Microsoft 'Project Natal' - Xbox 360 Motion Control Camera

[parallaxscroll]

Natal - Intro
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...ct-natal/50013

Natal - Family Play
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...ct-natal/50018

Lionhead's Peter Molyneux 'Milo' Project for Natal
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...ead-milo/50016

Microsoft shows off motion-sensing game control, Project Natal
Dean Takahashi | June 1st, 2009



Trying to one-up Nintendo, Microsoft showed off a game control scheme where you use your body to control what happens in a game.

Dubbed Project Natal, the new game control system uses a 3-D depth camera to capture your movements in front of the TV and translate them into control actions for a game.

Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s game business, took the stage at the Microsoft press conference at the E3 game show to show off the system. Director Steven Spielberg came out on stage to praise Microsoft for showing off something that he had been dreaming about for many years.

“Before, there was a barrier separating video game players from everyone else,” Mattrick said.

Microsoft showed a video that showed how the game system could be used to control games such as fighting or skateboarding games. You can scan your own skateboard into a game and then use it to ride on in a skateboarding game. The aim is to get more people to play games who would otherwise be intimidated by a traditional game controller with tons of buttons. The idea is to make people feel more connected to a game, said Peter Molyneux, head of Microsoft’s Lionhead game division. Molyneux showed a game above, dubbed Milo, where you can interact with a little boy, a virtual character, and explore a world with your own body movements.



You can use the system to control your Xbox Live avatar, or virtual character, on the TV screen. Hence, you can navigate through the Xbox 360’s dashboard using gestures captured by the camera. Microsoft showed off some demo games where you can paint pictures on the TV using swipes of your hands. Another game showed how you can also kick balls back and forth in a soccer-like simulation. You can also swoosh your hand through water and make it splash. Microsoft pointed out that you can’t do these things with similar accuracy with the Nintendo Wii.

We’ve reported that Microsoft acquired 3D depth camera maker 3DV Systems and is also working with Prime Sense, another 3D depth camera company. Microsoft is shipping game design tools for Project Natal today. As we reported, that means games with the system won’t be ready until late 2010.

http://venturebeat.com/2009/06/01/mi...project-natal/


tons & tons more articles on Natal


http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/988/988693p1.html
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/988/988701p1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10253586-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10253892-235.html
http://www.time.com/time/arts/articl...902208,00.html
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58906
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/19801/...mera-Revealed/
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology...7725630&page=1
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._down_gau.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/tech...crosofte3.html
http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=7948
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/06/e3_mi...es_gesture.php
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencean...es-system.html
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news...ct-natal.phtml
http://gizmodo.com/5274319/xbox-360-...-project-natal
http://www.developmag.com/news/32018...sensing-camera
http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=18682
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mic...l-for-xbox-360
http://www.endsights.com/2009/06/01/...ct-milo-shown/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...CTGywD98I2OGG0
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayRe...5036115&EDATE=
http://content.usatoday.com/communit.../06/67512899/1
http://360.kombo.com/article.php?artid=16504
http://www.cinemablend.com/games/E3-...ice-17897.html
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31049821
http://www.electronista.com/articles...project.natal/
http://www.gamefocus.ca/?nav=new&nid=5510
http://www.sunherald.com/prnewswire/story/1382447.html
http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/133...Project-Natal/
http://www.azcentral.com/business/co...roller-ON.html
http://www.neowin.net/news/gamers/09...-project-natal
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/be924724-4...b5df10621.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21407558/
http://www.slipperybrick.com/2009/06...-for-xbox-360/
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=23863
http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=216364
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...id=19&cat=2787
http://www.t3.com/news/project-natal...-sensor?=39014
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterso...ontrol-system/

[The 1 2 P]

I watched it live and it was truely revolutionary. Of course, the big question is rather or not it will actually function as advertised. If it does, then they would have created the most user friendly video game controls in the history of man. It's nice to see they are thinking outside the box.

[joedick]

Sounds cool, but it seems like watching it in action is amazing. I'll have to check it out once I come across it.

I wonder if the late release date of the games will kill the momentum. Oh well, it least it'll be better than You're in the Movies.

[shopkins]

This thing is nuts. If it works as advertised it's the kind of computer interface you'd see in an optimistic science fiction movie, not something you'd expect to plug into your $200 video game console.

[poloplayr]

This is following Nintendo towards "casual gaming". This is not the type of gaming I like.

It makes sense from a commercial point of view, unfortunately, but to me it's a fun novelty thing, not what I fell in love with in gaming.

[Press_Start]

Didn't really expect that. Really blew me out of the water.

Still doesn't get me to buy a 360 though. They didn't touch on the RROD issue, which is a really BIG reason why I haven't. Having the "new" generation in mind shows a step in the right direction but can backfire in their faces if they're 360 are still consistently crapping out and will leave a bad aftertaste for consumers in next gen. MS really need to get their ducks in the row before they can win off the "new" crowd.

