480°

Ballmer says we will not need some "big fat gaming thing" to change channels

While Ballmer understands the success of the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, he does not always know how to express himself. According to Ballmer we will not need to grab the television remote or some "big fat gaming thing" to change channels or turn the television on and off.

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projectkelso.com
ubiquitious5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

But it doesn't matter. The world stops May 3, 2010.

FALLS 2010

Shadow Flare5133d ago

That's no way for steve ballmer to be talking about gabe newell

Parapraxis5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

Brilliantly spoken...as usual.
/S ..obviously

Ballmer is such a moron.

5133d ago
iFLOWLIKEWATER5133d ago

hope Natal has a universal attribute to it. I would like for it to work with all dvd, tv, dvr brands. I really couldn't see it not working with Tivo...

cyborg69715133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

Wow butterfinger good one. How many exclusives has your 360 had in 2010? Seems to me your the one who has the most time on your hands. As for ballmer if it wasn't for his friendship with gates in college he'd be nothing.

Edit.@ butterfinger. After reading all of your moronic comments you should change your name to butthurtfinger. I mean it must be after reading all of the fud you've spread in this thread.

Mr_Bun5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

According to you, calling out Steve Ballmer out for making a moronic statement qualifies you as a troll.
I guess you agree with everything that spews from his face, regardless of context or perspective.

Looks like summer school is starting early for you, this year!

iFLOWLIKEWATER5133d ago

didn't know that the 360 controller could change channels on a tv.

Christopher5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

Strange, I don't use a big fat gaming thing to change channels right now.

And, honestly, using a Natal-like device to navigate my TV channels will just be a waste of time compared to using a remote that is already at hand and has all the needed functionality built-in.

This is like Office 2007, only worse. Microsoft goes and changes everything that people already know for no reason other than to force some new changes that make people relearn where everything is and even increase the effort needed to perform some of the most basic of actions.

@butterfinger: Says poster #4... might want to wait for a few more people to actually post before going out with that sort of statement.

cemelc5133d ago

This comment fail on so many levels is not funny.

GOW3 did blow the world away, becouse as of now is the top tier game in graphics for any console, is a technical marvel with up to 50 enemies on screen, and a great plot.

Only trolls like you are deluded into thinking otherwise

Hallmark Moment5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

They also don't need >two< big fat gaming things for each person to play proper games. I don't think people will favor buying more than one "Big fat gaming thing" for each person in their family. Rough times ahead for the big fat gaming thing camp. I don't think Microsoft has to announce the difference between the >big fat gaming thing< tech, it is not going to be competition anyways. The big fat gaming thing is not as advanced and it doesn't have close to the amount of support from the industry as Natal. the >BFGT< doesn't have the newness factor and will be seen as the HD Wii and not a revolution[yes pun intended]

Inside_out5133d ago

No doubt...he's describing my " fat Elvis " PS3...he's mean...it's weight challenged...

On topic...sounds amazing...E3 is gonna be interesting...Natal, by far the most advanced system out there...It's a super computer that does 1080p, 60 fps, and plays bluuu...hold on, wrong commercial...never mind....Natal...it's just the best...

raztad5133d ago

"Wow, look at the PS3 trolls rushing in here.
Nothing exciting going on in the world of PS3 lately? After God of War 3 didn't blow the world away, I guess you guys are left to trolling as usual."

" What an idiotic comment.
You can go ahead and hump your PS3 all day long instead. At least you'll be able to play Wii HD, I mean PlayStation Move"

Funny thing the guy calling out other fanboys is the one coming up with the worst comments.

DARK WITNESS5133d ago

uummm, No... my Girlfriend will tell you which channels I change when I pick up the "Big Fat Thing" she gets quite excited by it :-)

darkmurder5133d ago

DEVELOPERS!DEVELOPERS!
DEVELOPERS!
DEVELOPERS!

IRetrouk5133d ago

so you dont like the thought of a wii hd but you get a hardon for eyetoy 2.0?. i would have called it an eyetoy hd but we both know that wouldnt technically have been true.

bjornbear5133d ago

oh he means natal!

stupid man doesn't know what a controller is

then again, its natal a "big fat stupid gaming thing", except its sitting infront of your tv instead of on your sofa...?

HolyOrangeCows5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

ROLF!

