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.'"

Comments

obviously they were being condescending

[draccip]

just another way of saying nintendo is niche now. and not really a competitor.

Re:obviously they were being condescending

[ilyaaohell]

Microsoft isn't in direct competition with Nintendo. The people who buy Xboxes are looking for and expecting a different type of game from Nintendo's offerings. What's wrong with that? Nintendo makes awesome platformers and cartoon-style adveture games, and Sony and Microsoft gamers prefer realistic war games and MTV-style presentations. To each their own.

Oh Microsoft

[RealityMogul]

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.

X360 and PS3 adaptor

[frankmu]

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 :)

funny

[xutopia]

"to give kudos [to] Nintendo for its attempt at innovation"

Only Microsoft can innovate. Other people attempt to innovate! :)

Microsoft Kudos

[dakirw]

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?

Re:Microsoft Kudos

[Pxtl]

I doubt it would matter. First rule of gaming - it will be fringe until it works with the default hardware. PC gaming had a horrible problem throughout the '90s with expecting users to own joysticks - many top-quality titles fell by the wayside because of that. The successful titles were the ones that aimed at mouse and keyboard.

Look how badly the extended hardware has always done - did you see a lot of superscope games? The only ones that get away with it are megahits like DDR, and those generally come with the relevant controller.

There will be no such animal - except maybe a fringe one.

Re:Microsoft Kudos

[Castar]

Yeah, I don't think MS could get away with making a Revolution look-alike. You really have to plan your whole strategy around the controller - not just the hardware and software, but the target audience and marketing, as well.

However, there's no guarantee that if it does really well, the other companies wouldn't sneak in the aspects that work, like the gyroscopic controls.

Or Sony could see the appeal of nonstandard control schemes and focus more heavily on the EyeToy - a fantastic peripheral with only one really great game for it (AntiGrav).

Re:Microsoft Kudos

[buffer-overflowed]

I doubt either MS, Sony or a third party can legally make a revolution knock-off. After everyone rushed to get an analog in when they announced it pre-64 release, Nintendos been both secretive and protective as hell of their stuff.

I think they own a controlling interest in Gyration, which has a lot of patents on this kind of tech, as well as having patented large swaths of it in regards to console gaming.

So, like the d-pad, they may be able to find ways around the IP, but it's not going to be as easy as just flat-out copying the thing for at least another couple decades.

Nintendo's Response

[popo]

Rumour has it that Nintendo promptly extended kudos back to Microsoft for their attempt at a console.

Frankie praises it too

[Geoffreyerffoeg]

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....

MS is just saying "Damn, we're slow"

[RoadDoggFL]

http://research.microsoft.com/~awilson/wand/defaul t.htm

The potential's there, Nintendo's just a step ahead. Or fifty...

Nintendo has something here... MS knows it!

[RUFFyamahaRYDER]

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.

Lapsed gamers?

[Red Flayer]

"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?

Re:Stupid Headline

[badasscat]

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.

Re:Stupid Headline

[ReverendHoss]

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.

Re:What they were really saying

[steelfood]

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

Patents

[tepples]

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?