Natal's integration with Xbox Live will be "groundbreaking", claims Live general manager, Marc Whitten (he would say that though, wouldn't he?)
Speaking in an interview with Game Informer, the online boss said that like all of Microsoft's console features, Xbox Live will be at the core of Natal.
"Live is at the core of everything we do. I think you're going to see us doing the same thing with Project Natal," he said.
"We're continuing the journey of how do you make the user experience as simple as possible for the broadest possible audience. You probably saw a little bit in some of the videos we had at E3, I think you can see our passion and where we want to go.
"I think Natal is going to be a really magical thing and Natal plus Live is going to be groundbreaking. It's going to be groundbreaking in games and groundbreaking in the thing in how I think about entertainment."
There's no pricing or launch details for the 360 peripheral yet, but the Natal launch is rumoured to be happening in November with 14 launch games.
14 games? most of these games will be utter trash just like 98% of wii games, 10 of them will at least have loads of the same minigame with a different front on them. wave your arms around a win. I am all for Natal but the games better be there as well. I would very much like to see big games in the future (forza 4, fable 3 ect ect...) that could use natal well but have an option for a controller or natal. I dont like fps games would work well.
If natal isn't vastly expensive i will certainly but it but will hope for many demos for natal games to make sure they are not a pile of rubbish.
Natal is going to be the next virtual boy, or the next power glove. A piece of crap that you will tell your grandchildren about when you climb into your dusty old attic when you're 80 years of age.
The only good thing about the world of video games, is the actual video games. The rest of it, waggle controllers, avatars, Natal, gimmicks, MS points, arrogant devs, fanboys, make me want to quit gaming. But I won't because the games are good.
The only good thing about the world of video games, is the actual video games. The rest of it, waggle controllers, avatars, Natal, gimmicks, MS points, arrogant devs, fanboys, make me want to quit gaming. But I won't because the games are good.
All the other things suck
I agree. Natal itself is just a thing. A wotsit. A doohdah, if you will.
Howcome all of you smart asses know what Natal will be like?
Have you tried it yet?
You all sound like a bunch of fan-boy amateurs.
Didn't know you could be a controller-pad fanboy, but it seem so.
Like I said: Have you tried it yet?
You're all way too conservative.
Oh I don't want this or that.
It's not like Natal will frickin REPLACE normal games as we know them.
It will just expand the gaming world.
Thank god gamings future doesn't depend on you guys, or we would all be playing the same trivial stuff.
I, for one, welcome forward thinking. I give Natal the benefit of the doubt.
I'm not saying that I think or know that it will be good nor bad. But I don't know if it could turn out decent either.
Apparently you guys all seem to know.
Except that you don't.
Ofcourse I enjoy my fix of core games (and ofcourse I prefer a controller when playing conventional genres like shooters) but that shouldn't have to rule out new ideas if they end up working well. Get it?
The analogy would be a picky child that goes: 'Eeeeow, I don't like this', just having looked at the food, not even having tasted it.
I'm sorry 'bout my rambling on, but it really get to me when people try to be all knowing smart asses.
Howcome all of you smart asses know what Natal will be like?
Have you tried it yet?
You all sound like a bunch of fan-boy amateurs.
Didn't know you could be a controller-pad fanboy, but it seem so.
Like I said: Have you tried it yet?
You're all way too conservative.
Oh I don't want this or that.
It's not like Natal will frickin REPLACE normal games as we know them.
It will just expand the gaming world.
Thank god gamings future doesn't depend on you guys, or we would all be playing the same trivial stuff.
I, for one, welcome forward thinking. I give Natal the benefit of the doubt.
I'm not saying that I think or know that it will be brilliant. But, honest to god, I don't know if it could turn out good either.
Apparently you guys all seem to know.
Except that you don't.
Ofcourse I enjoy my fix of core games but that shouldn't have to rule out new ideas if they end up working well. Get it?
Well said. Though I do hope it really doesn't end up replacing a normal pad completely. I mean I'm all up for Wii games and whatnot especially as some games work better with those types of controls, but nothing beats a pad in your hand (or a mouse and keyboard for some).
I'm quite prepared to wait and see for myself. Jumping to conclusions acheives nothing, yet alone bold statements. I don't think any of us are XBOX 360 game developers, so why don't we let their imagination and design sense produce the work?
I'd hardly call Natal forward thinking, I'd call it money spinning, all the wii loving type of people will buy it, nice money for MS. Correct I haven't played around with Natal yet but I haven't played the Wii either and I still put that down as a fad, I'm not saying Mario and the likes is a fad but rather this whole motion sensing technology, gamers are lazy when it comes to games hence why I like to be sat back with a controller in my hand and not standing around waving a "penis and nut" controller while I frantically try to hack off aliens limbs. I played with the eyetoy on PS2 I enjoyed it (I was 13 at the time) for 5 minutes and then it was put in a cupboard for the rest of its life.
