Today at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles Sony introduced the PlayStation Motion Controller, an add-on accessory very similar to Nintendo’s Wii remote that will allow players to use a wand to mimic real world objects such as tennis racquets, baseball bats, and pistols. A sensor and camera placed on top of the television tracks the movements of the wand in the player’s hands, which includes a bulb on its top that can change colour to indicate different uses. This follows on the heels of Microsoft’s own motion controls, Project Natal, announced on Monday completing a transition where all of today’s top consoles will offer Wii-like motion control systems of some form.

Compared to the other technology demos being performed on the E3 stage, Sony’s Motion Controller sequence was by far the most primitive. The accessory itself, a mere black stick with a goody-looking frosted globe on its top was introduced as being merely a makeshift prototype while the games that it used to play with it offered the most basic form of graphics. Despite the state of the gear, Sony promises we’ll see the product launch in the Spring of 2010.

Although it paled in comparison to the outlandish claims and “invisible controller” of Microsoft’s Project Natal system, Sony’s Motion Controller demonstrated a key focus on precision. They showcased its ability to be used as a virtual pen, to perform complex archery, and to be used in first-person shooter and real-time strategy games where the perspective is shifted to better immerse the player into the moment.

If nothing it at least showed that Sony might be able to match Nintendo’s motion control system and then display a willingness to use them in more adult, mature genres, a line that Nintendo doesn’t seem interested to cross themselves, choosing instead to let other publishers explore those possibilities.

Also unveiled as part of the company’s new technical innovations is a new version of the PlayStation Portable. Dubbed the PSP go, the new handheld will not be positioned to replace the existing PSP system, but rather to exist as an alternate for those who are more immersed in a digital lifestyle.

Available this October 1st for $249 CND, the PSP go replaces the UMD disc drive with 16 GB of flash memory and is both lighter and slimmer than the previous model. It offers a stylish slide-out display to reveal the game controls underneath.

To support the PSP go, Sony will be offering an expanding catalog of games and media content for download through the PlayStation Network store which can be accessed using the system’s Wi-Fi connection.

For those times where a wired connection is needed, the box will include a CD-ROM with a special software application for the PC called Media Go that will allow users to manage their content on their PSP go through their desktop computer.

Another fun innovation is an upcoming application for the PSP go called “SenseMe”. A music recommendation service, users can download channels that organize music based on moods, allowing players to play tracks that fit the need to relax, dance, or be upbeat.

Other innovative twists include “Game Sleep”, the ability to access the Xcross Media Bar during paused gameplay, Bluetooth for wireless connection to headsets and headphones, and special applications, such as a clock and calendar, that will display when the display is slid over the controls. A special cable dock accessory will also be sold so that users can watch movies and listen to music while it’s charging.

Here’s the specs:

External dimensions - Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth) (excludes largest projection)

Weight - Approx. 158g / 5.6 oz (including internal battery)

CPU – PSP CPU System clock frequency 1-333 MHz,

Main memory 64MB

Display - 3.8 inches (16:9) full-transparent type, TFT drive, 480 x 272 pixel, Approx. 16,770,000 colors displayed

Sound - Built-in stereo speakers, Built-in microphone

Main input/output - Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b) (Wi-Fi)

Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)

High Speed USB (USB2.0)

Memory Stick Microâ„¢(M2â„¢)

Analog Video Out

Microphone

Main connectors - Multi use connector

(DC IN / OUT, USB, Video Output / Input, Sound Input / Output)

Headset / Microphone connector

Memory Stick Microâ„¢(M2â„¢) slot

Key / Switches - Directional buttons (up/down/right/left), analog stick,

Action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square), L/R buttons

START button, SELECT button, PS button

POWER/HOLD switch, WLAN switch

display button, sound button, volume (+/-) buttons

Power sources - Lithium-Ion rechargeable internal battery pack

AC adaptor

USB power supply

Internal memory - 16GB (Flash Memory)

Supported profile - PSP Game

Access Control - Region code, parental control

Wireless communications - Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b) (Wi-Fi)

(Infrastructure mode / Ad hoc mode (connect up to 16 consoles))

Bluetooth®2.0 (EDR)

Supplied accessories - AC adaptor

USB cable

CD-ROM Media Go

Supported coded (in Memory Stick Micro (M2â„¢) / Internal memory)

Video

Memory Stick Video Format

MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC)

H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC)

MPEG-4

MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC)

H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (CABAC) (AAC)

Baseline Profile (AAC)

AVI

Motion JPEG (Linear PCM)

Motion JPEG (ì-Law)

Music

Memory Stick Audio Format

ATRAC3â„¢*8

ATRAC3plusâ„¢*8

MP3

MP3 (MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer3)

MP4 (MPEG-4 AAC)

WAVE (Linear PCM)

WMA (Windows Media® Audio 9 Standard only)*9

Photo

JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21 compliant)

TIFF

BMP

GIF

PNG