Sony, Microsoft moving into Wii territory a good thing? |
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| BY Adam Sandberg Jun. 17th, 2008 | More on: |
I’m not really sure what my opinion on this is. Microsoft have previously said that they’re aware of Nintendo’s huge success with Wii, and that they probably need to rethink their strategy and bring some more fun to the Xbox 360.
So, what we get is.. Newton! SeattlePi has confirmed the previously rumored Wii remote clone for the Xbox 360 is in the making at Microsoft, and that it may be out this as soon as this year (the author even promises to give his Wii to charity if it doesn’t). Though, Newton is still only a codename for the product and the image above is of course not the actual product. (Thank god, my left and right hand would fight so much over space that it would become awkward.)
I definitely see a pattern here. We just got news that Microsoft might be introducing avatars to Xbox LIVE, which share a close resemblance to the Mii’s of Nintendo, and now they go the whole nine yards. Furthermore, Sony might be coming up with a breakaway controller as well. Are Microsoft and Sony making the right moves?
What I like about consoles is the diversity. I think you should be able to define what type of gamer you are, and based on that buy the console(s) that suits you. It’s wrong if it doesn’t matter which one you pick. It’s hard enough already to choose between Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 and it doesn’t get any easier if they both go on a Wii mimic-rampage. Don’t get me wrong, competition is a good thing, and if a company is forced to make changes to remain in the game, it’s fine. But changes don’t necessarily mean plagiarism.
I hope that if Newton is real, it will be applied to a minority of games. I think Microsoft would benefit from keeping it away from AAA titles and instead use it for a new target group, like families and kids (and that’s probably the case).
I guess my opinion is to an extent affected by the picture above and Microsoft will most likely use the motion sensor differently than the Wii remote does. The topic still remains though, is it good or bad that the consoles (especially Xbox 360 and PS3) tend to erase the differences between them? I really hope that Sony’s break away controller and the Newton give us something we don’t expect. In which case, we have Nintendo to thank for the newborn creativity.
June 17th, 2008
at 4:59 pm
Just like I said when this was rumored about. It just isn’t going to work, developers will jump on with crap games and then it will fade into obscurity.
June 17th, 2008
at 5:04 pm
Got to agree here. The motion thing, if true, I can’t see becoming a huge success. Avatars on the other hand, if implemented well, could be quite a bit of fun to mess around with. Especially in Arcade titles - it’d be pretty cool to play as yourself in games like Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball for example. But if they start charging for Avatar haircuts and jeans then they can count on being greeted with a collective “BOOOO!”
June 17th, 2008
at 5:10 pm
It’s a sign on panic. They want the casual crowd to buy their systems, but it will not work out that way. If game developers create quality content that is marketed well, success will come. The gimmicks will fail if developers choose to flood the market will mini games to go along with motion controls.
June 17th, 2008
at 8:41 pm
Competition is good as long as it drives the competitor to improve. If it simply drives them to copy, it doesn’t do the consumer justice. Hopefully this controller will be MS’ attempt to improve on what the Wii is doing, rather than simply cash in on it.
June 17th, 2008
at 9:30 pm
From a gamer’s point of view I don’t like it ‘cos I like the consoles to be different - not copying each other. But from a business view it might make sense. However, I agree with everyone else. I don’t think this will work simply because the casual audience Microsoft will target with this new controller are held by the Wii I reckon. The reputation of Nintendo, the price and the success so far will be big factors in the minds of many consumers.
June 17th, 2008
at 10:19 pm
“From a gamer’s point of view I don’t like it ‘cos I like the consoles to be different”
keep in mind, you say “gamer” but what you really mean is “gamer with multiple consoles”.
If a person only has ONE console, they might wish that it had all the great features of the other two.
Just sayin. :)
June 17th, 2008
at 11:41 pm
Some competition for Nintendo will be good.
Otherwise they may sit on their laurels when it comes to making the controls for Wii’s successor.
June 18th, 2008
at 12:13 am
it will suck ass major, shitbox and gaystation cant even get close to where the Wii is and now they wana jump on the bandwagon, losers….. get ya own ideas!
June 18th, 2008
at 2:52 pm
Wow, go Nathan. Way to play fanboy! Anyway, it may work or just enough to be justified. Most of the “gimmick” talk has all been said about the Wii for a while now. What matters is software. Nintendo fans will always be Nintendo fans (yes I’m looking at you Nathan) becuase their first-party titles absolutely rule. If, and that’s a big IF, someone can come up with something good for Microsoft’s motion controller, then it may be worth buying. I seriously doubt it, but we’ll see.