Microsoft planning FPS-centric controller for Xbox 360?

A few juicy hints were dropped by Microsoft's Robert Walker on Monday in regards to a special FPS controller in the works for the Xbox 360. His comments were made at Gamefest in Seattle, and he was quick to clarify that Microsoft has no concrete plans for the device, but that it's more of a long term exploration. Sadly, it's no replacement for the tried-and-true keyboard/mouse combination: Microsoft is merely working on a new right analog stick that would be better with the precise movements required for FPS and game types. The controller wouldn't replace the current, well-praised offering, but would merely be an option for enthusiasts and competitive types. Microsoft is also dropping more hints about some sort of motion sensing technology implementation in a future 360 controller, stating that their experiments with joysticks weren't well promoted to developers, but playing it safe by dissing the sensitivity of the tech for FPS and racing use. The main question seems to be: will it rumble?

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

[Raz 4 life @ Aug 16th 2006 6:34PM]

How about a controller that will let you actually PLAY pacman...

[nhioi @ Aug 16th 2006 6:37PM]

keyboard and mouse > *
(FPS & RTS)

[Bruce @ Aug 16th 2006 6:41PM]

They already have one. Its called a lightgun.

[Mark @ Aug 16th 2006 6:45PM]

IGN was speculating that MS might be adding a trackball instead of the right analog stick. http://digg.com/gaming_news/The_New_Xbox_360_Controller

[javaflash @ Aug 16th 2006 6:45PM]

keyboard and mouse... oh, they'll be here. What PS3 has, Xbox 360 will have. Microsoft spent too much money on this venture to diverge.

And once that happens, say farewell to PC games...

[bung @ Aug 16th 2006 6:57PM]

another nail in the coffin for us lefties

[Tull @ Aug 16th 2006 7:07PM]

I doubt we will ever have to say farewell to pc games, as long as there are enthusiasts willing to overclock and cool their insane gaming rigs there will be pc games. I don't want to just benchmark my comp, I want to see how many more frames per second I can pump out compared to you ;). For me at least that's why I enjoy pc gaming, being able to create a unique rig that doesnt have 1 million siblings that came off the assembly line with him.

[javaflash @ Aug 16th 2006 7:28PM]

But you do need developers who are willing to sacrifice big chunk of margin to test games, wasting millions for the sake of this tiny sliver of possible audience. On the other hand, if gaming is confined into a limited number of platforms...

... everyone is better off. Resources will be spent primarily to better games rather than running games. (I mean both monetary && system-capability resources targeting toward developers && consumers)

[js @ Aug 16th 2006 7:33PM]

Wii.

That's all I have to say.

[Kevlar @ Aug 16th 2006 7:35PM]

Maybe they should just buy Phantom Entertainment and re-brand their awkward looking lapboard.

Solves two problems in one fell swoop! No more Phantom, and decently playable FPS games on XBOX! It's perfect!

[Guruboy @ Aug 16th 2006 7:42PM]

I was under the impression that the Xbox 360 controller was already perfect...

Looks like this is the proof that Xbox users are the kinds of people that regard their newest piece of hardware above all else.

This has no use whatsoever. M$ is trying to fix a problem that isn't there. Remember the early days of SP2?

[Matt @ Aug 16th 2006 8:15PM]

pc's offer many advantages over consoles including more power, better controls, hard drives, higher resolution screens, better access to the internet, more freedom to developers (no ms/sony/n telling you what to do with your games), and no license fees.

[_man1c_ @ Aug 16th 2006 8:35PM]

lol i thought we already had one.. :P silly me..

[D2 @ Aug 16th 2006 8:36PM]

its all about 10ft vs 3ft interfaces. different experiences, different modalities

[noobs @ Aug 16th 2006 9:13PM]

haha the lefties! the remenants from the days of N64, the people who never learned how to aim with their left thumb...hehe

this always entertains me becuase I have a friend of mine who was basically the king of headshots on the n64 and ever since hes never been able to play anything except the swapped sticks controls. so no graw for him hahahahah!

looks like another reason to finally get with the program.

im left handed and have always used the normal stick config (so that isn't an excuse for not learning)

[m-p{3} @ Aug 16th 2006 9:17PM]

Simple, copy the Wiimote, as it will happen anyway..

[Trent Haraku @ Aug 16th 2006 9:43PM]

As long as there is xbox360 there will be ports from pc to 360. PWNED

[SHAUN707 @ Aug 16th 2006 10:19PM]

im not going to start that fanboy stuff.. ha cause i like all the systems but im not going to buy xbox360 or the ps3 i think i going to stick with the Wii.....

