AfterDawn: Tech news

Wiimote-like controller coming for Xbox 360?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Apr 2008 2:48 User comments (33)

Wiimote-like controller coming for Xbox 360? According to "sources" cited by MTV News, Microsoft has been developing a Wiimote-like controller for the Xbox 360 for 9 months and plans to release it at some point this year.
The new 360 controller will be similarly shaped to the Wiimote and will have "a speaker, microphone, four LED lights, A/B/X/Y face buttons, an analogue stick and an underside trigger."

Gameplay would be like "Halo, Gears and Forza in waggle form", but there seems to be some issues with the development of the controller so far. Developers are split at Microsoft with some wanting it to be as Wii-like as possible while others want the controller to be more feature rich. If the controller is exactly like the Wiimote, games can be ported from the Wii, argues the first set of developers.

The source also notes that Microsoft is working on Mii-like avatars and that the software is being created by Rare.



The rough sketch by the source looks like this:




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33 user comments

18.4.2008 15:02

i do not see this as being real for some reason..

28.4.2008 15:09

WOW Next gen is coming sooner than i imagined... I mean if nitendo could pull it off selling a gamecube with new controllers as new gen why can't microsoft? and they probably will make it a better one...
I truly hope this is true!

38.4.2008 15:11

Quote:
i do not see this as being real for some reason..
The story came out on April 1st... AD's just slow at getting news. Im guessing this just a big april fools hoax.

48.4.2008 15:51

Good job Microsoft. Way to be creative...oh wait..Nintendo already thought of that idea. Good work..lol.

58.4.2008 16:08

Yep....I like how Microsoft just copies off of Nintendo. Now only if Sony would do it then we all can be copies! Come on M$ do something new.

68.4.2008 16:27
CrakaBak
Inactive

No one is going to be creating anything new, they're all going to just try to improve on what they already have. The Wii's remote are excellent to play with and I'm happy they're copying this. Those remotes are clearly the future and this was apparent to me from day one. Sony's 6 axis controller is a weak attempt at trying to copy the Wii remote but it still is a copy of sorts. Go for it Microsoft, go for it Sony, and good job Nintendo for finding a way to not only compete but to gain the advantage.

78.4.2008 16:32

Quote:
Quote:
i do not see this as being real for some reason..
The story came out on April 1st... AD's just slow at getting news. Im guessing this just a big april fools hoax.
Actually the story came out last night, please make intelligent comments next time.

88.4.2008 16:56

Originally posted by CrakaBak:
No one is going to be creating anything new, they're all going to just try to improve on what they already have. The Wii's remote are excellent to play with and I'm happy they're copying this. Those remotes are clearly the future and this was apparent to me from day one. Sony's 6 axis controller is a weak attempt at trying to copy the Wii remote but it still is a copy of sorts. Go for it Microsoft, go for it Sony, and good job Nintendo for finding a way to not only compete but to gain the advantage.
well , i dont know about the *copying* part of your comments ,Sony already had a motion sensing controler out for the Playstation (PS1) bck in 1999 , so how can u say they copied them ?

98.4.2008 17:24

doesnt look like comfortable gaming at all

108.4.2008 17:31

What is so NEW about this anyway? I have played the Wii and it is okay, but I had one of those power gloves with my first Nintendo. Basically the same, just with different technology.

Where are those special mats we could play on?

Where are the guns?

Where are the light sabers where I will be able to fight someone on TV?

118.4.2008 17:58
CrakaBak
Inactive

Quote:
Originally posted by CrakaBak:
No one is going to be creating anything new, they're all going to just try to improve on what they already have. The Wii's remote are excellent to play with and I'm happy they're copying this. Those remotes are clearly the future and this was apparent to me from day one. Sony's 6 axis controller is a weak attempt at trying to copy the Wii remote but it still is a copy of sorts. Go for it Microsoft, go for it Sony, and good job Nintendo for finding a way to not only compete but to gain the advantage.
well , i dont know about the *copying* part of your comments ,Sony already had a motion sensing controler out for the Playstation (PS1) bck in 1999 , so how can u say they copied them ?



I stand corrected. Also, the other dude with the power glove statement is correct, forgot all about that. I guess it would be more accurate to say Nintendo perfected it first or made it more enjoyable first.

128.4.2008 18:00

Ermmm, I just don't see this as possible. M$ is bad, but not stupid. They aren't give 360 gamers a Wii feel, at least if they want to keep making in money. Maybe in Japan this would work? But yeah, I don't see it happening.

