New Banjo-Kazooie vid fuels Xbox 360 motion controller speculation [update]
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 9th 2008 at 12:58PM }
Well, there's that nagging rumor of some Abracadabra action going on behind closed doors at Microsoft, with Rare allegedly being one of the first studios to waggle the magic wand before passing it up for Vision cam support in the upcoming XBLA title, The Fast & The Furriest. It's not much of a stretch to assume that if Microsoft is to unveil a motion controller (say, next week!), Banjo-Kazooie could be one of the first titles to support the new feature. Waggletech® isn't exactly cutting edge or expensive, so a hardware manufacturer can essentially tack on motion sensitivity at any point (to varying degrees of success).
One theory suggests that Microsoft could install motion control into preexisting gamepads with an add-on device; perhaps a modified battery pack that also plugs into the headset port. Bundle the gizmo with Banjo-Kazooie, and you've got yourself a tried and true practice. Case closed? Certainly not.
Update: Microsoft has this to say.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dirty @ Jul 9th 2008 1:01PM
Death to waggle!
Tiptup300 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:48PM
BE OPTIONAL! I don't want to jiggle my joystiq all around my room at night!
Shadow El @ Jul 9th 2008 2:20PM
Next generation, it will cease to be an option, much like rumble in the transition between the 64-bit and 128-bit generations. So enjoy "traditional" gaming while it lasts.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 9th 2008 1:05PM
Speculation before E3 is so much fun!
Dirty @ Jul 9th 2008 1:55PM
It really is, I hope this E3 turns out to be more exciting than last e3.
GreyFox @ Jul 9th 2008 3:18PM
Yeah the last one kinda sucked but their seems to be some big stuff lined up for this one.
Cheers to motion control on 360!
Erwos @ Jul 9th 2008 1:06PM
IMHO, the compelling part of the Wiimote is the combination of waggle, IR pointing, and an intuitive remote-control-like shape. Just waggle gives you the SIXAXIS, which didn't exactly set the world on fire. I'm hoping Microsoft understands this.
joebot @ Jul 9th 2008 1:14PM
hmmm it looks like he's frustrated that moving the controller from side to side isn't doing anything, so he starts mashing the button, then ken says "there's more to that, but we figured we'd jump ahead"...
Colin @ Jul 9th 2008 2:18PM
I totally agree with you there. I think the motion controls were used once in MGS4... and it was completely forgettable.
GoonieGooGoo @ Jul 9th 2008 5:40PM
let's be honest....the WiiMote & tech behind it is not that advanced.....in fact it was very reminiscent of those ping pong games that were sold in mall kiosks.
As the 360 and PS3 have XBOX Live Vision & EyeToy.....its not that hard to couple with motion sensing to have the exact same features as the WiiMotes.
Its the software that makes the controller.
I'm hoping that the star wars lightsaber game will be made for the new 360 motion controller as well as the PS3 Sixaxis.
PojoMofo @ Jul 9th 2008 1:08PM
What I want to know is if they are going to call it the 3mote or eightaxis?
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:08PM
I honestly don't think it'll have waggle, but if something happens and I'm wrong then I definitely won't be getting this. I'll be sad, cause I wanted to play this and I like the idea of building vehicles instead of a straight up platformer, but I refuse to support gimmicky motion controls.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 9th 2008 1:10PM
It would be a lot more easier to build the vehicles with infrared pointer support.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 1:18PM
So Fernando, do you like it so far or is it not your cup of tea? ;) I really don't care if it has waggle, not a deal breaker or anything.
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 1:22PM
Thats cuz you're a bitter and angry sony fanboy...
Too bad its your loss. BK will be awesome no matter what controls they include for it. The best scenario would be for MS to do like Nintendo did with Brawl and give people the OPTION of using the motion controls or going old school with the GC controller.
However I personally hope they make it all waggle just to piss you and your ilk off. If you don't like it then please don't buy it. You don't deserve to play the game in the first place.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:26PM
Having the option of regular controls would be a nice middle ground and it would stop my bitching at least. Too bad everything else you said was your usual insane stupidity talking.
I'm not angry nor am I bitter, this isn't even confirmed yet. If this was on PS3 you would be damning this game to hell, so please do everyone on this site a favor and never post again.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 9th 2008 1:27PM
Yeah, the game looks great.
I love platformes. I just hope they don't focus too much just in vehicles. I want more jumping.
heh @ Jul 9th 2008 1:32PM
"hope they make it all waggle just to piss you and your ilk off. If you don't like it then please don't buy it. You don't deserve to play the game in the first place."
Yes, because the last game to support full motion control only (Lair) did oh-so-well in sales.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 1:37PM
Well like Tmac said, I'll take the options of both waggle/normal and probably use the controller anyway. I agree Fernando I looooove me some platformers as well and I dont have a problem with the vehicles.
