Apple Developing Wiimote-Like Controller?

[callmemike20]

What does a game need so that it's not considered basic? Why is Halo 3 not "basic" but Metroid Prime 3 is? Why is Guitar Hero III on a PS3 not basic, but is on a Wii?

Regardless of your arguable sense of the Wii gaming market, the Wii is still flying off the shelves and still outselling the XBox and PS3. Seems to me that Apple would be better off going after the Wii's "basic" games rather than PC style games.

I'm not bashing the wii at all. I guess I just stated it wrong. I own a wii and I love it. I was just trying to point out that its primary market is not hardcore gamers. The wii brought something different to gaming with its wiimote. If apple brought this to their computers, sure, more games would use it, but it wouldn't bring more games like BF2142 and Age of Empires to the mac. What it will bring is a whole new play style like the wii did. It will be something a person has in addition to their primary pc. If someone ever gets tired of halo 3 on their xbox, they can have a few friends over and have fun with a basic, yet fun and interactive game on apple tv.

I see the wii as the "casual" and "party" system. Whereas I see the xbox and ps3 and more of the kid in the dark basement hardcore system.

 

[callmemike20]

This speaks to the ignorance of the so-called "hard core gamer" though.
I predict that so called "casual gaming" is about to go off the charts in popularity and will soon overtake games like Halo and GTA IV in terms of dollar sales as well.

I totally agree with that. But typically, when people are speaking about gaming on a pc, it is a majority of the time "hardcore gaming". You don't see a casual gamer going to their computers to play pac man. That's what the xbox live arcade is for. I think that the xbox live arcade and wii virtual console are going to attract more casual gamers than ever.

 

[aaronsullivan]

Why do I see posts about "flailing arms" around to fast forward and being less capable than a remote.

Do you use a remote to control your computer? Or even the keyboard? Most of the time you use a mouse or other pointing device, right?

That's what this technology is first and foremost. It's a way to give pointing accuracy like a mouse but from a far distance and without the need for a flat surface.

The "controls" that were once on a remote are now context sensitive and show ON THE SCREEN. You point at the ones you want. When you point the remote away from the screen, they go away. What could be more simple?

Besides music, volume, channel control, you could use it to choose menus, files, or any items in a list. Drag things around like on a computer desktop, peck at letters on a keyboard or numberpad to type or play a game.

Get out and try a Wii. Then, you'll get it.

Shaky cursor guy... close the blinds or recalibrate. IR from open windows or bright light sources can cause interference. This is one of the issues Apple would hopefully improve, possibly using an entirely separate approach to the same end result.

 

[dernhelm]

Why do I see posts about "flailing arms" around to fast forward and being less capable than a remote.

Do you use a remote to control your computer? Or even the keyboard? Most of the time you use a mouse or other pointing device, right?

That's what this technology is first and foremost. It's a way to give pointing accuracy like a mouse but from a far distance and without the need for a flat surface.

I was thinking the same thing almost, but the biggest problem with it is just that, getting a pointing device to have the same resolution and accuracy as a mouse. Because if the Wii is any indication we are a LONG way off from that.

The "controls" that were once on a remote are now context sensitive and show ON THE SCREEN. You point at the ones you want. When you point the remote away from the screen, they go away. What could be more simple?

Besides music, volume, channel control, you could use it to choose menus, files, or any items in a list. Drag things around like on a computer desktop, peck at letters on a keyboard or numberpad to type or play a game.

Get out and try a Wii. Then, you'll get it.

It would work and it would actually be a pretty fun way to operate front row or apple tv menus, but to drag stuff around my desktop? Not unless my desktop was 640 x 480 resolution (hint, it isn't), and I was VERY patient.

If you've got a Wii, you must be a whole lot better than I am in a dark basement with no obstructions at 'typing' on the thing. Because for me, that is by far as painful as it gets. My kids wanted Opera on it, and I downloaded it, but it so painful to use that we don't even bother with it.

 

[hhaeschen]

I'm curious to know how many people use their remote with their computer. I have one....still in its' plastic sleeve.

As a college student I often watch movies on my Mac and, of course, it's also the center of everything music. For these purposes I like to use the remote. It's so much easier than anything else.

It would be great though to see new ideas and possibilities from Apple for the use of the remote.

 

[muncyweb]

but for people like me that do some serious videogaming, the remote is nice because i'll play music through my iMac while sitting in my rocker chair and be able to change a song without getting up or looking at the screen.

And the world gets just a little lazier...

 

[MrCrowbar]

Okay, still even so, my main point still stands. Even for fast-forward type controls, I don't see how that's better than a well laid out simple button remote. In fact I can see several draw backs. More than that, I still see no use for it other than movie and music controls.

It would be great for fast forwarding actually. Moving the mouse preciseley on a slider isn't bad for geting to the moment you want.

But imagine just pressing the button and twisting your hand to the right to fast forward. The more you twist, the faster it goes. UNtwist and it just resumes playing. Twist it slightly to the left to rewind those last awesome seconds.

