Microsoft Rips off the WiiU

[Solo-Wing]

The Xbox Smartglass. Oh how I wish I was making this up.

Here is a demo of it with halo 4.

So it is an App that turns your iPad, Android, Windows phone, or other tablet and Smartphone devices into a copy of the WiiU's touchscreen for the Xbox 360. Fantastic.

Not much more info yet. Will try to add more as it comes.

Thoughts?

 

[FilipJPhry]

I was watching the live conference and I thought the same thing. But it's still pretty cool. Thankfully I own a Windows phone.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I think that it's a stupid idea to begin with, even when the Wii U did it, but that's mostly because I hate tablets and find them utterly pointless.

 

[burningdragoon]

First thought: So? Nintendo doesn't own "use tablets for stuff"

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

Third: It's neat, but I don't think anything very interesting will come from it. That's not me doubting the technology, but doubting how well people will use it.

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

Funny, Microsoft rips off the WiiU touchscreen and Nintendo rips off the Xbox360 pad for their "Pro controller".

 

[Hazy992]

I wouldn't call it a rip off as such, I'm just completely disinterested in it

 

[Davroth]

I'm fairly sure there wont be much support for that feature aside from token efforts my a handful of developers. (And using it as a glorified remote control)

On the other hand, I'm fairly sure Nintendo has planned lots of first party stuff for their Gamepad I believe it's called now.

So yeah, bandwagon much is what I say.

 

[wintercoat]

First thought: So? Nintendo doesn't own "use tablets for stuff"

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

Third: It's neat, but I don't think anything very interesting will come from it. That's not me doubting the technology, but doubting how well people will use it.

So every Xbox owner is going to be given a free tablet or smartphone then? Not everyone owns one. At least the Wii-U comes bundled with the Gamepad.

 

[burningdragoon]

First thought: So? Nintendo doesn't own "use tablets for stuff"

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

Third: It's neat, but I don't think anything very interesting will come from it. That's not me doubting the technology, but doubting how well people will use it.

So every Xbox owner is going to be given a free tablet or smartphone then? Not everyone owns one. At least the Wii-U comes bundled with the Gamepad.

All that means they can't be integral features. Much like the games with Kinect support.

It means the added features will probably be lame at worst and just 'neat' at best, but that'd likely be the case either way.

 

[Terminate421]

This is a good thing actually. Soon I'll be able to play Dragonforce music WIRELESSLY via my iPhone.

Its not a rip off, its an adaptation to the growing trend of smart phones which YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

The Xbox Smartglass. Oh how I wish I was making this up.

Here is a demo of it with halo 4.

So it is an App that turns your iPad, Android, Windows phone, or other tablet and Smartphone devices into a copy of the WiiU's touchscreen for the Xbox 360. Fantastic.

Not much more info yet. Will try to add more as it comes.

Thoughts?

Nooooo, it makes the Xbox 360 connect to more devices. The Vita is a rip off of the WiiU. This just adds Halo Waypoint on demand, which I'm guessing you know nothing about.

 

[Esotera]

I guess it's cool, but they were really really pushing it. It's going to be really really hard for mainstream games to incorporate these peripherals into the gameplay, when most people don't have them or want them. I predict it being better than the WiiU though...

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

That's how I see it. Anyone else remember how the early reports said that the WiiU wouldn't have couch based multiplayer at all because of how expensive the controllers were? This solves that. I mean, yes, tablets are still expensive, but you can get a basic tablet for $100-$200, which is about what I would expect the WiiU controller to cost, and then once you have it, you can use it for all sorts of non-Xbox related tasks.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

That's how I see it. Anyone else remember how the early reports said that the WiiU wouldn't have couch based multiplayer at all because of how expensive the controllers were? This solves that. I mean, yes, tablets are still expensive, but you can get a basic tablet for $100-$200, which is about what I would expect the WiiU controller to cost, and then once you have it, you can use it for all sorts of non-Xbox related tasks.

I honestly don't see any way that those tablets can be used for multiplayer anyway. Xbox multiplayer games will continue using the normal controller so this is a complete non-issue. If any game developer attempts to incorporate a tablet into their multiplayer game in any way they'll be pelted with rotten tomatoes.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

That's how I see it. Anyone else remember how the early reports said that the WiiU wouldn't have couch based multiplayer at all because of how expensive the controllers were? This solves that. I mean, yes, tablets are still expensive, but you can get a basic tablet for $100-$200, which is about what I would expect the WiiU controller to cost, and then once you have it, you can use it for all sorts of non-Xbox related tasks.

I honestly don't see any way that those tablets can be used for multiplayer anyway. Xbox multiplayer games will continue using the normal controller so this is a complete non-issue. If any game developer attempts to incorporate a tablet into their multiplayer game in any way they'll be pelted with rotten tomatoes.

I was talking about local multiplayer, which usually requires everyone to share a screen. Giving people the option of a private screen has historically been well received, at least by people who could afford the full setup.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

That's how I see it. Anyone else remember how the early reports said that the WiiU wouldn't have couch based multiplayer at all because of how expensive the controllers were? This solves that. I mean, yes, tablets are still expensive, but you can get a basic tablet for $100-$200, which is about what I would expect the WiiU controller to cost, and then once you have it, you can use it for all sorts of non-Xbox related tasks.

I honestly don't see any way that those tablets can be used for multiplayer anyway. Xbox multiplayer games will continue using the normal controller so this is a complete non-issue. If any game developer attempts to incorporate a tablet into their multiplayer game in any way they'll be pelted with rotten tomatoes.

I was talking about local multiplayer, which usually requires everyone to share a screen. Giving people the option of a private screen has historically been well received, at least by people who could afford the full setup.

It would work for the WiiU but I can't see it working at all with the xbox set up. The Wii U incorporates the tablet within the controller, so everything can be held with 2 hands, but the way the xbox does it, with a completely separate tablet you'd be holding the controller with 2 hands, and then have to somehow hold the tablet as well, meaning you'd either have to put it on a table or on your lap. I just don't see that as being comfortable to use at all, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would use anything like that for local multiplayer on the xbox.

 

[Torrasque]

I don't really consider this a blatant rip off of Nintendo (if this was done by Sony, it would be), this is more of a Microsoft thing where they are obsessed with connecting everything to everything else. It looks slightly interesting, but I am not foaming at the mouth to use it.

 

[Torrasque]

First thought: So? Nintendo doesn't own "use tablets for stuff"

Second: You don't even need to buy a new peripheral or a new console to use it, so that's actually better.

Third: It's neat, but I don't think anything very interesting will come from it. That's not me doubting the technology, but doubting how well people will use it.

I pretty much share this sentiment.

I think it's more than a little stupid to go around shouting "ripoff" like a raging fanboy when it comes to technological development. It's this kind of attitude, combined with copyright legislation that supports such thinking, that slows down the pace of progress. Someone had a neat idea that has potential. Someone else agrees, and has the resources to try their own way of doing it. It's the way humanity has been running the show since we invented, well, anything.

To be fair, there is that whole Microsoft vs. Motorola mess that is happening in Germany.

 

[AKDread]

I don't really care for the concept they are trying to do, but if they do some interesting things with it then maybe it could be a good idea. We just have to wait and see what they can come up with.

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

Yeah, because rampant copying isn't rife in the industry and it's not like Nintendo have ever copied anything of Microsoft's....right [http://kotaku.com/5915331/the-wii-u-hardcore-controller-looks-familiar]?

As for the technology itself? I think that concept wise it's incredible, to think that we have technology capable of interacting like this but practically speaking I don't see myself ever using it.