Xbox 360 Spring update to include motion control and game install support?

You know how the fanboy banter goes: Wii is teh lame because waggling is silly. PS3 is teh stupid because of those in-game installs and the slow Blu-Ray drive. What if the Xbox 360 were to get both of those "features" in its Spring dashboard update? According to a supposedly leaked list for the upcoming dashboard update, both a "motion sensor device" and HDD installation will be supported. The first item listed, "Calibration options for motion sensor devices" certainly makes it seem like a waggle stick is on its way to the 360. The other, "store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading" sounds a lot like the PS3's proclivity for keeping an HDD cache handy. PSWii60, anyone?

[whatphone @ May 14th 2008 11:45AM]

WTF. if you decline you'll be logged out? so you are forced to update?!

[Kris @ May 14th 2008 11:50AM]

Where have you been? It's _always_ like that for XBox updates so it can ensure everyone on Live has the up to date software. This helps prevent cheating.

[whatphone @ May 14th 2008 11:53AM]

well, never used an xbox 360 before, nor have I done an update on it :). forgive my ignorance.

[Reid @ May 14th 2008 12:10PM]

yeah. It's effing annoying. I rarely use my 360 so it seems like every time I turn the damn thing on I have to wait for an update.

I do understand the point, though. Just wish they had fewer things that needed fixing.

[Jack Storm @ May 14th 2008 12:21PM]

lol your apple logo did not give away your fanboism to anything not Microsoft. The xbox is great. The best thing Microsoft has. Stop hating

[melloncollie @ May 14th 2008 12:23PM]

@Reid
FYI,
Updates don't always consist of fixes.
In this case (and many more before it), it just means added features.

Would you prefer no support and no updates?
I rather like being able to play DivX files natively on my 360.

[whatphone @ May 14th 2008 12:26PM]

Hey Jack, give Read a break. At least he's got a 360 unlike myself :).

I do understand that it makes sense to "force" ppl to update, but having a choise would be nice. Otherwise stuff like DRM might mess up the experience. XP updates can be selective as well. by default all are installed, but I could choose to ignore the once I don't want.

Anyway, off to the Pub.

[Chris @ May 14th 2008 12:27PM]

@Reid

The Xbox only gets 2 updates a year. I know you don't care and that Apple logo is a bit of a give away but the more you know...

[biggerx @ May 14th 2008 12:41PM]

how can you guys dog on someone for having an apple logo as their avatar? Apple doesn't even make a gaming system. This is the wrong topic to flam someone for being an apple fanboy. You turds.

[Dean @ May 14th 2008 12:48PM]

BTW, if you guys haven't figured this out, you don't have to update, you just can't use live. this is fine, because if you are really against it, you can still play local games.

I would also like to add, that I have been very happy with the recent feature updates.

[Jon @ May 14th 2008 12:53PM]

I have the Xbox 360 and a PS3.
Anyone complaining about the 360 updates are either very, very, very stupid, or they have never used a PS3.

The Xbox updates in no time at all and requires next to nothing from you whatsoever.

The PS3 updates TAKE FOREVER

[Mike Botros @ May 14th 2008 3:07PM]

You can still use the 360 and play games... just not on LIVE... MS doesn't want to have to support older firmware on live.. so when they make an update to the dashboard and they update their live servers they go together right. So if you don't want to update... you can still play u just can't be connected to xbox LIVE.

[Nate @ May 14th 2008 8:21PM]

XBL has 12 million subscribers. In order to manage the success and support of the service as it ages, versions are released, and the needs evolve, you have to have everyone on the same page.

Think console, not computer.

[Nando @ May 14th 2008 11:47AM]

That'd be sweet for the 360.

[Jordan @ May 14th 2008 1:19PM]

That'd be gay for the 360.

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 2:06PM]

You're gay for the 360.

Now everyone click the button that looks like this [ - ]

[Vault @ May 14th 2008 5:24PM]

On your comment, sure.

[Brian @ May 14th 2008 7:31PM]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF IT IS SWEET OR NOT, THIS RUMOR WILL BE FOUND OUT TO BE WRONG IN TOMORROW'S EDITION OF ENGADGET!

[Jon @ May 14th 2008 11:47AM]

.... Anything you can do we can do better....

[Bobs @ May 14th 2008 11:57AM]

No you cant. No, really, you cant

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:06PM]

Yes Wii can.

[Jon @ May 14th 2008 12:50PM]

For a few days here (Superpapermario) and there (Supermariogalaxy & Brawl) before Wii are bored Zzzz.

[Dorf @ May 14th 2008 11:49AM]

Maybe when Grand Theft Auto V comes out, I can actually beat a hooker with a baseball bat.. Wii style!

[Shaun @ May 14th 2008 12:12PM]

They could actually incorporate that into GTA 4, through a patch.