I think all of us negative nillies would love to see it be awesome but past experiences make that difficult to believe. Even the camera MS already has for the 360 is USELESS. Feel free to list the successful post launch add ons if you can think of any, I can't.
I hate to be overly negative about anything, but....., who is Natal being aimed at? Surely everyone who wants to try motion controls has already played/bought a Wii and decided if it's something they want(or not). What will Natal offer that's different enough to make those people pay for it?
What Natal is to the Xbox is what the remote controller is to TVs and watching TV.
Sure it'll be used to control some 'party' style games, but I see Natal and the controller in a relationship similar to the keyboard and mouse. I can imagine RPG type elements in games taking advantage of Natal and the controller still being used as it is in today's games.
Personally I'd be much more impressed with a mouse and keyboard to control shooters than this.
As for Natal being 'magical'. That's just a typical salesmen's public relations pitch. And it's that condescending attitude that has the majority of us being critical and cynical. Natal will ultimately sell itself. If the games look crap or it's utilised in a really poor way, no amount of executive speak will have us buy it. I'm surprised Microsoft haven't understood that, or it's customers. I'd suggest the best form of marketing would be to keep quiet and when it's ready let us the customers, the gamers decide whether it's magical.
But the fact is crap from people like this guy's mouth is more for the benefit of shareholders than who it's ultimately aimed at.
I think all of us negative nillies would love to see it be awesome but past experiences make that difficult to believe. Even the camera MS already has for the 360 is USELESS. Feel free to list the successful post launch add ons if you can think of any, I can't.
Actually, had it not been for Fight Night: Round 4, I'd have probably agreed with you on that one. FN: R4 has the best character creation I've ever seen and allows you to use the camera to take two pictures (profile and straight-on) and then map your face onto a boxer - it takes about 5 minutes, but the result is spookily realistic. I think all games should have this feature (well, certainly all the EA Sports titles).
Natal will most likely just do this without you having to pinpoint the details, so that is an instant bonus.
I'd hardly call Natal forward thinking, I'd call it money spinning, all the wii loving type of people will buy it, nice money for MS. Correct I haven't played around with Natal yet but I haven't played the Wii either and I still put that down as a fad...(snip)
...which is why your opinion means very little.
I've found the Wii to be a damn impressive console and I don't think I've ever found myself in a situation where I've had to 'frantically fling my arms around' or have ever felt not in control. If you've never tried the Wii, you can hardly comment on it's control method, or how well it works.
Perhaps I'm in the minority in that I don't necessarily want to be sitting on my backside with a control pad all the time, but - after spending a week with only the Wii and playing great games like Galaxy, Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort and Ghost Squad - I can safely say that the Wii is as much fun as anything else out there.
Actually, had it not been for Fight Night: Round 4, I'd have probably agreed with you on that one. FN: R4 has the best character creation I've ever seen and allows you to use the camera to take two pictures (profile and straight-on) and then map your face onto a boxer - it takes about 5 minutes, but the result is spookily realistic. I think all games should have this feature (well, certainly all the EA Sports titles).
Natal will most likely just do this without you having to pinpoint the details, so that is an instant bonus.
I originally bought the camera for Rainbow Six for the same reason. I assumed it was going to be a feature we'd see in many games that allowed character customisation... I couldn't have been any more wrong. Shame, because I still think it's a good idea. Although it's not Microsoft's fault, I wonder if they realise how annoyed and to some extent how ripped off people feel owning these unused cameras. I video-chatted once with a friend and sent and received about two pictures, and that was it.
Maybe Microsoft will allow a part-exchange of useless camera for Natal, to encourage early adoption!!!
Actually, had it not been for Fight Night: Round 4, I'd have probably agreed with you on that one. FN: R4 has the best character creation I've ever seen and allows you to use the camera to take two pictures (profile and straight-on) and then map your face onto a boxer - it takes about 5 minutes, but the result is spookily realistic. I think all games should have this feature (well, certainly all the EA Sports titles).
Natal will most likely just do this without you having to pinpoint the details, so that is an instant bonus.
I originally bought the camera for Rainbow Six for the same reason. I assumed it was going to be a feature we'd see in many games that allowed character customisation... I couldn't have been any more wrong. Shame, because I still think it's a good idea. Although it's not Microsoft's fault, I wonder if they realise how annoyed and to some extent how ripped off people feel owning these unused cameras. I video-chatted once with a friend and sent and received about two pictures, and that was it.
Maybe Microsoft will allow a part-exchange of useless camera for Natal, to encourage early adoption!!!
That would be cool, but you wouldn't get much in P/E - they sell for nothing these days.
I originally bought mine for PES 2008, but that did little more than make you look like a burn victim - the quality was terrible. They also tried to use it for 'In the Movies' and....well, the less said about that the better.
I don't see how it'll work with complicated games, I really don't. Guitar Hero will be hard enough, so forget playing a Fallout game with Natal. It'll be just a glossy, updated version of the Eyetoy which Mark said earlier.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
