Rumor: Microsoft working on Wiimote-style device
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Apr 8th 2008 at 12:00PM }
On the face of it, the latest rumor that Microsoft is planning a Wiimote-esque peripheral (purportedly developed by Rare) for the Xbox 360 carries all the hallmarks of a wind-up. There's the obligatory "anonymous source," the hastily drawn MS Paint sketch you see to the right, and plenty of disclaimers -- "if it is indeed released," "if the project comes to fruition" -- in the MTV Multiplayer blog post that broke the rumor.Look closer, however, and the speculation seems to gain credibility. As our sister site Xbox 360 Fanboy notes, Rare also happens to be developing The Fast and the Furriest for Xbox Live Arcade, which features "a wand type input device for gesture recognition." And it's no secret that Microsoft has spent the last few months jealously eyeing Nintendo's hold over the "casual" crowd -- but would the company be quite so brazen in ripping off Nintendo's gaming wand?
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TheCoats @ Apr 8th 2008 12:13PM
hats what microsoft does with there game consoles.......the controlers are obvious Dreamcast rip-offs and the DVD remote looks identical to RCA remotes......
cant blame them for wanting something that just works
http://kotaku.com/gaming/shazaaaaam/gates-wants-to-out-wii-the-wii-265546.php
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:22PM
I'll blame them. All they do now is buy other companies and live off their ideas and profit. Since when has Microsoft actually made something that was there original idea... the Zune is an iPod rid off, Vista is a (horribly done) OSX rip off, and as far as xbox go you already named a couple.
If they do this, I think it will be a lot like the Zune in that people won't buy it. You can't just make something like your competition, you need to make it your own, and you need to make it better (or just come up with an original idea!!! :shock: ). My point is, Playstation didn't even steal the remote idea, just the accelerometers and they got a lot of crud for it accross the net. If M$ does this, I don't think it will be a positive, I think it will be looked at as a rip off. And when it boils down to it, no one is going to buy a 360, that is already more than half through it's life cycle, to get a Wii rip off at a higher price tag that has yet to prove itself in the world of motion sensing gaming. I'm sorry, but they either should have done this from the start, or saved it for their next system. bringing it in when the 360 is already starting to look a little dated (dvd tray, non-glossy paint, wired controllers on the one SKU) is a silly idea.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:25PM
PS- After re-reading my comment, I didnt mean that noone would buy a 360, just that no-one would be it instead of a Wii since it's more expensive and doesn't have the library established yet for the controller perephial.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 12:32PM
Actually, in Christmas '07, the Zune beat the iPod in sales.
And the reason of "Because everyone has an iPod already" doesn't count, since people constantly change their iPod or get more people iPods annually, and it's pretty consistent.
...the Zune may be a copy of the iPod, but it removed all the style and pizzazz and just made it bulky and strong. I don't see a problem with that since it isn't a COMPLETE copy, and it'd easily turn away the iPod users.
And the xbox360 may be a copy, but they're definitely getting a different crowd that the other systems (who it copied from) never really wanted to get. So again, I don't mind that since it wasn't aimed at the same audience.
And Vista? ....well, it's kinda' sucking. So many bad reviews, it's ridiculous. I don't think we have any reason to bash on them for the Vista, they're already suffering from their own mistakes.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:44PM
no offense Soshi, but even if that is true (i dont know , i dont have anything saying zune ousold it). it's kind of a hollow victory. It's like saying the ps3 ousold the wii that one month... sometime... throughout the wii's year + dominance. And with the iPhone's abilities unlocked this june with the SDK, i think you're going to see apple's profits further increase from the zune. i dont know about you, but i know one person with a zune... i know dozens with an ipod, that should tell you something.
and like i said before, i support companies that are creative. It's one reason why ive always liked nintendo, too. Even with bad desicions (purple gamecube, virtual boy..), they aren't afraid to go out on a limb. Same with Apple. I'd rather support that than a company that all it does is laugh at it's competition (microsoft laughed at the iphone.. said it woudlnt sell... laughed at the wii, said it woudlnt sell) and they goes "oh shit" a few months later when they are surpased in sales and quickly makes a half baked copy of their competitions product. sorry, i dont want a company like that taking me money, ill pass.
ssuk @ Apr 8th 2008 12:46PM
Orion: In the UK, the Xbox 360 Arcade is £160 ($320)... £20 cheaper than the Wii here at £180 ($360).
