Xbox to get its own version of the Balance Board

But it comes cleverly disguised as a skateboard...

2 May 2008 15:31 GMT / By Verity Burns

Microsoft has granted an external company the rights for the design and manufacture of officially endorsed Xbox 360 controllers.

The agreement with Qmotions also grants the company the rights to Microsoft's wireless technology, and as such the company will be able to extend the console's wireless peripheral line-up as well.

"This is a milestone event for our company that now enables us to design, develop and market a unique range of wireless products, bringing the excitement of action gaming to a whole new level on the Xbox 360 system", said Amro Albanna, chairman and CEO of Actiga, parent company of Qmotions.

"We are excited to have been chosen as a Microsoft partner, particularly at this early stage of technology development where the award of Microsoft's wireless accessory agreement continues to position us at the cutting edge of technology."

Qmotions has announced that first on its list of new peripherals for the 360 is a full-sized skateboard called the Qmotions-Big Air. Balance board-esque, it will be compatible with popular boarding games such as SSX and Tony Hawk.

The company is specialised in sport peripherals and has what would appear to a similar offering for the PS2, called the XBoard.

It may be the company's first jump into the next-gen market, but we think you'll see something pretty similar from the Big Air.