Share this article:
 Digg.com Facebook Google Bookmarks N4G Gamerblips del.icio.us Reddit Slashdot.org StumbleUpon If they are going to concentrate on evolving the gaming experience as opposed to "gimmick gaming", then I'm really looking forward to seeing what they've got in-store, and with the Microsoft hype and advertising behemoth behind it, I can see this becoming a massive success. They've put Rare to the task of making Natal games.
Oh dear.
Rare didn't exactly set the console world on fire when they released Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo during the 360's launch.
Looking forward to seeing the underneath of a Pinata's foot.
Not. I agree about Rare. Fair enough they're doing some bits with the avatars, but their gaming record on the 360 is far from AAA.
They need to get some really good developers on the case. Branching into established franchises would also be a good idea (although they would have to be very careful) - perhaps not sequels, but Natal-based spin-offs?
Maybe that's what Bungie's secret 3rd project is... If they have a line up of developers that actually understand the hardware BEFORE it comes out that will be one advantage Nintendo didn't have when they launched the Wii. Infact a select few are still only just starting to get it... WTF is that bit at the end on about an Xbox 720 and 2010? I'm really impressed by the way MS are handling this project. One thing I want to hear though, is Robot working on adding Natal functionality to Halo Wars. :D Just a quick note to Mark. Kameo and the Pinata series are excellent games, but there again I can see you are just trolling on a 360 thread again!
On the subject of Rare, I can't see there entire staff just working on Natal. I'm sure a few of them are working on a new Perfect Dark, KI3 or something. A Karma Sutra game could be interesting :lol: A Karma Sutra game could be interesting :lol:
Don't you mean Kameo sutra? :wink: As I understood it the article was speculating that the "Xbox 720" might be released sometime over the next three years, though this may be directly related to the success (or lack thereof,) of the launch of Project Natal which is expected "2010 at the earliest". It could have been worded a little more clearly but it does make sense. :) He just quoted Iwata from a couple of years ago there. BAM! :lol: bit harsh, the launch games they made were solid for the 360 although not great. their role is likely to pave the way for people to jump on board and start working with Natal. launch games tend to be rushed at the best of times, how long did it take for the ps3 to get into its stride? Looking forward to seeing where MS will take Natal, its been getting lots and lots of mainstream media exposure in the States already, a year before launch.
I think this could be pretty big for MS (and hopefully us Gamers as well). Hello Mr Kim, this is Nintendo calling from 2005 saying "you're a bit late to the party and stop stealing our marketing gumf you ****ing plagiarist!".
I have my reservations about how well this will work without an input devices that can be held in one hand. Even the old codgers shuffling around their lounges can cope with the A and B buttons on the wiimote. But we will see.
It's getting quite a lot of mainstream press though, more coverage than motion plus and Sony's new tech. Although there was a story on the BBC News site about the US version of Ghostbusters being region free on the 360 - gaming really is mainstream now! Voice/Facial recognition + 360 pad is what I hope games like Mass Effect will use, especially as MS says games can use both at the same time.
PDP (who are making the Squeeballs game), have said that MS plan to make their Wand device Natal compatible. I personally can't wait to give Natal a go.
I tend to look at the potential options that could be included for it to work alongside a standard controller - imagine things like GH and RB...you could have your movements interpreted on-screen while you play the guitar, drums etc - not to mention the fact that all created characters could be near-on perfect in every single game...ever wanted your created player in FIFAs 'Be A Pro' mode to look uncannily like you? - check.
One question though - what'll happen to Avatars once you can have a picture perfect representation on your dashboard?
:) The PS3 launch was just as terrible as most other launches. Though I'm not quite sure what relevance that has to anything. I'm talking about Rare, whos only top quality games are the re-released Nintendo ones imo.
Talking of launches though, the SNES was my favourite. SFII and Super Mario World. Good times.