As for your "Vista is a OSX knock-off", welcome to the world of operating systems. Apple stole the GUI off Xerox, Microsoft stole the same idea off Apple, Linux steals just about everything from other OSes, occasionally finding something original. Apple stole multiple virtual desktops from Linux, which was stolen from Linux.
But, it seems to me you haven't quite thought through your argument here. You bash the 360 for not being glossy and having a disc tray. This is AFTER you bashed MS for stealing. Nintendo jumped on the "Gloss = FUTURE!" bullshit which APPLE started with the iPod and have since moved away to more solid, less-glossy colours.
You then DEFEND Sony when they blatantly stole the MOTION SENSING ELEMENT which the Wii controller had. Microsoft are essentially doing the same thing and you're jumping all over them. Your double-standard on this shows that your judgement here is inconsolably bias.
Now, I don't mind people bashing MS for pulling this kind of stunt, but this argument right here is one to be ignored. For he is talking out his arse.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:55PM
I'm not talking out of my "ars". I never said that the 360 was a bad product for using a disk tray or non-glossy paint. and no, it's not them being "original" either, as every console before that had flat paint.
I only mentioned that to say that their console is GETTING OLD looking. It had nothing to do with my comments about them copying their OS from apple ext.
And yes, i understand what you are saying.. everyone copies from someone to an extent. HOWEVER, when you make a remote control that looks very much like a wii controller, and a controller that blatenly steals the dreamcast design, and an operating system that i could care less if it performed similarly under the skin or not but steals the over all look, design, and ideas of the OSX operating system that makes it unique.. yea.. i think it's a bit much. and no, i dont think the wii making it's system shiney like apple's product is as bad as what M$ is doing because at least Nintendo (and apple) come up with UNIQUE PRODUCTS everyonce in a while, while M$ honestly... i havent seen anything come from them that is unique in years, and im tired of it. they never go out on a limb, they play it safe. and for one im happy it's biting them in the "ars" for sales.
so no, it's your comment that should be ignored. Maybe you should read what i say before bashing something that had nothign to do with my main point.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 1:01PM
and how did i DEFEND sony? tell me when i defended them?
I said they got a lot of bad press for stealing the accelerometers. BUT, my point (again, maybe you should READ my posts), is that at LEAST they didnt copy off the WHOLE controller. I never said i wasn't ticked about them taking the motion control, trust me i was. I was only saying at least they had the common courtesy to make it not look freakin obvious. If M$ does this, and i doubt they will, it would be taking it too far. it wouldnt be stealing a paint job, or how the disk is taken in the sytem, or some other small thing that in at the end of the day doesnt matter, it would be BIG..it would be patent infringment, and they would be sued. peroid.
you want your definition of copying? there ya go. You cant sue over how your sytem is painted but you can dang well sue for making a near carbon copy of a control design that has patents for everything from mechanics, design, and use.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 1:03PM
(Sorry, I'm a bit chatty today)
It depends where you live. If you go to the business area in downtown LA, you'll see a lot of people traded their iPods for a Zune. You'll also see some kids in some down-trodded highschools with Zunes now.
No one can really afford a Zune really.
I support things that are creative too. I'm a heavy supporter of the Wii and have "preached its good news" to the gaming world more passionately than anyone I've ever known (online and offline).
But I see Microsoft as a "balance".
We can have the artists, and we can have the businessmen.
The businessmen may be cold-hearted and not understand anything the artists like, but they organized and built the repetitive things that the artists use.
It may be mundane and uncreative, but the artists still use it since it's a necessity. And the businessmen can mass-produce these things at such a fast rate that the artists don't have to worry about running out.
