Microsoft working on 360 Wiimote-killer?

Alright, take this one with a huge grain of salt, but MTV News is reporting that Microsoft is secretly developing a Wiimote-like motion controller for the Xbox 360. The source says that the new unit has been under development since August, and that a new unified interface is being developed by Rare, which has missed a few deadlines. The idea is to match and exceed the capabilities of the Wiimote, so the controller reportedly features four face buttons, an analog stick, a microphone, and possibly integration with the Xbox Live Vision Camera. However, it doesn't seem like things are going all that smoothly -- the source says the project is a "colossal clusterf***," and that Microsoft is scrambling to figure out how to get the thing out by the end of the year. Interesting -- but several other major 360 developers wouldn't confirm anything, so until we hear something for real, interesting is about as far as it goes.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 7th 2008 5:16PM]

Wiimote Wipoff!

[JuggleNuts @ Apr 7th 2008 5:36PM]

With the extreme popularity of games like COD4, Gears of War, etc. why does no one make a really sweet, duck-hunt-like rifle? Oh wait, I know ... because the sheeple would be upset because it looks like - oh noes - an GUN!

[STIEN @ Apr 7th 2008 5:48PM]

why would microsoft make this?!?! this is 100% copying wii. why would they want to be like wii? x-box is supposed to be beyond kiddish. like, aug...this is going to ruin the x-box's rep.

[James @ Apr 7th 2008 6:23PM]

Wasn't Microsoft the ones that made fun of Nintendo for the Wiimote for months and months? Wow, go figure. This is just sad. I have an X360 and Wii. I already never play either console, and the X360 just sucks, even with this. If anything, this will make me hate the console even more for copying Nintendo.

P.S. The design looks to be 3rd party, not MS brand... but still.

[MemphisNET @ Apr 7th 2008 8:31PM]

Late April fools joke?

[David @ Apr 7th 2008 11:35PM]

While technically it is a rip-off, Microsoft doing this is exactly what Nintendo wanted. If this is true, then Nintendo has created it's revolution and established itself as an important leader in innovation. No one will be able to Laugh at Nintendo for gimmicky gameplay anymore.
Score for Nintendo, and as long as they have Miyamoto they will never be in the negatives.

[Quix @ Apr 8th 2008 12:29AM]

Microsoft: The Freedom to Innovate (TM)

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Apr 8th 2008 1:52AM]

I love the fact that unlike the WiiMote, the Xmote has a Microphone so other XBOX players will hear it slip from your hands and the crash it makes when it jams it's self into your tv screen. Then everyone will truly know what kind of noob you really are.

[Gorillamonk @ Apr 9th 2008 8:56AM]

more buttons makes it better. No support from microsoft once you take it home though.

[Technex @ Apr 7th 2008 5:17PM]

Patents...

[MattNL @ Apr 8th 2008 5:45AM]

Whats to patent about a controller with motion sensor anymore?

If anyone would have such a patent, it would be Microsoft.. anyone remembers the Sidewinder Freestyle Pro? It's from freakin 1998... Not on the same level as the Wii mote is, but they had it none the less plus it was like, you know, 10 years ago..

[Nick @ Apr 7th 2008 5:18PM]

You got to be kidding me..

[Chebwa @ Apr 7th 2008 5:29PM]

This is a horrible, horrible idea.

[phanbouy @ Apr 7th 2008 6:43PM]

"ok... it's a Jump to Conclusions mat!"

"that's the worst idea I've ever heard, Tom"

"yes, yes. it is horrible."

[Chebwa @ Apr 7th 2008 7:52PM]

Really read this for a moment... really, REALLY read this...

*Microsoft working on 360 Wiimote-killer?*

Now that you've thought it over, you can call it a horrible idea without "jumping to conclusions." Because it is a horrible idea (and I bet will never happen).

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 7th 2008 5:18PM]

"Microsoft States They Refuse To Design New Hardware With AutoCad; Uses Proprietary MSPaint Instead"

[Technex @ Apr 7th 2008 5:19PM]

Lol! I predict Highest Ranked! :D

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 7th 2008 5:22PM]

This is the second post that you have become an oxymoron!

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 7th 2008 5:23PM]

"In Other News, Lowest Rank Refuses to Change Name"

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 7th 2008 5:25PM]

@Esat Dedezade:

I got sick of being a regular moron.

[rv @ Apr 7th 2008 5:18PM]

I wonder what this would be used for? Wii like 360 games? That would be pretty sweet actually, motion sensing + hd graphics + live.

What I would like to see is this integrated with halo. It would be interesting to see how it would work.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 7th 2008 5:21PM]

What a horrifying experience.

If they designed a Wiimote-esque controller for FPS games like Halo, and had the nunchuk-like dingle-berry attached to it, then how do you pick up your beer for a quick sip while waiting to respawn?

The answer is simply: no.

[Jordan @ Apr 8th 2008 3:53PM]

Have you played any shooters on the wii? as far as I'm concerned they really suck. Why? because all you ever get is headshots, it makes it easy as pie. Sucks the challenge and fun out of the shooter.

[bob e @ Apr 7th 2008 5:20PM]

Why not add one? I have been wondering that for months.

Seems simple to incorporate and this would essentially allow the 360 to 1up the Wii since you could get the same controls with greatly improved graphics.

Little reason to buy Wii since both systems are priced close to one another.

[schmitty338 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:25PM]

...They would have to get the games that make the Wii such an awesomely fun social party game....