The way I see it is the worlds are gigantic and moving in them would be too slow and take too much time on foot. The vehicles are just aiding you in reaching destinations in order for you to do the platforming, then go to the next destination.
People forget that the core group of Rare employees that made the originals are still on board with this title and if they feel like this is the next step in the Banjo evolution I'm cool with it.
I'm too hyped :P
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 1:38PM
Lol your every comment is full of bitterness and anger. You're angry that Nintendo is shitting all over your precious ps3.
And if this game were multiplat (there's no way in hell they'd be stupid enough to make it a ps3 exclusive) I would still be supporting it. And I'd be saying it would be better on the 360 because the truth is it WOULD be better on the 360 for various reasons.
Anyways BK is not Heavenly Sword in anyway. First off I doubt it will only last 5.5 hours. 2nd off I think its reviews will be slightly better. 3rd its not a new IP. Its already got a fanbase so I think its guaranteed decent sales.
heh @ Jul 9th 2008 1:44PM
"there's no way in hell they'd be stupid enough to make it a ps3 exclusive"
" And I'd be saying it would be better on the 360 because the truth is it WOULD be better on the 360 for various reasons."
It seems you have the case of fanboyitis. Please take one of the following actions to relieve yourself of your condition:
GTFO
Kill Yourself
Never post again
Barrel Roll
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:44PM
You obviously don't get me after all this time. I'm not like you and fernando, I don't care about sales. Last generation I was not going around to my xbox friends saying "HAHA ps2 has 100 million sold to your 15 million". I was bragging about my insanely massive great game collection for PS2.
As for banjo, I meant if it was ps3 only you'd be shitting on it. Of course you wouldn't do that if it was multi because you'd just get it on 360.
"And I'd be saying it would be better on the 360 because the truth is it WOULD be better on the 360 for various reasons."
Wow, I can't even argue with logic like that. My mind is truly blown.
I have fears that this will be a short game, as I've heard that the game only has 6 worlds or some number close to that. Even though the worlds are large, the fact that you have vehicles of any kind sort of negate the size factor.
Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 1:46PM
Actually I think the building part would be better with something like the wiimote and who says the opposite have never used Forge. Is like building with the damn Gravity gun except worse.
Yeah it would suck if you had to buy another controller for this game but normally New Controllers are shipped with this sort of games and if that’s the case right on. Like GH, it would suck if you had to buy the Guitar controller first and then the game but if everything is included everything is cool.
Anyhow I hope the controllers for building are better than those in Forge, it took me 5 minutes to place a damn wall.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 1:49PM
"barrel roll"
Umm, thats not funny. Never has been...
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 2:19PM
Lol tmac w/e you wanna believe.
Bottom line is that your hypothetical situation is completely impossible.
2nd of all I understand you very well. I don't like your "holier than thou" attitude. That's my basic problem with you. You seem to think that for w/e reason your opinion is the only one that counts and God forbid that anyone else happen to disagree. Not to mention you take this shit way too seriously. Maybe you're trying to win universal popularity here at Joystiq or something. It wouldn't surprise me since you try so hard to be witty and clever. I'm sure you keep a count of how many "hearts" you've collected and keep detailed stats on how many 1, 2, 3, heart rankings you've got over your long career as a Joystiq poster.
Pathetic really. I hate sony. People know that. But the stuff I say here isn't meant to be taken that seriously. What people don't know is that I could easy get over that hate and buy a ps3 if sony gave me a good reason to. But so far they haven't. Plus little sony bitches like you prove just how arrogant and full of it sony has been from day 1.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 9th 2008 3:20PM
What did I said?
=(
Mr Khan @ Jul 9th 2008 3:22PM
If it has waggle, it must suck
mirite?
Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 3:36PM
@ fuckjoystiq
Okay you can stop it Ashcraft we know it's you...or that other guy from Destructoid.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 9th 2008 4:15PM
That sounds like the unbalanced anger filled rants of Name123! See you in hell.
Dovi @ Jul 9th 2008 4:24PM
"Don't worry Joydicks...this is the ONLY time I will post on your pathetic Ihate Sony fantard site."
You posted like three times.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 4:25PM
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!!!! You win the interwebz Duke, I bet thats him too. :O
Oh and effjoystiq, all you have to do is ignore the comments of said posters you dislike and your little world will be perfect once again.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 9th 2008 5:20PM
I think the real fuck you should go to the people that vote you up for attacking joystiq. Seriously, if you guys hate it and they are so biased - move on to greener pastures. You cry babies. It doesn't follow that he is correct to act like such an asshole just because he points out that he is s Sony supporter.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2008 8:21PM
Did anyone else catch the awesome irony that I did? Right after premierwii60warriorassassin accused me of taking this stuff too seriously fuckjoystiq replied with that comment. Priceless.
