squeeballs
Latest
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
Joystiq puts hands on Squeeballs, GameTrak Freedom
The Gametrak Freedom is doomed. Some clarification: I'm don't think the Freedom is a bad product. In fact, there's a very marketable product to be found in both the controller and its bundled game, Squeeballs. As one PR rep put it to me when I arrived for my appointment -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- "it turns your Xbox 360 into a Wii." There's definitely a market there. I'm sure there are plenty of young fathers out there that would love to turn their Call of Duty box into a Wii for the kids, minus the cost of an actual Wii.I'm not sure if I liked Squeeballs, but then, it's not meant for me.%Gallery-65042%
Gametrak Freedom Xbox 360 motion controller up for pre-order with Squeeballs
We get the feeling this isn't the motion sensing surprise that's likely in store for Xbox 360 fans at E3, but it's still great to see this controller moving beyond the hype stage. After being spied late last year and detailed around two months ago, the Gametrak Freedom motion controller is now listed at GameStop with an October 15th ship date. The controller, which will come bundled with Squeeballs: Island Party for the Xbox 360, is already up for pre-order, promising gamers who shell out $69.99 a grand total of 11 motion sensing party games. Unfortunately, there's no word on how much extra Freedom sticks will run, but based on the price of this kit, we'd wager not much.[Thanks, Josh]
GDC09: GameTrak Freedom motion controller detailed
Performance Designed Products (PDP) has come to GDC prepared to showcase the latest model of it's new creation, the GameTrak Freedom -- a motion controller for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Planned to be released on Microsoft's console this fall, and the PS3 (potentially) next year, the Freedom acts like current motion controllers on the market but adds a special feature. Through the use of accelerometers, the Freedom establishes the pitch, roll, and yaw of the controller but, unlike other motion devices, it can calculate the precise distance, orientation, and speed of the controller with the use of two side-mounted sensor bars. According to IGN, third-party companies are already developing titles for the Freedom but PDP has taken the reigns by developing it's own launch title: Squeeballs. Currently in development by PDP owned, In2Games, Squeeballs is a mini-game collection, which includes a total of 150 challenges across 11 different games.After ages of Xbox 360 motion controller rumors that have led to nothing official, we wonder if Microsoft's console is in need of such a device. Arguments could be made that the release of You're In the Movies attempted to test the waters for peripheral based games (not associated with Rock or Heroes), but mild interest in that family friendly venture could prove that Microsoft isn't fooling anyone into thinking the Xbox 360 is something it isn't.Interestingly enough, due to the Freedom's precision, players will actually have to put effort into movements unlike the faked wrist-flicks done in current gesture-based games. In other words, buy a pane of bulletproof glass to put in front of your television this fall. The (cute, yet disturbing) trailer for Squeeballs is available after the break. [Thanks, Niko O.!]
