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Rumorang: Microsoft toying with motion-sensitive controller

by Christopher Grant on Dec 28th 2007 7:20PM

After an erroneous rumor concerning an Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller prototype made the internet rounds yesterday (turns out it was a known Wiimote prototype), the folks at TeamXbox claim to know a little something something and – after said rumor made waves – felt compelled to share with us a little early. They said, "TeamXbox.com can confirm that Microsoft has been researching alternative input technologies for the last two years" including motion-sensing technology ala the Wiimote or Sixaxis.

They also note that Microsoft is specifically looking to improve the right-analog stick (request to MS: fix the D-pad while you're at it), and TeamXbox will "bring you a real list of next-generation Xbox controller prototypes soon." We skipped the previous rumor but since TeamXbox is putting their neck out on this one, we're inclined to give it a little more weight. We'll know if they're right soon enough.

Source

Tags: Controller, Gamepad, motion-sensing, Rumorang, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (124)

i bought a 360 to get away from gimmicks.

I wish they'd release a controller that's essentially just two chrome-finish .357 magnums (with authentic revolving chamber action!) It would come in handy for playing all those FPSes.

Twin chromed Colt .45s. Then you can pretend you are Mark Gor (Chow Yun-Fat) or The Shadow, depending on your preference.

Nintendo makes things popular and everyone else steals them.

So how is this NEWs?

MS, don't take ideas from a last-gen console like the Wii.

Just make consoles that don't go FUBAR.

face angel

Meh, forget motion sensitivity, just give us a control with rumble, that'll be cool enough.

you had to be retarded not to see this coming. im not even in a fanboy mood today but there is no way Microsoft would miss out on offering something to its consumer (which i admit it does extremely well). even if this isnt true right now, it will happen eventually.

motion controls are great when they are used properly and i know Microsoft would not want to miss out on that.

My guess is that any new controller will be released with Halo Wars as the "killer app" for Microsoft's tech.

Also, let's not forget that Microsoft has a history of their own in the game controller and hardware business. They're not exactly the new kid on the block in this area. In fact, aside from their flight simulators, the gaming hardware is probably their oldest gaming related business model.

I wouldn't be surprised (if this actually happens) if they got a meticulous developer like Bungie to make the showcase game. They (unlike the shovelware devs who don't seem to actually care about experience) could probably come up with a way to make motion controls awesome in a fast-paced environment.

I think the wave motion tends to mess with the frame rate-As well as Wii and 360 I also have a PS3. When COD 3 first came out I bought it for PS3. Now that game was inconsistent f.r. at times, it would chug and fart in certain places, and there were times in a melee [close quarters] fight with the enemy where it would require you to use w.m. It seemed if you went too quickly it laqged and seemed not to keep up-it would tilt so to speak and you'd have to do it over again. if you fritzed too many times it would ask you if you want to c/o the w.m. and do the button press jobby instead. Seems to me then, if they insist on jamming this dumb ass idea at us, they'd better make damned sure all the games are at consistant f.r. at all times or its gonna be a crapfest.

Well, they could and probably will do it, as it's silly to be the odd man out when people are going crazy for motion controls.

But if they do, it'll be akin to when Sony bolted on two analog sticks to the PS1 controller...hardly any games are going to use it and/or require it be used since developers can't afford to alienate so many other 360 owners.

Yeah. Or like the rumbler for N64, or the N64 expansion pack. Games will either have to come with it or be able to work without it, which means the integration into the game will not be complete.

Though the Uncharted balancing bit is pretty dumb, I did enjoy Heavenly Sword's arrow aftertouch parts. Once you got the hang of it, it was sick fun to gore people in the throat with the arrows. Of course, part of the fun was provided by the inaccuracy of the tilt controls, which made throat-shots all that much more rewarding.

Don't bother with motion sensing please MS, the controller is fine without it, but if you want to fix the D-pad, you should put something like the iPod click wheel, or at least it's Zune equivalent, that would be much more accurate.

"improve the right-analog stick?"

Are we finally going to see the ill-fated "Reflex Controller?" (see: http://gear.ign.com/articles/708/708054p1.html)

Please, please, please!!!

To someone who previously posted, he made complete sense. I'm so used to analogue sticks and have become proficient in every game I use them in, so why change?

People may criticize me for thinking like that, but isn't it the same way KB/M gamers think? They are so used to the easy point and click scheme and key presses that using dual thumbsticks just seems crazy to them, despite someone experianced with dual thumbsticks being perfectly proficient at games with them.

I'm not bored with dual analogue sticks yet, when I do get bored with them i'll check out the Wii, for now I just play someone's elses Wii now and again for a little fun.

MS...stop it. Fix the damn D-Pad.

improving the right analog stick... like http://www.trackballer.com/2003/11/11/xbox-trackball-controller/ for instance?

Granted, this has been vaporware for 4 years now, but who knows?

For fucks sake, if they are all going to rip off each others gimmicks, they might as well just get together and make one console.

"fix the D-pad while you're at it"

Not likely. I believe Nintendo owns the patent on the cross-shaped d-pad and Sony owns the patent on the split d-pad. Microsoft owns the patent on crap.

My cheapass Nyko airflow PC controller has a cross-shaped d-pad, so I don't know about that.

Picture of it: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W3KYYHFXL._AA280_.jpg

It's this simple:
A 3-axis motion sensor chip is less than a dollar now. That means you can add motion sensing for less than the cost of a thumbstick or 4 buttons. So motion sensing will be in future controllers, count on it.

The key is that is should be used where appropriate and not just any old place. There are plenty of games on Wii and PS3 that do this wrong. Developers need to get it right.

By the way, MS shipped a motion sensing controller over 5 years ago (the Sidewinder Freestyle Pro). It was a USB controller for PCs. So MS has already done some research in this area.

I personally think the 360 controller is probably too heavy and large to work well as a motion sensing controller. It's a great controller, but they'll have to get the weight down to allow fine motion control I think.

It would take an entirely new controller. The awesomest thing about the Wii controller isn't waggle, but the 2 handed independent design. I'd be happy if MS made a 2 handed independent controller with pointer capabilities. My skills in games like HL2 and Halo would instantly rocket into awesomeness.

>>"(request to MS: fix the D-pad while you're at it)"

no seriously, fix the f'ing d-pad already!

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Posted: Dec 28th 2007 10:57PM (Unverified) said

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