Xbox 360 and DS motion controllers detailed

A late post.

Motion-controlled gaming peripherals specialists Performance Design Products have unveiled two new controllers at GDC this week – a Wii Remote style stick for the Xbox 360 and a bizarre-looking chunky pen-style controller for the Nintendo DS.

TechRadar has been aware of the development of the Xbox 360's "Gametrak Freedom" ultrasonic 3D motion sensing tech for some time now, along with the first game that will work with the device, called Squeeballs.

Squeeballs is described by PDP as "a collection of over 150 unique challenges that showcases the capabilities of the controller… players can blow up, cook, slice, bat, bowl, shoot and bounce the Squeeballs with greater accuracy than is capable with any other controller."

Xbox Gametrak Freedom

Gametrak Freedom connects to your Xbox 360 via a base unit hooked into the USB input port and is described as a "proprietary and patent-pending ultrasonic 3D motion sensing technology that delivers performance, increased control and flexibility.

"Unlike other motion sensing gaming systems, Gametrak Freedom does not rely on the gamer pointing a controller at the screen, nor does it restrict the gamer to limited movements. The system accurately tracks the true 3D position and precise movements of up to four players anywhere within a given environment. This technology provides players with total control and unrivaled game play opportunities."

TechRadar should be getting a hands on with the new Xbox 360 motion controlled peripheral in the near future.

Nintendo DS phat-pen

If that wasn't enough gaming peripherals news for one day, the company has also unveiled its new SmartStylus device for the Nintendo DS – pictured here – which features vibration feedback and "can include a variety of added features, including LEDs, sound and motion feedback."

PDP is awaiting confirmation that Nintendo is happy to license this device for use with the DS. Should that all be signed off, then the company hopes that both controllers will be on the shelves sometime later this autumn.

[via techradar.com]

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MICROSOFT SET TO BRING 3D MOTION CONTROL TO XBOX360 & PC GAMES

First reported as a rumour by Israeli news outlet Haaretz, Dean Takahashi, a veteran journalist now writing for VentureBeat states that his sources also confirm the takeover deal in a recent column. Microsoft stands to acquire 3DV Systems for the relatively small sum of $35 million. 3DV Systems has raised over $38 million from investors like Rafael Development Corporation and The IDB Group since its inception in 1997. Obviously this will result in a significant loss for the investors.

With the acquisition of 3DV Systems, Microsoft is looking to gain a stronger foothold in the video game console market. The company’s Xbox 360 is currently in a distant second place in this generation of video game consoles behind Nintendo’s Wii; a system that relies heavily on motion-based control, often considered easier for “non-gamers” to play.

Though the Xbox 360 and its nearest competitor the PlayStation 3 from Sony already have camera peripherals that can be used as control devices, the software for these has been less than stellar. The titles are always played on a 2D plane, leaving little room for innovative game design and the devices themselves are often imprecise or require excessive lighting to function.

The ZCam, which will undoubtedly be renamed by the time it is released to the public, was first announced back in 2007. It differentiates itself from the current Xbox Vision Cam, Wii Remote and PlayStation Eye by allowing users to make gesture inputs in a fully 3D space without the need to hold or wear an external input device.

The Zcam is also capable of rendering a user’s own 3D image within software in real-time. This feature could provide an unparalleled amount of realism for just about every video game genre. Microsoft has not yet officially announced their takeover of 3DV systems, so it is unclear if they will incorporate the technology into the Xbox 360 or wait until it’s next-generation console debuts in a couple of years

[via gamingfront.net ]