Search your iTunes library with a pointy clicky on screen keyboard. Right now, selecting the song you want is painful with the few buttons of the apple remote, they should have put a clickwheel in there. Imagine using a wiimote to scroll around like on an iphone. Actually, you could make a iPhone-like UI but have that remote as finger. Just use a similar context sensitive interface with pop up keyboard and everything.

I'm all for a new Apple Remote that's like the old one but with additional pointing capabilities.

 

[rowanmmcdonald]

Um, am I not the only one who thinks that patent directly clashes with the Wii's patent? From the description it seems to do exactly what the Wiimote does. Don't think Nintendo will let Apple have this one.

 

[JMax1]

Imagine more

I think we are all stuck on the idea that it would look like the wii remote. Imagine something different. Imagine taking the technology in the wii and iPhone and what they have learned in the past year and a half. Shrink it, make it more sophisticated and sensitive. I don't know, maybe it's something you pit on your fingers and can manipulate things in three dimensions. Imagine pinching and swiping in 3D. All with your fingers and not something you are holding in your palm.

 

[aidanpendragon]

Um, am I not the only one who thinks that patent directly clashes with the Wii's patent? From the description it seems to do exactly what the Wiimote does. Don't think Nintendo will let Apple have this one.

Damn, I read 56 comments and #57 made the same point that I first thought.

Sentence from the story: "resembling the implementation of the Nintendo Wii controller."

Nintendo has that patented out the wazoo. Apple's device sounds to be in very close overlap/infringement of that.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Every time some source stumbles across an patent and then following its post on MR, the responses will either be:

Positive - bring _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on!

Neutral - would be nice, however depending on its implementation function and price I will decide when its released

Negative - why is wasting their time on _ _ _ _ _ _ products, focus on computer first.


And there you have it, the summary of this thread, now no need to post any further.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Sounds like an iphone app to me.

Exactly what I was thinking. It would make a nice remote already. I just want Apple to release it and not pay some tiny company in some forest $20 for some badly written app.

 

[MacFabulous]

The All-in-one remote to the All-in-one AppleCenter

Think big... Think Different!

I think maybe one or two versions of the new Cinema Displays will be the new "iTV" or "AppleTv". You know... All-in-one box with a über-remote, which is iPhone 2

The iTV/AppleTV should then have the full blown Leopard OS, in this new All-In-One box, and thus include Safari, iChat and Gaming among other good things! The new mouse of cause... would be "iPhone 2" and as this this patent shows... the new game controller!!!

I would really like my TV to be Apple branded! It would be stylish! No doubt! Yes... I know, this is not their marked - but anyways!

If this Scenario where to happen... companies like DELL and Microsoft would **** their pants!

 

[Quillz]

I'm curious to know how many people use their remote with their computer. I have one....still in its' plastic sleeve.

I use it with Awaken 4 every day.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Any possibility this tech makes its way into iPhones &/or Touches?
Other iPods??

 

[jons]

Wow!

I may not have to have those infared iRobot walls sit under my iMac anymore.

Video showing off me using a Wiimote to play WarCraft III:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2VExWWKJjo

Haha, that's great. Too bad it doesn't work with the nunchuck tho...

 

[Trip.Tucker]

Ok all you slow-pokes, Microsoft already spilled the beans last month! Can you say 'foreshadowing'? ;-)

http://www.officeformac.com/blog/Announcing-Microsoft-Games-for-Apple-Remote

Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote

You’ve been asking what MacBU’s plans are for Apple’s hottest new device, well… Hot on the heels of their successful integration of the Apple Remote with PowerPoint 2008 for Mac, Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit today announced a new product line of Mac-based Microsoft games using the Apple Remote as a game controller.

“If you thought driving PowerPoint with your Apple Remote was cool, just wait until you use it to play pool or chess!” says Sheridan Jones, Director of Product Marketing for MacBU. “We envision a whole line of Microsoft Games for the Apple Remote: Everything from sports to strategy!”

Said Craig Eisler, General Manager of the MacBU and co-inventor of DirectX gaming technology, “We’ve embraced the Apple Remote as a platform and extended it to a new category.” Eisler explained the vision of using the Apple Remote’s built-in accelerometers for gaming: “Picture swinging the Apple Remote in your hand like a tennis racket or golf club, then imagine that controlling an actual tennis or golf game on your Mac. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote is a big break-though for the industry. It’s going to be the best gaming device in the world!”

According to the company, productivity and playtime were meant to co-exist. To help promote Microsoft Games for Apple Remote, Microsoft included a preview game called “Prance Prance Devolution” within the productivity application PowerPoint 2008 for Mac in their recent 08.04.01 update. Inspired by MacBU’s great admiration for the legendary musicologists DEVO, the game is unlocked by pairing your Apple Remote to your Macintosh, then starting slide show in PowerPoint 2008 with any presentation containing five or more slides, advancing to slide 2, and pressing the following button combination on your Apple Remote: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, play, pause.

