680°

Ex-Microsoft Studio Boss: 'Natal Will Fail'

NowGamer: Scot Bayless, a former studio manager at Microsoft, thinks Project Natal will 'fail'. Bayless was a Senior Producer at Sega of America when the 32X peripheral launched for the Mega Drive/Genesis, and thinks a similar fate could befall Microsoft's upcoming add-on...

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xbox-360.nowgamer.com
coolcut1355087d ago

the ground is brown, green and blue

Cevapi885087d ago

question?? lets say MS finally allows the E3 audience to test out Natal with some new games ok....so what if people in the background walk through Natals sensors since there will be a lot of people? will the device be able to distinguish the player and their movement from those who are walking around in the background?? just curious...

nix5087d ago

oranges are green and orange.

ok one thing we need to learn is that camera based game was already there even during PS2 days (or probably before that). i guess sony realised that there isn't much of a market when it comes to camera-based stuffs. that's why we don't see sony ranting about PS eye.

Blaze9295087d ago

http://www.bone-idle.ie/pag...

"The really cleaver thing about this is it can block out any interference around you. People standing behind you talking or even if the dog runs across the screen the Natal is smart enough to ignore them. Someone can’t just walk into your game and start messing with it. "

Cevapi885087d ago

thanks on the info blaze....much appreciated

Kleptic5087d ago

Nix...the PS move uses the PS eye though right?...not sure what you are saying...

only thing for sure is that if this thing really turns out to be $150...it will go into a death roll almost immediately...that almost the cost of a Wii...and that doesn't even include the 360...

so a bundled 360/Natal would be at least $300 right?...for the skimped 360 sku, maybe $400 for the 'real' 360 with an HDD...too far in this generation to do that MS...

Only way this will work is if MS gets natal out cheap on its own...and INCLUDES it with every 360 sold now...for the current price...thats the ONLY way to defeat the problems the gaming public has with add-ons...companies never do this, which is why add-ons ALWAYS fail...that advice goes the same way for Sony and Move...but the PS Eye is already cheap...most rumors hint at a single move controller and the Eye bundled for well under $100...possibly $60 or so for the controller alone...and even that is a stretch to get people to buy it and a game these days...the cheaper it is, the less like an add-on it is, and the more like a simple peripheral...peripherals can do fine...add-ons can't...that is all...

BattleAxe5086d ago Show
GreenRingOfLife5086d ago

Hmm, seems like this may be true. Also this might mean Sony will fail because developers will be wary about the split market of people who own Move and people who don't

vhero5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

I agree with the article (If you read it) have always said I cannot see it taking off the 360 is seen as too much of hardcore machine. Sure this is to get more casual players onto 360 but I think it will fail. People will never see 360 like that. Playstation however can pull it off with move its always had a mixture of hardcore/casual gamers that's why PS2 is the biggest selling console of all time. The wii is 95% casual 5% hardcore and that's why wii sold so much so far but can MS take some of those sales? I doubt it.. Especially not at those prices.. Nobody gonna pay more than a wii when they can get a wii.. Existing users are mostly too hardcore to bother with it. .

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5087d ago
captain-obvious5087d ago ShowReplies(5)
Doc Sony5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

An water is wet !

But in all seriousness, it may be technologically more advanced than the Eyetoy was back in the day, but in the end its still the same thing.

An add-on, a peripheral.

And like the Eyetoy, it will be fun at first but die out real quick.

sid4gamerfreak5087d ago

ooh, ooh my turn! Oranges are....orange....

(*no reaction* )

OT: well said shovelface88...

I for one won't believe the positives or negatives of natal before E3. Once Microsoft actually shows some footage, then the judgements can be imposed.

corneliuscrust5087d ago

GT5 head tracking id be pissed that i still have my eyetoy. Where are all the awesome games you demoed back at launch sony? Eyepet isnt gonna cut it

Grown Folks Talk5086d ago

Eye Toy itself wasn't the issue. The issue was neither Sony or anyone else really supported it with software. Apparently this is not the case with Natal, but we shall see.

tplarkin75086d ago

The 360 HDD is the only add-on to succeed. But, it was a part of the 360 launch. Even so, the developers do not support it completely.

