Rumor: Microsoft making motion-sensing Xbox 360 'Wiimote'

by Christopher Grant { Apr 7th 2008 at 5:06PM }

MTV News has a secret source who sent in the above "sketch" and some info on what they claim is a veritable Wiimote clone, courtesy of your friends and ours at Microsoft. Reportedly, the Xbox (marketing?) team has been hard at work aping Nintendo's waggling wonder, in an attempt to "match the Wii point for point." The project, which the anonymous source calls "a colossal clusterf---," is being handled to some degree by internal developer Rare, who has had difficulty "hitting its deadlines," apparently compromising Microsoft's ambitions to have a product release by the end of the year. The more astute amongst you may recall that X3F broke the news about Rare's upcoming XBLA game The Fast and the Furriest in January, which purportedly features "a wand type input device for gesture recognition."

While not a huge surprise, considering the contortions Microsoft has put itself through to appeal to the "casual" audience, we're pretty certain releasing yet another interface for the Xbox 360 isn't going to accomplish much of anything outside of adding more delicious bullet points to the box (which SKU would this be?) and marginalizing any piece of software that required it. You're beautiful just the way you are, Xbox 360.

Tags: BreakingNews, motion-sensing, MTV-News, Wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

ManekiNeko @ Apr 7th 2008 5:15PM

Wow, I've seen some pretty blatant and desperate rip-offs from Microsoft in the past, but this takes the cake! I wonder if they'll call it the Microsoft Schwii...

Cheezeman3000 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:18PM

Schwii? How does that make any sense?

Jomolungma @ Apr 7th 2008 5:27PM

Ok, I'm not a MSFT fanboy or anything, but this whole "rip-off" fetish that gamers have is ridiculous... everything is a rip-off of everything, unless it was patented, in which case it's a more creative rip-off of something. Every major console before this generation used a joypad that you held in both hands that had triggers and buttons and sticks... is there some magic reason every console in this generation can't have waving wands, if they wanted? if nintendo wrote a loose patent, or is willing to license the tech, that's their problem... maybe more consoles in the wild with this kind of control scheme will spur developers into writing new and innovative games that actually take advantage of it... it's how the state of the art is advanced folks, so let whomever rip rip rip away.

ManekiNeko @ Apr 7th 2008 5:29PM

You know, Wii Schwii. Which pretty much describes Microsoft's dismissive attitude toward motion sensitive controllers when the Wii was first released.

Huey2k2 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:43PM

Despite the fact that this is just a RUMOUR right now, I am going to bite your flame bait and reply.

Nintendo did not invent motion sensing as a form of input, they just use it. So even if MS is making some form of motion sensing control they aren't "ripping off" Nintendo, they are "ripping off" whoever came up with the damned idea of motion sensing in the first place.

And don't go labeling me as some kind of Nintendo hater, because I *gasp* own a Wii, DS and pretty much every Nintendo system that has ever graced this earth.

kinshadow @ Apr 7th 2008 5:43PM

Technically, MS did a motion controller (for the PC)well before Nintendo thought of the idea. N was just the first gaming console to incorporate it.

So, who ripped off whom?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 7th 2008 5:50PM

Yep, MS was the first to bring a motion sensing controller to market (U-Force was infrared... and didn't work). Sony was the first to patent a tilting style input (filed in 1998, award in 1999).

Besides, without ripoffs, the market will never progress. It will never evolve. And we'd be stuck with controllers trying to be radically unique from the comptetition and if you want evidence of how this sucks, wrap your hands around a Jaguar controller sometime.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 5:58PM

The one thing nintendo does deserve credit on the wiimote on is 2 independent modules with motion sensing in each, essentially making the wii controller a 16 axis controller.

Jason @ Apr 7th 2008 6:43PM

Microsoft would not be ripping off the 'idea' of motion sensing controls but they would be MOST certainly jumping on a casual, "wave this piece of shit around and call it a game" bandwagon that everyone is so into right now. Sure the sales are there now, but after 20 minutes with any of these games your tired of them because they're super shallow. Nintendo is they only developer who gets past that and I don't think Microsoft can do it.