"Zomg, natal is teh future, we will have expensive cameras with shaky feedback instead of remotes for simple tasks like changing the channel"

Raz5132d ago

You beat me to it!

Yup, we heard the man - we don't need some big fat gaming thing. I guess it's time to finally say goodbye to Gabe Newell, Aaron Greenberg and Steve Ballmer!

Therealspy035132d ago (Edited 5132d ago )

did you even read the article? the context that he used this statement in makes perfect sense. he's not talking to gamers. he's talking to people who probably know very little about gaming and probably think of their kids' video game controllers that way.

this isn't what he refers to it as personally, this is how he references it to a bunch of suits. that was pretty obvious. which means it's pretty obvious most of you were just looking for another excuse to talk sh!t.

if anyone ever asks me what a troll is, from now on, i'll be referring them to N4G. it seems as if you get more examples here in one thread than on another other site's entire forum.

Heisenberg5132d ago (Edited 5132d ago )

No everyone was able to decipher what he was trying to say just fine, the point was how foolish his phrasing sounded, especially considering his job. Also, are you under the impression that for the average person "big fat gaming thing" is more clear and easily understood than controller/game controller/anything other than what your 93 year old Grandpappy calls it?

C'mon, don't pretend he was just doing the layman a favor, as video game controllers are not new to anyone, and if it was, "big fat gaming thing" is not the more suitable choice..

N4Flamers5131d ago

natal is going to run my comcast dvr.

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Cylon5133d ago

The final name is not Natal, right?

NateNater5133d ago

I'd rather use a remote instead of flail my arms around everywhere just to change a channel.

5133d ago
MajestieBeast5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

I think i would rather hump your mom. j/k but seriously nobody mentioned ps3 till you did.

Imalwaysright5133d ago

I agree. I dont want to wave my arm 100 times until i find a program i want to watch on the TV!!

Kyur4ThePain5133d ago

Christ, dude. You are the ONLY person to have mentioned the PS3 so far. YOU are the troll.
Shut up about the PS3, this story has nothing to do with it.
You are becoming really annoying.

Mr_Bun5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

So far, there are only 2 comments regarding the PS3/Move and they are both from you...SHOCKING.

How many accounts does it take for you to give yourself 8 bubbles? There can't be that many people on here who agree with your asinine, irrational comments!

Just because someone doesn't like the idea of Natal, doesn't mean they are for Move. Next time, try 'thinking' instead of being so defensive over your precious MS peripherals.

-MD-5133d ago

How many accounts does it take to give yourself 9 bubbles hypocrite?

GiantEnemyCrab5133d ago

You guys act like it will be a mandate that you destroy your remote control. Don't worry old timers, nobody is going too make you work to hard and I'm sure your remote will still be there.

How about not waving your arms 100 times and just say "Go to Comedy Central" or you could just say "Surf" and it will go through all the channels and you don't even have to stress your little finger and push a button 100 times.

Pennywise5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

Did someone hijack Butterfinger's account?

Starting to think butterfinger forgot to log out and get on his Foxgod account before commenting. I've never heard him so bitter and pitiful.

@Crab - When I want Comedy Central - I push 6-1. 100 buttons? You guys will say just anything. I don't want to scream at my TV to get it to change the channel.

Mr_Bun5133d ago

First of all, change the pic back to Selma Blair blowing the bubble....Second of all, did you just out yourself as 1 of Butterfinger's alternate accounts?

-MD-5133d ago (Edited 5133d ago )

You're asking me if I outed myself as Butterfinger's alt account? The answer to that is no. Go ahead and run an IP check to confirm.

This is also a picture of Selma so what's the difference? It's always looked more like a dandelion to me than a bubble by the way.

Mr_Bun5133d ago

Maybe it is a dandelion....I can't remember what it looked like, but that picture was the best I have ever seen!

bjornbear5133d ago

there's a difference between fear of whats new and change, and simply not wanting to due to impracticality

this is NOTHING practical about using natal over a controller, nothing that would take away the remote control forever.

if natal was so unique...many companies would have done this with cameras on their tv's to simplify channel changing, etc...

its just not worth it

as in

natal more expensive than remote control...

5133d ago
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Dylantalon15133d ago ShowReplies(9)
cyborg69715133d ago

Well said. And to think gates hand picked this guy.