138.4.2008 18:04
CrakaBak
Inactive

Originally posted by 21Q:
Ermmm, I just don't see this as possible. M$ is bad, but not stupid. They aren't give 360 gamers a Wii feel, at least if they want to keep making in money. Maybe in Japan this would work? But yeah, I don't see it happening.
I wouldn't say this was stupid. I love playing the Wii and in a games like Lost Odyssey, Top Spin, Kingdom Under Fire, and Bioshock those Wii remotes would work well.

148.4.2008 18:06

Quote:
Actually the story came out last night, please make intelligent comments next time.
From Xbox-scene =

Quote:
If Microsoft does have such a plan in the works, it's remarkably similar to an April Fools' joke posted earlier this month on a Web site maintained by the company's Macintosh business unit.
Microsoft Mac BU bloggers said on April 1 that the company was developing software that would turn the Apple Remote into a Wii-style controller that would allow users to play interactive games on the Apple Macintosh platform.
You were right, but the above article confused me into thinking that the two storys were the same. As for it not being a "intelligent" comment i think if what i believed was true then it would be a pretty helpfull.

158.4.2008 18:08

Quote:
Quote:
You were right, but the above article confused me into thinking that the two storys were the same. As for it not being a "intelligent" comment i think if what i believed was true then it would be a pretty helpfull.
There was no reason to bash AD staff though when you made your statement. We never release news that is 7 days old as you implied and we certainly check if its an April Fools prank or not.

168.4.2008 19:23

Man they're rippin' ideas left in right these days... First it was the simple stuff such as the names for the control panel in there OSs etc. and now they've moved on to controllers?

I'd still rather buy a Wii... Which I did...

178.4.2008 21:35

Lets say this DOES happen...

The 360 gets motion sensing....

The PS3 now has Rumble.....

Does anyone else find this at least ironic?? considering the fact that both sides of the console war were complaining about the other sides feature in the controller!! Now they both have... well BOTH. hahaha. I just think thats funny.


.. like Karma-funny

188.4.2008 22:46

Don't put the Powerglove or Sega's Menacer in the same category as the Wiimote. Those were peripherals and NOT the flagship controllers by which the programmers needed to make their game adapt to.

I really hate this news. I have a 360 and a Wii, and I only see this alienating MS fans even more. We've already seen how many different SKU's for the 360, not to mention someone will bring up RRoD on here, which is certainly a pressing issue for those who have dealt with it. Seriously, would this really work with previously developed games and how well? Would you want to be the sucker to buy this and it only works with a handful of games? (See GC's Donkey Kong Bongos.)

Nintendo seems to be on the right track. Some of their newer games (such as Mario Kart) can be played with the Wiimote, Wiimote plus Nunchuk, Classic Controller or the Gamecube controller, which the Big N previously said would only be supported for the Virtual Console.

MS should just stick to Live, which is the one advantage they have over everyone right now. The avatar idea looks like a no-brainer, as it should integrate with your profile (like Yahoo's avatar system.)

199.4.2008 10:14

M$ is just doing what they do best....Stealing others ideas....lol
But i do have a Wii and a Xbox 360 and i would prob buy one because if i could play Wii like game with 360 graphics then..

2010.4.2008 04:03
umashi
Inactive

why do you guy's keep copying eachother's saying's that is just pathetic
you know you guy's are acting like those idiots i know of on youtube
who know nothing but pasting and commenting on other people's words.
that is just stupid i mean i think none of you guy's have ever heard of
[wright your own speech!] this is pathetic i can be playing metroid 3 yet im trying to prove a point. anyways as i was saying yeah [wright your own speech and without adding in other people's speech's] i mean are you guy's trying to be idiot's. hey did you know microsoft can't copy nintendo's wiimote. in fact they can't even make it look anything like nintendo's control. if they do they'll get sued
by:nintendo cause they patened the wiimote in fact if they make it look
like nintendo's wiimote and if they make a law suit it'll be all over the news either that or be in gameinformer anyways they'll go bankrupt and when i mean they i mean microsoft so you'd better hope microsoft has insurance or enough money to make it but that's if they even bother to go further in the project i just hope they don't cause that mean's no newer versions of windows no new halo games no new xbox game system's meaning nintendo and sony will lose a competition making it easier on any of them to win. anyways sorry about the bad news this is from:umashi

2110.4.2008 10:56

This is way we copy peoples message...