You should know me by now as a gaming cynic. However, if MS pull this Natal thingy off with some top quality games at launch, then I will literally hold my avatars hands up. And maybe do a little jig. »
You mean "anything MS related cynic" surely! :wink: ^^ Exactly! :lol: »
StreetFighter 2 wasn't a launch title matey. SF2 wasn't a SNES launch game, from what I remember. Super Tennis was good though. That's a fair point. But not sure a gesture based control system will work when you have to hold a controller with both hands. To me, that seems anything but intuitive.
And having to buy another peripheral on top of Natal? I don't trust MS enough not to completely shaft us price wise, going by their absolute shocking form with the 360 HDD and wireless costs.
I think as an input device, it looks great and I really hope MS make it work - I won't be dismissing it until I've tried it. But I think the E3 video is a pipe dream. I just can't believe they've made that apparently massive leap in technology (facial/vocal recognition working that smoothly) just while coming up with a controller for a video games console!
Maybe I'm jut too cynical, but I can see why Nintendo seem quite relaxed about it all - none of this seems to be suited for games as well as a pointer and motion plus. »»
My 360 has been redundant since Fable 2, so obviously I'm going to be a little negative. When MS decide to release a decent game this year, I may feel a little less jaded. At the moment though it is feeling a bit pointless owning both the 360 and PS3. Even the Wii is getting a serious play at the minute and has had a much better year so far than the 360 has.
And other than Alan Wake, next year, I can't see things improving too much from my personal perspective.
I need something on the 360 to perk me up. Maybe Forza 3 (though I wasn't a fan of the 2nd) or Splinter Cell can do just that. Still seems like a bit of a wait though. »»
My mistake. I just remember getting the SFII SNES bundle with a copy of SMW. It couldn't have been far from the launch date. Mark, you must think that we are all new to this sight or something so let me spell it out for you.
A. If it's Sony related, you will be positive about it.
B. If it's Microsoft related, you will be negative about it.
C. If it is Wii related, you will hate everything about it...........Oh wait you now have one so of course you like it and it's better than the 360. Is that the interactive one that Peter Jackson's supposedly working on? MS mentioned it a few years ago but nothing came of it. Bungie don't have much to do with that, it's between Weta Interactive and MGS. I own all 3 consoles, so I can be as positive and negative about whichever console I choose. It is based on who is giving the goods at the present time. Not last year or next year. Now.
And if you are going to spell it out for me, try spelling it correctly. You'll find it is 'site' and not 'sight'.
Numpty. I also own all three consoles but you don't see me constantly slagging off Sony do you? »
i doubt they will launch with top quality titles just as the 360 and ps3 didn't, it seems to take 4 years or so to create top quality new games from scratch. i'd say its also likely that they will make mistakes that with hindsight could be avoided and that's something any dev would come across not just rare in its current form. Not interested in it. Funny you should say that...
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/microsoft-games-controller-will-allow-everyone-to-be-tedious-200906021797/ Why do you bother BYDO, you know what a complete cock he is so why bother even responding to his shit! That article was completely lame until: I hope he doesn't mean it's also going to have a huge cost as well. :lol:
The xbox division has been working alongside the MS departments for interfaces, voice recognition etc, like the people who developed the 'surface' version of Windows. They also got the bloke who was doing all the amazing experimrntal stuff with the wiimotes into work for them and he reckoned the 3d laser tech inside this new camera peripheral is as good as any industrial unit he's ever come accross. so it's not outside the realms of possibility that it'll blow your sock off. You have to applaud MS for not just doing a wiimote rip off. »
Now that's something I'd almost pay money to see! :lol: Thanks for the laugh. :lol: I hate everything about this peripheral. It's a cynical (and guaranteed) cash-in exercise, following the success of the wildly pointless and dust gathering Nintendo Wii.
Will casual gaming kill off serious titles? I know I can barely find anything I want to play for the Wii and DS! :? Mark/miss wacy/std/insette i always look forward to seeing what utter drivel they will come out with next all though to be fair to mark he sometimes does have a valid opinion.
It seems to me that the sony crew just cant except that another console is doing better then PS3, god forbid the day when the Ps3 outsells the 360 we will never hear the last of it :roll: A controller is complete opposite to a barrier.
