According to Kotaku, there is a rumour floating around that Microsoft may debut a 360 Motion Controller next week.
With the Wii leading the Waggle pack and the PS3 using the sixaxis controller, it seems that Microsoft wants to jump on the waggle-wagon as well. There have been rumours of a motion controller being developed for the 360 for quite a while now, only to be brushed off or denied by Microsoft.
However, according to Kotaku, an unnamed source has told them that Microsoft “may be showing its Xbox 360 motion controller as early as next week to press, a controller geared specifically for Banjo Kazooie 3 gameplay. In fact, we’ve heard that select members of the press have already seen the controller—in use on the next Banjo Kazooie title—in action.”
It seems that if Microsoft is in fact going to be introducing a motion controller, that they will be using the new Banjo Kazooie game as a means of introducing it to the world. This does make you wonder if this means that Banjo Kazooie will require the controller, as that will mean that the game will have to have the controller bundled with it. I can’t see Microsoft throwing it in for free, so if it is required, we can probably expect the game to retail at a higher price than usual.
Interestingly enough, if it turns out to not be a requirement of the game, Microsoft will risk having the new controller be a flop. This makes me think that the chances of it being bundled are quite high.
Then again, this is just a rumour, so I think it’s best that we don’t spend too much time pondering over Microsoft’s waggle-woes until we have something concrete.
Last Updated: May 9, 2008
Abe
May 9, 2008 at 08:47
And introducing the new Motion Controlled RROD!
Evilredzombie
May 9, 2008 at 08:56
its about time…
wii and ps3 has motion and rumble…
This will be a smart move by MS
Evilredzombie’s last blog post..Racer Driver: GRID demo up on Live and PSN
hilt_ctn
May 9, 2008 at 09:10
Ag shame. They need to rip someone elses product off…again…Mac OS anyone ?
Fox1
May 9, 2008 at 09:16
@Nick- Looking at the price of Scene It with four specialised controllers, it’s not that expensive considering it comes with the game 😉
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 09:34
@Fox1, Scene It is AWESOME! I picked it up in the States, it was the same price as the other AAA titles.
Why the hell have they not brought it into the country yet!! Is that Megarom or MI Digital’s fault ?
Fox1
May 9, 2008 at 09:51
My point exactly 🙂 If MS bundle the controller with Banjo Kazooie 3 then don’t be surprised if it becomes the highest selling game in 360 history 😆
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 10:00
“If MS bundle the controller with Banjo Kazooie 3 then don’t be surprised if it becomes the highest selling game in 360 history”
WRONG! That honour belongs to Rock Band 🙂
koldFU5iON
May 9, 2008 at 10:01
you know you have a point there… I wonder where Rumble came from? hmmm… I don’t think Sony would EVA steal an idea from someone like Microsoft
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 10:02
hooray for Flamebait friday.
(lazy, your site ate my post)
Anyway, MS are famous for stealing (or buying) ideas, but this is the one instance where they actually had it first.
The MS Sixaxis, released 1998!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder#Freestyle_Pro
doobiwan
May 9, 2008 at 10:03
Who in turn ripped off Xerox PARC. There is no such thing as an original idea, especially in IT.
Hmm, this rumour makes me apprehensive. Personally I’d rather have a rock solid Banjo, but if they can do something amazing with it, what the heck, go for it.
SlippyMadFrog
May 9, 2008 at 10:08
If they can make games specificaly for the motion controls instead of including it in games that don’t need it as a last minute gimick, then I’m all for it.
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 10:12
this site keeps not showing my post when i include a link.
anyway, here goes take 3,
ok, motion controller joystick, VERY similar to the current sixaxis, was released by MS in 1998! (Sidewinder Freestyle Pro), i doubt they invented it, but they surely thought of it waaaaay before Sony did. (Nintendo did something different with the idea, so i’ll not say that they beat Nintendo to it)
ray
May 9, 2008 at 10:27
Canny wait for BK3, although hopefully the device will be usable with other games as hinted here-
http://counterstrikesource.precision-media.net/extrememodding/?p=47
Fox1
May 9, 2008 at 10:47
MS are developing the motion controller (or Newton controller) under patents so they won’t get left motionless like how Sony got left rumble-less with the PS3
DarthPenguin
May 9, 2008 at 10:49
I like this initiative for one reason and one reason only. If the remote is there you can bet your granny that developers will start making games for the 360. Games that use remotes like that are usually more casual. If the 360 can attract more casual gamers, 360 sales go up. The better the 360 does here, the better the service gets.
So I’m for it.
Fox1
May 9, 2008 at 10:56
In this country that would put the 360 at a better option than the Wii considering the prices of the two consoles.
Lets wait for Tuesday morning when MS are going to be showing off Banjo Kazooie 3 to the press 😕
There was also a rumour that Rare is developing Fast and the Furriest for the controller
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 11:28
what i’d like to see is silly “Wii Play” type games on XBLA.
doobiwan
May 9, 2008 at 11:42
Absolutely. The wiimote is not “the killer app” it’s the simple games. The fact That so many other games struggle on the platform alludes to that.
I really hope Microsoft goes bold and comes up with new IP’s to drive these things. If we get another “Viva Pinata: Waggle party”, or “Halo: Shake n Bake” I’ll be very disappointed.
LazySAGamer
May 9, 2008 at 11:42
Sorry the spam filter is going into overdrive at the moment and eating normal posts as well….
I am working on it but I can’t disable it otherwise we will all be buying viagra and cheap watches
SlippyMadFrog
May 9, 2008 at 11:42
I’m looking for a reason to sell my Wii. This may be it it seems
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 12:10
doobi, i’m sure that you’ll get your wish on that. The XNA community will drive it. MS are watching their work and if something good comes up, it’ll be promoted to an XBLA release.
Banana hammock
May 9, 2008 at 12:44
This will be a flop for MS for one simple reason. If you don’t force the tech on people they won’t buy it.
People won’t buy it if there aren’t plent of games available and devs won’t develop for it unless there s a big market.
It’s a viscous triangle i tell ya.
Milesh Bhana ZA
May 9, 2008 at 13:11
it worked for the Guitar controller…
doobiwan
May 9, 2008 at 15:34
Hmm, I’ve never really considered the hydrodynamic properties of consoles games before 😉
I’m with Milesh – Singstar, Eyetoy, DDR, GH were all peripheral based and are what made the PS2 the success it was.
kabraal
May 10, 2008 at 09:57
wow, rumors of motion control, blu ray… can’t they think up their own things? 😛
LazySAGamer
May 10, 2008 at 17:20
Like online integrated gaming or achievements or an integrated gamerscore? Lets not even get into including a hard drive with a gaming console 😛
I think it’s time you took a step back Kabraal, you are seriously missing the forest through the tree’s at the moment. (And this coming from someone who doesn’t think the motion controller for the 360 will take off)
kabraal
May 11, 2008 at 20:02
That was some tong in cheek 😉