Hey fuckjoystiq, relax man. If you're going to hate people for saying stuff, don't hate fernando cause he doesn't really say anything bad or hurtful, hate the guys who say stuff like premierassassin and others. I appreciate people coming to my defense, really I do, but can we keep it civilized at the very least?
You should also look into changing your name because well...why would you keep going to a site you hate?
J.Goodwin @ Jul 9th 2008 1:10PM
No need for accelerometers or a new controller.
The vision cam is perfectly capable of reading a twisting motion of an xbox 360 controller, and Microsoft has never been quiet about their preference for video and touch based interfaces (c.f. MS Surface).
J.Goodwin @ Jul 9th 2008 1:12PM
Post script, we also already know that Rare is implementing significant vision cam features into Viva Pinata 2. This is their bag, baby.
Jimbo @ Jul 9th 2008 1:11PM
If they do motion control, it needs to be the whole nine yards like the Wii's controllers. I have yet to see a single good use for the motion control on the Sixaxis... it ends up just being frustrating, or a gimmick that could more easily be done with a joystick.
Snowblind @ Jul 9th 2008 1:17PM
100% agree, the sixaxes was a waste of time in my opinion, it felt completely tacked on at the last second to compete with the Wii. If this is all MS are doing with it, then I will be very disappointed.
Some kind of pointing device, to help with RTS games like Halo Wars, or even Viva Pinata would be great, but this wouldn't be worth the time or money.
Banjo itself is looking great though, I hope they don't ruin it by making this thing a requirement.
Noshino @ Jul 9th 2008 1:26PM
Uh, the Sixaxis' motion sensing hasn't been used as much as the Wiimote (except for Lair), there are just bits that make use of it, I for one liked the implementation of it on Uncharted and Heavenly Sword, and let's not forget that those that do take advantage of the Sixaxis for Warhawk have great advantage over those who dont
Hyams @ Jul 9th 2008 2:11PM
Warhawk's probably used the SIXAXIS the best. It's great fun flying around with tilt on, it can give you an advantage over non-tilt users, and it's customisable (sensitivity, which vehicle you want to use it for, etc.) unlike most SIXAXIS enabled games.
'tis also pretty cool in R&C, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted and Motorstorm.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 1:12PM
I dont know why but I'm not buying the motion controls just yet. He could have meant to move the analog stick around. Anyway I love the way the game is looking. Graphics are very sharp, colorful and detailed. Also, it looks to be more platforming than what everyone previously thought. It just went from probably going to buy to definitely going to buy!
DOOOOO WAAAAAAANNNNT!
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 9th 2008 1:24PM
Same here.
Those vids are sweet. The best part is the abundance of color in all the worlds. Plus they're gigantic!
Plus I love how they're paying homage to the older games while introducing new elements, etc. Can't wait to collect all the jiggys! Hopefully there are a few side quests as well.
Co @ Jul 9th 2008 1:25PM
It'd be better on Wii.
Noshino @ Jul 9th 2008 1:28PM
"It'd be better on Wii."
No it wouldn't, have you seen how much is going on at the same time? how far can you see? how detailed everything is? I really doubt that the Wii could be able to handle this game...
baby sea tuna @ Jul 9th 2008 1:30PM
And even the pointing and clicking isn't all that precise on the Wii. Maybe in the menus, where there's huge buttons to click on, but rarely in-game does it work all that well.
Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 9th 2008 1:30PM
@Co
No, it wouldn't.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 9th 2008 1:34PM
baby sea
Not precise? Next time, when you are in the Wii Menu, try moving the pointer ver slow. It will track the same speed. Is the most precise feature in the remote.
This would be imposible to do with analog sticks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQeJ-bMinVw
Mr.ESC @ Jul 9th 2008 1:34PM
My guess is that the Wii could handle it and it might lose a bit of detail but graphics don't make the gameplay.
The question is: What could the Wii offer to make this game better? I mean Mario Galaxy is a lot of fun and it looks great but the Wiimote is a hit or a miss sometimes.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 9th 2008 1:45PM
ThePerfectCompanion
The devs said they would be surprised if anyone beat it in under 20 hours so that right there means a lot of collecting and has me very pleased.
Honestly I dont think it could be done on Wii. Like Noshino said theres just way too much going on in this game. Its probably the prettiest platformer I've ever seen (yes even more than R&C, I have that game too and it looks to smooth) without a doubt.
Man, too bad Mario isnt in HD and running on 360/PS3 level hardware :( God I would have loved to see that already...
Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 9th 2008 1:55PM
"Not precise? Next time, when you are in the Wii Menu, try moving the pointer ver slow. It will track the same speed. Is the most precise feature in the remote."
It also twitches a bunch on the Wii Menu.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 9th 2008 1:57PM
Vidikron
What? Maybe you need to calibrate the IR Pointer sensibility.
I never had that problem.