Additional Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will be available starting April 1, 2008 from an online marketplace appropriately called Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit Online Marketplace 2008 Special Microsoft Games for Apple Remote Edition (MMBUOM2008SMG4ARE). Pricing for Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will start at $1 per day with a minimum two-year contract. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote are side loaded directly to the Apple Remote.

Cool. Nice find

 

[lazyrighteye]

Ok all you slow-pokes, Microsoft already spilled the beans last month! Can you say 'foreshadowing'? ;-)

http://www.officeformac.com/blog/Announcing-Microsoft-Games-for-Apple-Remote

Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote

You’ve been asking what MacBU’s plans are for Apple’s hottest new device, well… Hot on the heels of their successful integration of the Apple Remote with PowerPoint 2008 for Mac, Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit today announced a new product line of Mac-based Microsoft games using the Apple Remote as a game controller.

“If you thought driving PowerPoint with your Apple Remote was cool, just wait until you use it to play pool or chess!” says Sheridan Jones, Director of Product Marketing for MacBU. “We envision a whole line of Microsoft Games for the Apple Remote: Everything from sports to strategy!”

Said Craig Eisler, General Manager of the MacBU and co-inventor of DirectX gaming technology, “We’ve embraced the Apple Remote as a platform and extended it to a new category.” Eisler explained the vision of using the Apple Remote’s built-in accelerometers for gaming: “Picture swinging the Apple Remote in your hand like a tennis racket or golf club, then imagine that controlling an actual tennis or golf game on your Mac. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote is a big break-though for the industry. It’s going to be the best gaming device in the world!”

According to the company, productivity and playtime were meant to co-exist. To help promote Microsoft Games for Apple Remote, Microsoft included a preview game called “Prance Prance Devolution” within the productivity application PowerPoint 2008 for Mac in their recent 08.04.01 update. Inspired by MacBU’s great admiration for the legendary musicologists DEVO, the game is unlocked by pairing your Apple Remote to your Macintosh, then starting slide show in PowerPoint 2008 with any presentation containing five or more slides, advancing to slide 2, and pressing the following button combination on your Apple Remote: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, play, pause.

Additional Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will be available starting April 1, 2008 from an online marketplace appropriately called Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit Online Marketplace 2008 Special Microsoft Games for Apple Remote Edition (MMBUOM2008SMG4ARE). Pricing for Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will start at $1 per day with a minimum two-year contract. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote are side loaded directly to the Apple Remote.

WTF?!?

 

[sebimeyer]

I take offence to that! my mac is nothing to shake a stick at!

 

[sebimeyer]

WTF?!?

Not WTF. Just an Aprils Fool joke.

 

[Abstract]

You've just defined the trap that MS and Sony fell into. Defining basic and advanced in terms of hardware is where the others missed and Nintendo hit. You want challenging games (as if they even exist nowadays) go back to the 8-bit Nintendo and play Blaster Master or Ghosts and Goblins. The Wii is advanced b/c it actually changed the way we interface with games from now going forward. MS and Sony added prettier graphics (again and again and...) /yawn

Exactly. The interface is advanced. This is what changed everything. The PS3 still and XBox still use the same controllers from 24 years ago, except with more buttons. Graphics have improved, but the actual "playing" of the game hasn't changed much at all. It's like saying that Chess could be more advanced if polished brass chess sets with carbon fiber boards were used rather than wood and plastic, like with most sets. It wouldn't be advanced. It would just be more flash, no substance.

So which one system is more advanced?

 

[ltldrummerboy]

I use it with Awaken 4 every day.

I completely forgot that I use it for that. It works great. But I think that's the only thing.

 

[stephenli]

It definitely wouldn't attract hardcore gamers. Look at the wii. Sure, the remote is great and all, but the games are so basic and they mainly attract the casual gamer. So, I don't think this would really bring mac up in the gaming market. It will just be another benefit of what is already there.

Didn't you realized that there is a game called The Legend of Zelda?
I don't think it is basic and mainly for casual gamer.

Wii remote is a nice pointing device and motion sensor. However, as a pointing device it seems to me that the accuracy is not too high. I have been using it since its launch day, and it perform well for those games which do not require direct pointing (eg Wii sport) but for those shooting game I think PS3's time crisis have much much higher accuracy

well...hopefully apple would develop some nice things for all of us.

 

[Xtremehkr]

Maybe they are working on incorporating that technology into next generation Apple mice. That would be awesome, instead of just rolling the mouse around, you could twist it, shake it, point it, pull it, thrust it, and get tactile feedback at the same time. Whenever I am using my Wiimote, I kind of think of it as an on screen mouse, and the controller changes depending on what I am doing.

That would be the biggest change in mouse technology since it was widely adopted I would imagine.

 

[chickenninja]

i cant believe this motion sensitive technology is still considered awesome to some people, In my perspective i would rather have a stationary remote that requires the least movement possible, like a traditional gaming controller.