Microsoft making Wii-like Controller -- Coming this Fall

[Iced_Eagle]

For those that have been paying attention this week, Microsoft is currently planning on a Wii-like controller, codename: Newton in development at Rare, for release this Fall.

First things first, no Nintendo can't sue Microsoft. Hell, Nintendo didn't make the Wii-mote by itself, but is usiing patents acquired by Gyration. Microsoft is supposedly licensing similar, if not the same, patents from that company.

Second, it's currently planned for release this Fall for a $40-$50 price point, and will come with a free game (Rare's Conker: The Fast and the Furriest)

Third, there are no official images of the device yet. The source that leaked this on MTV Multiplayer Blog gave them a sketch of the device created in MS Paint (including official sources or giving more details could jeopardize his job).

Fourth, it will do everything the Wii can do, plus more (only other detail is that it will include a microphone for Xbox Live and any voice-controlled games that might want to come out of the device).

Finally, it will use a LED sensor bar just like the Wii, and it will as with all of the other controllers, use the rechargeable battery pack that all controllers work with.

Source of stories:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584945/20080404/id_0.jhtml
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/07/source-this-is-a-sketch-of-microsofts-wii-remote-imitator/
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585014/20080408/id_0.jhtml
http://www.8bitjoystick.com/archives/jake_xbox_360_newton_motion_sensing_controller_confirmed.php


Images:

As I've been reading this, it's been really interesting to think about the possibilities. For starters, The Wii's main selling point will be gone since the 360 can go "Me too!". On top of that, the 360 doesn't have a shit-fest Online component that the Wii has. Microsoft is hoping to get some of the audience the Wii is getting and bring them to the 360. The only way they can do this is if the games for this controller are more successful than the Wii games (which the reviewer average for all Wii games is around 65%).

This isn't going to be the death of the Wii by any means, but if Microsoft plays its cards right, it can be a slap to any hardcore gamers who are interested in getting a Wii.

This then lead me to think about what if the 360 got a Blu-Ray addon? Then the PS3 would essentially lose its major selling point that retailers are pushing right now. Sure, it's integrated, but the 360 does have things like Media Center which make it more appealing to those who have Vista set-ups and such.

Microsoft's strategy this generation has been really interesting. They seem to have built a really viable platform that can easily be extended to support tons of various controllers and styles. It's truly a constantly evolving platform. It's just a matter of if MS can really pull this off well. According to the source who leaked it the project thus-far has been essentially a giant cluster****. Let's see if they can figure this out by years end, and if we will see anything of this at E3.

 

[Shoes_Buttback03]

I find it pathetic that microsoft is doing this. Just do you own thing and don't copy someone else.

btw I own both a 360 and a Wii and enjoy them.

 

[smwScott]

I find it pathetic that microsoft is doing this. Just do you own thing and don't copy someone else.

This is Microsoft . Though I have to admit this is particularly blatant...

I don't think it will do all that well. I predict all of the gimmicky trash that comes out for the Wii with none of the high quality original titles.

 

[Crushenator 500]

Wow, I agree with Mr. shoes, how pathetic... I really hope this backfires on MS somehow

 

[Cavalry]

I wonder if all 360 games will be compatible, as its hard to imagine playing CoD4 with that.

 

[VirusType2]

Buttback, That is like saying whoever invented Rock music, nobody else should do rock.

Anyway, it's supposed to be better than the Wiimote. I've heard the Wiimote is missing one axis, making it impossible to do things, like acting like a lightsaber (from Star Wars noob).

Thats all anyone ever wanted, was to have a sweet 3D lightsaber game... amirite?


I, for one, welcome our new input devices.

EDIT: I think it's OK to copy a great idea, as long as you make it better, unlike the PS3 sixaxis, which was a lame rip-off lacking what makes the Wiimote cool IMHO.

 

[<RJMC>]

they used mtv to anounce this? now thats more pathetic

 

[Dalamari]

Atleast it's being made as an add-on instead of building a whole system around it, sure it's a rip-off, but that's what MS does I suppose.