That's not an exact view of Nintendo and Microsoft, since we've "evolved" since then. Now there's combinations of creativity and organization.
But there's the "pure form" of creativity (Nintendo) and the "pure form" of organization (Microsoft). And the weird thing is: they support each other.
If they don't compete, Nintendo will never get more organized, and Microsoft will never get creative.
Mind you, Microsoft sucks at getting creative, but at least they're keeping in mind why they suck.
But let's say if Microsoft WERE to COPY a creative thing, then Nintendo would obviously increase it's creativity.
It needs to if it doesn't want to be destroyed by Microsoft.
Already it seems that creativity is the one thing that can produce more sales in the video game industry. The Xbox360's power isn't underestimated, and it pushes the video game industry's power with it. (Don't mind the PS3, they may have power, but they have no idea what to do with it yet)
But if you've noticed: The sales are consistent and plain on Xbox360's side... organization and power can only go so far (FPS's everyday isn't a good thing)...
So them seeing the Wii increasing higher and higher through creativity... they'll try to STEAL some of this creativity (since they suck at making it themselves)...
and this'll spark the entire gaming industry to get out of it's 10-year same-old slump of graphics=power!!!
...like I said, I see Microsoft as a balance. Already Nintendo feels the pressure of a HARD DRIVE because of what Microsoft has shown (DLC + HDD = win).
Nintendo was on the receiving end on many of the "haha, you're weak"... but now it's a top dog. And now it's Microsoft's turn with "haha, you have the same games over and over again".
Getting rid of Microsoft in the gaming industry would be a BAD THING. ... it's like getting rid of the top predator in an eco-system... a new one will appear, and it'll be even more powerful than the last. (And so, things go unbalanced)
(I think I repeated some things over and over again, oh well)
TheCoats @ Apr 8th 2008 1:37PM
I'm not saying its right or wrong to steal Ideas personally the 360 just doesn't compare to the Wii and never will......the controller and the games with it will always be done best by nintendo......but its there call. I look at it much like a peripheral that probably wont go over too well.....
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 1:52PM
"the 360 just doesn't compare to the Wii and never will......the controller and the games with it will always be done best by nintendo"
That's why you let them do it. :P So that they fail and realize motion-controls aren't their "thing"... not yet, at least.
Microsoft is a cocky beast. Let them think that playing with your stuff is no fun, so that they leave you alone.
It has worked before, and it'll work again!
Greg @ Apr 8th 2008 4:22PM
One could argue that it was Microsoft's idea that got ripped off as they've been playing with the idea for more then a few years.
http://research.microsoft.com/~awilson/wand/default.htm
Saccia @ Apr 8th 2008 12:22PM
I don't think this is true. Honestly, I think Microsoft is too busy rolling around in the bags of money they are making on the XBL Marketplace and in the massive attach rate for the 360 to worry about anything else.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 12:26PM
Er... I don't know if you know this, but:
Microsoft's hunger for money never ends.
When Microsoft first saw the Wii, it joined Sony in a big laugh... but when the Wii gained the giant populace of casual gamers, Microsoft kept down-talking the Wii every chance it got.
Microsoft wouldn't suddenly down-talk something unless it saw it as a threat. Nintendo ain't gonna' kill Microsoft, but Nintendo can get more moneys that Microsoft wish it had more of.
Would Microsoft have the cojones to do such an act of stealing a Wiimote look and function?
Answer: If RARE is helping them, they think it's fair and square. (and a good slap to the face for Nintendo)
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:30PM
While xbox is doing fine, I'm sure you and even M$ themselves can admit there is PLENTY of room for improvement. Many developers are jumping ship to Wiiware from arcade because the marketplace is disorganized, making new dloadable games hard to find in the sea of classic titles. That and devs don't get nearly as much money with Live as they do with Wiiware.
On top of that, M$, despite it's efforts, has yet to get a footing in Japan, and is being still outsold here in America by not only the Wii, but the PSP and sometimes even the PS3. I'd say they aren't as happy as the picture you illustrated. The wii is tapping into a market that never existed. I'm sure they are a bit envious of that.. in fact I know they are or they wouldn't have made that pinyata game (pina something)...
