Monday, February 13th 2012

Next-Gen. Xbox Controller Similar to WiiU's

An article in the latest issue of print magazine Xbox World claims that the controller of next-generation Xbox console will be similar to that of Nintendo's WiiU, in that it will feature a high-resolution touchscreen as an added layer of interaction. The article states that the new console "will be a matt-black media hub with a mission to bring games to life in your living room with augmented reality, directional sound, and a four-player, finger-tracking Kinect."

The article goes on to describe the controller as having "an HD screen surrounded by the traditional 360 buttons and sticks." It continues, "That touchcreen will be second only to Kinect in how you operate your console, it could be a remote control when you're watching TV, a browser when you're on the internet, extra buttons and information when you're playing a game or a portable display when you want to take your game with you."

Perhaps the most important revelation is that the article describes Microsoft's focus with its next-gen high-end console is more towards evolving functionality, and changing the way people play video-games (more functional input), and not particularly a bleeding-edge CPU or GPU. The article says, "Microsoft are playing it safe with the CPU and GPU but running wild with the functions that will change how you play, but it won't be cheap." And by that, the article claims the next-gen high-end console could cost as high as £399 (US $630).
Source: CVG
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22 Comments on Next-Gen. Xbox Controller Similar to WiiU's

#1
THE_EGG
wow this controller will be so massive.
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#3
ZoneDymo
Nice originality you got going on there Microsoft....
Here's hoping that Sony will just go brute force and give use next level graphics with a traditional controller.
Posted on Reply
#4
lucifersama
"won't be cheap"
is that the understatement of this a tad early decade or what?

Kid: "mom, i want a new controller for my xbox"
Mother: "honey, its either that or a mobile or a notebook"
Kid: "but moaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmm"
Mother [under stress] /smack kid: "CHOSE ONE I SAID, DAMMIT, WE DIDNT PAY THAT MUCH FOR A CONTROLLER BACK IN MY DAYS, WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING"
Mother on her knees: "Oh god, why do they charge us so much?! WHY?! we can't make enough money, we already have a TV, why did they include a screen on the controller too"
Later that day, Mother commits suicide.
Posted on Reply
#5
NC37
ZoneDymoNice originality you got going on there Microsoft....
Here's hoping that Sony will just go brute force and give use next level graphics with a traditional controller.
So M$ joins Nintendo in stagnation. This means the other rumor is likely true. M$ will be using a 6670 GPU for the next Xbox.

Yeah I'm back on the Sony team again if this keeps up. I want innovation, not stagnation! No more cheap hardware with bizarre controllers. Please Sony, don't join in on this. Give us brute force and standard controls!
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#6
xenocide
Who honestly wants this kind of ****...
Posted on Reply
#7
1Kurgan1
The Knife in your Back
What will be great is when you need to buy a 2nd or 3rd controller for when you have company over... With Digital Distribution booming on PC and the rumors of the next Xbox not allowing used games, I think PC is going to become real popular when the next gen of consoles lands.
Posted on Reply
#8
xenocide
All Sony has to do is release a gaming system that isn't some gimmick-ridden piece of crap and they would probably do pretty well. I think the Wii was a freak occurance, and severely doubt the Wii U will sell even half as well. If Microsoft were smart they'd just settle with Kinect, make a system the equivalent of a Mid-Range PC these days (Quad-Core @ ~3.2GHz, HD6800ish GPU, 80-100GB HDD at launch, and a butt load of RAM) and work with developers to have the best Games in the market. I don't know anyone that thinks the Wii U--even in concept--is a great idea.
Posted on Reply
#9
ZoneDymo
xenocideAll Sony has to do is release a gaming system that isn't some gimmick-ridden piece of crap and they would probably do pretty well. I think the Wii was a freak occurance, and severely doubt the Wii U will sell even half as well. If Microsoft were smart they'd just settle with Kinect, make a system the equivalent of a Mid-Range PC these days (Quad-Core @ ~3.2GHz, HD6800ish GPU, 80-100GB HDD at launch, and a butt load of RAM) and work with developers to have the best Games in the market. I don't know anyone that thinks the Wii U--even in concept--is a great idea.
Well let me be the first then that you know what does thing the Wii U is a great idea.
Is it going to sell as well as the Wii? Probably not but its going to win back a lot of lost Nintendo hearts.
It can do decent graphics when its out, more innovation continuing from the Wii.
I see a lot of options with the screen in the controller and because it has power under the hood probably more 3rd party games will make it to the Wii U.
Also, a lot of game devs expressed a lot of interested in the Wii U.

