Xbox Addict

Controller Goes to Testing Ground

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI - news) today announced that Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) has chosen the company’s unique computer-based test solution for its Xbox(TM) video game system controllers, part of the future-generation game console coming from Microsoft next year. The test solution, based on the open PXI hardware platform and NI LabVIEW 6i software, gives Microsoft a low-cost, high-performance, efficient platform that is customizable for its needs.

``The open, commercial technology of NI products gives us the performance and flexibility that is critical in meeting our time-to-market demands for the Xbox video game system,’’ said Todd Holmdahl, General Manager of Xbox Hardware. ``The combination of the Microsoft Windows platform, NI software, and the open PXI platform gives us a high-performance, compact test solution at a lower cost.’’

The NI-based test system demonstrates the seamless integration of PXI hardware instrumentation and LabVIEW software. The NI PXI test system tests all functions of the Xbox game controller, including the trigger buttons, push buttons, and cable connections. The combination of the NI computer-based digitizer and PXI is critical to successfully testing the game controllers at a fast enough rate to meet the demands of Microsoft’s production schedule.

``Through our long-standing relationship, NI has leveraged Microsoft technologies to deliver our revolutionary software and hardware solutions to engineers and scientists worldwide,’’ said Dr. James Truchard, President and CEO of NI. ``In this latest collaboration, we are excited that Microsoft is using NI technologies to define a powerful test solution for its innovative new video game system.’’

VI Engineering, a NI Alliance Program Select Integrator, will integrate, install, and support the NI-based game controller test system.