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Darwin, the Wii Remote one-off: Evolution? photo

Motus Corporation is showing off their new Wii-mote look-alike, named Darwin. This sword hilt-looking device is supposed to bring better motion sensing gaming to non-Nintendo systems, including the PC.

Technology Review says that this device has its roots in golf hardware, and they've taken what they learned to try to one-up the Wii. The Darwin measures absolute position with respect to the earth, orienting itself to magnetic north to sense direction. They claim that through the use of improved technology with gyroscopes and accelerometers, they're able to relay positional information to the console in less than 30 milliseconds. Great. What about the games?

There's no finalized list of Darwin-supported games yet, but they say that they're working with console makers and game publishers to utilize the technology with current games as well as integrate it into ones currently in development. The Darwin is expected to be released in the Holiday season of 2008, and is expected to retail for $79-$99.

What do you think? Does the Darwin have a chance? How will it fare in the process of natural selection?

[Via Gizmodo] 


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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38

pwned88's Avatar
pwned88 at 02/05/2008 10:03
I think it'll fly, there's enough potential
Neonie's Avatar
Neonie at 02/05/2008 10:09
Just like the theory of evolution, it fails.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 02/05/2008 10:12
Neat, but it'll never come close to hitting the Wii's numbers, especially at that price.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 02/05/2008 10:21
Only if it comes with a tight smoke machine and light kit like the Rock Band accessory kit.
DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 02/05/2008 10:23
non-included peripherals are doomed to phail.
brad drac's Avatar
brad drac at 02/05/2008 10:24
This is not going to work. Too hight a cost of entry and the inevitable lack of abundant third party support will consign this to the "gimmick" status some think the wii already enjoys. There are two main types of people who like motion control. The harcore gamer looking for a new way to interact with their games, whose lust has already been sated by the wii, and the casual market that can't use traditional controllers, for whom the price of a 360 or PS3 is already too expensive, even without the additional $100 peripheral. They'd be better off licensing themselves to sony or MS to co-develop their next console's controller.

->Neonie: You are joking, right?
galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 02/05/2008 10:24
so if this darwin is made available for other consoles and pc's i'm curious...

the wii has us all familiar with only one axis (traditionally y) being controlled by motion sensors while leaving control of the x axis to a more traditional analogue stick.

there's no mention on how the darwin plans to address this. are we destined to always have one plane controlled by a traditional joystick, are we ready for full motion controls across all planes? while the wii works, i've always wondered if there was a better/more immersive way to implement motion controls.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 02/05/2008 10:29
Prediction:
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 02/05/2008 10:32
How ironic. The evolution of the Wiimote is someone's definition of what "better" is. Controls in different places and is faster!

I predict complete failing.
yourfriendawk's Avatar
yourfriendawk at 02/05/2008 10:35
It's already dead. no one will support it at all. Only the strong survive in this industry.

Theory of evolution, no-fail.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 02/05/2008 10:37
@ galagabug - There's no mention, because there's no plan. It's going to be a golf/baseball simulator, and old men who are too masculine to own a wii are going to buy it and talk down to everyone who owns a Wii, even though this thing is going to be an overpriced shovelware interface.
Rimbaud's Avatar
Rimbaud at 02/05/2008 10:40
Fail.
Too high a price for what many consumers, I suspect, will see as only a blatant Wii ripoff. Speaking of which, shouldn't Ninty be starting to flex their litigious muscles based off aesthetics alone?
Baron Calico's Avatar
Baron Calico at 02/05/2008 10:40
It won't fly here in Arkansas... we hate that guy.
broonor's Avatar
broonor at 02/05/2008 10:49
SCIENCE RULES (insert theme music)

Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 02/05/2008 10:55
Darwin!

Jpitner wins!
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 02/05/2008 10:57
interesting. But for my money, I'd like something made by the console manufacturer.

