Microsoft sends message: Natal improves, not replaces, 360

Project Natal's video tracking technology made serious waves during Microsoft's E3 press conference; the company opened the show, and some argue that it set the tone for the event. While getting your hands on the new hardware proved to be monstrously tricky after the big reveal, Microsoft wants to get one message out to the gaming audience: Natal will supplement your Xbox 360, not replace it.

[KingKionic]

I thought it was talking about something new.

-____-

[Jaces]

Well that's good to know.

I enjoy how the PS3 incorporates the six axis motion into a lot of games but nothing overpowering. Seeing how that's the direction natal is heading I can see it working really well, specially with it being fully body motion sensing.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

"Penello pointed out that Natal won't push away those gamers who still like to hold a controller in their hands. "When people see what can be done with 'Project Natal,' I think they’ll understand the appeal to all audiences—from non-gamers to casual gamers to the hardcore gamer," he told Ars. "I think it's important that people understand the power of what we're doing with Xbox 360 and Project Natal is that it’s a way to enhance the amazing experiences we already have—not replace them. If you like playing with a controller, we have the best one in the industry, and those experiences aren't going away."

One of the most important points in this article besides the fact the 360 is not being replaced anytime soon.

[KingKionic]

But did people think the xbox 360 would be replaced ?

Here to stay.

[green]

They have been saying that since E3, but people and a lot of journalists seem to ignore that fact.

“We’re not going to take anything away. There will be controller-based games. What we’re really doing is adding to our platform; when I think about Natal, I think of it like a Guitar Hero controller—it fits the experience better. There will still be games that use the controller, games that use only Natal, and games that use a combination." http://www.edge-online.com/...

[coolirisGB]

Xbox naysayers were spreading new xbox rumors around even getting people that knew better to talk about it. Microsoft mentioned the truth of the matter during the E3 conference and plenty of times during the show.

Also you could see things like motion wands and other things that function with Natal.

http://www.oxm.co.uk/articl...

[Kushan]

I think the most important bit is where they stated that some games will use BOTH the controller and Natal. Many people seem to be forgetting that little fact when they're criticising the device.

[ape007]

I don't know if is it me or something but natal does not sound too promising for hardcore games,it cannot be used a lot in games,it may be some little,sure it will have non-gamers sold but I don't think it gonna be huge for hardcore games

I'll just wait and c

[ceedubya9]

When thinking about this thing, we have to make sure that we are not being narrow-minded. There are ways that developers can use Natal together with the standard controller that can enhance our more hardcore games.

It seems that a lot of the naysayers are looking at natal as the all in one device to play a game, as if every game that uses it will be hands free. There are many possibilities. For instance, playing a call of duty game, we could say "airstrike" when we earn that ability while playing online. And that's just a simple example.

Its up to developers to use their imaginations for this technology.

[coolirisGB]

Hardcore games like bloody shooters and fighting games with blood and Gore? Why can't Natal have FightNight or shooters like COD? using motion? lol

COD

-Move forward: Step forward
-Move left or right: step left or right
-Crouch: crouch
-Aim: Aim
-Shoot: Move finger(or peripheral only sending trigger feedback)
-move camera: move head

Director, Alex Kipman

"We'll have games that are specifically designed to work only with NATAL - not just arcadey games, but real, hardcore, triple-A titles," Kipman stated. "Then you'll have some games that are essentially a hybrid - games that work both with the controller and with NATAL. Why is that interesting? Think about a First-Person Shooter where I'm using the controller but I'm doing facial tracking by just moving around and looking round corners."
http://electronictheatre.co...

Hardcore gamer

"Hardcore gamer is a widely used term applied to describe a type of video game player. There is currently no unanimously agreed upon definition for the term (see Usage section). Some describe hardcore gamers as those whose leisure time is largely devoted to playing or reading about video games. This type of gamer prefers to take significant time and practice on games, in contrast to a casual gamer. Many hardcore gamers pride themselves on mastering the rules or use of a game, although this is not a strict requirement. Conflicting opinion argues that it is not so much the time spent on games however, as casual gamers can spend hundreds of hours on games without ever mastering them."

The main use of Hardcore games IMO describes a game easy to understand-pick up and play vs investing a lot of time learning plus having greater range of difficulty for a more varied audience of gamers that require different skill levels.

[Kushan]

Give me Street Fighter IV with Natal Support and as a hardcore gamer, I'll be ecstatic.

HADOKEN!

[raztad]

@cool

What you are proposing would make playing a game a daunting task, something to be paid for, do you really want to look like an idiot when playing COD? or to stay 4 hours crouching or moving toward your side, to back, to the front just to play a game? Dude please. I like much better the Wii solution, at least Nintendo provide a classical control to do that kind of stuff. I'm sure MOST games will be employing the normal control and where is possible (very few) you will use motion control.