Quote:
hey did you know microsoft can't copy nintendo's wiimote. in fact they can't even make it look anything like nintendo's control. if they do they'll get sued

... To fix dumb comments. Have you seen a controller before? they basically look the same with minor differences. Off course they can make one Wiimote like controller, they just can't make the same controller.
I'm sure they wont be losing time making the same, they will (if) make something much better. The same is already out the only thing they would need to do is add the sensor bar, resign the button and little online update. Microsoft don't want to look dumb thats why they get to make something better, but with same concept if is the need.

2210.4.2008 11:04

UMASHI...your a dumbass. Why do you use run on sentences? Lol.
I do agree with only 2 things in your wasteful post. Halo and windows.

2310.4.2008 13:08

I think they should put a temperature gauge on the controller that tells you when its about to overheat.I mean come on lets be serious the controller isn't the main issue with the XBox360,its all the bugs in the actual system itself.I can name multiple accounts of errors recieved by numerous users including myself.Its sucks also because they have a very good game library,but the console is just not worth the money in my opinion.If your a gamer you will probably end up losing at the most one XBox360,and I don't want to go into details about it.Its feels like Microsoft does this on purpose so they can pawn off a used system to people when they send it into them to get fixed.Microsoft support services are horrible,and the console is made very poor.The only thing they have is a good game library,because if it wasn't for that I wouldn't have even bought the system.They need to go back and redesign the system to eliminate all the major issues,before even thinking of the next step.I have never seen so many errors in a game system until I actually bought one.In my opinion if they do release a new controller then I'm gonna be pretty pissed off,because they are not capitalizing on the multiple errors users are recieving.Nice way to screw people MS by ignoring the major issues.

2410.4.2008 17:40

Well, if this is real, it's not as if its new because M$ have been doing this since the Xbox 360 was in production. Now you're wondering how they've copied other consoles.. Read below to find out :)

Okay, Sony's Playstation Controller, the shape/size/buttons have always been the same between all three consoles. Now look at the Xbox controller, it had a black and white button and was very oddly shaped. Now with the Xbox 360, M$ have removed the black and white buttons and have made the controller much more comfortable to hold. The only other adjustment they made was moving the analogue stick with the D-Pad.

Therefore, if you think about M$ has ripped off the Playstation controller, they both have the same buttons, the only difference being the switch between the analogue stick and D-Pad on the Xbox 360.

2510.4.2008 19:47

In a presentation at the Gamefest event in Seattle, USA, Microsoft’s product unit manager for hardware Robert S. Walker made some comments suggesting that the company may release a new optional “advanced” version of the Xbox 360 controller at some point in the future. The presentation was largely focused on Xbox 360 peripherals coming in the near future, such as the Xbox Live Vision camera and the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, but at a certain point the topic shifted to the issue of fine control in genres such as first person shooters which are arguably less suited to traditional console controllers than to a mouse and keyboard.

After confirming that, as previously stated, the company has no plans to allow in-game mouse and keyboard support on Xbox 360, Walker noted that Microsoft is looking at ways to modify the right analog stick on the controller to make it more conducive to the precise movements used in shooters and various other genres. This controller would not replace the original controller, and would merely be an option available to players looking for a more advanced control scheme.

When asked for clarification by Shacknews, Walker reiterated that Microsoft does not yet have any concrete plans for the workings of such a device, nor is there any projected release period. Rather, it is something under consideration by Microsoft’s hardware development teams as a long term possibility.

Firingsquad asked Walker about future support for motion-sensing controllers for the Xbox 360 in the wake of all the attention that Nintendo has generated with their Wii controller and more recently with the word that Sony will have some motion-sensing features for their PS3 controller.

Walker was open about the fact that Microsoft has done testing and prototypes with similar features for the Xbox 360. Indeed. Microsoft made a PC controller with motion sensing features in the mid-1990s and while Walker said it sold better than expected, he admitted that Microsoft could have done a better job promoting the use of the controller to game developers. Walker said that for games like racing and first person shooters, their own tests with Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller prototypes indicated that the users were at first split 50-50 on whether or not they liked the motion-sensing versus the standard analog stick movement. What’s more interesting is Walker said that people who played with the motion-sensing prototypes for an extended period of time complained of physical fatigue. He also said that playing with such controllers in first person shooter games (as UbiSoft will have for the Wii in Red Steel and their Far Cry port) didn't give them the precise control as you’d get with a standard controller or a PC mouse and keyboard combo. However, Walker indicated that Microsoft is still considering adding some kind of motion-sensing feature to future controllers and are still experimenting with prototypes, so they haven't totally written off those kinds of features just yet.

RELEASED August 15th, 2006

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Figured i'd add the date to show you this is absoultely nothing new.

