Xbox 360 pad learns motion sickness
by Ross Miller 
{ Jan 22nd 2007 at 11:25AM }
Wii has it. PlayStation 3 has it. Even the PC, PS2 and DS have it. Why can't Microsoft join the party? Adam Thole thinks the Xbox 360 controller is lacking in the motion sensing department, so he went ahead and added a two-axis accelerometer, which looks to supplement moving along the x-axis on the left joystick. Full details of his hacking can be found on his blog for those who wish to emulate it. For those who are just interested in watching the pad in action, video of Thole playing Full Auto and Crimson Sky can be found after the break.
Details of the mod can be found on his website; the original Xbox 360 motion pad is now on eBay and Thole is considering selling his mod, either pre-installed or just as a circuit, en masse later. And yes, Thole confirms that vibration still works. With all this excitement for motion control, we expect Microsoft will have its own first-party solution in time for the next generation of consoles.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:34AM
Um, no. Don't want motion control.
joshua @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:42AM
motion sensing is worthless. the 360 wireless controller is the best controller on the market. no changes needed
will @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:51AM
actually the nintendo gamecube controller is the best on the market..
but i wouldnt trade that for a n64 controller with the middle joystiq still firm..
mmm.. goldeneye trigger fun.. mm
Bloo @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:52AM
While I think my Wii is great, I think the motion sensing on my PS3 is a joke (at least so far) and would see no benefit to doing this on my 360. This is neat, but that's about it.
LongshotX @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:02PM
Is he playing Standard Definition? What nerve!
eddyk @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:01PM
Apparently he didn't reported any "interference" with the rumble feature as SONY stated for the PS3 controller ...
Hum, anyway I don't need motion control ...
Leave it Alone @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:16PM
#3 What are you a lil Kid? That controller had to be the WORST Ever!! You must not have a Normal Size hand!! That was a lil kids toy.
360 controller IS The BEST Yet!!
Back on Topic, If I wanted a tilt/Motion I would buy a Gimmick console... I Mean a Wii
Would Never buy a another Sony Product!!!!
JodyAnthony @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:25PM
I thought that the N64 pad was one of the best ever, followed closely by the dreamcast. i must be a weird one.
But I think we all know that the SNES pad had to be the best..after all, sony has been using it for 15 years.
MadMup @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:32PM
I really, really hope Microsoft doesn't jump on this "motion sensitive" bandwagon. Precise control beats random flapping any day of the week for me.
My vote for Best Controller Ever is the Sega Saturn "batwing" controller. That thing rocked.
moog @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:44PM
#6 (Leave it Alone), congrats, you've just proven yourself a M$ fanboy. Jesus! ...these posts just eat @ the credibility of digg
Killzig @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:04PM
fark this shit, I want a lap board already.
Steve @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:19PM
The N64 controller was the worst controller I've ever used in the post-Atari 2600 era. Hell, even the Atari 2600 controller was better than the N64 controller.
Why was the N64 controller so bad? It was big where it needed to be small and small where it needed to be big. For example, the prime real estate for the directional control was on the leftmost prong, and that's where Nintendo put the D-Pad. Bad decision! The prime directional input for N64 titles was the analog stick, so it belonged on the left! By putting it in the center the user was forced to squeeze their hands together by holding the middle and rightmost prongs. The controller was now unbalanced with the left prong just sticking out into nowhere and the D-Pad became completely inaccessable.
The N64 controller was designed to LOOK revolutionary and was not designed for gameplay. N64 games were pretty much unplayable until 3rd party controllers were released with decent button layouts.
paul burgess @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:26PM
wow. thats a shallow look way to look at a controller. clearly never played mariokart. the n64 was the first mainstream to have a joystick..
yep sony copied it..
like soo many other things.
the n64 controller was revolutionary
SuicideNinja @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:53PM
"I thought that the N64 pad was one of the best ever, followed closely by the dreamcast. i must be a weird one.
But I think we all know that the SNES pad had to be the best..after all, sony has been using it for 15 years."