Imagine driving a car from the passengers seat and just waving your arms about instead of having your hands on the wheel. You wouldn't feel in control, you wouldn't have feedback, you wouldn't be 'immersed'. Speaking personally, I couldn't care less who sells the most consoles, only how much I enjoy them. That's the over-riding factor for me.
If, by some miracle, the PS3 does overtake the 360, then what difference does it make? I may find that I start enjoying the 360 more because it has the games that really matter at the time.
It just seems that the PS3 is doing good at the moment for core gamers and that the 360 is having a bit of a lull, especially regarding exclusives.
Maybe MS are putting a good percentage of time into the Natal now? Makes sense from a commercial standpoint but I just hope they don't forget the core gamer in the process.
As for the Wii, it looks like Ninty have remembered their core audience at last and are releasing games accordingly. A controller does represent a barrier for the mentally impaired. Ahh cheers mate. I do wonder where they got that from though. Microsoft seems to think the 360 can last a few years yet and nothing was in development for a new console at this moment in time... »
You're welcome. I got your back. :wink:
Publicly nothing specific has been admitted to by MS that I'm aware of. However, there was an interview late last year, I think it was, where a top MS honcho let it slip that they were already busy working on ideas for the next console. Presuming that is true it should come as no surprise; what would surprise me is if MS hasn't already begun to ponder the next console's design. »
If forgetting the "core" gamers is done by releasing O.D.S.T, Forza 3, Splinter Cell, Alan Wake, Mass Effect 2, Crackdown 2 and Halo: Reach in the next 18 months; I can't wait for when they remember us!
Whilst YOU may not have an interest in these games, I don't think you have a leg to stand on saying MS have forgotten about "core" gamers. Quite true KFD. I would be worried (although not a console gamer the whole area interests me anyway) if they had not started on the design concepts. My guess is they will start putting things in motion this year. It would be stupid for them not to. As much as Natal could extend the lifecycle of the 360 everyone knows that Microsoft need to fix the current hardware problems (RRD) and fast. The PS3 is already starting to get ahead of the game. Also Sony reckon the PS3 will have a 10 year cycle. Microsoft need to plan ahead a lot. I would imagine Natal will initially be a prototype with a second edition coming out at the same time as a new console in the coming years. Mark, couple questions...
Am I missing something? Cos I have a PS3 but still never play it. I found inFAMOUS tiresome, and apart from that I'm not sure what could be meant, aren't the majority of releases at the moment multi-format? Plus as far as exclusives go, my memory from E3 is Microsoft wiping the floor with everyone else. This is a question, so please correct me if I am wrong!
How dare thee sir... I demand satisfaction!
Seriously though, Viva Pinata is the best game featuring papier mache animals I have ever played. Actually it's one of the gems of my collection, really, really great game. Rare totally rock.
As for Natal itself, I think the tech is stunning and has so much potential. It's good to see Microsoft treating it with the respect it deserves instead of just getting it onto the shelves with as much shovelware as possible to accompany it *cough* Nintendo *cough* »»
I am interested in those games, but I can't play them now can I? In the meantime I am enjoying Infamous and Killzone 2. That's all I am saying.
If those games are great then I'll be onto them like a rocket. »Mark, couple questions...
Am I missing something? Cos I have a PS3 but still never play it. I found inFAMOUS tiresome, and apart from that I'm not sure what could be meant, aren't the majority of releases at the moment multi-format? Plus as far as exclusives go, my memory from E3 is Microsoft wiping the floor with everyone else. This is a question, so please correct me if I am wrong!
You've got to try and be a bit more subjective, matey. I really enjoy Infamous, as do many other gamers. Those 360 games that you mentioned, I have tried, but they weren't my cup of tea.
It's swings and roundabouts. No doubt I'll be loving the 360 again when something more to my taste comes along. »»»
You're right, you can't play those now. But you could play Halo Wars, GTA: L&D and Star Ocean IV if I were to go along with your line of reckoning.
