E3: Relentless flattered by Microsoft's copycat Buzz design

Buzz designer Relentless has told GamesIndustry.biz that it's flattered that Microsoft is copying the game's controller design for the newly announced Scene It? title — but warned that success isn't as easy as modelling a product on the BAFTA-winning franchise.

Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action was unveiled at Microsoft's E3 press briefing, with VP of marketing Jeff Bell showing off the title complete with four bundled controllers that look very similar to those in Sony's hit Buzz! franchise.

"They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so right now we're basking in adulation," said David Amor, creative director of Relentless.

"We knew it would be coming but we were a little surprised at the extent that the design had been inspired by Sony's."

Noting that Microsoft's Xbox Live Vision camera has not seen nearly as much success as Sony's equivalent, Amor suggested that the software will prove the deciding factor to the quiz games success.

"I think the test for Microsoft will now be on the software. If you compare the success of Sony's EyeToy against the Xbox camera the value of high quality games is clear."

"Though I don't know too much about Microsoft's forthcoming Scene It? game, I know we have some aces up our sleeve with our forthcoming Buzz! titles," he added.