Microsoft is betting that Project Natal will be the next big thing. And a lot of people are excited. Interestingly enough all the people I've heard get excited about it are either Microsoft fanboys and/or Xbox 360 owners. Now I love me some innovation, and I love me some Xbox 360, but when I think to why I got a 360 it becomes clear to me that Microsoft is just trying to make a new gimmick for a quick buck. Now I got a Wii at launch and then about a year ago I got my 360. But as my mom asked, why would I get an Xbox when I already have a Wii? The answer was there are games on Xbox that I simply can't get on Wii. Same for the PS3. But the more I think about it I wanted an Xbox because it had refined the classic style of gameplay that we gamers have gotten used to. No there was no huge innovation like the Wiimote but that's why we like it, it's familiar, it's nostalgic, and admittedly it's more mature. Not that I'm doubting that it can be a fun experience it's just that Microsoft seems to be making this out to be the next standard for game controllers. If that's the case I'll be switching to a PC gaming bias real fast. I like the idea of Project Natan, I like being active, and I like cool new innovations in video games but the trailer for the camera left me feeling uneasy about it.

Another thing is we already used this beofre. It was called the EyeToy. It didn't really do well if memory recalls. At first it was fun but you can't make a real game from this camera. And I know it's a lot more advanced than the EyeToy was but what kind of games can you make for it? When we saw the Wiimote and heard about it we had dreams of shooters, lightsabers, and RTS games. With this what do you have? You have a racing game but there's limitations. If you're in your cramped bedroom (as I am) and you have this camera there's not a whole lot of space for the camera to see your feet. Big deal you say? Well yeah how else are you going to give a realistic racing experience if you can't put the pedal to the metal. If it can't see your feet then what? Use the controller buttons? Well what's the point? If the controller's out I might as well be using the analog sticks.

Now games like Fight Night, Tekken, and Madden I can see working. Put Fight Night into first person and what do you have? You got the world's first realistic boxing simulator on a console (Wii boxing and Punch Out are not simulators so I didn't count them.) With Tekken (or any other arcade fighting game for that matter) you simply perform the attacks and the game recognizes it. The only problem here is that if playing against the AI or another player with a controller you'd be at a disadvantage because not only do you have to perform your characters attacks but you have to wait for the game to recognize it which, even if it take only a tenth of a second, puts you at a disadvantage. With Madden you simple pantamime throwing the ball, tackling motions, and any other moves needed for football. Again like the racing game you need to be able to have enough room for the camera to see your feet while standing.

I feel like I should like Project Natal but I can't help but be critical about it especially when we really haven't been given a whole lot of information on how it's going to be utilized. But maybe I'm doing the same thing that I've been complaining about third parties doing on Wii: trying to apply traditional games to a non traditional control scheme. Maybe Natal will open up a whole new world of genres.

Microsoft is betting that Project Natal will be the next big thing. And a lot of people are excited. Interestingly enough all the people I've heard get excited about it are either Microsoft fanboys and/or Xbox 360 owners. Now I love me some innovation, and I love me some Xbox 360, but when I think to why I got a 360 it becomes clear to me that Microsoft is just trying to make a new gimmick for a quick buck. Now I got a Wii at launch and then about a year ago I got my 360. But as my mom asked, why would I get an Xbox when I already have a Wii? The answer was there are games on Xbox that I simply can't get on Wii. Same for the PS3. But the more I think about it I wanted an Xbox because it had refined the classic style of gameplay that we gamers have gotten used to. No there was no huge innovation like the Wiimote but that's why we like it, it's familiar, it's nostalgic, and admittedly it's more mature. Not that I'm doubting that it can be a fun experience it's just that Microsoft seems to be making this out to be the next standard for game controllers. If that's the case I'll be switching to a PC gaming bias real fast. I like the idea of Project Natan, I like being active, and I like cool new innovations in video games but the trailer for the camera left me feeling uneasy about it.