 

[MFD00M]

I wonder if all 360 games will be compatible, as its hard to imagine playing CoD4 with that.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Vegeta897]

If they make it perform better than the Wii-mote, it's worth it I suppose.

 

[ailevation]

Damn, that's pretty low... this move however doesn't make me regret making the purchase of the Wii, not one bit just as much as I don't have any second thoughts of the MGS4/PS3 bundle I plan on getting come June. These console wars is gonna stoop to a point where companies mimic each other's console concepts to the point where they're basically the same.. just wait until the time come where buying a console would be like a buying a PC.

 

[StardogChampion]

This is why Nintendo are beating Microsoft - Microsoft are unoriginal. Nintendo have probably already thought of the next device to succeed the Wii, yet Microsoft are busy copying. And if it's in the shape of a remote, then Nintendo probably can sue them.

And it won't work because peripherals that aren't attached to a good game rarely catch on, and dev companies won't make a game specifically for a peripheral that isn't their own.

 

[VirusType2]

This is why Nintendo are beating Microsoft - Microsoft are unoriginal. Nintendo have probably already thought of the next device to succeed the Wii, yet Microsoft are busy copying.

And it won't work because peripherals that aren't attached to a game rarely catch on, and dev companies won't make a game specifically for a peripheral that isn't their own.

yeah, Microsoft and it's developers would have to create all of the games for it for it to even catch on.

They have the right strategy, which is to sell it for about the cost of 1 game, and include the game with it.

However, one or two games will have to make the controller sell. If sales are poor, who the heck would make games for it? This is in the same vein as a Blu Ray add on. Nobody buys it, then nobody will make games for it, then .. nobody buys it because there are no games for it. It really takes something innovative and worthwhile, and great marketing to launch an entirely new peripheral.

This is why the Wii is successful with the controller because the controller comes with the unit and is the default input device.



One thing that we don't know yet, is if other games might include an optional controller setup for use with this controller - similar to a driving wheel control setup for racing games.


Personally, I think it's cool. One of the main things that puts me off the Wii is the graphics. So imagine the Wii with 360 graphics.

I still don't own a console, and still don't want one yet. If this caught on, it could change my mind. I've been leaning towards the 360 since before any of the new consoles came out.

 

[Geogaddi]

I despise Microsoft as much as the next guy..but...

I can't say this isn't a smart, if rather cheap, move.

It all comes down to the games, and the Wii is doing a shitty job of that tbh.

 

[Krynn72]

Would be pretty dumb for them not to do it.

 

[Shoes_Buttback03]

*lawlz at mr.Shoes* some good words other posters used that I will now use.

Cheap, blatant, pathetic, wtf?, and stupid. I mean I'm not against motion controls but something like this that's such an obvious ripoff of nintendo is just screwing with my mind on how stupid MS could be. I mean really WTF!? I would be less pissed if it was just the normal 360 controller with motion sensing in it.

 

[Anthraxxx]

It might be an obvious copy of the Wii controller, but with XNA and XBL Arcade!, MS might see some fun games that people will create make use of the controller... not to mention the regular games that might make use of such a thing...

 

[AiM]

As I've been reading this, it's been really interesting to think about the possibilities. For starters, The Wii's main selling point will be gone since the 360 can go "Me too!". On top of that, the 360 doesn't have a shit-fest Online component that the Wii has. Microsoft is hoping to get some of the audience the Wii is getting and bring them to the 360. The only way they can do this is if the games for this controller are more successful than the Wii games (which the reviewer average for all Wii games is around 65%).

This isn't going to be the death of the Wii by any means, but if Microsoft plays its cards right, it can be a slap to any hardcore gamers who are interested in getting a Wii.

This then lead me to think about what if the 360 got a Blu-Ray addon? Then the PS3 would essentially lose its major selling point that retailers are pushing right now. Sure, it's integrated, but the 360 does have things like Media Center which make it more appealing to those who have Vista set-ups and such.

Microsoft's strategy this generation has been really interesting. They seem to have built a really viable platform that can easily be extended to support tons of various controllers and styles. It's truly a constantly evolving platform. It's just a matter of if MS can really pull this off well. According to the source who leaked it the project thus-far has been essentially a giant cluster****. Let's see if they can figure this out by years end, and if we will see anything of this at E3.

