With recently launched motion controller ‘PS Move’ for PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation is ready to make this summer holidays a gaming feast for the kids. Atindriya Bose, country manager — Sony Computer Entertainment Europe spoke to Amit Mudgill about the new gadget. Excerpts:

Is the new motion-controller especially made for core-gamers?

PlayStation Move motion controller for PlayStation 3 (PS3) will be laun­ched this year. The new gadget offers a motion-based, high-definition gam­ing experience. Concurr­ently with its launch, there is also a PlayStation Move sub-controller to be used along with the motion controller for intuitive navigation of in-game characters and objects. The platform includes the motion controller, sub-controller, and PlayStation Eye camera. The motion controller will come with a strong lineup of software titles.

Nintendo is giving a tough co­mpetition to console sellers in bo­th in the US and India. Do you think these new gadgets will help the Playstation have an edge over the rivals (As the fact that Nintendo is already offering 15-in-1 controller, which is similar to the new product)?

The new gadget has been developed and designed to augment the gaming experience for the PS3 owners. This will be the most responsive and precise controller in the market, as a result of the relationship between the coloured sphere, PlayStation Eye camera and state of the art technology within the hardware. All this combines to capture the precise body movements and actions in full 3D motion.

LittleBigPlanet 2 will support the new device. What are the other games that will support it? What will be the price of such games and will it be costlier than other games?

At the Game Developer Conference 2010, LittleBigPlanet has been shown as an example of how an existing game can benefit from Move. We have not made any announcements about the Little­BigPlanet franchise. However, in the fiscal year 2010, SCE Worldwide Studios will also release more than 20 games that are either dedicated to or supported with the Move platform. Moreover, 36 third party developers and publishers have decided to support PS Move platform. This will mean a continuous supply of interesting games using the device.

What is your strategy for India? How far the low-price strategy for the PS2 has worked for Sony PlayStation?

The product portfolio strategy has worked well for the PlayStation in the Indian market. I will necessarily not call it a low price strategy in particular. The India market strategy focuses on enhancing accessibility of the PlayStation range across the different consumer segments. The accessibility drives have been across various factors of consumer buying process, including price of consoles (initial purchase), of games (low running cost), easy availability (wider distribution across markets), easy experiencing (playable zones with Sony centres and key retailers), local content in gaming for PS2 and PSP through local game development and range of games available by working with other third party publishers to be active in Indian market.

Is Sony Playstation making constant efforts to enhance its availability in the Indian market?

With the proliferation of gaming beyond the metros and the mini metros, the distribution plays an important role for the expansion of PlayStation business. But with a content driven business like PlayStation, the bigger challenge is to synchronise the reach expansion between the console hardware and the game software across various markets. This needs to be further tampered with the fact the width of distribution need varies across the three different formats of PlayStation, namely PS2, PSP and PS3.

There is much hype on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii2. The 3DS won’t require special glasses. Are you planning to come out with a similar technology for PS3?

There is nothing suggested as of now in this line.

God of War III, the game from famous God of War series had launched early this month. How are the sales? Do you think such exclusive franchise games spur faith towards console makers?

As in all other markets, the God of War franchise has a tremendous following in the Indian market also. Interestingly, just on the basis of the first day sales in India, the God of War III has perhaps become the largest selling game on the PS3 platform. The consumer acceptance and the demand are unabated and we are replenishing the supplies to cater to the demand that is there for the game. Such exclusive franchise with a large fan base indicates the strength of console gaming as an entertainment avenue and how eagerly consumers wait for such franchises.

Can we expect PlayStaion consoles to see some makeover?

We have launched the PSPGo internationally in the present fiscal year. These are important technology changes that have been introduced recently (in addition to the continuous upgradations of the consumer experiences and features through the firmware updates on PSP and PS3).