Another thing is we already used this beofre. It was called the EyeToy. It didn't really do well if memory recalls. At first it was fun but you can't make a real game from this camera. And I know it's a lot more advanced than the EyeToy was but what kind of games can you make for it? When we saw the Wiimote and heard about it we had dreams of shooters, lightsabers, and RTS games. With this what do you have? You have a racing game but there's limitations. If you're in your cramped bedroom (as I am) and you have this camera there's not a whole lot of space for the camera to see your feet. Big deal you say? Well yeah how else are you going to give a realistic racing experience if you can't put the pedal to the metal. If it can't see your feet then what? Use the controller buttons? Well what's the point? If the controller's out I might as well be using the analog sticks.

Now games like Fight Night, Tekken, and Madden I can see working. Put Fight Night into first person and what do you have? You got the world's first realistic boxing simulator on a console (Wii boxing and Punch Out are not simulators so I didn't count them.) With Tekken (or any other arcade fighting game for that matter) you simply perform the attacks and the game recognizes it. The only problem here is that if playing against the AI or another player with a controller you'd be at a disadvantage because not only do you have to perform your characters attacks but you have to wait for the game to recognize it which, even if it take only a tenth of a second, puts you at a disadvantage. With Madden you simple pantamime throwing the ball, tackling motions, and any other moves needed for football. Again like the racing game you need to be able to have enough room for the camera to see your feet while standing.

I feel like I should like Project Natal but I can't help but be critical about it especially when we really haven't been given a whole lot of information on how it's going to be utilized. But maybe I'm doing the same thing that I've been complaining about third parties doing on Wii: trying to apply traditional games to a non traditional control scheme. Maybe Natal will open up a whole new world of genres.

Lion Head is known for great AI this wont be an exception

Very good post Kenzo.

I agree with you on pretty much everything. Whenever we come out with a technology such as this you have the usual thought "Ok it has motion detection (be it camera or a peripheral you are holding). So now let's make a VERY simplistic racing game, archery game, boxing/fighting, interaction with objects/balls game).

And.... then what!? That is the biggest hurdle. What are the limitations? The only thing that keeps me hopeful is that Nintendo never was a cutting edge new technology type of company. Innovative yes but pushing the limits of technology... as we have seen with the Wii.... no.

So what I am hoping is that Microsoft with their deep pockets and the knowledge that there is a potential amount of money to be made with such technology is at hand. Hopefully they will make the leap into more interactive and more complexe stuff. As well hopefully Microsoft makes games that are online for Natal.

I am a little pressed for time right now but I will come back with thoughts of what they can realisticly do with this technology.

It's interesting technology (if it works) but I'm just not sure what kind of game can be built around this.

I mean there is unlimited possibilities for Japanese sex games, but other than that, I can't think of much else that would really benefit from this.

If it's all legit, it's easily the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

Natal is nice project but I think it's too early on to tell just how it will function. Project Natal is still a couple of years away from being shipped.I wonder how much it will cost given that it's a pretty beefy hardware and also Microsoft has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering when it comes to their hardware not to mention the failure rate and Microsoft's hardware is extremely high. I an not in any way shape or form saying this thing is shit but it could be a nice thing. 

All I see was a glorified Eye Toy.
I mean, the first issue that I will point out is the lack of receivers in our bodies. This causes several problems, the most basic being Lag as seen in the videos.
Then we have some other problems, as movements not showing up. Which can be caused by a different angle in the shadows, what we are wearing, etc. When it comes to camera technology, the best is to do as the dildo *ahem* new controller that Sony showed, that has a light bulb on top of it. The technology used in that one is basically the same as in Mocap (Motion Capture) which is a tested and succesfull technology, which also enabled them to have 1:1 movements (each movement you do with the controller being translated into the computer).
Camera technology is not, in my opinion a good path, but as both Sony guys said: "This is a solely casual device" True developers know that it is still to early to implement such devices as controllers, even the Wii is struggling with the Wii mote. In my opinion, the best way as of now, would be to add a head movement device (maybe in the form of a headset) and a controller as the PS3 dildo or the Wii mote.

PD: Milo was a great thing, kind of like in the movie SIMONE but, similar things had already been done in the Eye Toy, just look at the shitty monkey thingy that was announced last year.

I think this technology is fantastic, it opens up a lot of doors that have been closed due to having a physical controller. As its only in development stages there is really not a whole lot they can show at this time. Once their gaming partners get their hands on this new hardware who knows what direction they can take it in