So I still maintain 360 gamers haven't been forgotten. As big as the 360 launch? Does this mean there's gonna be some absolutely awful opening ceremony that shows naff all about the peripheral and is really just a showcase for some 'not quite A list' celebs and a few music videos... *BIG CHUFFIN' YAWN*
Natal looks cool, but ultimately, it's a peripheral that's coming out several years after the consoles launch, and isn't packaged with the thing either. This will mean limited exposure, which means it will die of death.
It would have to be EXTREMELY impressive to shake off this outcome. Colour me skeptical. If you watch the MS E3 conference again, it was stated Natal will come bundled with 360's when released. Dont just be targetting Rare on this guys... Epic, Bungie and Lionhead have also picked up Natal, That is just the ones that are announced at the moment.. Rare can make a nice platformer no doubt.
Just give it time. That's irrelevant now - what do the 25 million existing 360 owners? They have to buy it seperately. And we all know that not every single 360 owner will get one. Which means Natal will never become integral to the 360. Ever.
Have I mentioned I'm quite cynical though? :) if microsoft puts in the effort theyve put into xbox there onto a winner.and the fact its coming with every xbox sold once its out underlines how serious they are.
imo its so,so,so,so,so much more advanced than sonys dildos..and theyve got AAA class developers working on it,which can only meen good things.
im thinking peter jacksons game will 100% use this aswell.
360's been shining since launch.after the launch of natal i see them taking this generation hands down.
take my hat off to them.
time for a new king on the throne! Maybe, but 'winning the console war' is about who has the better games, not the best peripherals. I hope Microsoft DON'T do what you could argue Nintendo have done for quite a while (though it is being rectified) - let the 'gimmick' carry the sales.
I'd much rather have standard controlled, quality titles than 50 mediocre, quirkily controlled games.
EDIT: Missed out a fairly important word there :) The thing that I noticed was that he said they're not even going for casual gamers, but the other 60% who still - even after the Wii - don't own a console.
If the Wii didn't convince everyone with its "casual gaming" attempts, just how casual will Natal end up being?! Unless Microsoft hopes that deep down, 60% of the worlds' population really do want to play Bioshock, but only if they can flail their arms and legs about in the process.
You see, I sorry to say it, but its like when Games Workshop made Space Crusade. More mainstream, and you might even have played it with your family at Christmas (like I did), but it was hardly going to inspire my mum to go out and buy a subscription to White Dwarf and a 10000 point Chaos Army.
So I'll bet that in the same way, whilst I'm sure its a good bit of tech and your mum'll have a go at Christmas, a good wedge of that 60% are just simply not that bothered, irrespective of controller, or lack thereof. Guaranteed that in every house that has a Wii, there'll be one family member who wanted or would eventually want a console anyway. It'll be us that buy Natal, not their target audience.
The other problem is that its a peripheral. Now if someone has no idea about gaming to start with, they're going to want a cheap, simple option to break themselves in. Buying a console and being told, "Ah, you need this add-on too." is going to put a lot of people off. Furthermore, the combined price of 360 and Natal will have to be less than that of the Wii, otherwise noone in that target audience is going to buy into it. A lack of controller is one thing, but the great unwashed will be a lot more mindful of cost at the point of sale, than facial recognition and the like. »
:lol: You have now!
They did say they were going after the casual market from the launch, but as Kmakawa said; the likes of Bungie and Epic will be catering for us forum dwellers. It could go either way but I'd say they want it to be integral to the 360. »
Marty!...stop being so cynical!! Natal could be huge when it is released. I am really gutted that it is not going to be out in time for xmas this year though!! Ah well will have to do with Facebook and Sky comming in a few months! lol It going to be very interesting to see how you can play online games with this aswell. lol What just the one sock? Wow that's accurate. 'http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/microsoft-games-controller-will-allow-everyone-to-be-tedious-200906021797/'
ha ha ha! this was written by a **** that can't even do a shred of research. Natal is not named after the South African province...Natal is the Portuguese word for Christmas...which the province was named after. There are many places in the world called Natal...usually where there has been a Portuguese presence...like Brazil. Well I bought the Wii still not sure if it was the cash i spent I love mariokart & galaxy Metroid 3 etc but after watching Natal being demoed I was very impressed by what they have achieved thus far & if they intergrate it with the standard controller with certain games where it makes the experience more interactive then this could be a very useful.
