by Nick Ahrens and Matt Bertz, console reviewers for GAME INFORMER® the world's #1 video game magazine

When Sony first announced its motion controller at E3 last year, no one was sure what to make of it. Was the company trying to dip into Nintendo's honey jar r was it legitimately serious about motion controls? After months of going dark, Sony took the veil off itsnew technology at theGame Developers Conference and gave its motion controller a name: PlayStation Move.

During the GDC press conference, Sony treaded familiar territory, filling the stage screen with action shots and videos showcasing families gaming together in the living room. Though much of the games on display looked like HD versions of Wii games, Sony also appealed to the more traditional gamer demographic with demos of SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs and LittleBigPlanet using the Move.

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE MOVE:

Sure, the Move looks nice, but how does it work? The Move weighs slightly more than the Wii remote, but it's still lightweight enough to feel great inyour hands.

Tracking Light:
The glowing bulb on the top of the controller is the key differentiator between the Wii remote and the Move. It tracks a players position and registers depth, telling the console whether the controller is moving closer or further away from the camera. Thisallows games to account for forward movements like stabbing a sword or dodging bacward. The RGB LED that glows within the bulb also assures that the controller works whether you're in a fully-lit or pitch black room. Developers can turn the bulb any color they wish to accommodate their gameplay. For instance, to give players a visual clue to their health status while playing a game, the bulb could move from green to yellow to red as their hit points are depleted. Fantasy games could turn the bulb blue for casting ice spells and red for casting fire spells.

[look to part two for more info about controllers]