Co @ Apr 7th 2008 7:26PM

Ok, who here DIDN'T see this coming?

Nintendo innovates, paves the way for the home console industry, everyone follows or goes bottom up.

The difference is, when Nintendo gets surpassed, they just RE-innovate, and everyone ends up following or goes bottom up.

Catprog @ Apr 7th 2008 8:06PM

@Sir Fidlious Wong

Power glove was 1989 (not Nintendo though)

bm @ Apr 7th 2008 9:07PM

Hahaha oh come the fuck ON.

Anyone who seriously thinks this is NOT a direct response to the Wii's success is, frankly, a blind idiot.

That said, I don't think it's real.

John McPoop @ Apr 7th 2008 9:19PM

@Co

Oh get off of your Nintendo soap box ... I will tell you as much as they innovated in controls they sure missed the HDD & online boat ... No company is perfect including Nintendo ... Besides, haven't you heard the line great artist steal

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 7th 2008 11:13PM

Power Glove was infrared, and like U Force, broken.

MagusDF @ Apr 8th 2008 11:43AM

Ripping off might not quite be the right term. Its more od a jumping on the bandwagon. Yes they had a controller but it died out quite a ways back and the only real reason for doing it is because of the wiis popularity.

That being said, hope they spend more money on it and make it better. It isnt a rip of if its better than the original ;)

Martez @ Apr 7th 2008 5:19PM

Rare is having problems hitting a deadline? NO WAI!

J.Goodwin @ Apr 7th 2008 5:45PM

Quite.

Snipermonky @ Apr 7th 2008 5:20PM

"MTV News has a secret source who sent in the above "sketch" and some info on what they claim is a veritable Wiimote clone, courtesy of your friends and ours at Microsoft."

If I remember correctly thats the controller for "Scene It".

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/sceneitlightscameraaction/

Busted

vidGuy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:21PM

Look at the whole picture = unbusted

Snipermonky @ Apr 7th 2008 5:25PM

Ouch..

vidGuy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:21PM

Ah, but what about the constant "we don't need no stinking motion controller" from all of the MS reps?

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:26PM

Kind of like the "We don't need rumble, it's last gen" from Sony.

Mr Khan @ Apr 7th 2008 7:17PM

Because the people saying that are only lackeys in the big picture, and when the higher-ups say they need it, all of a sudden its all "Oh yeah, Rumble/Blu-Ray/An actual goddamn online interface/etc is actually important"

Sami @ Apr 7th 2008 9:15PM

Maybe they finally realized that last gen controls are limiting their console. The idea to introduce their own mote is very good, but the execution, width of application and software support are still mysteries.

rv @ Apr 7th 2008 5:21PM

That would be sweet. I would like to try playing halo, cod 4 with it.

Fosssil @ Apr 7th 2008 5:22PM

If such a controller is in development, I just don't see it successfully competing with the Wii. No fanboyism here (I own both systems), but I think Nintendo has so much name recognition with the Wii brand that people will just see this as a cheap Microsoft knockoff.

vidGuy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:26PM

I completely agree, but for a different reason: it will be an add-on peripheral. Even if they start packaging it with new consoles, a large percentage of the 360 consumer base will never have such a controller. That's where Nintendo went right by making the remote the default controller for a new system.

Liquid Ocelot (call me Liquid) @ Apr 7th 2008 5:27PM

....which it is. I hope they end up losing money on this. Pathetic.....

BIGGEN @ Apr 7th 2008 5:45PM

noooooo what's pathetic is that you hope they lose money on it. why do you care? seriously. don't own a 360 i guess? cause if you did, it would make no sense why you would want to see this fail. which makes you lose credibility because you are an obvious troll.

personally, i hope that it's something cool. that has GOOD games, and not shit (except for the few first party titles). i hold on to my wii and ps3 hoping for something that makes me happy i bought them (besides blu ray of course). it seems to me that MS is the really the only one who has given a shit about games on their game console.

Quix @ Apr 7th 2008 10:39PM

"people will just see this as a cheap Microsoft knockoff"

Sadly, cheap knockoffs is what Microsoft excels in. And, in fact, is the best they can do.

