By Pat McKinney

Ever since the release of the next-gen consoles, Microsoft has been among the top pimps in the gaming industry.  When you have beauties like Halo 3, Gears of War, Fallout 3, and Mass Effect roaming the streets, its easy to see why this analogy makes sense.  These whores, errr… games, are what keep gamers, all around the world, coming back for more.  But it seems now that XBox is getting desperate.  While the Wii is still the best selling console, Microsoft is raising its cane and pimp slapping Nintendo’s hottest street walker, as if to say “You’re ours now b***h!”  According to GameSpot.com, Microsoft is coming out with their own rendition of the “Wiimote”.  And to say it’s “their own” is a little far fetched… take a look.

Developed by Performance Designed Products (PDP), the “Gametrak Freedom” seems just a LITTLE bit like the Wiimote.  Here’s what GameSpot had to say about it:

“The Gametrak uses a 3D ultrasonic transducer and a three axis accelerometer to detect motion. You’ll also find a trigger on the under side, as well as the 360’s familiar four button configuration and a D-Pad.”

“Unlike Nintendo’s solution, which uses one point of detection, the Gametrak uses two sensor bars that sit on opposite sides of the TV. Up to four wireless Gametrak’s will work with the sensors. PDP claims that the added sensor in conjunction with the Gametrak’s motion sensing technologies give the Gametrak accuracy to within 2mm of movement.”‘

Now why can’t Microsoft just be original for once, is that too much to ask?  First, their HD DVD idea flops and rumors about a Blu-Ray player start to surface, and now they’re jumping into the pool of wireless motion sensing technology.  It’s already bad enough that they make us pay for wireless adapters and XBox LIVE (although XBox LIVE is far superior to any other console’s online gaming experience).  Every other console has their trademark.  Nintendo’s Wii has the Wiimote, Sony’s Playstation 3 has the Blu-Ray player (and a pretty damn good one for that matter), what does XBox have, XBox LIVE?

So here’s a message for Microsoft, just because your hookers, I mean… games, look, and play nice, that doesn’t mean you should sell out and start copying ideas.  Nobody wants your sloppy seconds.

Source:

http://www.gamespot.com/hardware/blogs/hardware-insider/909185655/26825798/pdp-unveils-the-motion-sensing-gametrak-freedom-controller-for-the-xbox-360.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=picks&tag=picks;title;3

Tags: 360, gametrak, microsoft, wiimote, xbox

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 6:26 pm and is filed under News, gaming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.