News
Xbox ‘Wii-mote’: Official footage
Tim Ingham Jul 10 2008, 11:28am
Comments (23)
Developer Motus shows off motion-sensing, break-apart pad, but is it for third or first-party production?
A video of a prototype for an Xbox 360 motion-sensing pad has been discovered on the official site of hardware developer Motus.
However, it is not made clear whether Motus is planning to release the peripheral as a third-party product, or if Microsoft has done a deal with the company to make it an official Xbox accessory.
Motus Games, based in Massachusetts US, codenames the product ‘Darwin’ and explains: ‘Darwin uses a number of sensors that allow it to know where it is… It is self-contained, meaning what you hold is all you need, no IR strips or other devices for a reference point.’
It also provides a visual description of each element of the controller, showing that it breaks in half, ‘allowing for three modes of play: combined, two free hands or two player’.
The company’s product description – which focuses on Darwin’s ‘Six Degrees of Freedom’ – takes a number of swipes at Nintendo’s Wii Remote.
On another page, the company juxtaposes Darwin and Nintendo’s Wii Remote in a game-by-game comparison – which also includes the only video footage of the 360 controller.
It is widely rumoured that Microsoft is to unveil a motion-sensing pad at its E3 keynote conference next Monday (July 14th).
Having seen the Motus website and video, a Microsoft UK spokesperson told MCV:
“We do not comment on rumour or speculation”
Comments
“I'd be surprised if it was 1st party.”
Posted by: Nitch - Jul 10, 11:47am
I'd be very surprised if it was a 1st party product if the video has already gone up. Microsoft would normally be very strict about leaking items such as this (especially if it was 1st party)
Also slight typo, I think it should read "It is widely rumoured that Microsoft is to unveil a motion-sensing pad at its E3 keynote conference next Monday (July 14th)." Not June 14th as stated.
“!!!”
Posted by: Dhalsim - Jul 10, 11:48am
Wow! Actually looks legit. Nice one MCV.
“This is by in a way the best thing...”
Posted by: koti - Jul 10, 11:57am
I've seen in my entire life.
And do you know why? Because the wii fan boys will have a field day laughing at all the xbox fan boys who scornfully condemned their wavey wandy thing as a kids toy.
On a serious note, it's success will obviously and wholly be down to support.
Shouldn't it be gun shaped anyway... for all the fps-es?
“Re: This is by in a way the best thing...”
Posted by: Gilrod - Jul 10, 12:11pm
This clearly states that this is a third party Wii mote
http://www.motusgames.com/page_6dof.html
“Re: Re: This is by in a way the best thing...”
Posted by: Gilrod - Jul 10, 12:16pm
When I say clearly states, I mean, by the fact that they reference the Wii controller and how it works...
No platform holder would directly mention competitors item in an approved marketing piece surely?
“Re: Re: Re: This is by in a way the best thing...”
Posted by: Xboxfanbutnotfanboy - Jul 10, 12:19pm
So it doesn't then. There isn't any Xbox branding, but this is a developer's web page at present. Maybe, just maybe Microsoft is going to announce a partnership with this lot at E3. It would appear to make sense - the timing seems very coincidental. Also, wouldn't Microsoft have given a statement distancing themselves from this if it was a ropey third-party controller, rather than just 'rumour and speculation'?
“FFS!!”
Posted by: Ant - Jul 10, 12:30pm
WHY THE HELL DO MICROSOFT AND SONY RIP OFF NINTENDOS IDEAS. IF THIS IS TRUE I'M SELLING MY XBOX 360 IN DISCUST!!
“@ Ant”
Posted by: Roy - Jul 10, 12:40pm
Yes why dont yo go and do that and waste your money, fool.
Oh btw, microsoft made a motion type sensing pad in '99 so its not exactly like its their whole idea.
“microsoft are total losers!!!”
Posted by: D-cos - Jul 10, 1:15pm
These ideas are NINTENDO'S!!!!! and i find it very sad that sony and microsoft are rippin it off because nintendo owns the gaming market at this moment.
“Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Hnbeanz - Jul 10, 1:55pm
Christ, here we go.
“Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Cooper - Jul 10, 2:54pm
I love the way people think that this is "copying" Nintendo and shouldn't be allowed. Just like all the car brands have "copied" the Model T Ford and shouldn't be allowed and only Ford should be making cars, because back when the Model T was out Ford OWNED the car market.
See also Casio for calculators, Baird or Telefunken for TVs, Dunlop for the tyre and the Mayan civilisation for chocolate.
