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.
posted April 7th 2008 5:15PM
Give me your address.
Im going to send you a printout of this report and a grain of salt.
Oh c'mon, There are Original ideas all the time. Look at how nintendo is doing their own original approach to online gaming. And Sony is doing their own original idea as far as console pricing. Microsoft is totally original as far as hardware quality goes. And the PC, doing it's own thang with anti-piracy measures.
I mean, look how well we're doing without companies taking ideas from others who've done something sucessful.
It's interesting to see the design there, and talk of Vision intergration, because this was just how I hypothesised the Wii remote working when I first heard about it. You use 4 different coloured (wavelength) IR LEDs in the end of the remote, to make the different remotes distinguishable, and then use two digital cameras (which can already see into the IR) to triangulate the positions of the remotes in space. Then you just use the tilt sensors to figure out where the controller is pointing.
As it turns out, Nintendo did things the other way around - a pair of LEDs, one digital camera in each remote, and measuring backwards - apparently to improve accuracy of the pointer function. However there's nothing to stop MS or Sony going for the "backwards" approach.
Incidentally, Sony have a patent on an Eyetoy IR wand controller which uses different-coloured LEDs to both point out areas in space and indicate what buttons are being pressed on the controller. If this is a real MS product, then Sony could well kick Microsoft's arses in the patent courts.
I should correct myself there - the EyeToy thing doesn't use IR LEDs, just normal visible-wavelength ones.
I don't understand why they would use IR to indicate the button presses when the much faster, more reliable wireless radio is available.
IR Leds are usually quite visible with CMOSes found in webcams and such, so I don't see why they couldn't use an IR LED & Live cam to track the remote in reverse.
Not that any of this is going to happen, ever.
Well, for the Wii-style thing, you only need to use IR as an optical indicaiton of location, not as an information transfer system. For the EyeToy thing there was a strong emphasis on making it a cheap, dumb plastic device which doesn't communicate with the home console except through the webcam.
more Microsoft 'innovation'?
In development since August? We won't be seeing this one for a long while.
I really hope they aren't planning to compete directly with the Wii...they're going about it the wrong way.
The Wiimote is a small part of the Wii's success. The Wii is primarly successful not because of its controller, but because of the whole gaming experience they are trying to create, which is a simple, easy to use, system designed for families and friends to play games together (but can be enjoyed solo).
The Wiimote is part of the simplicity. Motion-sensing and an unintimidating design make it easier and more inviting to use. (which this is contradicting by adding buttons)
Then the range of titles are overwhelmingly multiplayer-friendly and family-friendly.
Finally, the marketing. They are marketing it to a very broad audience, and have generated a lot of hype and buzz to get people interested (taking notes from Apple I suppose).
So the 360 is not going to become massively populer from a Wiimote clone...they're going to have to hit the other points to get there. In all honesty they would probably have to market it as a new system, as it's likely many people have already made judgements about the Xbox name.
"developed by Rare, which has missed a few deadlines."
Bwahahaha!
God, in hindsight, Nintendo's selling of Rare looks like the smartest move in videogames history, doesn't it? These guys have been the most colossal screwups in videogames over the last decade or two.
No no, wait. There's 3D Realms. My bad.
Seriously Engadget? You would post something you found on MTV news regarding something this far fetched?
On a related note when is MTV going to change to EBM, Everything But Music?
Probably never, seeing as real music ceased to exist a long while back.
I totally want games like bowling for my 360. Wait. No I don't.
I love the term "colossal clusterf*ck"
MTV news? Really. Stop believing right there.
But are they going to segregate their installed base even more? It's already divided by multiple configurations...
yeah playing a FPS on that will be just like on PSP ha
yay, something else for the 360 that can break. maybe M$ will actually release a product that is polished BEFORE we buy it? that would be cool. my 360 has been in for repair 6 times.
Any type of 'gun' controller would be annoying because no matter what it looks like, you are supposed to pretend like its an assualt rifle, sniper, rocket launcher, chainsaw gun and pistol? Yea right. Those guns were fine for duck hunt but weapons and game play have changed.
Looks like someone drew this in MS Paint.
....and xbox fanboys said that sony's a copy cat....lol.....look whos talking now
If true, why would anyone be surprised with MS coming out with such a product? Isn't Microsoft the very antithesis of all things innovative? Nothing surprising about this at all.
This is such bs i cant even believe it, common, MS is having such problems with the portable stuff, that the thought of them actually being able to come up with a wireless wiimote thing, thats just crossing the line. I mean come on, why cant u think of your own shit MS? make some cool kinda virtual reality or somthing, since there never be the best at wireless like wii, or portable like well nintendo i guess, even though if a portable xbox ever comes out ill be first in line to buy the SOB. Anyhows, contrary to what others might think, i believe that MS is just trying to distract everyone from the Portable problem with rumors of the dam wii slayer or whatever the hell there gonna call this stuff.
