Sony PS3 Move Release Slated For September

Sony says its motion controller for the PlayStation 3 will be available in mid-September, opening a new battleground in the consumer electronics company's console war with Nintendo and Microsoft.

Sony also announced Tuesday at the E3 Expo, the nation's biggest gaming conference, the coming lineup of 3D titles. Console makers are turning to 3D technology and motion controllers in competing with each other and to stave off growing competition from mobile devices and online social networks, which are both becoming gaming platforms.

Sony plans to release the PlayStation 3 Move in North America Sept. 19. The system, which tracks body motions to control games, is expected to help Sony close the gap between itself and the Nintendo Wii, which has led the PS3 in the console market since the products were released in late 2006.

The Wii's success is attributable to being the first of the three major consoles to offer a motion-sensing device to play games. Nintendo's success with the capability has prompted Microsoft and Sony to introduce their own competing systems for the Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.

Microsoft launched its Kinect motion-control system at E3 two days before Sony's announcements. Previously codenamed Project Natal, Kinect uses a camera, audio sensors and motion-sensing technology to track human body motion. The PS3 and Wii systems require users to hold a special device.

Like Kinect, the PS3 Move is a separate device that plugs into the console. The Sony system comprises a special camera, a single wand-like controller and one game called "Sports Champion." The bundle costs $100, and each additional standalone controller costs $50.

Sony unveiled the PS3 Move in March, but at the time did not say when it would be released. At an E3 news conference, Jack Tretton, president and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, said the company's line up of coming 3D titles included "Killzone 3" and "Gran Turismo 5." The latter is due in November and is expected to cost $100. Details on "Killzone 3" were not disclosed.