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Microsoft Praises Revolution Controller
JoaoPinheiro writes "In an unexpected change from the big three companies slagging each other off, Microsoft's Peter Moore gives kudos to Nintendo's new controller! Xbox VP Peter Moore has said he wanted 'to give kudos [to] Nintendo for its attempt at innovation with the new controller.' Whether the word attempt is meant to hint at some slight sarcasm is debatable, though the overall message was positive. Moore commented the new device would 'bring people in that, as Iwata-san said, are either lapsed gamers or gamers that are intimidated by the complexity of the controller.' He referenced Microsoft's E3 speech, where it was said the company wanted a billion consumers touched by the gaming industry next generation. 'That was an industry message. Certainly, we can see Nintendo rallying to that cry and reiterating what Robbie said on May 16th; I heard the same words come from Iwata-san of Nintendo yesterday.'"
just another way of saying nintendo is niche now. and not really a competitor.
That was an industry message. Certainly, we can see Nintendo rallying to that cry
Gee, almost sounds like Microsoft is taking credit for motivating Nintendo to innovate. No wait a second, it sounds EXACTLY like MS taking credit.
i'd like to see them follow up with an adaptor for the Revolution remote. then we can see some nintendo inovation spill over to Sony and Microsoft. .... probably won't happen though :)
Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Only Microsoft can innovate. Other people attempt to innovate! :)
"..good thing Nintendo is taking the risk, because we get to see if their plan will work out. And if it does, we'll bury them with our own MS version!" (insert cackle here)
It's nice to see that Microsoft admires the courage behind the decision to change the controller interface. Of course, they're probably hoping that the Revolution falls flat on its face so that it really will only be a two horse console race.
Wouldn't be too surprised to see an imitation controller from Microsoft down the road if the Revolution reviews are good. Embrace and extend, right?
Rumour has it that Nintendo promptly extended kudos back to Microsoft for their attempt at a console.
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
Frankie of Bungie.net fame praised the controller in his Weekly Update last week, which covered his visit to the Tokyo Game Show.
"Oh. And I know what the Revolution controller is. You will too soon enough. I am not going to enrage our friends at Nintendo by revealing that here. But it is gonna be a big talking point." Again, this is from Frankie, of Bungie, owned by Microsoft, who admits earlier in the story that he'll be pushing the MS stuff.
Offtopic: For all the defense of Microsoft that Slashdot does whenever someone attacks them without reason (e.g., here), we sure do a lot of attacking them without reason....
http://research.microsoft.com/~awilson/wand/defaul t.htm
The potential's there, Nintendo's just a step ahead. Or fifty...
"This is considered plagiarism."
They couldn't all out bash Nintendo and call the controller stupid because that would show they have a weakness and Nintendo might actually have something here. They also couldn't say it was an awesome innovation for the same reason.
MS is playing their cards right and took the middle road... They weren't obvious about being condenscending at all, since you can read into the "attempt" word in any way you like.
Truth is MS responded, and that Nintendo does have something here or else MS would have just completely ignored the controller.
Im sure Nintendo wont give Microsoft Kudos for buying Rare
//WR
"Moore commented the new device would 'bring people in that, as Iwata-san said, are either lapsed gamers or gamers that are intimidated by the complexity of the controller."
Wow, they make it seem like not gaming is an addiction or something... is a lapsed gamer like the opposite of a lapsed alcoholic?
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
Microsoft didn't praise the controller. One guy who happens to work at Microsoft praised the controller.
One guy acting as Microsoft's representative "praised" the controller. It's not stupid to suggest "Microsoft" praised the controller. Peter Moore is Microsoft in this context. He is the VP in charge of Xbox marketing, and he was speaking on company time.
Now, I put "praised" in quotes because it's obvious that this was pretty backhanded (it's not "debateable", as Zonk said it was, it's completely obvious what he meant). This is not the kind of praise I'd want if somebody said something similar about me. (As in, "that's a nice attempt at building a bookshelf" or "that's a nice attempt at a good haircut.") But the distinction you're trying to make between "one guy" and the company of Microsoft is meaningless.