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:34PM
actually Soshi, another thing im wondering about is... if the controller looks anything like the wiiremote, they are going to run into a mess with patents. The wiimote has many patents on it's design, limitations, and over mean of use (for games). I think it would be hard for xbox to make a controller like that.. if anythign they might just make somethign similar to the dual shock 3.
and no.. i dont think it would be a slap to the face if Rare was behind it. i mean .. since M$ took them away, what have they honestly done? Perfect Dark? ooOOooo... that was just aMazing >_>.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 12:44PM
Well, then it'd just be a slight slap to the face. :P
And as for patents. Don't you think Microsoft could handle the money?
Well, I'm sure they'll change it into a form that looks awful, that Nintendo wouldn't mind at all. (they're not very good at appealing to the casual audience, never have and never will... fashion is not what they're known for)
...or they could always try the whole "negotiations"-thing they always try to do. But that won't end well in this field of industry.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:47PM
no Soshi, it wouldnt be something they would "work out". Nintendo made patents on the wii remote for a reason... so no one would copy it. Just like it did for the dpad's cross design, which no one else can have either. They won't just .. let it go. and why would they take a little bit of money from M$ as a bribe to copy that could potentially dig into their sales.
no no... i honestly doubt they could make a remote that has motion sensing, IR sensor, and a speaker with buttons and a imput device for control (dpad or joysick). I think nintendo would sue them from here to hong kong.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 1:22PM
I never said "negotiations" would work, I'm saying Microsoft would "try" if it had the balls to. ...threatening a huge video game corporation that has more console history than you = not something you want on your shoulders.
And yes, the patents are lethal for the Wiimote... but think about it... what if it can NEVER be copied?
What happens to future video game console's controllers?
No one would be able to try to move ahead with motion-sensing if they can't figure out how to improve it!
Mind you the technology is considered easy to many electronic corporations, but the FEEL is what makes the Wiimote so useful.
Nintendo can't keep building off of itself. No video game company can.
Nintendo needs new competition so it needs new ideas. (take Microsoft... whenever it thought it was the winner, all the creations and upgrades it dished out was almost EXACTLY the same as the last).
If the patent will always be there, then the only thing left to do is to create an all new motion-sensing system. And if it can match the Wiimote in FEEL, it can very well beat it for future consoles.
In all honesty, I can't see myself using the Wiimote again for another two generations of consoles. It needs to evolve after the next console.
We already have working touch-screen holograms. And we already have the internet in the shape of paper!
But do you know why it's not out?
BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEMAND FOR IT.
Wii's controls create that demand. But if no one else can use copies of it for future consoles, either they die or beat the Wii now.
I'm not sure if Nintendo has the power to dish out a WHOLE NEW motion-sensing system that FEELS right, if Microsoft were to get everyone together and create something brand "new".
I mean, come on... poor Netscape.... that's exactly what happened.
Microsoft has the resources. If Nintendo won't allow them to even make a very different functioning "wiimote", then Microsoft could make something outrageously better!
And I wouldn't doubt it... I wouldn't even dare to...
Microsoft may be lacking on the creative side, but the power it can get from its cash... it's pretty devastating. ...they can BUY creative minds, and the available technology now can make the Wii look like the biggest joke of all time.
I don't want the Wii to refuse Microsoft from building this.
This is the easy-way out.
If Microsoft really IS making this, and really WANTS to make this. LET THEM. At least let them fail at making a horrible copy!
...if Microsoft can make this, they'll think they've won a short victory... but if Microsoft is REFUSED from copying this, they'll do what they always do when they can't copy: They'll build one themselves, and they have the resources to BREAK Nintendo.
Let this take its course, it'll be a better-balanced competition this way.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Apr 8th 2008 12:34PM
The Wii could benefit if Microsoft released their own Wiimote.