This was just evoultion happening. If you go to youtube and search 360 tilt controller mod you will see. Gamers, designers, engineers and geeks have all be messing around with this idea. You can even buy a tilt board on ebay. Microsoft made a motion sensing controller in the mid 1990s so they really arent' thinking out of the box on this one.

http://www.adamthole.com/?p=19 this is the first working tilt controller.

If you search google you can find better more updated articles... some even quote the same thing as new information.

http://xboxfamily.com/xf/index.php?optio...d=1107&Itemid=2 - latest news

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584945/20080407/id_0.jhtml -MTV story

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 10 Apr 2008 @ 8:00

2611.4.2008 15:48

i guess is true:
Sources have confirmed the existence of the Xbox Wiimote clone project; code name: “Newton”

The hardware is still being worked on and it might be a couple months before we see leaked shots of any prototypes when they start to mass manufacture it; but, there might ba an early software developer kit and prototype out there somewhere.

Microsoft is rumored to have licensed patents from Gyration, and are using them to develop their motion sensing Wiimote controller. Legally Microsoft is not ripping off Nintendo, but rather licensing the technology from the same place that Nintendo got theirs from. For an example the Guitar Hero and Rockband controllers both use the same patent that is owned by Konami that they developed for the Guitar Freaks.

From what was learned from internal sources at Microsoft, the Newton project is moving forward. The time table indicates that it has been in development for a while now, and they could get it out by winter of 2008. The “Newton” is also going to use a LED sensor bar that can be powered by the USB ports on the 360. There will be a LED sensor on the front accelerometer, and gyroscope sensor that can detect tilt and motion, rumble motors, wireless two way data communication with the 360. The addition to this version, is a built in Microphone for Xbox Live and voice-activated games.

Source: http://www.xbox360-hacks.com/

I'm so happy with this news... can't wait!... Sony, PS3, xbox360, Super Nitendo, psp, Game Boy FAN... N64, NGC, NDS, Wii hater!

2712.4.2008 15:43

I wonder how many of those will burn out "ring of death."

2814.4.2008 02:34
umashi
Inactive

UMASHI...your a dumbass. Why do you use run on sentences? Lol.
I do agree with only 2 things in your wasteful post. Halo and windows.
shut the f up you f'n ass hole i hate people like you bdoggie08 what the hell kind of name is that anyways and i am gonna be right you'll see. hey guess what you made me mad enough to insult you on youtube ha ha ha
then you'll see and i'll even use special effects to make it look like im blowing up your user name dumbass your the jackass you stupid prick you stupid mother f'r you f'n bitch how dare you insult me!. you too i1der
how dare you. i say the same thing about you too. . . . hey guess what! when i become famous i'll insult both of you on nbc world news then we'll see who's laughing heh heh heh heh heh .and what i meant about the control was that they can't make it too much alike sorry bout themix up but really did you even read about nintendo getting seud almost by another company. this is what i was talking about something like that will happen but in a mix up situation by the way microsoft go
for it just try not to get seud i don't want that to happen. and i use run on sentences to prove a point and cause i don't practice sentences and im not gonna bother cause it takes up too much time to add in decimals and quotes and other things that is why i use periods and what ever the hell they use in sentences. . . .lets just say i don't like taking time typing in specific details oh and rubixlcu on youtube rule's the vid industry basically that user im familier with cause of some of the pathetic thing's that that user post's by the way [rubixlcu]
is [rubix89] on youtube.com they just changed user names cause of a hacker anyways he's a novice movie maker but i will become better.any ways

2914.4.2008 15:35

Wow you really need to edit your post before a mod sees this. After doing so you should click the "before you post" link in my sig... It might put things in the right perspective for you.