I find it funny how Sony was blasted here with it's SixAxis (even though the concept and production started prior to Wiimote announcement) yet MS here is more or less receiving a lukewarm receptions despite being a far more blatant and obvious rip-off. But you know what, this isn't all that shocking. Just look at the evolution of the original Xbox controller, it more or less became a clone of the DualShock controller.

Hypocrisy aside, the Blu-Ray isn't really pushed as a main selling point to the PS3. The key reason why it's integrated with the PS3 is to push as many units out of Blu-Ray players as possible to win the format wars (which it did). Sony would be more than happy to allow the 360 to implement Blu-Ray but MS wants to avoid this because this would do nothing but bolster Sony's profits.

 

[VirusType2]

Well, many of us saw the Sixaxis as a complete last minute, half assed, fumbled effort to try to take away the only thing the Wii had going for it (besides price point)

Most people that had anything to say really like the Wii mote. I don't think you understand. Evolve or die really.

Wii and PS3 have motion sensing, like Krynn said, it's stupid for them not to join the bandwagon. Especially since the nintendo Wii is kicking everyone's ass in sales.


People claiming pathetic seem to be in the Sony camp, so I mean, I understand, I feel the same way about Sony being pathetic.

Really though, for the advancement of technology, it's always better when things like this happen.

Nothing in video games has made as much waves as Nintendo's Wiimote - basically a compete re-invention of the joystick which is roughly a 30 year old technology. I mean, grandmothers and mothers approve, it's all in parenting magazines, etc.


When Nintendo invents a controller that reads your mind, you that complain, would all still be holding your dual shock, if you had it your way.

which ironically, is basically a version of nintendo's gamepads starting at the NES.

while I would be hoping Sony and Microsoft do similar technologies.

 

[Kadayi]

If someone has a good idea, it's the smart thing to build upon it. The entire games industry is built upon evolutionary oneupmanship. If MS develop a better Wiimote type controller it's all for the good because it will probably encourage more game developers to incorporate it into their design process. It's pretty much a requisite for big game development to straddle systems so opening up that style of gaming to the 360 (and potentially the PC) is no bad thing for the industry.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

AiM: That's because of the circumstances of how it happened.

Sony originally announces PS3 with no mention of motion control, just standard controllers.

Nintendo announces Wii's control scheme and how awesome it is, everyone goes nuts with possibilities.

Next E3 Sony has motion sensing of their own.

It's a hell of a lot more of a rip-off than this. At least Microsoft puts effort into it to make it a good controller.

Also, for whoever said this was "announced" at MTV, it was leaked via MTV. This is not confirmed yet!!!

For starters, as I think I said during the first post, the Wii isn't even using all of Nintendo's technology because they licensed essentially all of the motion sensing stuff from Gyration, and Microsoft is doing the same licenses from the same company. Totally legal.

For anyone who thinks this is going to be compatible with already release games, no. It will not be. IF (huge if) a developer wants to make their game compatible, they will have to recode parts of their game and release a patch. Not very likely for many games since it would be a huge refactoring getting things to work. Expect this in very few games in all honesty to start.

Then expect EA to start porting a bunch of its Wii projects to the 360 and controller.

What makes this REALLY awesome for developers is that the Wii and essentially every Nintendo console is a black hole for third-party games. Only Nintendo developed titles seem to sell well. With Microsoft's system, third-party games do just as well as first-party games. That is what has stopped a lot of people from going to the Wii, and that is what is going to push people to the 360 platform.

So while some may yell "LAME!" it's what third-party devs need to really push this control forward a bit since they can release their games on a platform where they have a chance of succeeding rather than going up against Smash Bros, Zelda, Mario, etc.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

lol @ whining. I just hope there's something worthwhile or unique about it.

 

[Cormeh]

With the Wii balance board upon us (bundled with Wii Fit), I doubt Nintendo will be shaking in their boots anytime soon, seen as they've pushed the capabilites of their console even more.

If the Wii is indeed (as Yahtzee said) the deity of gimmicky, pointless bullshit then I don't see how Microsoft could avoid churning out a cavalcade of mini-game titles.