If Microsoft allowed third partys to develop for their version of the Wiimote, those same third partys could use that experience gained to develop for the Wii. Then we'd get more Wii-games and less ports and half hearted nonsense.
But it seems that Microsoft seems to be aiming this at the casual market.
And a game called "The Fast and the Furriest" doesn't exactly inspire much confidence. To me, it brings up connotations of deviantart. The dark alleys of deviantart.
Orion @ Apr 8th 2008 12:39PM
i think it would be bad for 360... it said in the document that one of the big advantages to this controller would be the ability for wii games to be easily ported to the 360.
No offense, but it's embarrasing enough for games to come from the ps2 to the wii. I'd personally be laughing my ass off to see it then ported to the vastly more powerful 360.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 12:39PM
Dark alleys? Dude, those alleys are lighted up and have flashing christmas lights all over the place! That's practically what deviantart advertises! :P
I'd like to see Microsoft take this into action.
As far as I've seen, microsoft has a poor ability to adapt to a new terrain. They could encourage the Wii's creativity, or they could just make the Wii look 10000000000x better.
The latter is more likely.
Poor microsoft, why must you always create things that look and act like a cold and heartless machine? ...not that I mind. :P
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 8th 2008 1:13PM
This could work in Nintendo's favor. The more desperate the competitors the quicker it'll slip through their grasp.
Mr Khan @ Apr 8th 2008 7:47PM
"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
-Leia Organa: Episode IV
mian @ Apr 8th 2008 1:17PM
"LED light"? It needs a friggin IR camera. Now that devs have realized how potent that can be, some of the very best stuff out on Wii is IR dependent. If they're going to rip it off, they should at least get that right.
If MS released an update with a resident program that allowed input from the 360mote to be translated into previously programmed button presses, allowing it to work with old games and new ones that don't specifically support it, it could be more than a novelty.
sullenfireson @ Apr 8th 2008 1:45PM
copy and paste is a microsoft copyright.
What a surprise !
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 1:54PM
Copy, Edit, then Paste, you mean. :P
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 1:55PM
No wait... copy, paste, and edit... ...... edit copy paste? .... my brain's ded.
Nintendo is fail @ Apr 8th 2008 1:59PM
Don't forget the Wii console itself is a complete rip off of those Mac Mini computers Apple made. Whoever said the Wii is the best-looking console needs to get their eyes checked, there's nothing notable about it other then the cheap, glossy plastic
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Apr 8th 2008 2:11PM
Oh Will.
Why are you so unhappy?
Do you want attention?
I'll give you attention.
It's ok, everything is going to be alright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmHiUjr_iMg
Kenny G is here.
Haohmaru @ Apr 8th 2008 3:55PM
LOL @ trolls who try to "show them Nintendo kiddies!" his e-peen is bigger than theirs, then utterly fail.
Nintendo is fail @ Apr 8th 2008 4:22PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Read it
Lars @ Apr 8th 2008 5:27PM
Does it really matter who is ripping off whom at this point? And I wouldn't call Wii a rip-off of the Mac Mini... it's small and white, there the similarities stop. Plus Mac Mini ripped off the many many other companies that made micro form factor computers way before the Mac Mini came along.
'Nintendo is fail' fails at trolling.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 6:38PM
I swear kid, didn't I just tell you that you need a life?
Go for a friggin' jog or something.
And what kind of point is that? Let's see here...
Mac Mini Comp
http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/magnetox_v120.jpg
Nintendo Wii
http://sickr.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/wii.jpg
WD My Book
http://www.wdc.com/global/images/products/frnt/wdfMyBook_World_1N.jpg
You know what else looks like it?! CANON PIXMA mini320 Compact Photo Printer, the SEGA Dreamcast, Castile Soap, Nasoya Tofu, and a FEDEX White Box!!!
... OMG, you MAY BE RIGHT, kid! ZOMG! Look at the similarities!!! OMG!!!! Nintendo is a fuggin' poser!!! ZOMFGBBQ!!!
....... close your browser, kid... go make some friends.
