Wireless gamepads are more convenient, but for latency, copper trumps 2.4GHz. What to do? Build hybrid controllers that can instantly cut the cord. It seems that's what Microsoft's thinking, as the company applied for a patent on just such a controller in March, using infrared, Bluetooth or RF technologies alongside a wired (possibly USB) connection and switch between the two "without permanent disruption to an ongoing game." Of course, dual-mode controllers have been around for months in a slightly different form -- Microsoft's own
Sidewinder X8 and the
Razer Mamba did the same for the high-end gaming mouse. It also doesn't bode well that this particular application clearly describes the
original chunky Xbox.
Note: As some of you have surmised in comments, this is similar to how the PlayStation 3's controllers work, though they hardly perform the task seamlessly. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit doesn't interrupt a game, but only uses the physical cable to charge a controller's battery pack.
posted July 19th 2010 8:11PM
...we can rebuild it....
@AlienSix
Might as well what are those controllers doing in that useless brick anyway?
@AlienSix
We have the technology...
...We have the technology, (we also have the patents)...
@AlienSix
its funny because the ps3 still has no games.
@AlienSix
whoa whats that dinosaur?
@AlienSix Yawn.
@MicrosoftOwns
Someone's still in 2006.
@Death
dont pretend like you still play god of war 3. and little big planet is the dumbest platformer ever. did i mention uncharted 2 is tomb raider with a penis? no online gameplay? hahahaha this is 2010
@Death. Gartenberg (Gman) must've put him in stasis
@Death. Gartenberg (Gman) must've put him in stasis
@Death. Would you do me a favor and dispose of this Gungan?
@Death. MicrosoftOwns is the Gungan to be clear
@MicrosoftOwns Yah I hate ps3 too, but what? It has no games? I'll use the same argument I use to defend the xbox 360, they have all the same games, and a few exclusives, notable ps3 ones are ratchet and clank (gay little kids game with terrible graphics) god of war (3) I have never played, and don't have any interest in it, but I hear it's sick, and probably is cool for ps3 users, also MLB the show or something, it probably has great graphics and maybe good gameplay, but xbox has plenty of baseball games, that's all I can think of other than gay mod nation racing, on the xbox there is the fable series which is truly sick rpg, there's halo, which I used to love and say it's one of the reasons the xbox was better, until I got cod, also gears of war
I think
@MicrosoftOwns Oh right I forgot to mention uncharted 2 and little big planet when I was naming exclusives for ps3, uncharted 2 looks really stupid, and just cause it's almost a movie with an intense plot, doesn't make it fun, and little big planet? Shut up Sony...god of war 3 I have not played but I hear it's sick, not my type of game though
@MicrosoftOwns All you PS3 haters are blinded by your sheer fanboyism. I mean, I'm gonna try to be fair here. Uncharted 2 is a great game, and the online is fun also. MLB 10: The Show is a great game too. Very realistic and great graphics. If Madden was as good at simulating football, as this game is at baseball, it might actually be on to something. However, Xbox live is better than PSN, but PSN is free.
Just remember, everything is subjective. You can't try to force your opinions on somebody else. But fact says that the PS3 has games now, in July 2010.
@Lord Vader
Could you use the Death Star instead? Looks far more fitting. And even more spectacular.
@VetteDude
ps3 doesnt have games.
you gotta be lying to yourself to say it does
@MicrosoftOwns Did common sense beat you up when you were a kid, and now you're holding a grudge against it?
Aw, are you mad because you can't play our exclusives on your console?
@MicrosoftOwns,
Dude, Microsoft would be embarrassed if they saw your user-name. You're a douche.
@MicrosoftOwns uncharted is not to be compared to tomb raider, nobody can make an experience quite like naughty dog
U would be dumb enough to say cod is as good as battlefield lol
Skynet. Yup.
@NuklearPanda somebody watched too much Terminator...
Isn't this basically just what DualShock 3 does ?
And honestly, the latency is a non-issue.
@SarnGate
I'm pretty sure it's just used as a charge cable, and still wirelessly communication with it plugged in.
@SarnGate exactly. If you're finding controller latency on PS3 or Xbox (Natal and Move aside), you're coding isn't efficient enough.
@MikeOfAllTrades
Actually, when you plug in the ps3 controller in, it does charge AND send data through the usb port, not using bluetooth at all as soon as it's plugged in. It's exactly like what's described in the article, I think.
@SarnGate Latencies can add up. Lets say your net is not too great and the only you have to connect your machine is through Wifi, then a wireless controller. Combined you get quite a few extra milliseconds. So why not remove them when possible?
@Dojomann
Correct, it does communicate through the USB. This is why you can plug your PS3 controller into the PC and (with help from 3rd party drivers) use it as a PC controller. The plug and charge kit does not do this for the 360, you must have the wireless receiver for PC to use wireless 360 controllers.
For cod I like ps3 controls better cuz you just click the shoulder button to shoot instead of pulling a larger trigger on 360.
@lakersin2025
that was on-topic
@lakersin2025
I like my mouse and kb cuz I can kill you faster.
@lakersin2025
I dont like what you said but I like both your avatars...
@lakersin2025 How old are you? I have tiny hands and have no problem pulling the "larger trigger" on the Xbox 360.
@lakersin2025
yea, pulling a trigger to shoot a gun makes zero sense! right?
@MicrosoftOwns Yeah because the trigger works so well! It has no play at all in it!
Sarcasm. Thinking that pulling a trigger makes games more bad ass when they work nothing like a real one is what I find entertaining. Let me slow squeeze this so not to jerk off target... Fail
I miss the Originl X-Box sometimes
@SskyNnet
I doubt you miss the original (non-s) game pad…
@Olwood Maybe I'm the minority, but I actually liked the original large xbox controller :)
@foxfireoutpost
Yeah I loved the original xbox controller, screw you small handed people.
Loving my Droid X to....lol
kinda like http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169418100
?
@elie195
I came here to say exactly this. I have a Mamba, and I absolutely, 110% love it. For those that are curious, when you plug it in to the wire directly, it DOES use the USB for data, and not just for charging.
Honestly though, this mouse has no detectable lag in wireless mode, though the polling intervals does mean I only get about 12hrs of hard gaming out of it before it needs a charge (or just plug it in and return to play).
... Ya, it's called mini-USB.
>_>
You forgot the Razer Orochi :P
Although, doesn't Microsoft offer a play and charge kit that basically does this? All this does build it into every controller?
@Firewave
Yeah, my plug and play controller does this. My guess is they're trying to patent something that lots of people have so they can get money/exclusivity.
@Firewave In Germany something to patent needs to be: new, involve an inventive step and needs to be commercial usable. And the patent description must be in a way u can achieve it. Perhaps the USA should refresh their patent laws a bit. This thing is not new, and i cant see an inventive step too.. so: no patent pls.
Personally, I wish they'd implement this with all these plastic instruments. Give me a guitar controller with a slot for two AA batteries *and* a built in rechargeable battery (a la the PS3's Dualshock 3) that charges via USB, and can send inputs over USB for zero latency, then I'd probably replace my Guitar Hero WT and GH3 guitars, along with my World Tour drum kit.
These stupid multi-hundred dollar Pro Mode guitars in Rock Band 3, ridiculous changeable body kits for the Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock guitar, and the "look how cool you can change it into a real MIDI drum kit even though you never will" ION kit? They're not enough for me to want to upgrade.
Could they just make the damn batteries a part of the controller instead of 2 AA's like the PS3 allready?
@malu05 There are rechargeable battery packs that you can recharge by plugging the controller to the xbox. Once they're in you never have to take them out.