[TonyTheTiger]

Grand Theft Auto: Project Natal

Now beat up hookers for realz!

In all seriousness, if this does work the way they're saying it does I'm hoping for something that is a bit more meaty than a "do this, do that" minigame. Provided it's not disturbing as GTA:PN would probably be.

[jb143]

It makes sense for input devices to be going in this direction. The technology is finally here...and seriously...how many more buttons can they add to a contoller.

[Push Upstairs]

First the "Surface" and now this...now I'm starting to believe this is the 21st century.

[Dobie]

While its interesting, this is not the direction I wanted Microsoft to take. Goofy waggle controls are done on Wii already. I also think it has an unfortunate name. I keep thinking its pronounced "naaaatal," (long "a") as in pre-natal, as in baby stuff. As in this is some baby controller for kids. Not the core user base of the 360.

I understand Microsoft wants to expand their user base, and this kind of move may likely succeed in doing so. I see the business reasons for such a device. But its not a device that will provide the kind of experience I'm looking for, especially if its priced at the rumored $200. I play games to sit down, have a cold beverage of my choosing, and relax for a couple hours after work, and the kids are in bed. If i want to flail around I go to the gym.

But kudos to Microsoft for taking the risk. They offered enough of "my" kind of experience, I'm happy with what is coming, and look forward to those offerings. They can likely position their machine for both groups, and I'm OK with that.

[Rev. Link]

They can likely position their machine for both groups, and I'm OK with that.

I don't know, this worries me. I mean, Nintendo tried to do that. Remember when Wii was still Revolution, and there was all this talk about more traditional video games to go along with all the new motion mini-game casual fluff? Stuff like Project Hammer and Day of Disaster.

Well, what happened? Wii became a huge hit, everybody's mom wanted to play Wii Sports all the time, companies started shoveling all kinds of disposable garbage fluff games onto the system, and Nintendo realized they didn't need to waste time or money or games for folks like us. Now we get loads of garbage, and the occasional, rare release of a real game for the system. So rare most people I know that have one haven't even played the thing in over a year.

I'm worried that this might be Microsoft's first step towards the same business model.

[Dobie]

I'm worried that this might be Microsoft's first step towards the same business model.

Good point.

I'll scratch "likely" out of that statement, and say they CAN position their machine for both groups. I guess the question of WILL they remains to be seen.

[Streetball 21]

I see this as an expected counter move by Microsoft. I'm curious to see what they have for this device. I'd never thought I would see Microsoft make a "painting" game.

[Lord_Magus]

Looks interesting, only time will tell if they succeed as much as Nintendo has with the same idea. I'm curious how well the motion/sound/image recognition will work, but even if it's not optimal it's still one more step down the road Nintendo has paved towards "the future of gaming", so to speak.

Watching the video though, I failed to see how these controls would work with traditional games (such as platformers, shooters, 2D fighters etc.). Ah well, now I started thinking that there'll be a time when all such traditional games will only be found in museums, and all games will be simulators of sorts interwoven with an above photo-realistic presentation and surreal, dreamlike mechanics most people will use to combat everyday stress and inanity.

Until then, I presume the "normal" games we know will co-exist with this new "breed" until it completely takes over. It's inevitable, and despite being slightly depressing, it's also utterly fascinating - I actually can't wait to see how things will be in 20 (or 40) years time from now.

[heybtbm]

So we've just lost Microsoft to the Soccer Mom/casual game crowd? Great.

[ProgrammingAce]

Seriously? People think that this is going to turn Microsoft into Nintendo?

This is the same company who blugoned you with Halo 3, they're not changing their business model because they're selling a new camera.

[RCM]

The MS briefing was sweet across the board. It'll be interesting once prototypes start popping up of the other motion-based stuff they were working on before this.

[chicnstu]

For "traditional" games (for example a first person shooter where you actually get to aim with motions) wouldn't Microsoft need to include (or sell separately...) a different type of controller? Maybe something similar to Nintendo's remote and nunchuk, one for moving the character (nunchuk), and the other for aiming (a remote with something the camera can see on the end of it).

[Streetball 21]

Seriously? People think that this is going to turn Microsoft into Nintendo?

This is the same company who blugoned you with Halo 3, they're not changing their business model because they're selling a new camera.

Exactly, I thought it over again, and I realized this is not a new system, just a add-on. "A new camera" is exactly what it is.

[Trebuken]

While everything was awesome about this, the whole Microsoft conference was about piracy. FFXIII stolen from SOny, we knew that already -- now stealing Metal Gear. Motion controls, evolutionary, but Wii did it first. The casual games -- the 'Kart' game was so Mario Kartish. Tony Hawk's board looked like a Wii control (better built).

I'm trying to imagine Fable 3 using Natal, and frankly it's gonna' be awesome after Peter Molyneux's demonstration...