It is too late for any add-on to penetrate the market enough to be considered standard.

The only hope is to make a casual bundle with a new name. Treat it like a new console. Casuals won't know that it's an Xbox 360 with an add-on.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5086d ago
mookins5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

Roses are red.

Lol...but it is interesting hearing this from an ex-Microsoft guy.

ElementX5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

The Gulf of Mexico is oily

Inside_out5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

Hmmm...lets see...EX employee...Senior producer of Sega...thinks Natal is bad a couple of wks BEFORE it launches....LMAO...Well, if there's a guy that knows about failure it's him....

Move is an add on...Wii has regular controllers...HELLO...definetl y a good thing this guy is an EX employee...I'm curious what he does NOW...lol...fries anyone...

Natal is gonna be huge...to late to cry about it now Sega man...My mind fails me...how did the whole Sega thing work out...lol....

BTW..it's nice to know I don't have to buy a NEW TV to play it...Sony...KZ3 is great, you'll need a new TV & $10 a month to play...Computer...play video...

Biggest5087d ago

I challenge any of the Natal supporters to explain why it will be huge. I want to know why a gamer, as you guys claim yourself to be, feel that Natal will be a great addition to your game experience. I don't care about sales. I don't care about marketing. Please enlighten me.

simplyRealistic185087d ago

lmao your such a f****ing idiot, you dont need a new tv to play killzone 3, you need if you want the 3d aspect

2. natal is not week from launching it launching around fall

3. you talk about failure, he actually work at a big corporation, what was your big achievement in life, oh that right playing the product of a company he worked @

Biggest5086d ago

Since no one wants to tell me why they feel Natal will be a great addition to their gaming experience I guess the "haters" are correct. They highlight the lag, the difficulty recognizing what it is to recognize, and the very exciting game that features one of the most important gaming icons of all time. Of course I mean that lovable character named "Big Red Ballface".

Adrela5086d ago

I was going to explain why Natal is great, then I realized there's no point since this is N4G; home of fanboys.

Moonboots5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

Adrela is right.. It would be a waste of time explaining to you. Your comment history is full of hate for anything 360 and MS especially Natal. You are just here to cause flaming and trolling..

I will give it a shot.

How do I think it will add to my gaming? Well, for one I am not totally against motion based games if they are done right. What a great way to get some exercise while enjoying my favorite hobby.

From my hardcore/core experiences I could see it being used in games like Fable. Maybe I do a lot of stuff with the controller but when it comes to combat I use motion for my sword and use the facial and voice recognition for the conversation interaction.

Or playing a game like Gears and I can run up and do melee moves with Natal. Walk up and twist my hands and it snaps the neck of a Locust. Then grab for the controller to run to the next to mow it down with my Lancer.

Of course I'm no developer so who knows what type of interesting ideas they are going to come up with. One thing for sure is many seem excited about it.

Just a couple examples that has me excited for it. And I am excited for Move in the same way.

air15086d ago

Biggest

how about I chalenge you to wait for E3 and wait for Microsoft to enlighten you cause quite frankly you ask the same question on every natal news and no matter what anyone says you will find some kinda consperocy about it

I'll try again though. I'm excited for natal cause of the interface I love the minority report control. The facial recognition voice recognition and the idea of playing games with a controler is sick, like lobbing a grenade or reaching out to open Door in the next RE just little things like that has me excited about natal .

If you just open your mind a little and pretend to be a gamer instead of a pstation you would see that natal has huge potential, so does move.

Moonboots5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

come to think of it.. the Eye can do a lot of that same stuff. So in essence if MS is successful with this it might get Sony into it more as well.. Could be great for everyone. And of course it will ALWAYS be optional in the core games so nobody will be forced to use any of it.

