PlayStation Motion Controller's release date moves to fall 2010

Sony has just announced that the still-unnamed PlayStation Motion Controller won't hit its targeted spring 2010 release date -- it's now slated for a worldwide release this fall. In a press release, SCEI president Kaz Hirai cited a desire to "offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users" as the reason for the delay, and indicated that Sony will be revealing the launch software lineup soon, including first-party games and games from other companies, "whom we have been working closely with."

The good news is that Sony now has more time not only to line up third party support for the peripheral, but come up with a name as well. The bad news is that Sony is dropping whatever advantage an earlier release would have given the device over the much more publicized Xbox 360 motion controller, Project Natal.

Halo: Reach screenshots leaked then pulled by EB Games website

Were you quick enough to catch the handful of Halo: Reach screens released via the EBGames website? Well it happened, we assure you, and luckily the folks at XCast Online snagged the whole lot of 'em. That said, if you've already got the February issue of Game Informer, chances are you've seen these screens before -- that's because a good deal of them are directly from that issue's cover story on the upcoming prequel.

If EB Games has already gotten its hands on these screens, chances are we'll be seeing an official release from Microsoft in the not-so-distant future. In the meantime, we've pestered the publisher for some idea of when exactly that'll be.

Gallery: Halo Reach (VGA 2009)

• 

Spencer: Project Natal launch 'fraught with risk' for Microsoft

Speaking to Eurogamer, Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer responded to criticism that Microsoft takes fewer risks than Sony in first-party development by referencing Project Natal -- "if there isn't risk in Natal then I don't know what's keeping me up at night."

"We're trying to build a set of new games, new experiences that will have the same quality metrics of our past games," he said, "but really entice both existing 360 customers and new people. It's a huge challenge, a huge investment and it's fraught with risk."

Much as he did in our interview, Spencer equated Natal integration with Live integration, suggesting that it will eventually be ubiquitous. "At the beginning of Live it was all about sports, racing and shooting games," Spencer said. "Now if you found a game that didn't have some kind of Live functionality it would seem like it wasn't a complete game. I think Natal is likely to get there as well." That is somewhat at odds with Aaron Greenberg's statement that Natal games would be almost entirely "completely unique, brand-new experiences."

And, as a bonus, he also found time to make one wacky statement about Peter Molyneux. "Haha! Working with Peter is amazing, he's a very creative, inspirational person. Sometimes it's like riding a bull with no saddle, and sometimes it's like reading a great novel, but it's a fun experience." Look for Peter Molyneux's Literodeo among the Project Natal launch lineup.

Halo 3: Mythic 2 Map Pack coming to Xbox Live Marketplace on Feb. 2

Do you love Halo enough to purchase new multiplayer maps, but not enough to buy new Halo games? If that's the case, you'll be pleased to learn that the Mythic 2 Map Pack, which was previously available with 2009's Halo 3: ODST, will be sold separately as Halo 3 (sans overly descriptive subtitle treatment) content on the Xbox Live Marketplace starting February 2.

For 800 MS Points ($10) you'll gain access to three distinct kill zones, namely Heretic, Citadel and Longshore. And if winning on any of them seems like a long shot, why not practice online today and Thursday in benefit of Haiti relief efforts?

Gallery: Halo 3 Multiplayer: Citadel, Heretic, Longshore

• 
• 
•