Haohmaru @ Apr 8th 2008 10:03PM
Nintendo is fail is fail? How poetic.
BDR @ Apr 8th 2008 11:23PM
Bahaha, i think this is the same guy who was posting on the PS3 site as "Failstation 3 is fail" or something like that. What a tosser, go back to 360 Fanboy. Or better yet, leave. The internet has enough retards as it is.
Nintendo is epic fail @ Apr 9th 2008 1:04PM
Yeah, that was me bitch. What are you going to do about it? I love when butthurt Nintendo fanboys tell me to get a life when they somehow have enough time to type out long comments on a blog all day (SoshiKitai)
Lars @ Apr 9th 2008 7:42PM
I've never seen someone try so hard to flame, yet roll so many 1's.
critical failure!
critical failure!
critical failure!
You just pwnd yourself.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 11th 2008 5:26PM
Hey kid, the time it takes me to type long paragraphs up, you've probably already finished your paragraph. At least I'm not spending an entire hour trying to beat others down.
It's sad that you're even angry at me for telling you to get a life, kid.
It just shows that I hit a soft spot.
And yeah, I just wasted a piece of my life to say that to ya'. Just to make sure you get pissed off enough to probably reply to this again. :P
TheCoats @ Apr 8th 2008 2:16PM
FYI, The article also mentions MS adding Miis to your Gamertag.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 6:39PM
O___o...... but Xbox Lovers HATE Miis.
...why would they even bother?
Mr Khan @ Apr 8th 2008 2:36PM
First they bring the d-pad to the console mainstream, then the analogue stick, and now motion controls
If true, this rumor demands a good amount of scrutiny
bc @ Apr 8th 2008 3:29PM
"the Wii console itself is a complete rip off of those Mac Mini computers Apple made"
God, this & some of the other comments here really make my brain hurt.
BTW, Apple didn't just "rip off the GUI from Xerox." Little things like File, Edit, etc. drop-down menus? A trash can? Original Apple invents. Windows, however, licensed/outright ripped off much more directly from Mac.
Oh yeah, and Nintendo? Wii-everything is patented out the wazoo, and they're not over a barrel enough/dumb enough to have licensed it as Apple did with Mac technology. Lawsuits galore if this actually happens.
When you see all the "OMG I patented muzik on an electronic device" lawsuits Apple gets hit with - and settles! - you realize, at a minimum, Nintendo will have found a new way to print money if MS does this. At a maximum, MS will become a Kyoto subsidiary.
craig3a @ Apr 8th 2008 3:33PM
Damn...wish I had a 360 instead of a Wii now...
SoshiKitai @ Apr 8th 2008 7:04PM
Don't go selling your games and console yet.
Even if all this was true, the idea of xbox trying to gain casual gamers is... frightening at the least.
Have you seen most of their family friendly games? I dared to even try some... I felt ill by how awful it was.
mian @ Apr 9th 2008 12:39AM
If he's anything like me, he would want the 360 for their core games together with a wiimote, not for 360 casual games. The wiimote is a better core controller than it is a casual one, despite the reputation.
Despite how incredible the wiimote and IR pointer are for FPS, it's one of Wii's worst categories. I would love to play COD4, Halo 3, Bioshock, and the Orange Box with the Wiimote. And while the gfx aren't everything, the nice shiny this-gen gfx would be a little nice.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 9th 2008 2:29AM
Yeah... but why a Wiimote-creation?
There's tons of ways Xbox360 could have made a controller without looking so... Wii-shaped.
...it'd be awesome to play FPS's of the sort with motion-controls and all, but aren't they a tad late?
What if the companies making games for Xbox are turned-off by this and completely ignore it? ...afterall, these gamers in the 360 (at least the hardcore fans) didn't care about motion-sensing at all! ...most of them just wanted to kick-@$$ with as much online multiplayer they could get.
... it's a nice idea, but it just seems like a REALLY PRETTY BIRTHDAY CAKE: It looks awesome, but the people who are really hungry for sweets are just gonna' go for the strawberries underneath the chocolate fondue spring. >_>