I wouldn't mind snapping some necks or doing some wicked melees in God of War 3(or 4?) with the Eye. Combine that with the Move controller for a sword! Sounds like something I just might enjoy playing.

@biggest: I just want to add that if you don't like it that is fine and I do respect your opinion. You just seem extra hard on it..

PiTCHBLaCK5086d ago

Getting exercise is all good for some of us, but I feel sorry for the person who can't walk. so I don't think motion controllers will be for everyone, expecially the handicapped and disabled.

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Syronicus5087d ago

It is sure to fail big. Too bad too since so many xbox fans had so much faith in Natal.

bjornbear5087d ago

most 360 hardcore fans WILL NOT buy natal , possibly due to ridiculous price

ingiomar5086d ago

As a 360 ''fanboy'' i agree it will fail to sell well if the price really is 150... but if they show of some really cool-games at e3 using natal i know i will buy it regardless of the price... but thats just me.

MNicholas5086d ago

but if Microsoft manages to sell even one of those glorified webcams for $149, that alone would be quite an achievement of product marketing.

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Feckles5087d ago

Has Microsoft not learned from the lessons of the 32X, 64DD, MegaCD... and its own HD DVD add-on? Natal is slightly different from those add-ons – admittedly – but at $150 it might as well be the next (failed) console add-on.

Lou-Cipher5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

The only way Natal will succeed, is if Microsoft adds a controller to the mix. They need to swallow their pride and just copy Sony's Move/Camera Combo. (it's not like they are afraid to copy others)

Natal wont appeal to people for very long. The reason Eye Toy failed is because playing games without a controller is not fun for most.

I dont care what kind of advantages Natal has over Eye Toy, as long as you still play games in the same manner, it will lose it's appeal just as fast as Eye Toy did.

Feckles5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

I think Sony might have the right balance with Move – but it needs to be packed in with PS3s and with games like Killzone 3. And cost less than $60 standalone.

Rhythmattic5087d ago (Edited 5087d ago )

Lou-Cipher

I'm Thinking Sony has Patented the Camera/Controller Combo idea, Just as MS did with Crossgame chat and personal Music playback in-game.

corneliuscrust5087d ago

There are many ps3 games with custom sountrack options.

You will definitely be able to use a controller and Natal in tandem.

Rhythmattic5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

Opps, Must make myself clearer.... Hey I still could be wrong, just speculating as many a linked blog on N4G.

I believe Cross game chat, and choice of music is system wide on the 360, Correct ?

As for sony , in game music is possible through the individual developers choice, Correct ?

I'm not saying MS cant use Natal in conjunction with their 360 Controller, All i'm saying is the Camera tracking a gaming peripheral (such as move) might be.

Just my 2 beers worth.....

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5086d ago
Nicholas Cage5087d ago

i agree. and i know when this gets in the publics hands its going to be unrealistic how microsoft intended them to use it. people want remotes, they love them, dont fix whats not broken.

tudors5087d ago

maybe your right but hopefully you loose your remote more than you loose your hands, and this guy Tom Hopkins seems to have a real high opinion of himself.

kratos1235087d ago

wow it gets worse and worse every time it gets some news

palaeomerus5087d ago

Nah, it's just the usual silly people freaking out over rumors trying to spin ANYTHING they hear as bad because they are childish and angry that other gaming companies exist and prosper.

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20°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

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news.xbox.com
290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv724d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle4d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18814d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning773d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga4d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv723d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19923d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21834d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga4d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan3d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit3d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus233d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv723d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier3d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan3d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

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purple1014d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos4d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-3d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac4d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1014d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic4d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead3d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere5d ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN5d ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos5d ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN5d ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo5d ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies5d ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger5d ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic4d ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows904d ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

blacktiger3d ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto5d ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos5d ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long5d ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel5d ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator5d ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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