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500°

Kinect Technical Specifications & Xbox 360 Requirements Revealed

The most notable reveal would perhaps by the requirements of the Xbox 360 console itself. While Microsoft has insisted since the original unveiling of Kinect at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2009, then known as Project NATAL, that the device would be compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles, the revelation of a dedicated port included on the newly redesigned Xbox 360 model has sparked rumours of incompatibility, which were quickly debunked.

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electronictheatre.co.uk
5071d ago Replies(12)
lzim5071d ago

odd, i was led to believe it lacked an internal processor and so also needed a core to itself, if not 1-2 processing threads.

Wikkid6665071d ago

The article says nothing about whether the processor is internal or it uses the 360s.

darthv725070d ago

Also, the notion of a dedicated port really lends nothing to the idea of older units being incompatible. I believe the kinect port is a custom usb port (think the original xbox controller ports) but one that will feed power and data.

Older models will require a splitter that will run off a single usb port (prob the back one) that will work for the data but not the power. That is why they keep saying it will have an external power for those systems.

As for the processor, combo of both makes sense. Using 360 cpu/gpu power to help calculate the finished product on screen along with the cpu in the kinect.

Remember people...this is not a cheap usb web cam (like the original live vision).

Inside_out5071d ago (Edited 5071d ago )

They say they are using 10-15% of one 360 P4 cores. I know that the Kinect we see today is a watered down version of the patented tech they bought and own. Maybe one day the " real " tech will be cost effective. It still is very impressive tech even without a super computer running it.

wicked5071d ago

No, the previous artical said they removed a processor, but I would guess that it had more than 1 to start with. So it will have some form of processor still within it. Arm9 or Cortex M3, all dirt cheap now but powerful.

IdleLeeSiuLung5071d ago

Does it matter? They showed Forza Kinect that looked amazing working with Kinect real time!

callahan095071d ago

Are you just talking about how the graphics are able to look amazing while working with Kinect? If that's what you're talking about, ok. The game itself, though, well... I think I'll stick with the real Forza, with an Xbox 360 control pad. The limited-control Kinect Forza they showed doesn't look like it's worth any attention, in my opinion. Why would anyone want to control a car like that, with hands held out and holding onto nothing, with no control over acceleration or braking? Just seems totally pointless to me.

CrawFail5071d ago

lol real time? I don't quite think it was real time.

Bigpappy5070d ago

You guy know that the motion tech is from prime sense right? Please go to their web site primesense.com,and have a look at what they say the tech can do. It can read fingers well enough to type with each finger and can be used while sitting. No one ever said it has to scan the entire body to work. What we have seen from kinect so far is not all it is capable of.

Reading these specs and trying to compare them to PSeye is pointless, because they are different types of cameras and provide completely differnt types of info to the consoles (Kinect is a 3D camera and provides 3D images. PSeye is a 2D camera and provides 2D images). Per Primsense, the camera is capable of providing video at 60fps, but the 3D is 30fps. The specs for 2 players active is for full body scans. There are no specs given for people sitting and just using their hands.

This tech is obviously a work in progress and has yet to be fleshed out. I suggest all you N4G Kinect experts, research before you post you doom and gloom so you atleast have solid facts for you skepticism. You can also relax and see what M$ does with the tech insteat of pretending to know more that the people developing the tech.

IdleLeeSiuLung5069d ago

The game was available for people to try on the show floor at E3 so yes it was real time. Wetter you like it for Forza or not wasn't my point.

That is up to the developer to figure out.

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Apolloeye5071d ago

So pretty much the same spec as the PS Eye, although I thought the eye went up to 120 Hertz...

Theonik5071d ago

The eye goes to 60Hz i think. Regardless the eye should be capable to do any Kinect shown so far with less lag. (they revolve on a 2D axis and only use the depth tracking to separate players.) I am really disappointed by the tech and how it is utilised thus far.

shoddy5071d ago

More or less powerful we need to see the product.
So far it seem the pseye can do anything kinect can do.
2d 3d I not yet see the advantage.

IHateYouFanboys5070d ago

no, the PSEye cannot do 3D tracking. Kinect can.

the PSEye does 2D motion recognition, Kinect does 3D motion tracking. they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things.

Sheikh Yerbouti5070d ago

Going from alkaline to lithium was a significant step for batteries, but at the end of the day it is just a battery. PSEye and Kinect are kind of the same way. At the end of the day it is a game camera - with camera games.

