Microsoft's Xbox 360 to 'rip off' Wii remote

It was only a matter of time. Sony already tried to get in on the popularity of the Miis with "Home." We'll see how this goes for Microsoft.

The thing is, I think Nintendo does what they do best. Even if Microsoft apes the Wiimote, I'd still turn to Nintendo for my Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc. fixes. I can't play games like Grand Theft Auto on a Wii, so let Xbox and PS3 duke it out for my dollars there, but ultimately Mario and co. will always live on a Nintendo console...Aping the Wiimote isn't going to change that.

It is just a matter of time for the more powerful Xbox 360 and PS3 to over take even replicate the Wii ... but that has not happened for almost two years now (Wii launched Xmas 2006). If Wii is a fad, then it might be a fad that lasts as long as this console cycle.

Copying the technology won't help.

Nintendo is thinking out of the box in every aspect of game developement from hardware to software.

Microsoft and Sony aren't.

So when they copy the tehcnology -- I imagine they'll just sit around, staring at it, clueless as to what to do next.

"Maybe we should use this for Halo 4?"

"Maybe we should use this for our 100th zombie FPS?"

It's just the same old stuff over and over.

Personally, I think the problem is that Xbox and Sony are victims of their own hype. They are so obsessed with being "hardcore" and "badass" that they have conceptually limited themselves to games that are "hardcore" and "badass"

Like at the crazy, kooky and silly games on Nintendo!

You KNOW Microsoft comes up with similar games and then shoots them down saying, "We can't do that! It's not hardcore! Let's just do another FPS again. And then again. And let's do it one more time."

They can ape the tech, but they can't ape the mindset.

Kind of like how Microsoft just can't "get" why people love Apple do much.

Of course companies are going to copy what sells and I hope the competition will lower prices.

The Wii has dominated the market because it's family friendly, easy to use, and the least expensive to buy.

I understand that businesses need to make money, but I shouldn't have to get another credit card just to play a few video games. Jeeze.

richjm, I totally agree that using a Wiimote like device for some graphically intense shooters would be amazing. I'm a fan of great graphics because I think they bring you into the game more and the graphically impressive games also tend to focus on events that bring you into the action like voice acting, great music, sound effects, effects in general, etc.

But much like crob mentioned, I'm not convinced it'll take off. Peripherals generally fall flat on consoles because it's one more thing to buy just to play a game. The exception to this rule is, of course, Guitar Hero and even Rock Band on some levels. However, the Wii HAS made it popular to consider purchasing peripherals (nunchuk, classic controller, Gamecube controller, gun shell, etc) so who knows if that may translate.

But each system has its stengths and weaknesses, so I'm definitely curious to see how this may play out. I do think it'd behoove Microsoft to just wait for the Xbox 720 to introduce a controller that is standard so that all people who purchased the system have access to the fun new control scheme.

Graphics only get you so far. The funny thing is, on consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360, so much time and effort has been spent on aping (whether it be realism via graphics or fun factor via avatar systems and motion sensitive remotes). Bottom line is, the game has to be good to earn deserved credit. Plenty of Wii games fail to make good use of the Wiimote, but those that do are well worth the money. Metroid may not stack up in the graphics department, but I've felt more "in the game" playing that on the Wii than I have playing other graphically loaded FPS on the competiting systems.

I could care less about what Microsoft or Sony has cooking, but I'm super curious to see what direction Nintendo heads post-Wii.

I think that's where Xbox and PS3 is missing the point and will fall flat if they really do try to put out a wii-remote of their own.

The Wii succeeds because the entire system is built around this motion-control device. The Wii-remote isn't an add on just for a specific game. It's used for every game.

Xbox and PS3 are going to try and capitalize on the Wii by offering (at an additional cost!) a peripheral to play only a specific game(s).

I don't see how that is going to work.

The PS3 especially is already so expensive a lot of people would balk at the idea of paying $80 for a PS3 game -- and then paying ANOTHER $40 to buy a peripheral to play it.

And then there's the cost/benefit. How many games would Sony or Microsoft even want to build specifically for their motion sensitive remotes? It seems that it would be more expensive to develope a one-off periperal specific game and then if it doesn't sell well there would be preassure to not put a lot of major titles behind it.

It wasn't a big deal for Nintendo to put Metroid Prime out as a wii-remote game because ALL their games are wii-remote games.

But Microsoft might hesistate. They might say, "Well the X-remote isn't selling that well so let's NOT risk Halo 4 on it." Encouraging people to think, "Why should I waste money on the X-remote? You can't even play HAlo 4 on it."

I think this might be one of those situations wherein you have to start off with motion-control as central to your system otherwise it becomes to expensive and difficult to add it on after the fact.

man why is every one talking about sony doing this its an xbox deal what did the ps3 have to do with it sure those two systems are more similar in game play but why you gotta group them together like that?

@DivinePerspective -- because Sony has already taken a stab at aping aspects of the Wii console (Home and the Six-Axis motion sensitive controller, which was a late change in the PS3 rollout plan (they had a different controller lined up until the Wiimote was leaked).

For products like the iPhone and Wii, it's not about the technology; it's about the design of the full experience. Does Microsoft have enough taste to do this right?