[raztad]

DOUBLE POST

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

are you fvcking insane why would they do that MS made it perfectly clear Natal is suppose to be controllerless that means no controllers to use a controller with Natal makes Natal pointless hell you basically discribed Sony's motion controller , camera + controller at least that can be used for hardcore games Natal can't don't say yes it can because it can't the creator of Eye Toy said it himself during the new wand thing demo you need buttons for certain games like FPS , TPS ,fighting games, RPG's , Natal can't do hardcore just face it Natal will be for casual gamers and it's games will be the same shovelware games on Wii just in HD.

[KingKionic]

It will be for both.

I wouldn't doubt Microsoft .

They have shocked a lot of people this generation .

Microsoft Xbox Team has a lot of smart people. Personally i would like to see some devs make some control scheme`s .

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

what smart ppl 360 best games come from third party dev ( except Fable that's there own ppl ) and the only shockers MS did was getting former PS3 exclusive on there system and you don't think of how games like COD or Gears can be pulled of without a controller , have you ever played a FPS or TPS with 1 analog stick it's trouble so how can Natal which has no analog sticks be able to play the games ppl bought a 360 for . here's something for you and every 360 owner and Natal supporter should think of and i mean really think of how will you be able to play Halo or Gears or Ninja Gaiden or Tekken or Fable and until someone can tell me honest to god how any of those games will be played using only Natal and your body and actually give a detailed way to play those games than Natal can be used for both hardcore & casual but until than Natal is casual and wil bring cr@ppy shovelware games to 360 . there's common gameplay elements Natal can't do like going to your inventory switch weapons switch grenades and more

[Xi]

Many of the games that are exclusive to the MS platforms are created by MS then contracted out to other developers.

eg.
Mechwarrior
Crackdown
PGR
crimson skies
infinite undiscovery
blue dragon
nighty nine nights
lips
lost odyssey
etc.

While they are made by 3rd party companies, these are games designed by microsoft studios. Don't think for a instant that MS relies solely on third party developers to create and deisgn their games.

And that list of games doesn't even include the titles that are developed under MS studios, which include:
rare
lionhead
turn 10
big park
spawnpoint
wingnut
XBL productions.

Second of all, games like halo and gears can be designed to use natal, all it takes is some outside thinking, view my other post(8) to see what I mean.

[KingKionic]

To keep a close mind will only make you stuck in your own imagination.

We are only speculating ,but i think if some good developers and Microsoft xbox team they can do some good for Natal .

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

you talk about how developers can do it yet as i said give me a detailed description of how games like that will be played and then i'll accept Natal can be used for both yet you call me closed minded and not give a detailed description , you 2 haven't proven me wrong you 2 are avoiding what i ask and try to make me think i'm wrong that i'm closed minded in hopes of not having to think how it can be done just to keep the ocean that Natal is going to be huge and justifying Natal which FAILS i still ask give a detailed description of how those games can be played with Natal and i'd gladly accept it if it's a good one and if it covers the basic and advanced common gameplay elements like movement , moving camera going to inventory the pause screen etc. also to XI alot of the games you mentioned are only published by MS, i go by developers you know the game company that gets money to create a game and i said best games isn't ME , Halo & Gears the best games on 360.

[KingKionic]

I didnt call you close minded i said :

"To keep a close mind will only make you stuck in your own imagination. "

But i guess you are right.

Ill end this speculation .

[coolirisGB]

Don't pay him any attention he's a hypocrite, take a look at his comment 1.44 in the "PS3 Only Good For Exclusives?" article.

He's upset because Microsoft is setting it straight, again. Just look at his comments in here Jee wiz

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

hypocrite ha look whose talking fanboy in sheeps clothing i ain't bad mouthing MS i said you the FACTS like the best games on 360 are from third party developers Halo 3 made by Bungie there third party and Gears 2 made by Epic and there third party i don't see it being bashful if you know i didn't say MS is bad and i did acknowledge Fable so i'm pretty sure i wasn't bashing if i was it be like this MS sucks Gears & Halo suck and are over hyped and 360 is crap because of RROD that's bashing and being hypocrite and don't say i'm bashing 360 because of Natal honestly i hate motion control if it be nintendo or Sony my thoughts on all motion control is equal but hey i can't expect fanboys like you to get as they say owned by someone and end there fanboy rants quietly
EDIT @ below
hope so i don't want to see another game company abandon there fans to go casual like nintendo

[coolirisGB]

I bet Microsoft has something new with Natal to show at TGS it is going to be great. I still don't know how the Natal needs a new console rumors got started but I'm pretty sure the guys that found out about the X-Engine did not help.

[-MD-]

What was that one game Rare made way back in the day where you bounced a ball back and forth and tried to hit every block? I want to see that on Natal.

Edit: Super Glove Ball is the game! Man that would be fun to play again.

[Mc Fadge]

With that Richochet game?

[GodGinrai]

are you sure your not talking about cosmic smash on dreamcast?

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[NegativeCreep427]

So the headline up there ^^^ is something of a "no sh*t" fact.

[KingKionic]

...ok...

It was referring to " controller based games.