Plus, its treading a path of fail not being attached to a specific console. It'll need a software house, too, that will be brave enough to bundle it with their game. And even then, said game would need to be fun as all get out. No pressure.

but w/e. So long as someone makes the great american bushido blade, I'll be happy.
Rucksack's Avatar
Rucksack at 02/05/2008 11:05
Someone how this just sounds like fail.
zardoz's Avatar
zardoz at 02/05/2008 11:26
Few companies understand what good design is all about.

Absolutely anyone with a substantial budget can use the latest tech to develop motion control. The problem is how to streamline that technology so that it still works for any idiot and is affordable for the masses. THAT is the challenge, and Nintendo are one of the few companies who understand this.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 02/05/2008 11:36
Trivia: The talking dolphin on SeaQuest was named darwin
Novakaine's Avatar
Novakaine at 02/05/2008 11:47
Nintendo innovates; industry imitates, etc.
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 02/05/2008 11:52
Talk about your Natural Selection! Yeah, I predict extinction for the Darwin.
Mighty Mighty's Avatar
Mighty Mighty at 02/05/2008 12:30
At least you don't need to be on earth when you play wii.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 02/05/2008 13:03
Evolution you say?

Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 02/05/2008 13:39
I'm an ape.
Airship Aciddent's Avatar
Airship Aciddent at 02/05/2008 14:47
Yes, quickly! Defend your religion!
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 02/05/2008 15:59
This is gonna fail soooooo hard.
DGX Goggles's Avatar
DGX Goggles at 02/05/2008 16:24
Gonna fail hard, wish the only one of the big three with NO motion control yet (*cough*MS*cough*) would pick it up. Wii-mote hasn't really been that impressive in my time with it, the reason its so good is just that there is nothing that can really compare to it.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 02/05/2008 17:27
Meh. I'd rather see them do some interesting stuff with the wiimote before they start making knock-offs.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 02/05/2008 17:56
Sounds like a cheap rip off.
RJG's Avatar
RJG at 02/05/2008 20:19
I think it will work wonderfully, but the games will be lacking. At which point, Nintendo will announce the 2Wii (Pronounced twee, like a child with enunciation problems saying "tree") with even better motion controls than this thing and without the need for a sensor bar. It will also have a bottlenose dolphin attachment for Chad and will squeak "I LOVE CHAD" from the Wii remote speaker every time he turns it on. And then Chad will cry because it's so close to his dream, yet so far away...
crane0102's Avatar
crane0102 at 02/05/2008 22:07
Wii sucks comared to the 360 and ps3.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 02/05/2008 22:19
Crane sux compared to just about everybody.
crane0102's Avatar
crane0102 at 02/05/2008 22:32
The Stripe. What are you a fucking striper fuck stick?
Reeper's Avatar
Reeper at 02/05/2008 22:54
This is come too late. With the Wii selling out so many every second, how the hell is this Darwin shit gonna compete? the company is relatively unknown (I haven't heard of them), and the Wii has proved itself a great family entertainment system.


FAIL.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 02/05/2008 23:01
Who knows, maybe they can get the one-to-one down for things like golf and baseball, and Nintendo learns a thing or two from them (or simply buys their tech) and releases an HD console in four years with one-to-one motion control + nintendo simplicity + third party support that gains steam throughout the wii's lifespan (pretty please?) = Uss (or whatever silliness they come up with next.)

@crane - I'm an anti-Troll. What are you? A device for lifting heavy objects, or a long-legged water bird? Oh wait, I know! Fourteen.
consolelover's Avatar
consolelover at 02/05/2008 23:08
Nice one.
consolelover's Avatar
consolelover at 02/05/2008 23:14
Hell heah. The Wii is great for family fun.
@Stripe: Crane is just talking out of his ass.
Aciesethon's Avatar
Aciesethon at 02/06/2008 00:20
Darwin will be great for guys like this http://procrastineering.blogspot.com/

Being on pc means it won't need spectacular sales, it's on a free platform so it can be implemented into indie games and mods.
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