Hands on with the Xbox 360 Live Vision, Wireless Headset, and Racing Wheel

Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD drive wasn't the only device we checked out at their post-press conference exposé. We also got to take a look at the Live Vision, Wireless Headset, Racing Wheel and Wireless Gaming Receiver up close and in person. Unfortunately for us, we were told these were all hand-built product mockups that apparently wouldn't withstand the wear and tear of a thousand or more press and partners manhandlings with chubby greasy party hands. Well, who cares, we touched the headsets anyway and they felt pretty nice, fairly light, if not a little fragile. Guess that's what we get for playing with the mockups though, right? Click on for more.

Yep, it's the same camera we've been seeing, well, for a long time now.

The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver didn't get much play at the press conference, but it's a small device you will use to connect any RF wireless Xbox device with your PC (i.e. headset, wireless controller, etc.).

Yeah, don't touch, we get it.

The Racing Wheel is wireless if you use the battery packs, but if you want rumble you have to plug it in. Bummer, man.

This thing clamps it to the desk, obvs.

The girls of PMS were situated throughout the event at World Championship of Poker kiosks with avatars of themselves going all in... or whatever it is poker players do.

Just in case you were wondering what the pool area looked like.

[ragnar @ May 10th 2006 5:13AM]

Isn't this then more like a "hands off!" article than "hands on"?...

[Scott @ May 10th 2006 5:23AM]

Pool is begging to have a mean game of leapfrog played on it!

[daddycool @ May 10th 2006 5:54AM]

So I'll be able to use my Xbox 360 wireless controllers on my PC? That's so perfect. Kind of makes Nintendo's "Virtual Console" kind of irrelavent. I already have all of the old games on roms and emus. I hope they bring that one out first.

[Atanas Boev @ May 10th 2006 6:06AM]

ragnar, LOL:))) I also noticed all the "do not touch" signs. I was like, WHT? :)

[Atanas Boev @ May 10th 2006 6:09AM]

I meant WTH, and I wish there was "edit message" option. Now all the misprints I made will haunt me forever every time I write my name in Google. Damn:)

[NewAmericanClassic @ May 10th 2006 6:26AM]

I'm running out of USB space, I have one controller, and a wireless internet adapter. I won't have enough USB ports for the Rumble Feature on the steering wheel, and the camera together.

[Zack @ May 10th 2006 7:26AM]

Good Job, don't let a piece of paper tell you what to do...

unless maybe its signed by Billy G himself

[monkeyleader @ May 10th 2006 8:48AM]

Rumble ???? I thought it was force feedback ?

[Troakey @ May 10th 2006 9:05AM]

Where the offical 360 USB hub! I never tried to used a UBS hub on my 360, but dont you think Microsoft should mention how we are to connect all these with only the three that are provided.

[Chris Chance @ May 10th 2006 9:20AM]

well the usb for pc thing isnt plugging into your xbox so doesnt take a spot the hddvd drive has a USB hub.... the headsset and the wheel are both wireless... so .. well... tada no need for extra usb and if so use the 2 on back of the hddvd :)

[Justin @ May 10th 2006 9:32AM]

Why is it that so many people complain about Sony ripping off Nintendo's controller, and no one has seemed to blink an eye at Microsoft ripping off the Sony's Eye Toy?

[Troakey @ May 10th 2006 9:43AM]

If there are two USB ports on the HD DVD will your WiFi connect to that?

[Perrey Z. @ May 10th 2006 11:51AM]

Wow what ever happened to the old "Please Don't Touch" signs for prototyps at trade shows?! these a$$holes at Micro$oft can learn a few manners from the Japanese.

[Phil @ May 10th 2006 12:18PM]

#10 maybe because MS is just "ripping off" an accessory (which btw has been done before), while SONY is ripping off nintendo's only chance to outsell them....

Either way nothing really matters now... bungie is gonna take over the world enyway. and HALO 3 is going to be the best game ever made! Can i get a HELLYEA?!

[Chris Chance @ May 10th 2006 2:03PM]

Just a correction, it is rumble... rumble AND FORCE FEEDBACK! as was clerified over at xbox-scene from the microsoft presspack

"The existing battery life is the same as the wireless controller and, by using the AC adaptor, you'll get force feedback. There are two levels of feedback, the basic rumble motors that pick up wheels on gravel and low-level rumbles, and force feedback, from the actual car performance -- slides, crashes, etc. The same rechargeable unit that works for the controllers works with the Xbox 360 wireless steering wheel. The wheel comes with full Dpad usage, ABXY buttons, and a guide button. It comes in one color, "chill white.""

[Matt @ May 10th 2006 2:04PM]

PMS = Psycho Man Slayers which is an Xbox Live Clan of all women gamers. They'll own you in Halo...

[Russ @ May 10th 2006 3:38PM]

You should rename this post from Hands On to something else becuase obviously you aren't supposed to touch this things according to the signs featured in the photos.

[Crazybros.com @ May 11th 2006 11:11AM]

QUOTE: Well, who cares, we touched the headsets anyway and they felt pretty nice, fairly light, if not a little fragile. Guess that's what we get for playing with the mockups though, right?

That's why it's a hand's on article. :-P

[Oliver Sayers @ May 14th 2006 5:50AM]

#6 you can use a normal USB hub, it was on llamma.

[Jonathan Watson @ May 15th 2006 12:33PM]

To the #11 thats because no one cares about some garbage camera accessory that nobody is going to buy anyways...who cares if they rip it off...the eye toy sucked and no doubtebly the 360 cam will suck too

[Shawn Ricci @ May 28th 2006 9:42AM]

I was very excited about the wireless wheel ESPICALLY for PGR3 and the "sure to be released" PGR4, but with no right analog stick, it's going to be next to impossible to use the look feature when you are driving in car. Bummer man...

[Chris @ Oct 26th 2006 2:27AM]

Actually SONY copied Nintendo's GameBoy Camera. I remember that thing in 1998.