Arcade-Junkies.com

You may recall the news that In2Games was making their own Wii-like motion controller for [true] next-gen consoles. Now In2Games has become ‘Performance Design Products’, and more details are starting to flow in about their GameTrek Freedom device including how it works, when it will be released, and on which system. Note the lack of an ’s’ there, that’s because they will launch the Gametrak Freedom™ exclusively for the Xbox 360 in fall 2009. That’s right, it seems PS3 support has gone out the window.

Gametrak Freedom connects to your Xbox 360 via a base unit hooked into the USB input port and is described as a “proprietary and patent-pending ultrasonic 3D motion sensing technology“. They take a jab at Nintendo when they go on to say that “Unlike other motion sensing gaming systems, Gametrak Freedom™ does not rely on the gamer pointing a controller at the screen nor does it restrict the gamer to limited movements. The system accurately tracks the true 3D position and precise movements of up to four players anywhere within a given environment.” And the slap at the Wii is warranted, we were the first to explain that the Wii motion controller did not work as Nintendo had first bragged, hence the need for their still upcoming MotionPlus add-on.

The bigger question still remains; is Microsoft working on their own 360 motion controller, or will they be endorsing this one as the solution? The only hint is the fact that Microsoft is allowing PDP to make a game controller for the 360 at all, since Microsoft® is legally blocking most companies from producing, manufacturing or distributing peripherals for the Xbox 360™. If they were making their own, they likely would have blocked the GameTrek.

PDP also announced a new stylus for the Nintendo DS with motion controls built in. Check out more details on both at TechRadar.