Sadder still, people continue to pump money into their coffers by buying their unoriginal crap.

giantenemycrab @ Apr 7th 2008 5:24PM

If the future of gaming is Wiimote-like controllers, then I won't be there.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Apr 7th 2008 5:27PM

So your saying that if in the next gen of consoles Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all release wiimote like controllers with their consoles you will quit gaming all at once? I highly doubt that.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 5:28PM

Too bad, because there isn't a game on the 360 that couldn't benefit from I direct screen pointer.

Leave the waggle at the door, sure. But the pointer is where its at.

vidGuy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:32PM

Yeah, I would literally lock myself in a room for a few days and threaten anyone who would keep me from a Resident Evil 5 on the 360 with pointer shooting, ala RE4:WE.

Motion sucks in most applications but it can be extremely useful when done right. The pointer though makes the system work.

kinshadow @ Apr 7th 2008 5:40PM

PC Gaming bekons you to the dark side...

zero2dash @ Apr 7th 2008 5:41PM

I'll join that party in whatever old school non-Wiimote games we play.

mr nimblewick @ Apr 7th 2008 6:09PM

I know, you want a straight leap from gamepad-centered gaming to holodeck-style gaming. Well, that's simply not going to happen. Perhaps you want camera-tracking intead?

Or maybe you want to using the same "perfect" 360 controller for the rest of your life. Because THAT will never old.

Jason @ Apr 7th 2008 6:51PM

here, here!! Screw waggle!

Lone Starr @ Apr 7th 2008 5:25PM

I think this might be one of those "we've got it in case but probably won't produce it" ideas. At least, I don't think it will be implemented widely.

Burritoclock @ Apr 7th 2008 5:49PM

^This

Also this seems even stupider since it says it would be used for an XBLA game. What sense would it make to release a special controller for a downloaded game...??

samfish @ Apr 7th 2008 5:29PM

There you go again, Sony! Ripping off Nintendo as usua- wait, what? MICROSOFT?!

Shit, I just lost a lot of bets.

kinshadow @ Apr 7th 2008 5:52PM

FYI, The article also mentions MS adding Miis to your Gamertag.

I wonder how they will compare to Home? Will we see a rip-off triangle this generation?

please @ Apr 7th 2008 5:53PM

AWESOME

iFester @ Apr 7th 2008 5:55PM

I think I read somewhere Microsoft was bringing back the Sidewinder gamepad as I believe that had motion tracking. Perphaps this sketch is it's next iteration.

For all those Nintendites hammering on Microsoft, (yes, I used an early Mario pun) remember: "if you can't BEAT `em, join them."

SoulBlade @ Apr 7th 2008 6:00PM

If you can't beat it, copy it. Yea MS!

At least this will shutup the idiots who keep saying waggle and gimmick. It might be successful, but MS has to do a lot of work to make casuals think the 360 is right for them... almost like Nintendo has to do a lot of work to make teeny boppers and "cool" kids think the system isn't for the kiddies.

The whole thing makes me laugh though - it's awesome.

mr nimblewick @ Apr 7th 2008 6:03PM

Well, of course they are. Sony is doing it too. You don't break sales records without the competition sitting up and taking notice.

horngreen @ Apr 7th 2008 6:12PM

YO MS? If I wanted a Wii I'd buy one. As it is it's nothing but first party Mario crap and shovelware. I'm afraid MS and Sony will both release next gen consoles based on motion sensing. I guess I'll be done gaming then. Oh and banking on RARE for anything is useless. MS just needs to cut their losses on that crap developer. I don't think you can have Gears of War and kid friendly games on the same console MS so stop trying.

Hunter @ Apr 7th 2008 6:14PM

I find it funny that nobody has mentioned that this could actually work out well for Nintendo. If third parties have two platforms to make motion and pointer based games for two platforms they will make them for both. The 360 version will be higher res, but the Wii library would likely see an infusion of hardcore games as a result.

On an unrelated note I agree with most people in this thread that believe the pointer is the bigger innovation Pro Evo on Wii FTW.