The rumour mill is running hot and heavy on the multiple anonymous confirmations that the 360 will have it's own answer to the Wii-mote. At this point nothing, not even it's existance is official yet so lots could change, but based on currently available information (IE: reports that claim insider information and mock-ups based on 'insider' information) it seems apperant that Microsoft hasn't really understood the allure of Nintendo's Wii and this new controller won't help much, if any.
The following is my impression on why the Wii's controls have captured the masses attention and why MS copycat controller misses the mark.
1) Appearance - With the Wii-mote Nintendo intentionally made it to be as unassuming as possible. It harkens back to the Atari 2600 era. The 2600 controller was a stick and a button and that was it. It was plainly obvious to anyone how to play any game - use the stick to move, and button to shoot or whatever action was needed - end of story. Over the years controllers became increasingly complex to the point where now, unless you grew up playing games, you wouldn't want to touch one as it's a mess of sticks and buttons and more buttons and God knows what does what.
So with the Wii-mote Nintendo took it back to basics, a directional pad, and an A button. And that's it, or at least at first glance that's the appearance. There's a B trigger button, but that's easy to grasp too. Yes there's -,+,1,2 buttons too, but they don't look like they'd come in play for games (and mostly they don't), so for the novice player, it's back to the very basics, directional pad, and a button (and a trigger). Simple.
So what's MS take on it? Add more buttons!! Instead of one friendly A button, now there's 4 (plus the trigger). This defeats the elegance of the design and will make the 360-mote look more complicated to use. New gamers don't want to learn how to play, it should be obvious to them.
2) Conker vs Wii Sports - I hope the reports of Conker - The Fast and Furriest being the included game with the 360-mote are false, but assuming they are correct... Wii Sports again appeals to the universiality of sports. Anyone, irregardless of their gaming background, or lack of one, can grasp hitting a ball by simply swinging at it like in the real sport. It feels natural, fun and absolutely easy to do for anyone. Moreover - you play as yourself, or rather a stylized Mii representation you made yourself. It's you playing tennis by mimicing tennis play. Also, it's fun for 5 minutes or 5 hours, a key ingrediant to the often time restrict casual market.
MS answer? Conker, of Conkers Bad Fur Day, aka that kiddie looking game you thought was good for your 8 year old until the store clerk pointed out it was M for mature. While it was an excellent game, it isn't any sort of known commodity to the masses and if it is, it likely has the wrong association attached to it. Strike one. While nothing is known of the gameplay, if it's anything like Conker's previous game, then it lacks the universiality of Wii Sports. It assumes you've played some sort of video game before to know how to play. Strike Two. The key with Wii Sports is it gets non-gamers to try it out and like it, it's free and accessible. Wii sports sells the Wii-mote and vice-versa. Why would any non-gamer who was never interested in playing a video game before suddenly want to play Conker? Because of the 360-mote? It's hard to see how Conker will sell the 360-motes features and vice-versa. Strike Three and you're out! But wait... it needs to be downloaded too, requiring internet (likely wireless) hook up that mainly non-technically inclined people won't want to be bothered with.
3) No Nunchuk - While some may say this make the 360-mote seem friendlier than the Wii-mote/nunchuk, remember for the uninitiated they only see the Wiimote and only the nunchuk for boxing were it's use is obvious and non-threatening. By forgoing a nunchuklike attachment MS has limited the game options for it's new controller, especially to it's current base. Some of the greatest useage of Wii's controls have been in sandbox games like Godfather, Scarface and Bully where the wii-mote and nunchuk function like your two hands. Having those controls on GTAIV would make it the definative game over the PS3 version and be a system seller. I would buy a 360 myself just to play that. But no nunchukie thing restricts that sort of novel gameplay mechanic. Plus the usage of a nunchuk control for games like Halo, CoD4, etc (360's greatest strength) would be obvious, but not necessarily needed.
4) Lack of games - Every game on Wii uses motion control from exclusively (Wii Sports, Mercury Meltdown), to extensively (Godfather, Bully), to just added that little tactile touch that feels right (Mario Strikers, Pinball Hall of Fame). Even SSBB has an option to use it for smash attacks. What games on 360 will use it? A few downloadables? Perhaps MS will mandate all future game incorporate it (which developers will HATE as few will likely use it so it's wasted development dollars) but still there's a huge library of games on 360 that will not use it, and very few will be designed with it in mind.
5) Waaaayyyy behind - So if this 360-mote is out for Holidays 08 that means they'll have caught up to where Nintendo was 2 years prior. Problem is Nintendo is not standing still. Wii Fit will already be out, Mario Kart with the Wii Wheel, Link's Crossbow training, probably Wii Music, Force Unleashed with Wii-lightsaber action and Lord knows what Nintendo will introduce this year at E3. By comparison 360's offerings to the casual market will be pathetic.