A lawsuit is the first calling of this patents future no doubt...
Woot MS gettin a lawsuit, thats not gona be new or anything, there so god dam rich though it wont do shit. All it will do is piss off MS and we will feel there immortal wrath through the internet. I really wish that MS would please for the sake of themselves and everyone around them, STOP COPYING PEOPLE!! what is so hard about comin out with your owns shit, honestly, cant wait for the new article in this website to be "Nintendo and Sony suing Microsoft for multiple patent blah blah blah".
They already have a new system out there that has bluray, motion sensing and a hard drive. Its called the ps3. Sorry guys in Redmond but I think its time you seriously start thinking about a new system. And soon before you alienate any more customers to the Sony Camp.
The motion sensing in the PS3 is really not the same sort of thing, it's a gimmick at best. It's a regular shamed controller, the most you can really do is shake or push in a direction, maybe steer. With the Wii (and admittedly this thing, maybe) you can lean, zoom a scope, swing a sword, and aim properly. The motion sensing on the PS3 doesn't do this.
this will not work because if you notice the only games that sell well on the wii are made by Nintendo and Microsoft definitely cannot copy those.
Come on, guys, if you like the Wii controller and these kind of games then you want more of them right? And you can only get more of them if you allow competition.
we don't like the wii. we don't like the wii games.
Guys, come on.
... MTV?............................................. NEXT!
this reminds me of a certain playstation knock-off.
http://content.ytmnd.com/content/d/d/1/dd150a3fb3432693a934a4bee301c979.jpg
...
Your fucking kidding me right?
Wii is made for people.
Xbox is made for gamers.
PS 3 is made for gamers.
Wii sucks if your a gamer, rocks if your a person.
Xbox rocks if your a gamer, rocks if your a person.
PS 3 rocks if your a gamer, rocks if your a person.
Conclusion: Wii sucks. If Xbox follows suite it will become less of a system for gamers.
Conclusion: gamers can't spell.
I'm all for MS making a ripoff. I love the Wii's control which is the main reason I bought one early on. The standard console control annoys me (having been a PC gamer from back in the Commodore PET days) which is why I didn't buy a 360 until last Aug.
If MS makes it's controller close to the Wii's (two part one for movement and one for aiming) AND it's implemented on FPS games, I'll jump on it.
Big IF's though.
As to ripping off N, it's already been shown that controllers can legally be duplicated in function, if not looks also. Back in the 90's Gravis duped the early Nin controller. It's progress.
You can't press the buttons and move the stick with one finger. This design is a complete failure.
On the Wiimote, the buttons are *mostly* there to navigate and to do auxilary things (like taunts in Smash Bros). Sure, there are some buttons that are used, but they're the trigger.
Placing the key buttons and the analog stick on the same controller isn't going to work, unless you hold it sideways.
Not to mention that the added height from the analog stick would give you more leverage to create a twisting motion when you move it left or right. If it's rotation sensitive, I'd imagine it being easy to accidentally rotate it. Wii wouldn't be bad, because you don't have that leverage from the height of the D-Pad.
I can see this being a giant flop, just like the HD-DVD addon.
Guys, please, this is getting about as old as the whole downloadable ness crap that they have posted on this website.....Pointless? I agree with Jordan on the whole xbox and sony is for gamers and Wii is for people or whatever, Wii sucks game wise, zelda was pretty good, and ill admit that Super Smash Bros Brawl was freakin amazing...but 2 good games? not worth buyin the system, at all for that matter. i guess the only good thing about Wii is that its cheap and comes with all the crap and wifi stuff. Anywhos, im lookin forward to what thing MS is gonna knock off and ruin next, i know all of u are to
Maybe MS should wait to see if developers actually figure out how to properly design games around the wiimote?
Because unless things change, the Wii still has a good chance of winding up as a gimmick. There are a handful of games that respond to intuitive motion of the wiimote. The rest is arbitrary waggle in place of simple button presses and that is -not- the experience that Wii Sports promised. Ask those non-gamers that bought a Wii more than a few months ago what they're playing. All the ones that I know have been collecting dust. I'm starting to wonder if Nintendo hasn't allowed the supply issue to linger simply to minimize the 'ok, now what?' effect. (the effect visible in the Wii's Japan sales tanking for a good chunk of late last year - until the Wii Fit hit)
That's a verrrry large microphone... Especially compared to the size of the speaker.
And i totally agree about being unable to use the buttons and analog stick