IHateYouFanboys5070d ago

@Sheikh Yerbouti: your example is not really on the same scale of difference as PSEye/Kinect.

a better example using batteries would be the jump from standard batteries to rechargable batteries. theyre both doing the same thing - being batteries - but one of them does things that the other one cannot possibly do, which is be recharged and used again. it does everything the standard battery does, and more.

Kinect does everything the PSEye does (2D motion recognition), and more (3D motion tracking). no amount of software updates can change the hardware in the PSEye, and the hardware is not capable of 3D motion tracking as it lacks infra-red.

IaMs125070d ago

Yes i see your point but how you guys feel about the PS3 can be said the same way.

The PS3 may produce better graphics and be more powerful then the Xbox360, but by the end of they day its still only a console. Also inferior to PC :)

PirosThe4th5070d ago

... PSeye can do 3d as you say... even eyetoy... they used shadows and other stuff to recognize it.
Move is also 3d...

Sheikh Yerbouti5070d ago

Lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries.

Kinect isn't a true 3D camera - it can't render a picture of your butt if you are always facing front. It makes an approximate 3D model using visual cues. The PSEye can do the same, although it will be cruder.

Plus, just because the technology is different, doesn't necessarily mean gameplay will be.

@lams12
Yes, you're right. Similarly Kinect will have some good games, different from PSEye, only if Microsoft makes them. But they haven't made games too different from the PSEye.

Theonik5070d ago

Which is what i meant from the start. None of the games they have shown so far could not have been on the PS Eye.

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Xwow20085071d ago

"Tracks up to 6 people, including 2 active players"
I think now its official that just 2 ppl can play at the same time.

Godmars2905070d ago

Love that you're quoting something and you're getting disagrees.

Sheikh Yerbouti5070d ago (Edited 5070d ago )

Only room for two anyway when you think about it...
but it can keep track of six people during a game in regards to facial recognition. I think that's impressive.

I would love to have Kinect built into my laptop, so only I can get in even without a password. Why is Microsoft wasting this on the XBox again?

Ilikegames765070d ago

still couldn't play it sitting down. Honestly, some guys are so easily impressed by copy cat technology.

blackpanther255070d ago

i was at the engadget show and kudo showed its 3d tracking and when two people where on screen......one person would be red while the other would be green.......but as soon as a third person steped into the camera view two people automatically turned gray and it couldnt read their movements well.

what i took away from that event is that the kinect is pretty kool but for right now it can only work with two people(they could still be working on it)

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5070d ago
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150°

Kinect Re-Appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon & Miranda Cosgrove

Xbox Evolved:

"Microsoft is holding no breaks in making sure the general public knows all about Kinect. What cooler spot to also show it than with Jimmy Fallon? "

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xboxevolved.e-mpire.com
Coded-Dude5078d ago

although i usually watch fallon. i'll have to catch an internet clip of it later.

ProA0075078d ago

it's nothing you have to see. trust me. zzzzzzz

tokoshix5078d ago

I'm sure it's just the usual marketing stuff, so nothing really interesting. Pretty much learned everything about the device at E3.

Tony P5078d ago

The more I see this targeted at non-gamers, the sadder I get.

I want a Kinect game I can be *proud* to own as a gamer. One day.

sonarus5078d ago

I saw it full of lag. The girls was standing there and her character just started twitching out of control.

Plus you can clearly see the game is full of Lag. Regardless though i don't care...its a piece of tech directed to casual gamers so kudos to MS for this. Unfortunately i don't fall into the casual crowd so this does not interest me one bit.

What does interest me though is a cheaper 360 slim with a hard drive and wifi capablities for 50 or maybe 100 bucks cheaper

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5078d ago
Blaze9295078d ago

was pretty funny. same demos they showed at E3 though. Nothing new. But they sure are marketing it quick.

AridSpider5078d ago

Yeah they did the same thing the day after they announced Natal last year with Good Morning America and Fallon back when it was called Natal. No doubt this thing will sell I suspect. Will it succeed technically though is the question

ProA0075078d ago

well they did say they are launching this like the launch of a new xbox.

AridSpider5078d ago

Well they price has not been 'confirmed' yet by anyone....