[Jon Acheson @ Apr 7th 2008 5:30PM]

On the one hand, it would probably be possible to add a sensor bar and new "360 ROD" controller.

On the other hand, you would then have two totally different control schemes for developers to support. The likely result would be that few games would support the 360 ROD, except for games written expressly to use it.

Ballpark adoption for an aftermarket item like this is usually 10% at best.

[Jimbo @ Apr 7th 2008 5:47PM]

It's been pretty obvious that Microsoft is unhappy with the 360. It has exclusive games with an asterisk. If you eliminate the games on PC or PS3, the 360 has a terrible lineup, and if you look to the end of 2008, it's dreadful in comparison. Also, teh 360 is fundamentally unreliable, though they have made things better with a huge heatsink, the 360 will never be 'right' without an expensive redesign. MS fired every shot they had at the PS3, and did a ton of damage, but the PS3 is recovering, building momentum, etc.

For those reasons, it would make a lot of sense to jump the gun again, and release a new XBOX, abandon current xbox owners, again of course, and come up with a reliable, motion controlled, hard drive, hd optical, far superior to PS3 graphically, etc etc system. That's what MS is doing. They always do this. with Office, the Zune, Windows, the old XBOX. MS knows they can outlast the negative ill will they will create.

Sucks to be me, a 360 owner who expects to see his 360 collect as much dust as is on his still fairly new XBOX 1.0 while my PS3 gets plenty of new stuff.

[Maestro @ Apr 7th 2008 6:21PM]

@Jimbo: That could be the worst post ever on Engadget.

[Duscrom @ Apr 7th 2008 6:23PM]

"...They would have to get the games that make the Wii such an awesomely fun social party game...."

Scene it! Lights! Camera! Action!
Viva Pinata Party Animals
Rock Band
Guitar Hero 3
TMNT 1989 arcade.

All the games that usually come out at my house, instead of Wii games. And my friends and I Always have a damn good time.... also known as... FUN! Whups, I keep forgetting Nintendo owns that term now.

The new definition. "Lacking quality, but is still defended by the mass nintendo fanboys"

[Zak @ Apr 7th 2008 7:23PM]

Guitar Hero is already out for the Wii, and Rock Band is coming.

[giantenemycrab @ Apr 7th 2008 5:20PM]

Please, no.. I just want a regular controller, Microsoft.

[Technex @ Apr 7th 2008 5:26PM]

@Lowest Ranked


I am sure all your posts are going to be "Highest Ranked"...

:D

[Ruben @ Apr 7th 2008 5:23PM]

April Fools was last Tuesday.

[mac @ Apr 7th 2008 5:29PM]

If you get your gaming news from MTV, then I think you deserve to get tricked more often than once a year.

[Warren @ Apr 7th 2008 5:26PM]

Dear Engadget - in the graphic representation of the XBox Wiimote - please change the words 'Analog Controller' to 'RROD'.

Obviously Microsoft mislabeled the thing.

Thank you.

[ByronGman @ Apr 7th 2008 6:07PM]

I should have stopped reading as soon as I saw your avatar.

Go play brick attack on your Ipod.

[Warren @ Apr 7th 2008 6:18PM]

Sorry for pointing out Microsoft hasn't made a 'quality' hardware product...ever.
Wont happen again.

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 7th 2008 6:28PM]

Really? Pretty sure my Zune (both of them, 30 and 80) have outlasted any iPod Classic/Video my friends have owned so far, not to mention many other's.

[Bassir @ Apr 7th 2008 6:35PM]

@Zeus,

Like Windows, right?

[Warren @ Apr 7th 2008 6:53PM]

Point: Zeus. Ill give you that one for sure. The Zune is surprisingly well built.

[Abuzar @ Apr 7th 2008 7:44PM]

*sniff* *sniff*

Did someone say Zune?

[Quix @ Apr 8th 2008 12:40AM]

"Pretty sure my Zune (both of them, 30 and 80) have outlasted any iPod Classic/Video my friends have owned so far, not to mention many other's."

@ Zeus

Are you *seriously* going to brag about the durability of your Zune 80 that was released a whopping FIVE MONTHS AGO???

And are you *seriously* going to imply that your friends' iPods haven't been surviving to the 5-month mark?

Puh-lease. Hey, at least you've mastered the Microsoft FUD thing.

Some Zune owners are truly desperate for legitimacy.

P.S. My 3rd gen iPod I bought 5 years ago is still running like a champ. It's a tank that will not die. Sorry to interrupt your fantasy with a bit of actual fact...

[Technex @ Apr 7th 2008 5:27PM]

Argh... Stupid reply comment system, thought it was fixed -_-...

[ByronGman @ Apr 7th 2008 6:12PM]

I'm sorry; I have failed you.

[Adrian Williams @ Apr 7th 2008 7:32PM]

They have one my cousin have some kind of Movie quiz game called Scene-it that come with 4 wireless controllers and a IR reciever
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/sceneitlightscameraaction/

[Papytendo @ Apr 7th 2008 5:33PM]

April Fools?

[Thermos14 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:39PM]

Remember the good ol' days, when companies used to come up with their own ideas? ::sigh::

[Ruben @ Apr 7th 2008 5:47PM]

Give me your address.

Im going to send you a printout of this report and a grain of salt.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 7th 2008 5:47PM]

As for me, there is nothing wrong with copying.

Thanks God, all cars have literally the same controls. What it would be if you had to get a driver license for every other /original/ model of car?

[Ruben @ Apr 7th 2008 5:47PM]

Give me your address.

Im going to send you a printout of this report and a grain of salt.