That's funny, I thought the 6 button Genesis controller destroyed the SNES pad as far as usefulness. Much better for Street Fighter 2 IMO. Then again, I never played my SNES aside from 2-3 games.
I still think the N64 pad really was a clunky piece of junk...I guess I could see why people liked it, but that thumbstick and those C buttons were pretty crappy.
Sony pretty much had the better controller of 2 generations ago (I liked the Gamecube controller better last gen). I'd say the 360 wireless pad beats them all hands down (sans d-pad), mainly because those Wii-motes are soo...cheap feeling...
Frexy @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:51PM
You all seem to forget (the ones that bash the N64 controller) that Nintendo theirselves weren't sure of the whole 'analog' concept, that's why they kept the directional pad on it's 'primary' place and 'squeezed' the joystick right in between.
Plus it had a nice little trigger right where it belonged! (In my humble opinion)
So yeah, it could've been better, but then again, Nintendo didn't even think the analog nub would be such a succes in years to come...
If they'd knew, I suppose they would've made it sturdier..
James @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:52PM
I love my 360, but anyone who says it has a great controller has never used the D-pad extensively.
I love my Wii, but sometimes the games don't respond too well to the wiimote.
I'd love my PS3 if I had one. And I'd have one if it had any games worth playing.
I don't need a motion sensing 360 controller, but I'm wondering if this guy is violating any patents selling his mod on eBay.
XGM @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:12PM
Well i coudnt help my self, but the best controller(s) ever is... Mouse and Keyboard. FPS games like Halo belong on PC (fawkin bungie make Halo3 PC already, skip 2 lol)
snapper @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:36PM
#6: 6. #3 What are you a lil Kid? That controller had to be the WORST Ever!! You must not have a Normal Size hand!! That was a lil kids toy.
360 controller IS The BEST Yet!!
Back on Topic, If I wanted a tilt/Motion I would buy a Gimmick console... I Mean a Wii
Would Never buy a another Sony Product!!!!
-----------------------------------------
What are you, sasquach? Actaully, the cube controller is pretty descent. I especially liked the fact that the analog sticks have corners to go into where the usual 8 positions can be easily found and locked into place. BRILLIANT!
Also, doing multiple-button combo's is easier because of the fact that of the button layout allows for it.
I've got a 360, xbox, and gamecube, and I find nothing at all wrong with the cube controller. I like the wavebird the best. Batteries last forever, and I can turn the thing off with the flick of a switch.
lol. @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:36PM
Controllers all have their purpose.
The Saturn ver.2 controllers were my absolute favorite. The first gen controller was a piece of crap, but the second version was essentially a Genesis 6-button with triggers and a better grip. I loved it.
The 360 controller isn't bad at all. Does it need motion sensing? No. See, people don't understand the REASON Wii has motion sensing.
Wii uses motion detection as another input, not as an alternate input. It doesn't have 11 buttons like the 360 or the ps3, so you can justify motion detection. I think the 360 is fine as it is.
Pwnut-Butter @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:05PM
Pft, N64 rocked. It was the best console controller for FPS in my opinion.
Aaron @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:18PM
Motion sensation for traditional gamepads can be gimmicky like most of the PS3 implementations, but in my opinion, it is well-suited to racing and flying games. It allows for more accurate mimicking of real-life controls.
Joysticks have their place, but non-spring-loaded absolute analog axes like accelerometers and mice have advantages in certain game controls. It would be wise for Microsoft to implement this feature sooner rather than later.
-Aaron
NeverSage @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:07PM
Leave it Alone are you a lil Kid? That controller had to be the WORST Ever!! You must not have a Normal Size hand!! That was a lil kids toy.
The first Xbox controller IS The BEST Yet!!
(none of the above is true.)
The gamecube controller was fine. I never once had any problem with it or found it uncomfortable, and I have pretty big hands. I have to admit the 360 controller is by far the most comfortable controller out there. But there is an overlooked comfort factor of the Wii controller. When playing Zelda I realized both my hands could rest anywhere since the controller is basically broken in half by having the nunchuck attached on a cable. I never realized before this, that holding a normal controller is actually a fairly awkward position when compared to how your hands and arms normally rest.