by John Finnegan

Remember that story from yesterday where MTV had the scoop about Microsoft working on a Wii style remote of their own?

“[Microsoft] marketing just want(s) it so they can match the Nintendo Wii point for point. The biggest parts of their marketing materials outline how easy it would be for third parties to port their games to the 360,” MTV reported.

The anonymous source even went as far as to draw rough sketch of the reported wannabe Wiimote.

However, Information Week claims that this could all stem from an April Fool’s Joke that was done by the company’s Macintosh business unit.

The word from IW:

Microsoft Mac BU bloggers said on April 1 that the company was developing software that would turn the Apple Remote into a Wii-style controller that would allow users to play interactive games on the Apple Macintosh platform.

“Picture swinging the Apple remote in your hand like a tennis racket or golf club,” Mac BU general manager Craig Eisler teased on the blog. “Then imagine that controlling an actual tennis or golf game on your Mac.”

Completely coincidental or was MTV’s person in the know confused by a harmless prank?

Microsoft has yet to comment on the reports.