If there was one thing we could take away from E3 09, it's that the videogame industry has well and truly fallen for this "motion control" fad, believing it to be the answer to all their prayers. Every platform now has its own gimmicky motion controller, and Microsoft believes its conceptually impressive Project Natal will rule them all.
"If we'd just come out with something that looks and feels like the Nintendo Wiimote, I think you could have fairly criticised us and said it was derivative. That's not the path we wanted to go down," explains MS' Shane Kim. "We could have done that, but we wanted to reinvent the industry and revolutionise home entertainment. That's what we will achieve with Project Natal.
"The most important thing is this has nothing to do with Nintendo and Sony. This has everything to do with unlocking the potential of the industry and addressing the many millions of people -- the 60 per cent of house holds who don't have a videogame console at all. That's the real opportunity for us."
Yeah. You know what I think of when I see all these motion controllers? I think of the Sega Genesis Activator. While the technology is evolving, we seem to be conceptually devolving. These new controllers smack of the same add-ons and gimmicks that eventually drowned the Genesis and confused the consumers. I'm sure Natal will be interesting, but introduced so late into the Xbox 360's lifecycle, I can't see it being more than another Activator. At least the Activator was compatible with all the system's games. When it worked.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:20 AM on 06.10.2009
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Besides, Fable 3, if I have to actually swing a make-shift air-sword instead of sitting my lazy ass in a chair, I will be pissed.
If they make an XBLA dancing game for Natal, count me in though. Wildcats go!
Speaking of which, how the hell is voice recognition going to work when the Natal cam is under your TV... where one of your 5.1 or 7.1 speakers is booming?
At least the device will bring 'Party centric games for parties' to the 360, so they can sell more units. The upside of this, is more consoles sold, so more undeniable RROD serving, with the prospect of a working console being designed, and force distributed to current 360 owners.
Rant from a 2x 360 owner (One for me, one for Wifey), and a previous Wii owner (Mom wanted one, she got ours). Games + Recliner = Fun. I did enjoy some games on the Wii, but each one I did, I was wishing I could play the games with a normal controller, instead of wrist-flicking to a non-precision sensor.
Might pick one up down the road if they make a couple of worthwhile adventures for it, but interest is almost immeasurably low, and no where near day 1, month 1, and probably not year 1.
Until then, it's not the friggin' end of the world if a company wants to introduce more peripherals. It's not like they're showing up at your door and shoving them down your throat.
Luckily for 360 and Ps3 (they get motion junk too), they can patch in Classic control after enough people become enraged @ the tack-on marketing pitch.
if MS does this right, this could be very good for games in general, not having to go through a controller will get people to be more interactive with games. Hell, if i get to play call of duty with natal, and it turns out good, no more of my controllers would get obliterated..
btw, anyone else notice that the chick in the picture looks like she has 6 fingers on her left hand?
Fixed.
...So instead well just jack the EYETOY/PSEYE and call it our OWN!! BOSS!!
seriously, I don't get why people think Natal is impressive, its not. If you ask me, if I had to pick "most likely to be viable in both casual and core gaming"...my vote goes to Sony.
Btw the way ...a small messages to console makers.....I'm lazy after a long day of work and the LAST thing I say to myself when I get home is "I want to play a game that makes me jump around like a boob". No NO!, I want to sit on my couch, controller in lap....and just R E L A X
From what I've seen of it, Natal is the ultimate DDR controller. In a dancing game, the feedback is your weight shifting on the floor in front of you. In fact, the Breakin' Too: Electric Boogaloo game could be awesome. Mimic a "trainer's" moves in tutorials, then do those moves for the songs; work in a freestyle section in the middle, and this could be awesome fun.
Couldn't agree more on the Sony motion controller, definitely going in the right direction there. Though I am a bit concerned about using the PSEye for motion detection. That thing doesn't even have a way to lock the direction it's facing and the cable has a tendency to pull on the camera causing it to rotate.
Or even worse holding my hands up in front all the time playing a racer, could ache in the arms after a while!
Also iam afraid if natal gets too hyped, every developer wants to integrate that 'cool new inovative' feature in every fucking game.
Look at the ds! Every developher wants to manage all its features and put them in every fucking game, with all force, instead of focusing on making GOOD games.
We will see, if this will really get as famous as everybodys hypeing it, iam afraid we all going to play half-assed-stupid-mini-doctor-baby-poop-princess-horse-riding-pet-shit games for a while!
Or even worse holding my hands up in front all the time playing a racer, could ache in the arms after a while!
Also iam afraid if natal gets too hyped, every developer wants to integrate that 'cool new inovative' feature in every fucking game.
Look at the ds! Every developher wants to manage all its features and put them in every fucking game, with all force, instead of focusing on making GOOD games.
We will see, if this will really get as famous as everybodys hypeing it, iam afraid we all going to play half-assed-stupid-mini-doctor-baby-poop-princess-horse-riding-pet-shit games for a while!
Hello^^ this is the best site for hardcore gamers wich can be found on the net!
If the PS3 or 360 begin to emulate the DS because of their motion capture devices, that could only be a good thing. The DS has the most brilliant game library of this generation.
That said, they're just accessories. Not meant for me, don't like 'em, won't buy 'em unless given incentive.
Microsoft is trying to draw a casual crowd, but they know the hardcore market is what drives their system. They aren't throwing this much money into a project just to bust out mini game collections.
Plus its obvious that this technology will retroactively work with the next Xbox. I really hope no one is dumb enough to believe this is for the 360 only. Hell, games won't even start coming out for it till possibly the last year or so of the 360's life cycle.
Keep your cynicism, I am looking forward to Natal.