Second Story Gamer

The MTV Gaming Blog has just been given exclusive information by an “inside source” that Microsoft has been developing an answer to the Wiimote and that it is scheduled to release before the end of this year. The insider goes on to say that Microsoft assigned Rare to the job and that they have been working on it since last August. The main difference s between the Wiimote and the Xbox 360 version of the controller are that the Xbox 360 version doesn’t have a separate controller in the other hand (the Nunchuck) and that the Xbox version uses an analog stick instead of a D-Pad.And rest assured, the 360 will not become mini-game haven like the Wii according to this insider. The source says that Microsoft plans not to just use this peripheral for casual games like Wii Sports, but that “they want the usual assortment of ‘Halo’/ ‘Gears’/ ‘Forza’/ whatever, just in waggle form”. I don’t know how they are going to manage those types of games with just this controller but we will see.

So is this the answer Wii fans have been dreaming of? A high power console that can churn out HD graphics but still use the fun intuitive motion sensing control screen? Not according to this source. He says, “The biggest parts of their marketing materials outline how easy it would be for third parties to port their Wii games to the 360.” Let me get this straight. The Wii will be the console they are developing the game for, and that game will be ported to the 360? So we will get slightly higher res Wii ports? Fantastic. Hopefully he only means the old games that Wii developers have made and that all new motion sensing games will be developed with the Xbox as the lead platform.

I don’t know if I agree with this strategy by Microsoft. Sure, the only console I have is an Xbox 360 and I would love to play with motion controls. And this seems like one more step towards a one-console future, which I’m sure anyone who likes to save money would love. My problem with it is that it seems like Microsoft is just ripping off Nintendo’s idea because Nintendo has suddenly become the top dog.  And Nintendo fanboys may just complain themselves to death.

And I’m not even sure if it would help very much. I think people have always associated the motion controlling interface with the Wii and may disregard the Xbox 360’s version totally. But I’m sure it’s nothing some heavy marketing could fix. Hopefully they market this better than they market the fact that you can download movies on your console. My friend, a softcore gamer, found out about that useful feature just a few weeks ago. Then again, he isn’t the smartest kid on the planet.

Now, we must all wait till the announcement arrives and the internet explodes for a day or two, then life moves on, or they’ll be no announcement, the internet lives on, and life will move on.

[via Kotaku]