"watch Out Wii, Here Comes Fusion"

canvasch · Oct 24, 2006 at 1:52 AM

UK, October 20, 2006 - British peripheral developer In2Games has lifted the lid on a Wii-style controller it's developing that will bring wire-free waving fun to PC and next-gen consoles. Codenamed Fusion, the wireless controller consists of a sensor box and a Wii-mote-style baton that works with any USB-compatible machine, so titles previously exclusive to Nintendo's next-gen console could soon be appearing on both PlayStation and Xbox without losing their original control system.

When In2Games showed off an early tech demo in central London this week we were certainly impressed. A tennis game created especially for Fusion and the accuracy and ease of use of the controller: to serve simply lift the baton up and strike it down quickly as you would in real life (watching out for light fittings when playing in a room with low ceilings), while playing a passing shot is as easy as playing a fore- or backhand pass. Additionally you can add spin or slice the ball by angling the racquet as you would if you were playing on centre court, the position of the face affecting the shot on screen. Better still the game comes with a racquet head add-on, a 10-inch hoop-shaped sensor that clips onto the end of the baton to enable you to play shots more realistically than with any nondescript remote.

An entire range of wand extensions is planned, with other peripherals in development including a baseball bat and a golf club, so players can change the direction and pitch of their shot by physically looking down at the head of the club rather than pressing a button or flicking an analogue stick. A bowling ball resembling an iPod speaker was also on display, with finger grips moulded into the plastic and a cardboard 'lane' that's placed in front of the television. By swinging the peripheral a ball was bowled on screen, with the speed, direction and even spin determined by the way the player delivered their shot.

Interestingly the clip-on heads are likely to come bundled with the games they're used for - a racquet with the tennis game, the club extension for golf, etc - at no extra cost, so gamers looking for a more realistic experience will only have to splash out around £40 a game plus a one-off £30 for the base unit.

In2Games is looking to expand Fusion's uses outside the sports genre too, with action games that use the baton to aim a gun or throw a punch already planned. But what's most interesting is the fact that Fusion connects to the console via USB, meaning it has the potential to work on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 - although compatibility with both machines has yet to be confirmed. Theoretically Wii games can therefore be ported across to other consoles and still retain their original control system, which is both fun for the player and beneficial to the publisher because they'll no longer have to spend money creating a whole new player interface for just a single format.

Fusion isn't the only peripheral In2Games is planning to incorporate its ultrasonic technology into either. A wireless control pad also in the pipeline, although it's no ordinary pad: it 'snaps' in two and houses a motion sensor in each half, so if you're playing an FPS and you run out of ammo during a firefight, you can charge up to the nearest enemy, break the pad in two and punch them in the face using each side of the pad as a fist! Admittedly it's only at concept stage at the moment and we didn't actually see the pad in action, but the potential for creating a control system that pushes the boundaries is certainly an exciting prospect.

Fusion is expected to launch at the end of next year so expect a hands-on test nearer its release.
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source (with more pictures)

i doubt this'll be as good as the Wii-mote... but well.. if this thing is gonna work on the pc.... then i might get it... so i can play wii games... on it..... uhh games i'll allready own.. of course :mellow:

Greasy Pete · Oct 24, 2006 at 6:22 AM

that looks pretty silly

lilblademaster · Oct 25, 2006 at 12:55 AM

it sure does lol
people copying wii ideas these days...
wii mote is way better

FlanteJuice · Oct 25, 2006 at 12:58 AM

What the F is the ball for bowling?

This reminds me of getting generic controllers for your console and after a few months they stop working or something breaks

Mounty · Oct 25, 2006 at 1:02 AM

lol...pretty silly indeed.

tombom_52 · Oct 25, 2006 at 1:14 AM

imaging playing halo or counter strike >.< that would rule.

stokey · Oct 26, 2006 at 3:08 PM

Looks stupid...

Jynx_ · Oct 26, 2006 at 3:47 PM

its a bowling ball , a butterfly net , a small weapon , a dildo and a toothbrush.

Ghetto Prophet · Oct 26, 2006 at 3:59 PM

there probly gonna be useless with fun games

Raise · Oct 26, 2006 at 4:02 PM

lol i wouldnt pay for it

*sG&gt;Fear&#124;Gen(CoD) · Oct 26, 2006 at 4:07 PM

Lmfao what are these controlers for they look really stupid imagine watching ur friend using one of those lol are they for pc or ps2 or xbox or what

Rodifan · Nov 4, 2006 at 1:54 PM

THis isn't really original. Nothing beats the original.

Avant-Garde · Nov 4, 2006 at 10:41 PM

only the games made to work with it will actually play, you might as well get a Wii, have the games for free, and get four player. =\

Addle Boy · Nov 4, 2006 at 10:46 PM

well this looks like a Wii total rip-off... cause it is.
-the Wii hasn't even come out let and people are already starting to copy it. Wouldn't buy it

.Sheepseh · Nov 5, 2006 at 5:12 AM

never even heard of In2Games... Could be promising.

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"watch Out Wii, Here Comes Fusion"

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"watch Out Wii, Here Comes Fusion"

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