Qmotions to bring 'active gaming' controllers to Xbox 360

by Ross Miller { May 1st 2008 at 5:00PM }

Actiga subsidiary Qmotions has reached an agreement with Microsoft to use its wireless technology for a series of "active gaming" controllers for the Xbox 360. The company is known for making various large plastic controllers used to simulate golf, baseball and snowboarding. Previous controllers are available for PS2 and Xbox and can be found ever-so-conveniently at Radio Shack and Target Online.

According to the press release, the first controller to come out will be the Big Air wireless controller, a full-sized skateboard that is "compatible with popular skateboarding games." (Previous Qmotions products have worked with EA Sports titles.) Big Air is the first of "a full-range of products that will be officially endorsed by Microsoft" and is coming this fall.

Tags: actiga, microsoft, peripherals, qmotions

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Benny @ May 1st 2008 5:05PM

Sounds like crap.

Jody Anthony (cookingrebels.com) @ May 1st 2008 5:09PM

agreed

E.J. @ May 1st 2008 6:35PM

I actually thought the last line of the post said, "coming this fail" and reread it.

I liked my first glance better.

ViagraFiend @ May 1st 2008 5:09PM

the first controller to come out will be the Big Air wireless controller, a full-sized skateboard that is "compatible with popular skateboarding games.

Im sorry but that just sounds like a bad idea.

carg0 @ May 1st 2008 5:09PM

yea, no thanks, we already get cheap third-party shit from Pelican and MadCatz...

Chase @ May 1st 2008 5:12PM

This is Microsoft's attempt at attracting the Wii-loving, casual-gaming audience? I find the idea of buying multiple, possibly-expensive peripherals to be a very unappealing idea. Way to fail, Microsoft.

vidGuy @ May 1st 2008 5:15PM

You already missed the boat Microsoft; cut your losses here and start planning for next-gen. These accessories will tank and won't do much to attract the casual crowd. Just suck it up and admit that Nintendo - and even Sony - beat you to the punch on this one. Haha, Bill Gates and his refusal to accept motion control after his Sidewinder POS failed.

caustic @ May 1st 2008 5:21PM

i demand a quidditch broom. STAT

arrrgh @ May 2nd 2008 10:39AM

...

sad times

NATO_Duke @ May 1st 2008 5:48PM

People's grandmothers will think they look nifty and buy them for jr, and that will be their market. No harm, no foul for the rest of us that will ignore these on the shelves.

playwhutyalike @ May 1st 2008 9:33PM

Amen to that, Nato.

konajinx @ May 1st 2008 6:14PM

The only big air surrounding this story is the giant fart cloud surrounding it. Seriously, why do companies bother making completely unnecessary crapola like this? Now let me get back to my dancing Coke can and sunglasses-wearing potted flowers collection.

hvnlysoldr @ May 1st 2008 9:52PM

Active gaming?

Jwm @ May 1st 2008 9:53PM

In 1998 MS came out with the Freestyle Pro (gasp motion control - google it), it was horrid for FPS, RTS, RPG, but it was fun in motocross, racing, flight sim, etc.

Motion control is old news, next??

rruss79 @ May 2nd 2008 7:01AM

Personally I will wait to see the quality of the product before making a decision. Also alot of you are forgetting that MS is licensing their wireless (money for MS) and are only endorsing the controllers. In other words MS doesn't lose anything. They get paid weather people purchase these devices or not and if they fail or well, if it succeed then they reap the rewards.

Mike @ May 2nd 2008 9:58AM

It's a thrii-mote

JCD @ May 2nd 2008 10:14AM

This /could/ be cool. I mean, this sort of thing has been a staple in arcades for years. What's wrong with trying to make more immersive peripherals for video games?

I think the joystiq group has just gotten too jaded with all of the previous crappy addons that companies have foisted on gamers in previous years. Let's at least give this guy a chance before we call it the suq sandwich it probably will be.