 

[Kyorisu]

So while some may yell "LAME!" it's what third-party devs need to really push this control forward a bit since they can release their games on a platform where they have a chance of succeeding rather than going up against Smash Bros, Zelda, Mario, etc.

No they just go up against the likes of oh say Halo? It's a poor comparison considering Microsoft lack the size of first party development that Sony and Nintendo have. Of course third party titles will fair better on the Xbox because that's all there bloody is.

 

[Absinthe]

lawl

"Nintendo is amazing! Their boundless, innovative genius will surely revolutionize the gaming landscape for years to come...

BUT NOBODY ELSE BETTER FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS GRRRR."

Sorry, I just find it kind of amusing that a lot of people on this forum heralded the Wii controller as the dawn of a new epoch for video games. You'd think they'd be more than happy if a good thing spread across the platforms instead of acting like Nintendo has exclusive rights on REVOLUTION™. I thought this was what people wanted.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

This controller will not make me want a 360. I did not buy a Wii for the controller.

I bought it for the lovable franchises. I don't care if MS makes this.

 

[Mr Stabby]

Until I see it on a major gaming website, I'll assume it's fake.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Although a complete rip off (so is sixaxis anyway) this could close the gap between the wii and 360 considering:

360 has much better online
360 is now cheaper than wii
360 has much more games

 

[Cormeh]

360 is now cheaper than wii

It is? I suppose the utterly pointless "core" version is by about thirty quid, but after you buy all the necessary add-ons and what not for the Live experience (Hard drive, subscription)....

 

[Deleted member 56031]

True but the average consumer doesn't know that

 

[StardogChampion]

I'd imagine the core doesn't come with a game either.

The 360 will not close the gap between it and the Wii. It's only going to increase regardless of what they do. Most of their big games have already been released, yet it's still 5 million sales behind the Wii with a years head start.

 

[VictimOfScience]

If this is actually true then this is imho a really bad move. Everyone knows that the XBox and the 360 are most well-loved amongst the hardcore gaming crowd. This reeks of yet another attempt to get that elusive casual gaming marketshare that Nintendo has already gobbled up. It hasn't worked in the past and I seriously doubt that it will work now.

It is just another in a series of bizarre and awful decisions made by the denizens of the biggest money pit in gaming: Microsoft's XBOX division.

The lack of a hard drive was a really bad move.
The lack of wireless networking capabilities out of the box was a really bad move.
The lack of an HD (whether Blu-ray or HD-DVD) disc reader out of the box was a really bad move.
The lack of proper GPU cooling out of the box for the first couple of years was a really bad move.
The loss of almost 100% of your first-party developers was a really bad move.

It is incredible to me that with all of these really bad moves that it still continues to do pretty well. For me, it is my lack of an up-to-date PC and a select few games that did it. That said, I only have 3 games for my 360, but I simply cannot wait for Fable 2 and Alan Wake. Of course, if Dragon Age happens to come out first, then my upgraded PC will be the platform of choice for those two and that is the other thing about the 360: if you have a decent PC (by today's standards), then there is no real reason to get a 360. Just get a Wii. (Let's not even mention the PS3 here.)

 

[Naph]

WHAT THE HELL.

Microfags will find a flaw in any legal agreement and abuse it like they have God on their side.

 

[AiM]

Well, many of us saw the Sixaxis as a complete last minute, half assed, fumbled effort to try to take away the only thing the Wii had going for it (besides price point)

Most people that had anything to say really like the Wii mote. I don't think you understand. Evolve or die really.

Wii and PS3 have motion sensing, like Krynn said, it's stupid for them not to join the bandwagon. Especially since the nintendo Wii is kicking everyone's ass in sales.


People claiming pathetic seem to be in the Sony camp, so I mean, I understand, I feel the same way about Sony being pathetic.

Really though, for the advancement of technology, it's always better when things like this happen.

Nothing in video games has made as much waves as Nintendo's Wiimote - basically a compete re-invention of the joystick which is roughly a 30 year old technology. I mean, grandmothers and mothers approve, it's all in parenting magazines, etc.