Having said that before I rushout to get 1 or pass judgement on its gimmick value or true gaming value I want to see real games & what the top devs like Bungie & Epic can do with it.
Oh & whilst Rare have not made the amazing classics like they did on n64 their 360 games have been far from poor also, PDZ, Banjo nuts & bolts Kameo & viva Pinata I have found to be all very enjoyable & fun games in there own right.
Imagine Perfect Dark 2 where the camera is intergrated not replacing the standard controller tilting your body to duck for cover or to move objects in the game world would add a new level of immersion to an FPS.
As for going after that elusive 60% that do not play games well I can them attracting some of them as well as attracting the gadget freaks who have to have the latest tech will be drawn to this.
Ms were laughed at when they entered the console market & look at them now no2 in sales this Gen & still ahead of PS3 they have shown they are willing to put the money where their mouth is & if they commit to Natal like they are saying it will do well probably a lot better than some more cynical forum readers think.
Bundling it with the console is designed for the aforementioned 60% that do not play games so they get it in the box with the machine, if Natal can deliver just some of what they say then I may well pick it up & if its intergrated into games in a way like I suggested above then count me in. This is the biggest load of crap, and the worst possible thing Ms could do to the 360 in my opinion. Why are they trying to turn it into a Wii? Why are all console manufacturers suddenly feeling the need to come up with a new control system after using the pad for the good part of the last twenty years? I am a firm believer in the 'if it aint broke dont fix it phylosophy' and this just goes to emphasise the point. The very reason for the 360's sucess is for the more mature hardcore gamer who wants to control their games properly. Video games are supposed to be fun and relaxing. The idea of coming home after a 40 hour week and having to jump or wave my arms around the room certainly isn't relaxing and I can't say getting decked at the same time, due to the unresponsive, clumsy, tiresome controls sounds like much fun either. If this is the way console gaming is headed I think I'll stick with my P.C's mouse and keyboard and this current generation of consoles may well end up being the last I will buy. Interesting points, however MS has a long record of making complex software, and to a lesser extent complex hardware in the form of the Xbox 360 wireless remote, fairly user friendly even to "the great unwashed" masses. I do think that one challenge Natal faces are the millions of Xbox 360 owners who may not be particularly enthusiastic at the prospect of having to buy Natal separately, as Marty pointed out. Then again - and this addresses another of your concerns - price wise MS has demonstrated repeatedly that it's willing to slash the Xbox price line in order to bring people on board. They make up for it with attachments and in other markets (although some of those markets are not as strong as they could be currently due to the global recession).
I find Natal quite fascinating in its potential and while I don't foresee giving up the controller anytime soon, I do hope Natal is successfully incorporated in to gaming. There's also the possibility that it will be further refined and bundled with the Xbox "720". I have not actually heard any one of the 3 console makers state they wanted to replace the standard controller & Ms have even stated that Natal can function alongside the standard pad & be used as well as the pad for gaming applications.
On the other hand progress is never easy you either move along with the tide or get swept away by it I have been gaming since I was 5 & had the first Atari & as long as games entertain me & are fun then I will keep right on playing. I have been planning on buying a 360 for my brother, If Natal is half as good as advertised then will be buying one for my mom as well. omg- isn't that just the WORST advert ever! :lol:
They are such bad actors! The Advert is a guide to what kind of functionality or potential uses that Natal can / will have who cares about the actors in it, Microsoft-BULLSHIT No need to be so Anti-Natal people! :roll: That remains to be seen but journalists who have tried Milo have said that it was more or less just like they showed. antenatal :lol: :lol: Is that what they are? On the whole, 360 owners are anything but :roll: I have generally found the playstation owners to be more immature than anyone else, I mean they are usually the ones that throw their toys out the pram at any news that does not please them So you know more than 20 million 360 owners to come to that conclusion? Face it, every platform has its share of immature users. :roll: | 