But people are going to eat up Sony's "new" controller: the DualShock 3. People were craving rumble in their controller and after a long story dealing with Sony and a lawsuit, they put rumble back in their controller.

So a new controller can definitely sell well and thrive on its own software. Like I said earlier, Guitar Hero is a huge example. The guitars only work for one game, and you pay a premium price to get the game and just one plastic guitar controller. Rock Band's also doing shockingly well and its price is $180. So people are willing to pay for new and fun experiences.

The Wii's 'talent' so far has been to bring in casual gamers who aren't into complicated controls. So if that is the case, it can be argued that Microsoft may actually be able to make this peripheral successful. They have the money to launch a campaign around it that's for sure. But, much like consoles, it'll only sell if it has games to go with it. So, if you see updates for Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and Gears of War that allow for the new 360mote, it may actually take off.

At this point, Microsoft's actually falling into third place in terms of console sales. The PS3 is steadily gaining and with Blu-Ray winning the movie format war, it'll only stand to sell more. And the Nintendo Wii is still sold out. So it leaves Microsoft little choice than to change direction and hope for the best.

well, while im a bit biased to the xbox 360, they're definately aping nintendo. but is it so bad? heck only recently, with few exceptions, has anyone managed to get spot on controls with the wiimote. unintentionally conforming the stereotype, im really interested in seeing how microsoft uses this to do what nintendo have done a so-so job of.
and seriously, id LOVE to play a ray-gun fps that isnt a rehash of old, plotless arcade game. and oblivion! oblivion would be awesome!...and a rip off of zelda in that respect...damn.

Does this remind any one else of the Zune?(iPod clone.) If microsoft would copy Apple, logic dictates they would copy Nintendo.

As for Sony, they dropped dual-shock in place of Six-Axis. Nintendo established rumble as THE SHIT with StarFox 64. Since then it has been in the background of everygame. A game without it feels dead, as with early PS3 titles.

Now sony is releasing a new rumble controller(Dual-Shock 3) and Microsoft is chasing the motion control system. Once they catch up on this, Nintendo will have a new innovation to embarrass them with.

this would be a great idea...had wii not come out yet, but i wouldnt be surprised to find that people buy it anyways

CalPerr, that's the general perception. Nintendo introduced shoulder buttons, analog control, trigger buttons, rumble, and motion control to the CONSOLE arena. Each innovation they introduce becomes standard. So I really can't wait for the next Nintendo system. That's not to say that others didn't introduce important controller innovations ie Sega's analog shoulder buttons and dual analog control from Sony.

Although it's obvious others are ripping Nintendo off, I prefer these ripper offers admit that Nintendo's innovations should be standard as opposed to turning their backs on it. The Wiimote still has quite a lot of potential and in the hands of more developers with different types of hardware, it can only be good for gamers like us.

Great news! this means that although I can't find a WII for sale, I'll be able to just get something similar from MSFT

onepark, that's a good point too. With the Wii being sold out and the Xbox 360 core being close in price to Wii, (and combined with a strong ad effort from Microsoft), this could steal some thunder from Nintendo.

But with Nintendo's Wii Fit advertising blitz coming ($40 Million advertising blitz), Microsoft may have to come out with more than a 360mote. Someone over in Microsoft R&D should be at Target right now buying a weight scale and altering it ASAP to keep on Nintendo's heels.

Someone mentioned the "Zune" and wondered if Microsoft has the visison necessary to make a motion sensitive controller as fun as it is on the Wii.

Short answer: no

Look at Vista for Pete's sake!

This company just doesn't seem to get it.

What I want to know is why the billion dollar companies always seem utterly incapable of innovation?

You'd think Microsoft would be the one constantly experimenting whereas Apple (with less money) would be the ones forced to play it safe. Yet the "loser" Apple pumps out one knockout product after another. They can't keep iPhones on the shelves. Check Amazon and I think you get a free Zune if you make a purchase over $5.00.

Same with Nintendo. Their Gamecube constantly came in 3rd -- yet when the new systems came out once again the "big boys" Sony and Microsoft put out products that had zero innovation and creativity while poor 3rd place Nintendo rocked the world with the Wii.

Why is that?

crob, I think it's because what made the billionaire companies billionaires is making product that clicked with a large audience. And, if it's making money as is, you don't fix what ain't broken. Windows is still the main OS for PCs.

But, the little guys, can't compete head on with the billionaire companies so to get noticed, you HAVE to innovate. If Apple had release OS X and it looked like Windows XP, they'd be long dead by now.

With Nintendo, they dropped out of first place with the N64, and continued to drop with the Gamecube. They tried conventional and struck out twice in a row, so you either change things up or go down.

But I agree, with billions of dollars, I can't imagine they can't afford forward thinking people to create innovative products.

Too bad everyone I know with an Xbox has had to ship it off for repairs. Remotes are kinda worthless when your console is a hunk of garbage.

That's technology for you, something comes out then other people steal the idea. That was what made the Wii original, but that might not be the case soon.

I agree, where is the originality these days..

i'm not interested unless the kit includes a nunchuck too .