[rutsy5 @ Aug 16th 2006 10:36PM]

ahhaah use the wiimote to play an fps?? ahaha that would be funny, and sad, to watch... and i like the dual-stick thing for fps shooters. I don't see how they can improve on that except for Keyboard+mouse, which is itself inconvenient, and half the people i know prefer the current controller anyway for FPS games...

[Jason K. @ Aug 16th 2006 10:51PM]

There was already an attempt at one a while back, I think by Mad Catz. It kept your thumbs on the thumbsticks at all times, and had the ABXY buttons on the grips where your fingers rested. Felt really awkward the first couple times I used it and I just switched back to the old Xbox Controller S. Works fine for me.

Being an FPS nut, nothing will replace a mouse and keyboard, but more power to them if Microsoft can pull off a good FPS controller.

[_man1c_ @ Aug 16th 2006 10:56PM]

they should use a scroll wheel like the old intellivision days. but refine it to more modern times.

[Aaron @ Aug 17th 2006 12:55AM]

One question: will this stop the idiots who say "lolz halo sux bcuz it aims 4 u lololol"?

[SlyEcho @ Aug 17th 2006 2:31AM]

It's true the right stick is not as accurate as a mouse is, but the left stick is way more accurate than WASD. And you can use that for aiming as well.

[Mischa @ Aug 17th 2006 5:23AM]

I want the one in the picture...

[Logan @ Aug 17th 2006 6:35AM]

Joystick in lefthand, mouse in right... try to make a controller that feels like that, I'd use it.

[Ryan @ Aug 17th 2006 9:07AM]

"pc's offer many advantages over consoles including more power, better controls, hard drives, higher resolution screens, better access to the internet, more freedom to developers (no ms/sony/n telling you what to do with your games), and no license fees."

Power is about equal now. This is made even more apparent on the fact that on consoles a game can be made to take advantage of one hardware config, PC games can not.

Better controls is completely subjective and dependant on game type. Sorry but a platform game is going to be better on a console with a controller, than on PC with m/kb.

Harddrives are another moot point since the 360 and PS3 both support HDDs.

Better access to the internet. Well sure I can't surf the web on my 360, but I can easily find my friends online no matter what game they are playing. It's also extremely easy to jump into a game with those friends. So in my opinion online gaming can be as good, if not better in some regards, as PC online gaming. Of course in other regards PC online is better. SO I call this an even thing.

Higher rez can be achieved on PC. This is being cut now though with PS3 and 360 both supporting HD formats. Frankly I'm happy with my 1080i resolution on my 360.

Game devs being told what to put in games by Sony and MS would only be something a Sony or MS developed/published game would fall victim to. If other devs are being hounded it would be their publishing company telling them what to do. This will be the same for console or PC.

License fees you are correct on. Although I would think the games probably sell better on consoles, so paying a few may not be such a big deal. I may be wrong on that though.

[doug @ Aug 17th 2006 12:23PM]

Am I alone in thinking that a gamepad with a 2.5 - 3" touch screen INSTEAD of that right thumbstick would kick ass? A la Metroid Prime Hunters. With that little thumb nub it's super accurate. YMMV.

[E @ Aug 17th 2006 1:45PM]

*groan*

WTF asshats. Just let me use a goddamned mouse and keyboard with the goddamned console. You could always tell which jackasses were using a controller in Half-Life Deathmatches... They were the ones who had the lowest scores.

A Mouse and Keyboard farking WORKS. Why make a fix for something that ain't broke?

[shane @ Aug 17th 2006 2:17PM]

Maybe a remake of the Sidewinder Dual Strike? Its about the closest thing to a mouse and keyboard in terms of accuracy.

[fsp48 @ Jun 30th 2008 12:04PM]

Yep having a 360 controller made with the mouse type axis twist and sweep feature like the old MS Dual Strike PC controller is the answer. It would be the perfect blend of the best of both controller methods.

The problem the Dual Strike had when it came out was industry timing. The PC was the place for fast paced FPS so not many players wanted a controller when a M/KB was the best. Now with consoles being so popular many more people want the convenience of a controller to game but people like me hate the slowness and bad accuracy of the stick.

The 360 could have revolutionized console gaming regarding FPS with the redesign of the controller by adding the Dual Strike feature to the original controller or at least with the 360. The Wii is so popular because of its innovative controller methods. I remember playing through the whole first Max Payne with the Dual Strike back in the day and it worked better than any other controller I have ever tried. I guess it's time to gut and rig up my own prototype using my old Dual Strike and a 360 controller to prove it.