Sony jumps into motion games fray with Move

LOS ANGELES, USA: Sony Corp will launch its motion-controlled gaming system on Sept. 15, getting to market months ahead of a rival platform from Microsoft Corp as it makes the jump into one of the hottest trends in gaming.

Motion-based gaming is all the rage at this year's E3 in Los Angeles, the gaming industry's biggest trade show. It was popularized by Nintendo Co Ltd and its Wii home console, and is expected to help draw in millions of new gamers in coming years.

Sony said on Tuesday its "Move" system for the PlayStation 3 home console will go on sale Sept. 15 in Europe, and days later in the United States. It is expected to be on shelves in Japan on Oct 21. The basic system, which features a wand that resembles an ice cream cone, will start at $50 for the controller and $40 for a camera.

Microsoft's Kinect motion-based platform -- which unlike the Move relies solely on voice, body and hand gestures -- for the Xbox 360 goes on sale Nov. 4, the top software vendor said in a much-anticipated announcement at the E3 games convention on Monday.

Sony said there will be 15 to 20 titles available for Move on the first day, and more than 40 available by the holidays.

"The PlayStation Move will bridge the gap between core and casual, between hard-core gamers and people that have never picked up a controller," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Even as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo fight for primacy in motion-based games, Sony is also making a huge bet on 3D gaming.

The company said it is alone in offering an end-to-end 3D experience, from its televisions to specially designed content via its entertainment division.

The company will have more than 20 3D titles available for the PlayStation 3, which has a base of some 35 million users, by March of next year.