[teej @ May 14th 2008 3:17PM]

i hear you can do that on the IRL platform

[Mark @ May 14th 2008 4:16PM]

Oh the game is so life like I dress up my wife and start beating her until nickels comes out of her. Some how when it's her turn to dress me up dollar bills come out of my butt.

[teej @ May 14th 2008 3:40PM]

i hear you can do that on the IRL platform

[teej @ May 14th 2008 3:41PM]

i'm an idiot.

[dhv217 @ May 15th 2008 10:14AM]

You mean how you get the censored version of Manhunt 2? You think GTA would ever be on Wii?? Yeah with pixelated kills and no blood and all the bad words removed for the little kids.

[Jon @ May 14th 2008 11:53AM]

so when will ps3 counter with a good media center update?

[Ysleiro @ May 14th 2008 12:41PM]

Just as soon as Sony learns how to speedily program for their own system.

[DeadPixel @ May 14th 2008 11:55AM]

so when is this actually coming out? its almost summer!

[Chris @ May 14th 2008 12:29PM]

It's the Spring update so any time between now and June 20th.

[Yankee Fever 02 @ May 14th 2008 12:02PM]

i call bull shit. they have stated in the past that they will not incorporate 4 way chat, and doesn't it seem a little weird that all of these updates are things that were asked for? when has Microsoft ever done that? i hope its all true because it gives me a few more reasons to love my xbox but i dont think it is

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:13PM]

Read: Fall 2007 Update; DivX/Xvid support, http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/04/xbox-360-fall-2007-dashboard-update-hands-on/

[Matt @ May 14th 2008 2:22PM]

And yet whoever came up with that list still didn't add 16x10 monitor support.
"Option to remove payment information from gamertag." would be great, but I don't see that happening.
And those DRM items don't make sense, the first one isn't even complete:
"# Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from
# Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free."

The second one would be nice, it would prevent situations like having to be logged in to Live to watch XviD.

[wixostrix @ May 14th 2008 2:54PM]

Microsoft is giving us features we ask for with the zune. i think its something new they're tryin, actually listening to their customers.

[Seth @ May 14th 2008 12:05PM]

The Force Unleashed is out in August isn't it? You know(hope) that someone will make a lightsaber "waggler" for it...

[Dave @ May 14th 2008 12:55PM]

September :-(

[Camperton @ May 14th 2008 12:09PM]

My 360 broke a few days ago. Despite the warranty extension I had to pay 140 bucks to get it fixed. I guess malfunctioning disc tray is not covered or something. I'd probably just go buy a PS3 (despite some misgivings about it) right now but I have game saves I'm working on. Still waiting for the shipping box to show 2 weeks later.

[TrentD @ May 14th 2008 1:39PM]

I'm sorry that you had a problem, but what does that have to do with this blog post?

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:09PM]

OK, so if anyone noticed the Xbox Live Vision Camera on the top of the TV in the picture, it would probably be VERY obvious that the 'motion capture device' they are talking about is the camera and not a new sensor bar-like, motion sensing controller.

Its way too late in the game to get into another company's demographics, and just plain poor PR. Wise Up!

[KultiVator @ May 14th 2008 12:21PM]

Wrong - MS have filed patents for and announced their intention to supply at least one motion-actuated controller for the 360.

Hope they have developers ready to push the Wii's fun party game ideas to a much higher level and not just tweak the visuals - instead.. actually make something that's fun to play and which has some depth and longevity.

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:33PM]

Can you link to an article confirming this? Because without any type of patent-drawing blueprints, I'm thinking it'd be more like a SIXAXIS PS3 motion-sensor control rather than a Wii wand.

[Ysleiro @ May 14th 2008 12:42PM]

Damn the nerve of these people. How can you say "Wrong, you're and idiot"?... Do you work for MS?

For all you know Low Ranked could be right.

Last I checked MS was researching motion control using cameras. I can't find a link but I have been blogging on engadget long enough to remember them posting about a demonstration MS held at some point last year.

MS Surface uses cameras, but I'm not sure thats the same technology I saw last year.

[Ysleiro @ May 14th 2008 12:49PM]

Here is the link.

Man I have been blogging for too long cuz I thought it was a year ago, it turns out it was two years ago !!!!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/e306/e306-clips-xbox-360-gesture-recognition-172978.php

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:11PM]

Your Xbox broke a few days ago, but you called 2 weeks ago to report it broke and to order a shipping box?

Either you're psychic or it was really your time machine that broke.

[Camperton @ May 14th 2008 12:13PM]

It was a mistake. But thanks for caring.

[Low Ranked @ May 14th 2008 12:14PM]

I don't. =]

[KultiVator @ May 14th 2008 12:30PM]

I find it funny that low-ranked's picture is made to make us think that he once managed to pull a decent chick.

It's a sad lonely life when all you got for company is the palm of your right hand!

;-)