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| APRIL 8, 2008 |
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Microsoft's controller isn't just a response to "Wii Sports"; it's slightly more ambitious. "They
want the usual assortment of 'Halo'/ 'Gears'/ 'Forza'/ whatever, just in waggle form," our
source told us. Such idea-generation has not gone smoothly. "The whole thing is a colossal
clusterf---," the source said. "[Microsoft] marketing just want it so they can match the Wii point
for point. The biggest parts of their marketing materials outline how easy it would be for third
parties to port their Wii games to the 360."
In addition to designing the interface for the controller, Rare has also fleshed out Microsoft's
take on Nintendo's Mii avatar concept, the source said. Microsoft's Miis are designed to be
associated with any game that incorporates the controller and create a standard "look" for the
games. The avatars aren't tied to a controller when in use, as Xbox Live profiles currently are.
The avatars are more detailed than what Nintendo has allowed (i.e. they have limbs), the
source said, but pushing the avatars into every controller title means they "dictate the entire
look and feel of every game they're in, so they have to be generic as all hell."
Rare's difficulty in hitting development milestones has produced problems, however.
"Microsoft is trying to decide how to get something out by the end of the year," said MTV News'
source.
While MTV News' source presented full details of the project, several developers, speaking
on background, could only confirm rumors that a planned motion-controlled Xbox 360
controller is in the works. If the project is more than a prototype initiative, it's been kept quiet
from some major developers.
Microsoft has previously maintained a public message that motion controllers are a
compelling idea, but avoided saying they would be moving into the space themselves.
"There's room for innovation here, but moving that controller around — it's something that's
not mainstream for most games," Microsoft chief Bill Gates told MTV News in May 2006.
"People aren't that good at totally standing still. Even pilots actually sit in a chair when they do
their flying. So there's a lot to be learned about these controllers."
Last year, former Xbox executive Peter Moore was more upbeat about the prospects, but
equally coy, in a February 2007 interview with GameInformer.com. "Since the day I saw Iwata-
san [Nintendo president Satoru Iwata] pull the [Wii remote] controller out from under his
podium a few years ago at [the Tokyo Game Show], I've always realized that was the right
thing for Nintendo to have to do for what they needed to do to be successful in this next
generation," Moore said. "And it was always going to be a challenge for us. So, we have
plans. This does not come as a surprise."
MTV News' source maintained that development kits for Microsoft's new controller have been
distributed to certain developers. If the project comes to fruition, and when Microsoft will
actually reveal its plans, remain to be seen.