Mock-up image of PlayStation Arc; Developer confirms ‘nunchuck’

Development sources have now had their say on whether the PlayStation 3’s motion control solution will come with both the ‘Wand’ and a ‘nunchuck.’ Following the expansion of our article around the web, the answer is ‘yes’ and now we can bring you a pretty accurate representation of what the pair will look like.

We reported on the rumoured button configuration of PlayStation Arc (development name) in our previous story, with an apparent well contacted NeoGAF forumite being informed by an eager inside source. One headline many websites liked to feature was the inclusion of a ‘nunchuck-like’ controller to complement the previously demoed ‘Wand,’ a rumour we brought you last month.

The question is whether such a contraption actually exists at Sony’s headquarters, and according to a source over at Develop-Online, the Wand will indeed work alongside an optional nunchuck-style add-on. Their source further added that “even though the controller’s final execution will be ‘reminiscent’ to the Wii, the familiar elements provide scope for those working on Nintendo’s platform to ‘upgrade’ their ideas to the HD rival PS3.”

Sony is expected to unveil the latest PlayStation Arc prototype at the Game Developer’s Conference tonight, but following our insight into the accessory’s button configuration, we thought we’d bring you a quick and dirty mock-up as produced by NeoGAF member dose and confirmed to be “very close” to the real thing by man of the moment ichinisan. He’s even bet a forum ban on his leaks being correct. We’ll bet a bacon-and-egg sarny here at PlayStation University.

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You’ll notice that the ‘nunchuck,’ on the left, is a little longer than the Wii’s, but we understand that’ll it’ll be a little less curvy than shown in this picture. Also, don’t forget there’ll be a few buttons on the back of each controller. Oh and before you imagine holding these two in your hands, we’d like you to think of Tiger Woods and his shenanigans for a brief moment, since EA has today confirmed that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 will support the PS3 motion controller.

Readers Comments (24)

  1. Apparently the nunchuck will be optional…

  2. The possibility of a “nunchuck” makes this feel even more of a “me-too” move by Sony. Unless this takes a real cut out of Nintendo’s market share, I still think Sony and Microsoft’s efforts are shaping up to be a waste of time and resources.

  3. Patrick Steen March 9, 2010 @ 17:41

    Yes we confirm in the article it’s optional – and won’t be needed for all games. We hypothesised this in the previous article, due to the replication of the X and O on the nunchuck – the Wand has them too. Dual wielding of the Wand is also a distinct possibility for PS3 motion control games, where the nunchuck won’t be needed at all (since it doesn’t have the bulb on top)

  4. Moocows111111 March 9, 2010 @ 17:43

    Yeah its starting to look, more and more like the Wii-mote, the red/blue ball on the main controller doesn’t look too great, kinda makes it look like a sex toy, fulfilling the role of “It only does Everything” XD Anyways, depending on the games that are coming out for it, I might be picking it up, an guesses how much its going to cost? ( $80 maybe?)

  5. normaly all the electronic objects from sony look pretty nice…but i dont know, this wand or arc, meehhh

  6. @Moocows – Hopefully it’s less than $80. On top of the price of a PS Eye, that price wouldn’t entice me very much if I were on the fence about buying this.

  7. Moocows111111 March 9, 2010 @ 18:05

    Oh yeah the PS Eye that’s like $50 or something like that, I’ll only get it if there aree really really good software coming for the PS Arc

  8. It is going to be huge flop

  9. VofEscaflowne March 9, 2010 @ 18:38

    It’s gonna be crazy to think of all the bundles for this. So what, a bundle that comes with the PS Eye and the Arc. Then another one where the Arc is sold separately for people who already own a PS Eye. Then the inevitable bundle of a game + the Arc… but will there also be a bundle for the game + Arc + PS Eye? Crazy :p

  10. Doesn’t look too bad! I might actually get it if it works as cool and well as the one archery demo a year ago.

    BTW, why two PS buttons, so the controllers can be used sepparately?

  11. XxTYxCRAZYxX March 9, 2010 @ 20:06

    i can see me playin wit it NO HOMO. but i wont buy it sorry

  12. This is looking good. I can’t wait to try No More Heroes on the PS3. And Madworld 2 *crosses fingers*

  13. can somebody please tell sony that this design looks stupid and suggestive : / i really hope they change it but i doubt they will.

  14. I am not a believer of this being a huge success. We will see, it will all boil down to the software available for the wand fuctionality and if it is fun.

  15. Can we now say that sony copied the nunchuck from nintendo now?

  16. Maybe they copied maybe they didnt, it is true that its pretty similar to wii’s nunchucks but did they like had any other choice?

  17. sony couldnt make it to diffrent to the wii and still make it avalible for all games.

  18. Will it have vibration?

    If so and if it’s expensive, it’ll be a good excuse for me to give to the girlfriend when I get it.

  19. Mikey,

    Yes it will have vibration.

    And whats wrong with the design?

  20. this will probaly fail

  21. im a ps3 fanboy be4 u say anything about my commet above num 20

  22. @Crazy: ive been seeing people double post quite a lot recently…what is this??

    i dont even need to double post and im still far in the lead -_-

    but yeah, im hoping it wont….so long as the software lineup brings something new to the table…something that the Wii hasnt been able to get on (HD alone wont help much)

  23. well the mock up is spot on, I just dont want the nunchuck to be optional, sony should include it in a bundle camera+Move+sub controller less then $99

  24. @taus: indeed, the optional controller should also be bundled with an extra bundle or so….for 80 😀

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