Sony's Move.me is a piece of software that allows players to experiment with coding technology using the Move 3D motion controls. It isn't necessarily a game, but more of a portal for players and programming enthusiasts to have the freedom to make what they want with it. It seems evident from this piece of software that Sony are encouraging a broader audience to use the software, not necessarily gaming coders. I am assuming similar to that of the technologies behind Microsoft Xbox 360's Kinect motion camera sensor that is also used for other things than gaming. The Kinect camera is used in medical, military and educational purposes to make life more efficient in certain job roles. I believe Sony are aiming to do something similar with the Move.me software, enabling anyone to be able to make anything they want from it.
In the video above, you can see Sony members of staff demonstrating the capabilities of the Move.me software and it's controller system. You can see a gentleman manipulating the movement of a robot using the Sony Move controllers. This sort of demonstration is evidently going to be useful in some manner to the public, whether gaming or not. For example this sort've control could be used more beneficially for it's accuracy, than the Kinect. Although Kinect has done exceeding well outside of the gaming market, it still isn't precise enough for job roles that still could be helped with. The pinpoint, 3D responsive Move controls have that ability to control and manipulate a scene more precisely, making it I deal for such jobs say as Bomb disposal units that are too unsafe for humans in the Military. Laser treatment in surgery, or control of endoscopes in medicine, as well as improved teaching facilities. There are many ways in which the Move.me software and controls can be used to be beneficial outside of it's usual gaming target. The potential for innovation is massive here, giving your audience something they can make they're own ideas out of, sells incredibly well.
For example, consumers whether gamers or not, like to be given the freedom to make their own ideas come to life and be creative. It has become increasingly popular over the last 5 years, how different platforms of media are giving their consumers freedom to produce and make their ideas reality. In certain gaming titles such as Halo's Forge mode, allows gamers to use in game environments and create their own maps using preset features in the mode. They have access too all obstacles, weapons, vehicles, environmental aspects and even lighting attributes. From their, players can build and create their own worlds, mini games and maps using the basic tools. Another example is 'Little Big Planet' where players have the freedom to create their own interactive levels using the tools in the Editing mode. Players can make different animated characters, have their own scripts, sound and even interactive objects, your imagination is the limit! If it wasn't represented enough through these games like Halo, Little Big Planet, Mod Nation Racers, The Sims, Minecraft etc, it is also evident in application software such as Microsoft's Indie marketplace on Xbox live, or the iOS software for the iPhone. It is becoming increasingly popular to give your audience the freedom to be able to create their own gaming worlds. Having the imagination to create whatever they wish to, I think this is what Sony are aiming for with the Move.me technology. Instead of making it primarily suitable with games, give it to the audience to make what they want of it, regardless of whom for.
I was actually able to play test the Sony Move.me software with a small group of fellow students at my University. I actually rented the equipment for a total 4 hours, but found are testing was done in the first half hour. My experience of the Move.me was pretty disappointing and not necessarily based around the software potential. I have no doubt the Move.me product can do exceeding well, however from my experience there is a lot that can be changed to improve this and make it appeal to the audience it thrives for. My initial reaction to the play test was the use of the Move controls and the preset 'tools' we were able to use. The primary controller would represent that of an animated, 3D sword that does react very well to the motion sensor. However, that's where the excitement ceased. After 5 minutes of testing the depth of field with the control and animated object, moving it around and testing it's boundaries, my group began to feel this is all we could do with the software, which of course wasn't true. However, the problem lied with the fact that the Move software is controlled through coding in the top left hand side of the screen. All of us in the group admitted that the aesthetic appeal of the coding, didn't look so good even before we played on it. Through time of actually using the software, it became imminent that if you didn't understand code, this would literally feel confusing and pointless.
Here is a small video clip demonstrating my group play testing the Move.me software:
(Audio has been removed)
I made a desperate attempt to rectify this problem and researched on the computer, different applications of code that could be put into the Move.me software, so we could perhaps use different animated objects or even get to play a small game. With much scanning of online PlayStation Forums and topic discussions, I found a few links to sites that including coding in which I could input into the Move.me software and use. Once I found this, I became convinced we could get some solid play testing underway. However, with the lack of coding knowledge and with no way to connect the computer to the PlayStation, it became impossible to transfer any code to the console. Even if I managed to find a way, I would've never known how to import it. I tried first transferring the data through a flash drive, then through Ethernet and USB to USB, but could not find out in any way how to input the codes. I began thinking if we needed a keyboard and had to do it manually? but the length of the coding on the play tests I found, meant we would've spent more time inputting the actual data than playing the game.
Here is a photo I found of a potential game we could have played, if we had the right equipment and knowledge to input the code:
We spent around 15 minutes play testing the software and about a good hour trying to find a way to get some new codes into the program. I think based on the difficulties we had as no experience coders, meant there were quite a few areas for improvement.
I have bullet pointed how I think this can be better:
. Making the Move.me software more accessible to anyone no matter what their specific skills. It is evident with the software that you need to have some understanding of coding in order to benefit from the program. With someone such as myself and my play test group lacked, we were unable to get anything out of the system, which left us feeling really disappointed. Although admittedly there are people who that can do incredible things with coding and that element should still be featured. I think it's important to make it easier or more simplistic for people with little knowledge of coding, to be able to get the software functioning accordingly. As previously mentioned, gamers have managed to produce outstanding things withing customizable software tools based on their simplicity, mods or 'Modifications' are attempted by those who know how to code. Doesn't mean the software runs on that skill level.
. Instead of making it assume you're inputting code, make it more simpler by including the codes in to downloadable documents. Such as downloading a pack of features that automatically inputs the data into the system, instead of the consumer having to read pages of code and trying to figure out how to import it, or what extra hardware you need to install. The technology can still be there for the high tech types, but is easy enough for people to navigate through it. I think it's also important to make the software more documented/narrated, so that consumers can understand how to use the software. It was quite off putting and baffling to see lines of code covering half the television screen. If needed entirely it should be represented in a more efficient way, perhaps in a tool bar?
. Give the consumer more to play with. Although I understand this is a play test of the software, I couldn't help but think waving a sword around was a substantial feature of how powerful this product can be. Giving more for your audience to play with, build with will increase the understand of the controls and how the motion sensors manipulate those tools. It is with making the experience more simplistic and inviting that will encourage a broader audience to try it out.
Overall I believe the best move for Sony with this software is it make it less coding based and more simplistic so that other audiences can navigate through it. I also think the inclusion of a visible tool bar when downloadable codes can be immediately transferred through to the system via WiFi, flash drive or any other device. I strongly believe the software should follow in the footsteps or similar methods the iOS devices use. The Applications store is the most successful and reliable place to find out or do pretty much anything you want to. If the Move.me software adopted this technique and made it more community based, it has the potential to be hugely successful. Making apps as downloadable code, encouraging others to work together to make new and innovative things. Making the Move.me accessible to anyone and everyone, means a broader audience can let their imaginations work with it. It's with that trust in your audience you will begin to see incredible new innovations and ideas unfold. Instead of being concerned of what to make for it, let the consumers make what they want of it and it's from there a trusted community can be born, working and playing together to make the Move technology overpower anything else in it's market. It has so much potential, it just needs to focus more on making it easily accessible for EVERYONE.
Links:
. http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/move-me/
. http://www.alaunus.com/loop/
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