent quality hike - Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, etc. - has been very good news indeed. I doubt they're in any danger of eclipsing their rivals in the marketplace, though. Even after all of their moving and shaking, they fell back into third here in the States. Nobody is gonna touch the Wii regardless; it is part of pop culture now and has elevated itself beyond the hobby into a living room fixture. The PSP Go is a train wreck and any technological advantage provided by the PS3's hardware is offset (outside of first party games) by the fact that everything is developed for 360 standards and just ported over.

    I just hope Sony learns from their stumbling. The PS2 in my closet with the 35+ games is a reminder of what the company was once capable of.

  • zMd113

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 7:33 am GMT

    well i think we all learned from the Wii, it's "sounds good" but can it deliver the games which is the most important thing. i hope that the delay gave Sony time to have a good library right off the bat. no shuffle ware.

  • wonzan

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 7:27 am GMT

    @Rottenwood
    MANY companies, if not all companies take what has been done in the past and improve upon it. The reason they do this is because the things that were implemented in the past already have a public reaction to them and so investment in such technology is easier to deem safe. Sony is pushing this motion sensing jazz to a new level. I'd rather have what Sony is about to release than something similar to a wii controller on the day the PS3 was released to be honest. Sony has been a great (and still is) game company. Their fall from grace can mainly be attributed to the high price of the PS3 (not over price, high price). Now that that is sorted and Sony has some phenomenal games exclusive to their console. I don't see how either the Wii or 360 will keep up in terms of sales in the near future. Sony has amalgamated the motion sensing of the wii and the cheap price of the 360. Win-win situation.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 6:24 am GMT

    The PlayStation 3: it only does everything... our competitors did first.

    I miss the take-charge, industry-leadin' Sony of the previous two generations.

  • Hanzoadam

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 5:44 am GMT

    Looks intresting, im not a fan of motion sensing but Its worth a try

  • yixingtpot

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 5:30 am GMT

    PS3 is finally taking over, thank God.

  • shadowysea07

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 5:29 am GMT

    hmm so they still haven't decided on a name yet? oh well i like arc wand anyway so i hope they keep it at that.

  • Jeff-Ryan

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 5:04 am GMT

    motion controller is cool, but there must be very good games to determine if it will be a success

  • edwardecl

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 3:59 am GMT

    Looks good to me, all you need is an eyetoy and one of these bluetooth sticks so for people who already own an eyetoy I guess it's not gonna cost much.

    If you don't like it don't buy it. I can bet this will be in the package for the PS4 though even if it isn't popular on the PS3.

    Oh they better put a strap on it or we are gonna get "I just through the PS ARC through my LCD TV halp!!!" posts onf forums LOL.

  • AmnesiaHaze

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 3:42 am GMT

    this will be what i was expecting from wii in 06 , looking forward

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Mar 3, 2010 2:57 am GMT

    @Bashers79

    It's okay, I appreciate people replying to my posts (I enjoy small criticisms and debates). No dramas, mate

    I can see what you mean in your response, but until we have the Arc controller in our hands we dont know for sure how good (or bad) it really is. One thing I do feel confident about the Arc is the fact that Sony will make some hardcore first party games for it. Compare this to Nintendo, who keep releasing casual games without caring about the hardcore. We don't know how good the Arc is yet, but until it gets released we can only speculate

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