Forget the motion-sensitive remote, Microsoft, just fix Xbox 360
By now, the word has trickled into every crack and corner of the Internet that Microsoft is developing a motion-sensitive wand controller for its Xbox 360 console, and that the prototype design fairly resembles the wand available for Nintendo Wii.
Since MTV spilled the rumor Monday, dozens of publications have jumped on the story and twisted it into a balloon animal for their own purposes. Yahoo Tech thinks any wand remote built years after Xbox’s debut would rate as little more than a second-rate accessory. NintendoRevolution thinks it’s an April Fool’s joke. PS3 says it’s a sign that Microsoft really does care about casual gaming despite the company’s huge effort to command the high-end gaming market.
MTV has pinned the rumor to an “unnamed source” who claims to have been briefed on Microsoft’s plans. The source says Microsoft’s secret controller will do much more than the Wiimote, including interact with the Xbox Live Vision Camera, and that “several developers, speaking on background” confirmed the source’s claim.
Because the report goes against Microsoft’s earlier position that motion-sensitive controllers were not on the horizon for Xbox 360 (but perhaps for its hoped-for replacement, the Xbox 720) and has no credible sources cited, gaming pundits were quick to jump on it and affix their own question marks: Is this good for Microsoft? Will Xbox 360 regain and keep the top spot among gaming consoles? Does Nintendo have anything to fear?
Well, in Game Guy’s opinion, the answer is “no” to all three, because one huge problem still stands in the way of any new technology helping lift Xbox 360’s fortunes: the Xbox itself.
Today, two and a half years after its debut, Xbox 360 continues to be the most frustrating console made, and is light years behind its rivals in dependability. The frequency of hardware failure involving Xbox 360 far surpasses acceptable levels for high-end technology, with almost 17 percent of all systems failing, compared with the standard 1 percent to 2 percent throughout the rest of the tech industry. (Did GG mention that he’s on his fourth console in two years? Yes, he has, but this outrageous statistic bears repeating.)
Most independent, semi-scientific investigations point to inefficient cooling as the problem, as the high temperatures inside the console warp the motherboard and dislodge connectors. While Microsoft has said it continues to try solving the problem, true satisfaction may not come to Xbox users until Microsoft redesigns the system.
There are two basic problems here: One is MTV passing off as news some rumor it can’t be bothered to verify with cited sources. And the other — if the rumor proves true — is Microsoft glossing over Xbox 360’s failures to spend time and money copying a rival’s technology. Because no matter if the Xbox “wiimote” smacks of success, its legacy is doomed for being married to such a troubled console.
The Xbox 360 underwent major hardware revisions in June 2007.
The heat issues are long-ago resolved. And, any of the early heat-sensitive machines get free-fixes.
This article is just horrible traffic trolling, and stltoday.com should review its policy about printing such poorly researched articles from this author.
I would love to get an xbox360 if it was reliable. Hearing so many problems with the hardware, meh, i’ll stay away for now… And the motion sensing wont do you any good, microsoft. Fix your damned hardware.
In al honesty I really liked xbox and most of its live. After the third machine I gave up. I do miss all the people I knew on there but after thinking about it, Microsoft has abandoned more then just the first xbox and decent support for thier 360, Windows ME, remember that, NO lol was promised to be the biggest family entertainment operating system like Vista. XP, they thre 2000 out for that one, and now screwing ppl slowly on xp too. When enough 400-500 upgrades go into vista theyll abandon that too. I run a business and not into the millions microsoft does, but on a scale of them, they probally piss off 3 out of every 20 people. In 10 years of business I had 2 pissed off people out of 1200. So why is it so har for a company with a team of analyst, sales, marketers, PR, managers to keep pissing off consumers and the people who develop for them.
I cant see having that many problems being a manufactuer of machines and keep doing it three years later. And what fathoms me more is why consumers like to take it from them, and take 3.50 a gallon gas prices, and take getting taxed 3 times on every dollar, and high mortgage rates, and too high to afford medical. I guess the average american consumer must enjoy recieving it up the poop shoot. Almost a natural thing in 2009. I havent adapted to it so ill just play ps3 from now on