150°

Microsoft Swings at Wii With Videocam

The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft Corp. is developing a new videocamera for the Xbox 360 console that will allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies, people familiar with the matter have said,this an effort to attract the casual players who have fueled Nintendo Co.'s recent success.

"The Microsoft device is a twist on Nintendo's blockbuster Wii game console, which allows users to swing a tennis racket or other equipment in games by holding a plastic wand in their hands.

Unlike the Wii, the Microsoft camera won't require users to hold any hardware to control on-screen action, the people familiar with the matter said. The camera would sit near the television and capture when players move their hands, legs or head."

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online.wsj.com
DirtyRat5481d ago

My kids will love this, but I think I'll stick with my lovely "old school" controller thank you very much.

edhe5481d ago

Thankfully this method allows that. It doesn't replace the old-school method like the wii does. Just adds a new way.

talltony5481d ago

works, but Im skeptical. I mean I hope it really does what its meant to without any bs.

FamilyGuy5481d ago

From the article descriptionIt sounds like the original Playstation Eye

S1nnerman5481d ago

I think you might be right there!! PS Eye for the MS ... I always felt the PS Eye was underrated - I loved it and the games that came with it

nveenio5481d ago

Yeah, that sounds nothing like competition for Nintendo, but for Sony instead. I think that Sony will be showing off some cool new PS Eye stuff at E3 (like Eye Pet?) and Microsoft sees some potential there.

DirtyRat5481d ago

You it does indeed sound like the PS eye.

Game13a13y5481d ago

i thought motion sensing was needed, just like HDMI output and Blu-ray, oh well...

edhe5481d ago

'was needed'

Nice.

However i'm guessing you don't think that companies should evolve their products?

Fact of the matter is that it has more implentations than 360Sports. You can use the dash via gestures etc. There's alot more than can be done with basic hand & head tracking than the wii/ps3 systems could manage.

Game13a13y5481d ago

huh... last time i checked, copying something others have done already wasn't exactly "evolve."

tordavis5481d ago

Trophies...Sixxaxis...Avatars. ..all inspired by features in other consoles.

FlameBaitGod5481d ago

good to see u around here torance

5481d ago
Game13a13y5481d ago (Edited 5481d ago )

.... and Avatar is a rip-off of Mii....at least Sony took it to the next level and made Home oh well, can't blame MS, they can't compete with the top dog (PS3) so now they are trying to take a slice of the pie with the casuals. ( so now the Wii is not in a different market, now is it?)

5481d ago
Game13a13y5481d ago

ya, but still my props goes to Nintendo for making it popular before Sony and MS did.

Tempist5481d ago

Yeah they were, but this camera now is a bit more than late to the game given that the 360 had a year on everyone else in the game.

If we looked at this like a marathon, the 360 just basically ran infront of all the other racers for about 12 minutes before they even got to the starting line, and then didn't have a plan for the next 106 following minutes of the race.

So in the end, if you're going to get out there first to be cutting edge, make sure you keep that edge sharpened with orginality instead of looking to others.

And as the PSeye didn't make much of a splah, why do they think a 360mo-cam will do the same.

HighDefinition5481d ago

PorcelainGod kinda just ended that!

tordavis5481d ago

I can answer that!

Microsoft will take the motion controls to the next gen. I've used the 3DV, it's fast and very accurate. If they can apply this to hardcore and casual games it will give them the edge. The problem with the Wii is that there aren't enough hardcore games with motion controls. If Microsoft or Sony wants to capture the casual market like Nintendo has, improved motion controls are the way.

@porcelaingod

Why don't you just post that Sony invented video games?

HighDefinition5481d ago

"Fact of the matter is that it has more implentations than 360Sports. You can use the dash via gestures etc. There's alot more than can be done with basic hand & head tracking than the wii/ps3 systems could manage."

You obviously know NOTHING about the PSeye, there is a update being made that allows you to control the PS3 XMB w/ your hands and VOICE commands w/ the PSeye (kinda like Minority Report)

and this where you can draw things on paper recorded by the PSeye and then make them come to life on screen.

http://winfuture.de/videos/...

Do a little research before you start talking about something you don`t know about. That`s not a diss, I`m serious.

5481d ago
JokesOnYou5481d ago (Edited 5481d ago )

"Microsoft copied Sony's Skill Points and renamed them 'Acheivements'"

-lmfao, you think Sony invented that, lol
(1980)
Missile Command:
"At the conclusion of a level, the player receives bonus points for any remaining cities or unused missiles. Between levels missile batteries are rebuilt and replenished; destroyed cities are not rebuilt, but at set point levels (usually 10 or 12K) a bonus city is awarded."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

-And heres a list with hundreds of games that had all kinds of skill points/point systems/gamerpoints/rewards/tr ophies etc that all attributed to= A TOTAL SCORE THAT REPRESENTS YOUR SKILL IN EACH GAME:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

-pffft Spyro invented "Skill Points" lol, Pa-pa-please just stop it, its like saying because in Madden you had a Trophy Room and earned trophies for different set accomplishments, sony somehow copied EA with their Trophy system. lol you sound so foolish and its funny to see all these blind sony folks agree with your comments. We all know micro was the first to implement carrying all your gaming points across all games thereby giving each individual gamer a Gamertag that displays points earned in ALL games...which became very popular, and thus SONY COPIED the idea from micro, no BS, no spin, but twist it however you want you're only fooling yourself.....n4g is like an alternate reality, I guess gaming just started with ps2. yeah go ahead hit disagree but I'd sure like to hear a logical explanation. lmfao=

JOY

Lifendz5474d ago

Maybe so, but even having a console that does more than just play games is a functionality that's inspired by Sony. Step your game up. My sword is sheathed but I'm about to slice you up.

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 5474d ago
dj555555555481d ago (Edited 5481d ago )

I have to say I am not a 360 fan in anyway but this could be interesting only if they can implement it into game you want to play for prolonged length of time, I have played the wii alot but found as soon as its just on your own and want to play a game the wii has nothing to offer me. Lets hope that microsoft wont just jump on the faddy band waggon and are able create a game that has lasting appeal.

Show all comments (35)
160°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Einhander19723h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing692h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander19722h ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto2h ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander19721h ago(Edited 1h ago)

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto1h ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

Einhander197228m ago

"Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about."

I understand that, I'm making commentary on the fact that xbox is moving to digital only (and that the vast majority of current gen xbox owners do not have a disc based option) and not towards preservation as they claim.

And obviously people can play games on the original hardware for as long as that lasts, I have hundreds of games from "retro" consoles, I own nearly 200 PS3 discs alone.

Is there some reason, you feel the need to make personal insults in every comment, I reply to what you say without insulting you. But you know whatever, it says more about you than me...

And for the record "you" was being used colloquially I wasn't speaking you directly.

darthv721h ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

Asplundh16m ago

Difference being the 360 games will still be sold on series consoles, while the PS5 only preserved a selection of Ps3 games for premium subs. If the Xbox 360 store closes the games will still be available, if the Ps3 store closes then those games are gone.

How does this contradict what they said about game preservation?

Einhander197210m ago

As far as what I have read that is not accurate, except for a small selection of games that are available through BC.

And even when the PS3 and Vita stores were going to be shut down they still were still going to be available to download if you purchased them already.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 10m ago
1Victor3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix763h ago(Edited 3h ago)

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand1252h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC2h ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander19721h ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

VersusDMC1h ago

@Ein

Why are you repeating what i said?

You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.

You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.

110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
Vader823d ago

No 7 days to die is criminal