Microsoft's Project Natal for Xbox 360
Xbox 360’s New Motion Capturing Camera Makes Players the Controller
Jul 2, 2009
The consoles wars have raged on for years, with one of its greatest battles being which console could create the most ergonomic and fashionable game controller.
At this year’s E3 Video Game Conference Microsoft unveiled Project Natal for the Xbox 360, essentially their take on the Wii’s innovative motion sensor control system. Although Microsoft denies vehemently that Project Natal is a direct competitor to Wii’s control system, it was obviously inspired by the successfulness of the Wii’s system.
What is Project Natal?
Project Natal may cause some to reminisce of the Playstation’s Eyetoy, as it is basically a motion capturing camera. However, its 3D capabilities are far beyond what the Eyetoy was ever able to encapsulate. Project Natal will allow for controller-less gameplay on the Xbox 360 that Microsoft hopes will ease the transition for non-gamers into the world of gaming, as the transition will apparently feel less foreign for them if they don’t have to learn how to use a controller.
Using every part of the body to play the game, players will be able to interact directly with the video game allowing for more involvement than any other control system has ever offered, including the Wii. Project Natal is able to detect hand, body, feet, and even head movements, although how it will handle walking and running has not yet been shown to the public.
Early Reactions to Project Natal
Early demonstrations of Project Natal show that the players’ moves are almost flawlessly projected into the game, but even Microsoft couldn’t hide a distinct stutter when players move too quickly for the motion camera to capture which hopefully won’t detract too much from the overall experience.
Early impressions of the system have been mostly positive, with eager gamers waiting to see how many titles will be available with the control system’s release.
Games Available for Project Natal
Some older titles, such as Burnout Paradise, already work with the new system. Other games introduced during the E3 Press Conference include Ricochet, where the player hits balls that are thrown constantly towards them using every part of their body, .Apparently Steven Spielberg has a game in the works, as does Rare, famous for such games as Goldeneye, Perfect Dark and Banjo Kazooie, and rumors have spread that Bungie may be making its next Halo title, Halo: Reach, with Natal technology.
Needless to say, Microsoft will have much stronger software support than the Nintendo Wii. While the Wii has been shifting a lot of consoles, game sales are doing poorly in comparison to Xbox and Playstation. Xbox 360 already has strong support, so the inclusion of some backwards compatible titles, as well as the promise of greater games in the future will ensure it won’t fail to move games off store shelves.
Will Project Natal Change Xbox 360's Demographic?
Microsoft’s greatest task will be to support their claim that Project Natal will open the demographic of video game entertainment to the large number of homes, around 60% in the US, that do not own a video game console. Wii’s ground-breaking system opened a lot of new ground for video game consoles because it was simple to use and fairly cheap, close to half the price of an Xbox 360.
Xbox 360’s hefty pricetag plus the currently unannounced pricetag of Project Natal may be too much for many homes more worried about struggling to make ends meet in the global recession than playing games. Microsoft has yet to unveil their financial strategy of taking gaming to a new demographic.
Conclusion
Whether or not they are successful in bringing new customers will not make the Project Natal experience any less fun, and players are sure to have a blast with the new technology. The positive feedback coupled with a strong software support should see Natal flying off shelves when it hits stores sometime next year.
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