When Nintendo invents a controller that reads your mind, you that complain, would all still be holding your dual shock, if you had it your way.

which ironically, is basically a version of nintendo's gamepads starting at the NES.

while I would be hoping Sony and Microsoft do similar technologies.

While SixAxis was very likely inspired by the Wii, keep in mind, it's still came out a vastly different product (mostly inferior) than the Wiimote. But you know what? They tried to innovate by blending it into their existing dual shock. Point is, they tried to differentiate itself while maintaining the same attractiveness in motion sensing

Now look at the 360 design. I do not see any attempt to evolve aside from very few insignificant minor tweaks. This is basically a full direct CLONE of the wiimote. Just look at the damn thing, it's pretty much a carbon-copy of it. Where is the evolution? All I see is copyright violation.

I don't think this is good for the advancement of technology. It's one thing to be inspired by one design and they try to one-up the original maker. It's another to just straight out copy the damn thing right down to the design without any real evolution.

The point about the NES controller, you're absolutely right. But look at the current controllers and then look at the original NES controller, do you see evolution? I can see how the current crop of controllers originated from the NES controller, but it's obvious the current ones are far superior due to evolution.

AiM: That's because of the circumstances of how it happened.

Sony originally announces PS3 with no mention of motion control, just standard controllers.

Nintendo announces Wii's control scheme and how awesome it is, everyone goes nuts with possibilities.

Next E3 Sony has motion sensing of their own.

It's a hell of a lot more of a rip-off than this. At least Microsoft puts effort into it to make it a good controller.

...

Err... what? Did SixAxis try to steal the motion sensing idea from Nintendo? In all likelihood, yes. Is it the same carbon-copy controller with virtually identical button placement along with the same motion sensing technology licensed from the same company that gave it to Nintendo? No. How you reached to your conclusion that SixAxis is more of a rip-off than the controller here is beyond me. You could argue that SixAxis is inferior to the Wiimote, or it tried to steal their motion sensing idea, etc. but to argue it's a more blatant rip-off is way off base.

My final point being, I don't give a shit about this controller cutting into Nintendo's profits. I don't think MS is being 'pathetic' here and nor do I give a shit about their profits. I just find it funny the double-standard that's applied here.

Let me ask you guys this, so is it perfectly acceptable for Sony to follow suit and come up with their own exact same copy of this by legally licensing the technology from Gyration? Exact same controller except maybe shift the voice mic up 2 inches, add in useless LED screen and maybe make one more button pressure-sensitive. Hell they could even color it black! Imagine that

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Pretty sad that MS is doing this.

BTW I have a 360 and a wii and both are awesome. They are too different consoles and shouldn't be "merged".

 

[Raziaar]

Oh come on people... sensor technology controller play shouldn't just be something left to a single console developer. It should be something that all developers consider the possibility of adding to their games.

I see nothing pathetic about it as all. I see it as a new thing(although old actually) that will expand games for everybody, not a patent that should only be left to one company.

This shouldn't be something that we game consumers should bitch about at all. I mean for ****s sake, why complain if microsoft can do it well and bring us new experiences? It'd be better with two large houses to bring us games that can use this technology and be fun, rather than just one.

Sony and PS3 can **** off though.

 

[Rapstah]

I only own a 360.

Fixed.

 

[Raziaar]

Fixed.

I own a 360 and Wii. My brother bought a Wii after he bought our cousins one.

 

[Rapstah]

Then how the hell do you see it as a new thing?

 

[Raziaar]

Then how the hell do you see it as a new thing?

Umm, as new as the Wii(even though older nintendo technologies attempted it in the past).

I didn't mean new as in recent. I mean new as in this newest generation of consoles.


It doesn't make any sense at all to want to restrict the concept of sensor controllers to just one console company, if another one wants to spend the money and develop or fund awesome games that can utilize this technology.

After all, the power of the Wii is considerably limited when it comes to consoles like the Xbox 360. If Microsoft wants to build a controller that can do this, and develop games that can support this technology and have them be really fun, then I support them.

EDIT: I mean yeah, the picture and modeling it after the Nintendo Revolution Remote Controller would be bad, but not the sensor technology itself.