Me only problem is, these guys are Nintendo so they can do this and do this well.
MS just tries to steal from that delicious Nintendo cake and well Kinect is horrible so I do not have much hope this copy job will go down well.
Its also as far as I know not something the Xbox crowd is waiting for.
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#10
kgreene
One thing I will have to say about the wii though. It did not have near as many probelms as the xbox360 or ps3 had.
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#11
insane 360
the problem is, sony is going the same way, with more motion controls and adding subscriptions...i don't see them as going with the old method at all...

thats why i'm just keeping my pc up to date and using it to do all things
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#12
Delta6326
Am I the only one that hates motion stuff and can't stand touch screens. I want a normal controller, I have yet to buy any product with a touchscreen.
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#13
KainXS
Yeah i hate it too, microsoft can steal nintendos ideas all they wantbut they will never implement them as well since its not their idea in the fist place

Give us good games and we will be happy dammit, take us back to the good ol days ms, we dont need features only 10% of people will use just so you can say it does this, dont become sony
Posted on Reply
#14
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
okay innovation is nice, yes

but really all this shit with these controllers(xbox and wiiU) is just to much. I want a normal damn controller to play my games not this $100 tablet as a controller.

Well good thing i only want next gen consoles to release so that PC games won't be held back so much.
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#15
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
gigantic, heavy, fragile, expensive, battery consuming screens on controllers.


what can go wrong? idiots.
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#16
Delta6326
Musselsgigantic, heavy, fragile, expensive, battery consuming screens on controllers.


what can go wrong? idiots.
but that's what these company's want so you break it and go out and buy another won! Just the same as all of these snow shovels coming in with flimsy plastic, so you break it and buy a new one.
Posted on Reply
#17
xenocide
ZoneDymoWell let me be the first then that you know what does thing the Wii U is a great idea.
Is it going to sell as well as the Wii? Probably not but its going to win back a lot of lost Nintendo hearts.
It can do decent graphics when its out, more innovation continuing from the Wii.
I see a lot of options with the screen in the controller and because it has power under the hood probably more 3rd party games will make it to the Wii U.
Also, a lot of game devs expressed a lot of interested in the Wii U.
What exactly does this innovation get us? Does it enhance the gameplay at all? Not from my perspective. The only demo of the Wii U, they had it setup with a Zelda tech demo and the UI elements were on the tablet. Why the hell would I want to look down--away from the actual screen where dangerous gameplay elements are happening--to keep track of how much health I have. I am willing to bet that little screen will be an options menu and a map for 95% of games, for the first year or two the system is out.

Also, the Wii U will have about as much power as current gen consoles, when you factor in the taxing activity of streaming information to that dumb controller and the TV screen simultaneously. Speaking of that dumb controller, everyone is aware it will cost a fortune. Are you prepared to pay $300-400 for a console that is basically an Xbox 360 with a better GPU and no hard drive, then $100 per controller and $60 per game? I'm not exactly jumping at the opportunity...
Posted on Reply
#18
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
yeah next gen will fail. Atleast for microsoft and nintendos sake with these stupid tablet controllers
Posted on Reply
#19
DannibusX
If implimented well and allows for TV's and home theater equipment to be used with the controller I don't necessarily see it as a bad option, but it should remain an option and not be the standard for the Xbox.
Posted on Reply
#20
Super XP
Now this is interesting. And we can all thank Sega for pushing innovation with it's Dreamcast Controller and style of graphic display memory sticks which you insert in the controller. They've steered MS into designing the 720 controller IMO.

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#21
DannibusX
Microsoft's controllers have, essentially, always been Dreamcast controllers.
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#22
Mega-Japan
I like Microsoft, but I don't like Xbox (sold mine).
I have a PS3 (gift), but I REALLY dislike Sony.
I LOVE Zelda, Metroid, and Fire Emblem. Because of this, I will buy every console Nintendo throws at me. They could put out a brick, call it their next-gen console, and chances are, I will buy it.
Because of this, I might be considered a Nintendo "fanboy," and it's also the reason I believe Nintendo will never die. The likes of Zelda and Mario will keep it alive no matter what, while Sony or Microsoft can vanish from the console market while most people wouldn't give 2 cents about it. Because their most sold games are the likes of Call of Duty, which Activision can push to PCs and be good to go. Halo alone won't keep Microsoft in the part, neither will God of War or Uncharted for Sony. IMO, they survive because the strong cash behind Sony and Microsoft, while Nintendo got nothing but games to think about. No TV's, no operating systems, no cellphones, just gaming consoles.

/opinion
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