MS Patent on Motion-Sensing Game Control

[Queasy]

TXB

No point in copying and pasting since the best thing to do is click through to see the pics.

Looks interesting. This is less of a direct copy of the Wii than the previous rumors and definitely more unique. We still have at least another year and a half to two years of speculation to go before MS starts talking about the next Xbox (assuming they follow the 5 year console life-cycle).

edit: They also show off a possible PS3 controller?

 

[ed21x]

i don't see the IR pointer! what i would give to have IR pointer controls on an xbox360 FPS :|

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: ed21x
i don't see the IR pointer! what i would give to have IR pointer controls on an xbox360 FPS :|

Maybe its the reverse, where the IR will be connected (and powered) directly to the system, with you having control of the points (like the one guy where he turned the Wii-mote and a projector into a cheap digital whiteboard/multi-touch setup). You wouldn't need the electronics for the IR pointer in the controller, which would be beneficial for battery life and also probably ergonomics/functionality (more compact size). This would also allow you to make more peripherals cheaply, and you could do more things (like the guy's glasses which made enabled a psuedo 3-D effect). You could then separate the basic controller stuff from the motion sensing parts.

 

[bullbert]

Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: bullbert
Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

can you troll elsewhere? kthnx

 

[randay]

this is a bad idea.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: bullbert
Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

So do you think innovation of the Wii controller should only be allowed by Nintendo?

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: randay
this is a bad idea.

Huh? How so?

No offense, but getting worked up about Microsoft "ripping" Nintendo off is just stupid. Its not like Nintendo was the first company to develop this, and if done right, the Microsoft version could actually be good evolution of the basic idea (which is pretty much all that Nintendo has done is taken the basic idea, and then implement it in their games). There is a lot of room for improvement.

Oh, and I'm not saying you are saying that about Microsoft, randay, just speaking in general. I get sick of hearing stupid people act like Nintendo is the only innovator, when they're taking their ideas from other places, they're just sometimes the first to apply it to gaming. Much like the evolution of force feedback, motion sensing and use of accelerometers will be refined to be more effective. I would prefer Microsoft start out with something on the 360 rather than try to go whole hog with their next console without any real prior development, as this will hopefully mean an improved version for their next system.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: bullbert
Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

:roll:

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: randay
this is a bad idea.

Huh? How so?

I think if anything, the Wii's controller has shown us that innovative control schemes do not make good games. its up to the developer to make a good game, super awesome controller or not. sure its cool and can open a lot of doors for new types of gaming but it can also be a negative if its too much of a change and developers cant adapt well. Personally I think console makers should stick with regular controllers and all the freaky weird controllers should be optional, bundled with games that will use them the best like how guitar hero has a guitar controller, or wii fit has that board. basically, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

[bullbert]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: bullbert
Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

So do you think innovation of the Wii controller should only be allowed by Nintendo?

No, but I don't the 6th company to think of it should be entitled to the patent of an old old old idea.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: bullbert

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: bullbert
Just like Microsoft, to claim credit for what others have developed 10+ years prior.

So do you think innovation of the Wii controller should only be allowed by Nintendo?

No, but I don't the 6th company to think of it should be entitled to the patent of an old old old idea.

Really? So have you ever seen a controller designed exactly the way the proposed 360 controller is patented? What about the proposed PS3 controller patent in the same link? Even the Wiimote borrows ideas from previous efforts but is still patented.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: randay
this is a bad idea.

Huh? How so?

I think if anything, the Wii's controller has shown us that innovative control schemes do not make good games. its up to the developer to make a good game, super awesome controller or not. sure its cool and can open a lot of doors for new types of gaming but it can also be a negative if its too much of a change and developers cant adapt well. Personally I think console makers should stick with regular controllers and all the freaky weird controllers should be optional, bundled with games that will use them the best like how guitar hero has a guitar controller, or wii fit has that board. basically, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I agree with you to a certain extent, however I think that a better control setup can be made, something that gives the precision of the mouse (or even better, as full 3-D tracking would be even better), but with the simplicity and ergonomics of a typical controller. First person shooters especially could benefit from it, as it'd add a new level of immersion. Same with the one guy who came up with the head tracking system using two sensors on a pair of glasses. While I think the Wiimote has been used somewhat as a gimmick, I think the technology of it is here to stay. It will just take some time for developers to get used to it and start designing games with it in mind. I don't think, or want it to completely get rid of regular controllers, but it certainly has its place. There's a ton of very good developers who haven't even begun to scratch the surface of utilizing stuff like this. If they integrated the IR sensors into the system, then it wouldn't take much to throw in some cheap extras that could take advantage of it (similar to how they throw in the Live headsets).

I think there's room for improvement on regular controllers as well. I'm personally bothered that Sony did not really change much of anything on the controller for the PS3. I know there was the huge backlash about the original controller concept, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have improved the thing at all. It could benefit from some small changes for ergonomics. Same with the 360. The front shoulder buttons are not in great positions. The Wiimote is an ergonomic nightmare in my opinion, and that alone should warrant someone coming up with a better controller that uses the same technology. I'm also a little baffled as to why companies are so afraid to put buttons on the bottom of controllers. I don't know about most people, but moving a couple of buttons back there would be a benefit. They don't necessarily need to move any, just add a couple there and then let people configure the buttons how they want them. This last part is something that bugs me, in that there's too many games that give little to no adjustment of the controls.

 

[indamixx99]

Now, if only they could re-release the Power Glove... 😀