AridSpider5078d ago

wow first that girl's co-worker hosts the Kinect event and now she's her playing it. I see the audience Microsoft is definitely going after with Bieber, Cosgrove and McCurdy - teenage pop audiences.

Cueil5078d ago

it's that female crowd that they would love to hook into...

JasonXE5078d ago

She's kind of hot.

/pedobear

Boring show.

SpaceSquirrel5078d ago

Interesting. They did the same last year as well.

Show all comments (31)
200°

Hey Microsoft, Where Are The Core Games For Kinect?

Meodia writes, "So about a year ago when Project Natal was first starting off, many Xbox 360 and even other gamers were worried about the future of their console. A local shovelware dumping ground didn't sound quite appealing and Natal looked like it would serve extra servings of it. But Microsoft reassured us, holding our hands and telling us that everything would be alright. Since then, nothing has changed. After that "conference" at E3, we were shown nothing but how to please little girls."

xHarvey5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

Kinectimals. Raising a tiger isn't hardcore? lol

ipwnall5082d ago

Bubbles to you sir.

I'm extremely aggravated about this Kinect business. I mean, look at the image in the article. Those are the games for Kinect's future. Do we want to be playing those?

B-Real2065082d ago

They told you to wait till gamescom and now you will wait.

005082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

But you won't be when that tiger mauls you.

ShinMaster5082d ago

"Wait till E3" they said.
Well E3 has come and this is the result.

Moonboots5082d ago

LOL! +bub for funny on that one!

PS: I love you Skittles! Don't eat me!!!!

BiggCMan5082d ago Show
HolyOrangeCows5082d ago

"Wait until E3"
"Wait until Gamescon"
"Wait until release"
"Wait until next E3"
"Wait until...."

So if we want core games, the best option is the waiting game?

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5082d ago
Alcon Caper5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

hey ms remember this list from tgs 09?

Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom Co. Ltd, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft

>:(

Imperator5082d ago

Behind closed doors being shown to paid celebrities who could care less about gaming.... if there's even any at all.

Mr Logic5082d ago

It needs buttons. There is only a limited a limited amount of things you can accomplish through gesture recognition.

Inane_Asylum5082d ago

I heard Kevin Butler say buttons existed in the future...

...I believe him...

Moonboots5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

Obviously Kinect is a casual device designed for those gamers first and foremost and that is the message MS wanted to send at E3 much to the angst of the core. And they have been saying all year that is what to expect.

I am going to give it some time because I don't think MS are going to ignore their core for long. And in the mean time enjoy my controller on games like Gears 3, Reach, Fable 3, Kingdoms, Black Ops, etc etc on the 360.. Not even going to mention my plate for the other systems I own.. There is just no time to play it all. (heaven?)

Redempteur5082d ago

Don't you see ? hardcore games are coming ..just now they annonced .. BURGER KING !!

............

neverming .

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Arnon5082d ago

It's funny because after the Microsoft conference, we actually saw some. In fact, I'm surprised that they showed off the shovelware they did, and then an hour later Sonic Freedom Riders and Child of Eden were shown off and completely destroyed what Microsoft displayed.

Imperator5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

Child of Eden is a multiplat, and do you have any gameplay vids of Sonic (I honestly want to see how it works).

@Orange Juice, Ah, I see. Looks kinda simple though. wouldn't really call it a core game.

@Arnon, if that's the case then Kinect really does have the edge in that game... but that's just one game. MS needs to show a LOT more.

Orange Juice5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

http://n4g.com/news/546595/...

There you go

EDIT Now that I watch the gameplay closely its most likely a game for kids. I couldnt see an adult "hardcore" gamer playing this game for an extended period of time.

Erotic Sheep5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

Eyetoy Antigrav says hi..

Arnon5082d ago (Edited 5082d ago )

Child of Eden is multiplat, but it's exclusive to Kinect in regards to motion controls. The developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi does not have a dev kit for Move.

http://www.computerandvideo...

HaVoK3085082d ago

If core gamers are anything like me they could careless about them.

pimpmaster5082d ago

gotta agree, MS is exactly like nintendo 2 years ago. hey, what ever happened to that dumb ass vitality sensor.

gynecologistcobra5082d ago

Like Nintendo two years ago? As in, raking up a fuck ton of cash?

pimpmaster5082d ago

as in having nothing to offer for the hardcore audience. and only for casuals

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