It's simple really, a company makes something that is unique and for a while they have an advantage. If they use that well, like Nintendo have, they benefit. Then everyone catches up and the drive is on to find the next advance that will get consumers buying their products. Without this we'd still be playing from tape.
“Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: DarthGamer - Jul 10, 3:06pm
Looks like a failure to me. It looks like it;s going to be very uncomfortable to play a game using the d-pad in the controller for long periods of time.
Not interested, happy with my Wii and the coming games (Conduit, SW Battlefront III (hell yeah), Force Unleashed, Clone Wars, Kid Icarus, Call of Duty 5, plus any other surprises that might be in there at E3)
“Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Pete - Jul 10, 4:54pm
I'm don't know why everyone is jumping up and down about this being a new device, Wired had a report on this back in February this year. http://blog.wired.....html
Don't get me wrong, it's pretty impressive, but I wouldn't quite be calling it the Xbox 'Wii-mote' all of a sudden.
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted: Jul 10, 6:17pm
This is the WiiMote for next-gen anyway
www.squeeballs.com
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Russzilla - Jul 10, 9:01pm
Re: "WHY THE HELL DO MICROSOFT AND SONY RIP OFF NINTENDOS IDEAS.", "These ideas are NINTENDO'S!!!!!" etc.
Ans: they're not Nintendo's ideas, they "stole" them from the Xavix. It's like Apple accusing Microsoft of copying their GUI, when they were both copied from Xerox Parc.
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Anon - Jul 10, 9:47pm
I own both a Wii and a 360 and let me just say Eeeeeeeeewwwww about this controller. Seriously hideous idea. I'll stick to my 360 pad and wiimote.
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Nestor - Jul 10, 10:55pm
Shoddy work, MCV. This article is six months late and it tries to manufacture controversy where there is none. This is a multiplatform 3rd party controller, not some silly Microsoft product. The company says so on their site.
That makes Mr. Ingham either a fool, a liar, or some rubbish publicity hound. Even the Daily Mail could do better.
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Here come the fanboys”
Posted by: Trekster_Gamer - Jul 11, 2:28am
I can't wait to use this with my 360. You Nintendoze Morons can cry me a river, just jealous that now you can get the same type of gameplay on a system that a crappy old looking games.
Yah nintendo has a the patent on wireless gaming
load of CRAPOLA!!!!
Waaaaa Nintendoze WAAAAA!
“Re: Xbox Wii-mote”
Posted by: Dan - Jul 11, 5:05am
The black one has an X instead of an A button is that one for the Playstation 3?
“Re: Re: Xbox Wii-mote”
Posted by: Rob - Jul 11, 5:36pm
As the Black One is for PS3, it must be a third-party peripheral for both consoles.
“For the idiots who think Nintendo started motion censing”
Posted by: DarthNemesis - Jul 16, 1:03pm
Nintendo did not come up with the idea of motion sensing you morons.I third party company back on the Playstation did it first 10 years ago.Ninty has nothing but gimmicks and MS is biting their crappy ideas.The bigger story should be how Nintendo's E3 conference was a disaster.HAHAHAHA @ Wii music.
“Re: fools”
Posted by: centeryslayer - Jul 17, 10:26pm
It wont be realesed simple because guess what would happen?
That right a lawsuit by nintendo just like the one that sony and microsoft faced years ago to do with the rumble feature in their controllers.
Sony lost millions and sure as wont make that mistake again same goes for microsoft.
“Re: Re: fools”
Posted by: Beta1290 - Jul 17, 10:47pm
I love it.. being impartial to this issue, I looked at this new "Wii-mote" for the Xbox and he first thing that came to mind was "hmm.. nice way to try and keep up with Nintendo" The fact is gentlemen, Nintendo didn't come up with the idea of having games with motion sensing technology.. as some of you have apparently tried to claim (or blame each other for.) Nintendo DID, however, create the idea of the "Wii-mote". This graphic of the Xbox "Wii-mote" no doubt looks a lot like Nintendo's Wii Remote (both in shape and functionality) The humorous side of this whole ordeal is that nobody would even be questioning this as a ripoff if a couple of things had not occured. 1.) The article did not contain the words "Wii-mote" and 2.) if the shape was different than that of Nintendo's "Wii-mote". No one here knows if this is or is not a ripoff of Nintendo's Wii Remote, so please stop talking down to each other, and stop making outlandish statements about affairs you know nothing of (as I have done, as you notice I don't make ANY accusations against Xbox) and I certainly do not blame them for trying to compete with Nintendo's success.