3014.4.2008 16:20

Originally posted by umashi:
UMASHI...your a dumbass. Why do you use run on sentences? Lol.
I do agree with only 2 things in your wasteful post. Halo and windows.
shut the f up you f'n ass hole i hate people like you bdoggie08 what the hell kind of name is that anyways and i am gonna be right you'll see. hey guess what you made me mad enough to insult you on youtube ha ha ha
then you'll see and i'll even use special effects to make it look like im blowing up your user name dumbass your the jackass you stupid prick you stupid mother f'r you f'n bitch how dare you insult me!. you too i1der
how dare you. i say the same thing about you too. . . . hey guess what! when i become famous i'll insult both of you on nbc world news then we'll see who's laughing heh heh heh heh heh .and what i meant about the control was that they can't make it too much alike sorry bout themix up but really did you even read about nintendo getting seud almost by another company. this is what i was talking about something like that will happen but in a mix up situation by the way microsoft go
for it just try not to get seud i don't want that to happen. and i use run on sentences to prove a point and cause i don't practice sentences and im not gonna bother cause it takes up too much time to add in decimals and quotes and other things that is why i use periods and what ever the hell they use in sentences. . . .lets just say i don't like taking time typing in specific details oh and rubixlcu on youtube rule's the vid industry basically that user im familier with cause of some of the pathetic thing's that that user post's by the way [rubixlcu]
is [rubix89] on youtube.com they just changed user names cause of a hacker anyways he's a novice movie maker but i will become better.any ways
hey its u again...dumbass. Hey look he kept on doing run-on-sentences :P..wow...dumbass. Post sumthing to contribute to the thread..dumbass. U are really unintelligent..dumbass.

3115.4.2008 21:29

finally decide to post in here, and there's already retards fighting..

but anyways, i really think this is a stupid idea on MS part. I remember that everyone where I from was so damn big on the 360 being purely a gaming console, none of the extra bullsh*t. obviously, if this goes through, then it'll just look like a Wii wannabe. the Wii games will no longer be exclusive and if done quite tactically, MS could get rid of Wii completely. MS is a strong company and if they port the controller, who would you rather dev for?

i'm not too fond of the sixaxis thing but I do hope that Sony doesn't make that decision. I'm happy that the PS3 has rumble now but I think that's it for me.

might I mention even though the PS3 has the @home, i think it's a little pathetic that 360 is taking the ideas of miis. hell, if all this goes through, i bet in 2 years everybody will start arguing that it was originally an MS idea.

haha, only time will tell ;)

3226.9.2008 04:52
umashi
Inactive

Originally posted by bdoggie08:
Originally posted by umashi:
UMASHI...your a dumbass. Why do you use run on sentences? Lol.
I do agree with only 2 things in your wasteful post. Halo and windows.
shut the f up you f'n ass hole i hate people like you bdoggie08 what the hell kind of name is that anyways and i am gonna be right you'll see. hey guess what you made me mad enough to insult you on youtube ha ha ha
then you'll see and i'll even use special effects to make it look like im blowing up your user name dumbass your the jackass you stupid prick you stupid mother f'r you f'n bitch how dare you insult me!. you too i1der
how dare you. i say the same thing about you too. . . . hey guess what! when i become famous i'll insult both of you on nbc world news then we'll see who's laughing heh heh heh heh heh .and what i meant about the control was that they can't make it too much alike sorry bout themix up but really did you even read about nintendo getting seud almost by another company. this is what i was talking about something like that will happen but in a mix up situation by the way microsoft go
for it just try not to get seud i don't want that to happen. and i use run on sentences to prove a point and cause i don't practice sentences and im not gonna bother cause it takes up too much time to add in decimals and quotes and other things that is why i use periods and what ever the hell they use in sentences. . . .lets just say i don't like taking time typing in specific details oh and rubixlcu on youtube rule's the vid industry basically that user im familier with cause of some of the pathetic thing's that that user post's by the way [rubixlcu]
is [rubix89] on youtube.com they just changed user names cause of a hacker anyways he's a novice movie maker but i will become better.any ways
hey its u again...dumbass. Hey look he kept on doing run-on-sentences :P..wow...dumbass. Post sumthing to contribute to the thread..dumbass. U are really unintelligent..dumbass.

shut the fuck up man,i have my own opinions and yes im not
good at writing sentences so what,
but you are wrong about me bieng un-intelligent
heck im way smarter than a lot of people,you might say im a computer geneus compared to you fuck you bdoggie08...i hate people like you
you fukin ruined this page with all your smack
heck for all i know you could be a fukin stupid mut that talks
jackass,heck im 16 and im already smarter than a college graduate
that took computer class,so shut the fuck up
you fucking mother fucker you're probably fucking your mother right now
for all i know,jackass....now how do i delete this fukin jackasses account nah screw this i'll get a hacking program.oh i forgot to mention i do root for them to continue the project,
i just am concerned that they'll make it too much related to the wiimote and get sued for patent related issues i guess i should have mentioned that before.and by the way bdoggie08 don't you have anything
better to do than look for a reason to be a jackass and write fucking lies you bitch-ass mother fucker i'll see y'all later,
oh wait for all i know you'll commit suicide from all this pressure
and your mom will say why did i have a stupid child at your funeral.

332.10.2008 18:00

wow...this is a thread not a lets fight place..:o

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