Explaining that here will be both. A combination of the two controllers (Natal , xbox 360 controller).

[AngryTypingGuy]

Like I've been saying all along. Natal is going to kick ass!

[Mr_iClu7ch]

Also i think All future Xbox 360´s will come along with NATAL at the same price.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

To every Halo Fan out there -- The best montage ever !

[GodGinrai]

This makes me want to get better at halo (im a 46/brigadier,grade 2, but there is always room for improvement). watching that was definetly inspiring. It also reminds me that bungie built a beast of a game interms of mechanics/controls/design.

on topic:Natal could be great if its implimented intelligently and intuitivley into games. Devs are smart people so im sure they will figure it out..and MS got that 3d wizkid working on natal so i expect to be impressed and surprised in equal measure...im gonna go play some halo..:)

thanks for linking that vid Mr_iClu7ch!

[xcox]

http://www.4extenze.net/

lol

[-MD-]

I don't get it.

[KingKionic]

He`s trying to tell us something.

Natal + extenze = Big motion boner.

lol

[AngryTypingGuy]

Xcox, what was the punchline? You have the humor and wit of a 5 year old.

[ShabzS]

seriously ... picture natal WITH a controller ...

[divideby0]

It will supplement the 360 at a price of an 360 arcade system by the time it comes out..
It contains significant hardware to do the heavy lifting for the 360 and its gonna cost.
If you look at the price of MS addies, wireless adapter, HD and even the HDDVD drive, just think of the cost of Natal....scary
Very intresting tek....really kewl stuff though

[GrandDragon]

Natal will have to be precise if its ever going to succeed

[DelbertGrady]

The PS3 motion dildo will have to be compatible with Blu-Ray movies if it's ever going to succeed. Unless PS3 owners start buying games.

[Xi]

Why can't developers code project natal to act in the exact same fashion as a mouse?

Moving your hand to the left or right, forward or backward within a designated space would imitate the control of a mouse, why not use that as an initial design for an FPS game featuring natal as the controls? Devise a way to use head-tracking to take care of turning and those same hand movements could instead be used to track the movement of the player. You could then use your hand as being the gun which would control the reticule and imitating the motion of pulling a trigger you could fire.

You now have an FPS game that requires the minimal effort of the apparent 'hardcore gamer'.

[Xi]

MS is going to show:
http://appft.uspto.gov/neta...

that's a patent for a mouse which requires no surface. Something that would integrate extremely well into natal.

[vincentvegawchz]

I mean why are people so amazed with it? The Ps3 Has the Eye, and has had, I still dont see a difference, it looks like a Camera, acts like a camera. and im not trying to be A fanboy, so honestly, WHAT WILL THIS DO?

[KingKionic]

What the camera can do....

*Track fullbody 48 joint points on the human body
*Track in the Dark with infrared tech
*Track in 3D (pseye can do it too)
*RGB camera seeing color in depth
*voice recognition (pseye can do it too)
*facial recognition (pseye can do it too)

*custom processor running proprietary software

*The sensing range of the depth sensor is adjustable, with the Project Natal software capable of automatically calibrating the sensor based on gameplay and the player's physical environment, such as the presence of couches.

*Object recognition so it knows the difference between the >DOG< and the >GAMER/FRIEND< setting or standing right next to you also knowing other shapes to avoid tracking or to use to track.
*Full skeletal mapping for multiple people in the room.

[coolirisGB]

The PSeye doesn't do some of those things you're saying. The PSeye does not track in 3D and the face and voice features are things Sony is going to try and implement the EYE can't do those things now or possibly ever, the hardware is primitive in comparison. http://www.engadget.com/200... Sony said that in reaction to Natal and that is why you didn't see Sony demonstrate these things at the show because its bullsh*t. Well it is a given Sony is scrambling to develop what they said PSeye can do in reaction to Natal.

Sony had to say that and they will have to come out with something good because they know Natal will finish Sony off in the race.

[KingKionic]

Ok i see im wrong .

I thought it did .

[coolirisGB]

Not all wrong. Sony says its coming but why should we take what they say as truth Jack Tretton was devastated during the Sony conference and obviously Sony the company. Some of underground Sony support has twisted what Sony said as current fact so it is not your fault.

I just don't know how Sony will pull it off as good or anything close to Natal. PSeye doesn't have Depth perception thats why Natal has two cameras. Natal's field of view makes PSeye look hopeless.

[kevin123r]

When Natal comes i am pretty sure it is going to be included in the Elite package of the Xbox 360 so they can get it out there faster

[donnie-2105]

to the sony fans who are downplaying natal.do you think MS would have made the big deal they are if the tech behind natal isnt sound.MS have the money commitment to spend on marketing to make it a hit.you have to remember this it not sega sony are up against but the richest most ruthless software corp in the world have set the games market as their next target

[keysy420]

why would natal be its own console no one is going to play it they may buy it but play it. just not going to happpen.
ps3 will gain its fan base back when it has a major console update and when it releases its games over the next year.