I think whether the compliment was backhanded or not is a valid question.
When I stopped by the gas station today, I made an attempt to win the Lottery by purchasing a ticket. Whether I won or not won't be decided until after the drawing.
Nintendo has made an attempt at innovation with their controller. Until it is backed up with new, original, fun games that wouldn't be possible without it, their innovation is still an attempt. I am an openly rabid Nintendo fanboy, and I still think they have a rather large opportunity for this new controller to turn into nothing more than a gimmick.
I read it as Microsoft saying "Wow, this could be a great idea. We'll be watching."
Note: Before someone says "innovation" was already decided by the act of introducing the controller, this sort of thing has been done before. It just hasn't been done well. The innovation will be what separates it from the Power Glove and U-Force, much like the Wavebird did with wireless controllers.
Dear Nintendo,
We like where your new controller design is headed. Our Xbox controller could never achieve such originality.
Regards,
Microsoft
Nintendo's reply:
Dear Microsoft,
We are great fans of your Xbox too. We hope the 360 does just as well.
Sincerely,
Nintendo
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
Now, I put "praised" in quotes because it's obvious that this was pretty backhanded (it's not "debateable", as Zonk said it was, it's completely obvious what he meant).
I disagree that it is obvious. It may have been straightforward praise, it may have been backhanded praise, and it may have been praised couched in words that would prevent his bosses from getting angry at him. And hence, since there are people who disbelieve that it is obvious, it is debatable, QED.
MS will probably just copy it
Nintendo has invested a lot of money in Immersion, the holder of patents on key technologies incorporated into the Revolution remote. What makes you think Immersion is going to want to grant an affordable license under these patents to Microsoft?
see: PS1 dpad of pain
The separated prongs of the PlayStation D-pad are part of a workaround for Nintendo's patents. Sure, rolling from direction to direction on the PlayStation D-pad is worse than say the N64 D-pad if you use the tip of your thumb, but I tend to use the flat part of my thumb. I like the PlayStation D-pad a lot better than the GameCube D-pad, which is why I usually play WarioWare, Game Boy Player, and other GameCube digital games with a Dual Shock 2 controller connected through an adapter.
screwed up dual-shock analogue stick positioning
If you're going to do something with tank style control such as Battlezone or Katamari Damacy, you want symmetry. True, the PS2 analog sticks could have been placed closer to the edge of the controller, but once you get into the groove of controlling the lump, it doesn't feel so bad.
That's true, but they wouldn't have to license the tech if they didn't copy it too closely (even if they did, look at the size of their legal fund).
Immersion has beaten Microsoft before at the settlement table in regard to rumble patents.
No I think you have it wrong...
Dear Nintendo,
We like where your new controller design is headed, and we would like to let you know that there is a boat load of money that is awaiting you when you sell us your mini CD rights and the rights to this new innovation so that we can add it to our already prosperous X-Box system.
Regards,
Bill Gates
CEO, Microsoft
Where's that cap to the Decanter of Endless water???
See the problem with your idea is that everyone has differing tastes, so one person's nintendogs is another person's pile'o'shit.
and besides, not everyone who is a hardcore gamers would make a great game designer. in fact, I believe the more non-gamers that get into the biz the better, as it will help certain types of games improve exponentially.
This is the first I have heard of any patents on the revolution controller concept (it seems to me to be functionally identical to a gyroscopic mouse with one extra degree of freedom).
Patent applications aren't published until 18 months after application. Perhaps the processes going on inside the Revolution controller are just patent pending, but the patents are likely to be granted during the next console's lifetime so that other console makers can't standardize on the technology.
The nintendo d-pad hasn't changed since the Famicom, originally released in Japan in what, '83? Can you provide a link or at least tell what is patented?
US Patent 4,687,200 covers the D-pad, and it just expired last month, which was after Sony and Microsoft finalized the appearance of the PSP, PS3, and Xbox 360 game controllers.