Hot off Sony's rumored motion-sensing PS3 add on, here's another wild one for Microsoft Xbox 360. A tip from someone who allegedly got insider info that Microsoft's at it again to beat the Wii at its own motion-sensing game, which included some of the details from what we were hearing last year. The word is that Microsoft is building a "sensor bar" of sorts, but instead of detecting the waggles of Wiimote-like controllers, it detects full body movement and sound, without any Wii-like controllers. There are two sensors on the bar, along with a mic and a camera, and while nobody knows how it actually works, it sounds pretty impressive. Here's a quick rundown of capabilities mentioned:
* Full body and hand gesture control of games / characters.
* In fighting games you kick, punch, duck, dive, jump and so forth with your body.
* It also picks up small hand gestures like pinching, grabbing and scrolling.
* There will also be video conferencing and games with video.
* Trivia game over the internet with live images of each person playing. When a question pops up, they can clap to buzz in.
* You can "move objects on your screen" and the other party can see what you're doing in real time.
* Sensor detects only the person playing, not folks observing on the couch.
Everything about these new innovations could very well be a tremendous leap where motion-controlled home gaming is concerned and from the sound of it, it could definitely eclipse Sony’s solution which sounds more like catch up than anything else. In both cases however, motion control will definitely be a nice value-add for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners. We just hope Sony and Microsoft aren’t viewing these solutions as game changers — especially where sales are concerned. Sure, the Wiimote might not be unique anymore once these new products hit the market but its just one piece of the equation as far as Wii appeal goes. Of course, this could be real or just another elaborated hoax. But either way, it's only natural for Microsoft to be looking to duplicate -- and expand upon -- the wild success Nintendo has enjoyed with motion-controlled gaming.
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