Microsoft: 'no truth' to Banjo-Kazooie motion control speculation [update]

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 9th 2008 at 4:59PM }

Back to button mashing for Kazooie. Microsoft has sent along a brief statement allegedly clarifying what Microsoft Game Studios creative director Ken Lobb meant when he said, "you twist the controller around and it'll move different things in [Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts]." The explanation goes a lil' something like this:

"There is no truth to this speculation. Ken's comment is in reference to rotating the left analog stick while hitting the X-button to move different things in the game."

While the statement seems to confirm that Banjo-Kazooie will stick to conventional controls, it by no means denies that Microsoft is preparing a magic show for E3. Will the wand be waved? Stay tuned.

Update: Rare has this to say: "There's no truth to the Banjo motion control rumor. Banjo has been designed to be played using a gamepad from the outset. People shouldn't take rumors that gestate in comments sections so seriously. They can often turn out to be red herrings, as is the case with Banjo and motion controls."

Tags: banjo-kazooie, banjo-kazooie-nuts-and-bolts, breakingnews, microsoft, motion-sensing

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

OMGOMG @ Jul 9th 2008 5:06PM

Kinda like there's "no truth" to the price-cuts.

Jakka @ Jul 9th 2008 5:08PM

Microsoft denying a rumour? No wai!!1!

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 9th 2008 5:09PM

Is this a job I can get somewhere? You have an office and a desk at Microsoft, and all you have to do, when the phone rings, is:

Ring ring...

"What? Wh wh wh what? No that's not true, not true at all."

Ring ring...

"Bob at Microsoft here. Come again? NO! 1000 times no! Thanks for calling."

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 9th 2008 5:10PM

"Well hold on... Take this guy's number down, it's Joe Anderson. He's the yes guy. But don't call him for a week or two. In the meantime, no there are no truth to those rumors!"

Zertoss @ Jul 9th 2008 5:11PM

"Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation."

"Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation."

"Rumors do not speculate on Microsoft and comments."

Fuck!

Tiptup300 @ Jul 10th 2008 12:25AM

Seriously, they should setup a site to answer these questions. Heres the source:

[CODE]
///
///
/// returns: response
public string main(string question)
{
if(question != null)
{
question = null;
}
return "Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation.";
}

[/CODE]

Zertoss @ Jul 9th 2008 5:09PM

Sorry, I'm not completely buying it. While this isn't the standard "We don't comment on rumors and speculation", I would never in my life describe holding X and rotating the left stick as "twisting the controller".

Cyro @ Jul 9th 2008 5:16PM

It does sound weird doesn't it ?

ushman @ Jul 9th 2008 5:12PM

Sounds like a cover up to me.

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Jul 9th 2008 5:12PM

Good, I didn't want motion controls for that game anyway... unless there's a Tornado Launcher gun... well? Is there?

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 9th 2008 6:04PM

MSDNCORAS

NATO_Duke @ Jul 9th 2008 5:15PM

Nothing to see here folks, keep walking, no need to talk...keep on walking.

Titanium_Orchid @ Jul 9th 2008 5:20PM

Motion controls work well when in some situations. i.e. MGS4, Drake's Fortune, Flow.

When it comes to manipulating an object in three dimensions, motion control would be mind numbingly frustrating. I don't really see this happening.

Oh, and +1 to Markez

erico316 @ Jul 9th 2008 5:26PM

it would be dumb for Microsoft to copy Sony .they need to make it their own like Nintendo and Sony have done.i don't see the point in motion sen for Microsoft and the 360 its too late to bring it to 360 base they would not upgrade their current controller and to make it an add on i would not even look at its once.360 is for the hardcore gamers and the hardcore control is already their . the ps3 is the medium man hardcore and casual can enjoy. the wii is 100% casual

dark_inchworm @ Jul 9th 2008 5:26PM

Regardless of whether they're bringing motion control to the 360, I think I would prefer a wand-like motion-based controller (such as the Wiimote, obviously) over a typical several-button two-analog controller with motion/tilt control pasted on. Granted, I haven't played with a Sixaxis enough to say for sure.

I'd still be one of the first tech-grubbing whores in line to buy it, though, novelty or not.

Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 5:29PM

Please no

Snowblind @ Jul 9th 2008 5:31PM

The fact they didn't go with their regular "Microsoft do not comment on rumour or speculation" probably means something. Kazooie moving the controller like that just seems like an exaggerated way to show someone playing the game, which is very common in animation, and although what he said about twisting the controller was odd, so were many things he said to describe different features of the game.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 5:54PM

This is like that time when the Haze trailer showed the new Dual shock.

There is rumble and there will be waggle (Probably,I hope so).

ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 5:43PM

Lol if this turns out to be true it will be hilarious...

Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 5:50PM

Not really, companies do this all the time.

No PSP redesign, no Xbox 360 price cut, no rumble…etc…etc

ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 6:06PM

True but this is more specific. Usually they are very vague and say stuff like, "No comment" or "we don't speculate on this or that", etc...

MS just came right out and said "NO there is no motion control for this game."

So if they turn around say there will be it'll be sorta funny (to me at least) how they basically lied to our faces just to keep this a "secret".

ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 5:46PM

LOL

Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 5:52PM

Sure there isn't one ;)

(There is,it will be announced and Do want)

Snowblind @ Jul 9th 2008 6:10PM

Again, they never said there isn't one. Just what people have been speculating on because of the Banjo videos, isn't it.

They've never denied that they're making a motion controller of some sort, and I think we all know it's going to be at e3.

John Perkins @ Jul 9th 2008 6:08PM

This is awesome news. I really, really don't want to see motion controls take over. I think the way it is now with one console having that market covered is good. It's probably cool for some games, but the majority of games I want to play would not be helped in any way by motion control.

erico316 @ Jul 9th 2008 6:15PM

anyone backing the idea on motion sen on 360 is dumb.the 360 need a better interface for the dash board and they need to open up the wifi to third party so they can make new controller and so on cause its tiring to pay the over price crap Microsoft makes.

Snowblind @ Jul 9th 2008 6:42PM

Just like the £40 DS3's and the Sixaxxes "motion" control? ;)

Jhongerkong @ Jul 9th 2008 6:25PM

If there are, in fact, motion controls coming, ill be damn waiting for my DOAX2 patch.

Ethan @ Jul 9th 2008 6:44PM

"no truth to speculation" in that it's confirmation not speculation. That gif bear no resemblance to what we saw. Good damage control though.

erico316 @ Jul 9th 2008 7:15PM

snow blind the six axles came with the ps3 so the installed based is already there for motion sen there is no need to upgrade the ps3 controllers.Dual shock 3 was a good idea but wasn't necessary and all game will support the six axels so its wouldn't stop a person from being able to play a mostion sen game on ps3.