Move Me Beta Testing

Today, together with a small group I beta tested the Move Me...

What is it?

The Move Me is a tool for which coders and programmers can work with the Move controller and PlayStation Eye to create different applications using software on their PC’s and Macintosh computers.

What was my experience of the Move. Me?

Well given that none of those in our group could code and we could not find a suitable lead that would connect the console to the PC, our experience was very limited. At its base form, the Move Me application that was available to us simply summoned a simple low polygon sword that could be swung depending on the movement of the Move remote. Furthermore with the presence of a second Move Controller, a 3D model of a Move Controller takes its place.

The Positives:

The Move remote is very responsive – more so than the Wii/Wii motion plus remotes and likely more than the Kinects arm movements (although my own personal experience with the Kinect is limited so I cannot verify this).  Because of this the speed that the Remote travels and its general coordinates within the space are very well mapped.

Having access to the Move could probably give birth to some very innovative games or ideas and it could easily be linked with other software, like Photoshop or even 3D sculpting tools to give the user a different experience. One such example of the room for innovation with the Move Me software lays in a code that Jess, a member of the group beta testing, had found online whereby someone had created a wire loop style game, something which I hadn’t even considered.

The Negatives:

The Move Me is a tool for programmers and because of this it can’t be considered a commercial product for a mass market – at least not at this point in time. Without Coding/ Programming Experience, the correct leads to connect the PlayStation to the PC (and a PC) the product has a very basic functionality that we found as not enjoyable.

If the user could connect the PlayStation to their PC unless there is a dedicated bank of other code available, it would take either prior knowledge or self-tutoring in order to even begin to create simple applications. This immediately alienates a vast majority of people who could use this software.

There isn’t another way to get code into the Move Me other than PC connection. We attempted using a memory stick to get the file in or tried to find some area within the software to input code with no luck.

The Move Me Sword application does not recognise where the users body is so if the player places the sword behind their back, it does not register this. Additionally the second Move remote model can move clean through the sword model and vice versa. Both of these make problems make the application itself seem unfinished and rushed.

The Move Me Sword application doesn’t have a very big appeal, with most of the Beta testing group not showing huge amounts of interest in what it has to offer.

The area for which the Move Me picks up the remote isn’t very far; at best 7- 8 feet from the camera. This could prove to be restrictive for some applications or if the software was being used in large venues.

Even though the Move could be connected with a drawing program or a sculpting program, there are two issues:

-It is hard to pinpoint exactly where you would be pressing due to the shape of the Move Remotes top LED ball

- Why would the user want to use the Move in place of the more functional Tablet option – or even touch screen tablets?

My thoughts on improvements that could be made/ solutions to above problems:

The ‘hacks’ and creative uses of the other motion software out from Nintendo and Kinect is distinct evidence that the Move Me has the potential to grow into something that breeds innovation. To do this though it needs to have a community of home developers that can have easy access to the software, and more support when it comes to actually making applications. This could be achieved in a number of ways:

-          Free Access to Move. Me. To build a community is willing to develop applications it needs to be simple and easy to do. Given the amount of ‘hacking’ that has occurred to the motion remotes it is clear that people want to experiment with the software. By giving people a free way to do that, for which Sony can control the level for which the user can work with the Move remote, then both parties would benefit.

-          A software development kit that makes developing easier for users who want to work with the Move Me, but don’t necessarily want to learn the coding or would prefer to be eased into it. Furthermore this could encourage an increased indie presence on the market.

-          “Move Me Store” – given the strong foundation that the PlayStation Network has, the inclusion of a shop whereby the applications that people create can be purchased/ shared would be another incentive for people to use the Move Me, and on a commercial level should successful games be made as a split could be set up between the developer of said game/application and Sony. This model has worked with numerous other platforms such as the Apple Store. Furthermore really talented utilisation of the software would act almost as a way for Sony to scout out and acquire new talent and ideas.

Other smaller changes that could be made just relate back to the ease of uploading and changing the code within the Move Me – be it a way that it can be accessed and applied within the Move Me software, or transferred by a memory stick.