Here we go. Various outlets today began redirecting readers to Motus Games' page, who have been working on Darwin, a Wii remote-like motion controller that doesn't need an infrared sensor bar to work. The device is slated to come out at the end of the year for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Of course, we've known about Darwin ... since February, so why is this coming out now?
As far as we can tell at the moment, the Xbox 360 connection can be summed up like this:
Darwin shares a similar color pallette with the Xbox 360 pad
We're not denying the possibility that Darwin is, erm, Newton, but we're not sure what, if any, revelations have come out in the last four months. (Microsoft, if you recall, has a definite deal with Qmotion over active gaming controllers.) So for now, sit back, relax, print out your bingo card and wait for Monday's press conference.
It just looks like something you would have buyers regret over in a week and never want to use again. Its ugly as hell and has no elegance to it at all. The wiimote at least has clean lines and a small size.
There have been people watching these videos noticing odd behavior (characters not moving when the controller is waving or characters moving when the controller isn't moving)
Also, a few people noted that the characters seem to only respond when the guy SAYS they are moving.
I have suspicions that his is one of those "guy waving toy while 2nd guy uses controller offscreen" mock-ups.
What always surprises me about these stories is not the controls, and it not that MS is trying a "Me Too" strategy by some peoples estimation. My amazement comes from fans and industry personal.
Didn't all the third parties say they hated waggle cause it was a fad? Didn't Gamers say waggle was horrible and they didn't want it in their games or on their system, then why so much agreement when MS does it to an xbox360 system which everybody can agree is pretty much very good already. Why focus on Nintendo's market rather than improving on what they already do great a more traditional game experience, only with maybe simpler controls. I think they would get more casuals with a more simplified control and controls in games like Gears of War and Halo which are flag Ships, rather than creating a waggle controller.
I mean, that is my opinion but I am just surprised how well received this is going.
the white one has an A button like 360's controller. the black one has the X like ps3's controllers. I know 360 has an X too, but it looks more like ps3's X.
What i don't understand is what the article is implying. The title says it's for the 360, but the first paragraph says it's multiplatform. and then the article concludes with it being for the 360 again.
I'm too lazy to click on the links, so someone explain this to me
I think its just wild speculation to get people to chat about things. There doesn't seem to be anything drawing MS and this device together officially.
Because it's in a traditional controller's shell. Did you see the bowling videos? The only good, comfortable use that the sixaxis controls have is tilt and yaw for flying, driving type games. Anything else, seems awkward to me.
And the fanboy hate swells amongst the Wii & PS3 fanboys:
1. Bu bu it doesn't look comfortable to me! 2. Bu bu its too big and clunky! 3. OMG, Microsoft is ripping off the Wiimote!!!1! 4. Teh electronic dildo, MS is developing teh porno games. 5. Teh games will be all half-ass ports!1!!one
Listen kiddies, its one thing to be a fanboy and support your favorite console, but its a completely different thing to spout off BS like a total ignoramus... or is it?
I know I am just one of the kiddies and all, but I stick to the view that its ugly and too large looking. Now, if you want to call me a PS3 or Wii fanboy for it, then let the laughs begin.
Automatic FAIL on that one bub...ask all these arrogant sony fanboys around here I'm a proud Wii/360 fanboy and even I find this a huge abomination. I pray for all 360 owners across the globe that this is a complete FAKE.
Its ugly, its very weird looking, and its clearly MS trying to copy the Wiimote in order to try and move into that "causal gamer" market that Nintendo has hit a gold mine in.
Sony has tried to copy Nintendo and its failed miserable with the sixaxis shit. I'm more than willing to admit that MS is copying as well. But I'd hope at the very least that they'd IMPROVE on the Wiimote rather than pathetic sony which came up with some garbage controller that they put together in order to compete...
For everyone saying 'MS is just trying to copy the Wii' Please realize that THIS isn't a Microsoft device.
For those saying 'its big and clunky looking' The device is in a prototype phase, and is more than likely to change in some form. And until you get your hands on it, you don't know. Similar things were said about the Wii remote when it was first shown.
For those saying 'it sucks, and I don't like it' Then don't buy one.
I've been calling this the "Miituu" controller. Why can't Microsoft just leave Nintendo alone and do their own thing. The 360 does certain things extremely well, like online play services. Concentrate on that.
Would be interesting to have a darth maul dual blade saber weapon and then change it to two saber mode by splitting the controller... or just press a button. :)
They will also need to consider putting wrist straps on both parts so we don't destroy our tv's or kill someone. And when a third-party introduces the rubber cushioning wraps like on the wii controller, we'll have a week of condom jokes.
I do like how they display the controller on the tv like how one would display a japanese sword.
The wii has one general controller. The ps3 has one general controller. I don't know if people are ready for a system with more than one general controller. A middle-ground is to just add motion to the current controller like on the ps3, but you will miss out the wii crowd and wii-type games. They should have a transforming controller (codename: origami) that will suit both the normal controller folks and the wii folks. But it will be ugly so it'll fail anyway.
Forget about how it physically looks, the way it's used in the games, specially the lego star wars games is extremely gimmicky.
Why do I need to wave my arms around to make obi wan move his lightsaber when I can just press a button? It's easier, takes less energy, does the same freakin thing, and I don't look like an idiot doing it.
Shit that's my point with 99% of these motion controlled games. It's just another way to do the same fucking thing as a button press or analog stick, but you get to look like an idiot on top of things.
Hmm...I don't see enough buttons on it for it to be used in most games.
I see A button ,and two triggers (B and C buttons?), and a D - Pad. They would have needed to translate ALL the buttons, triggers including Bumper buttons and start/select for it to be truly useful on either the 360 or the PS3 for current games.
If they are waiting for developers to make *new* games to support this, then that ain't going to happen.
For the PC you can do anything if there is a good configuration utility (like Switchblade for the Xbox360 Controller, or Pinnacle Game software). Players will probably purchase it as an input device and download profiles for their favorite shooters or other gametypes (All they need to do is have a World of Warcraft plugin at launch and that should move some units,see Switchblade utility for the 360). But there's that lack of buttons thing again.
Truly, the only thing I found better than or as good as WASD and a mouse for FPS shooters, is the Wii Mote setup.Having to just point to shoot is great ^_^.
Maybe I missed something where the buttons are concerned?
All this sounds like echoes of the first time the Wii controller was revealed...i really have nothing to say until a consumer actually uses it and reviews it. It being without an IR sensor bar tells me that you may only use it in-game not for menu selection.
If it doesn't have utility in FPS games, and doesn't do anything innovative, I will skip it. If it works like a Wiimote, I'd buy it, but only if Microsoft and developers were excited enough to develop for it. I buy hardware when it's needed to run software.
