Project Natal

Any of you lot heard aboutr this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Natal

It looks fucking awesome and a million times better than Wii

Think it's something that will feature a lot more in our lives than just gaming

Old shit is old.

At E3 both microsoft and sony displayed new motion control add ons.

Both were just trying to piggyback what the wii did.

Microsofts one looked flashy, but xbox owners aren't going to want to get off their arses and play a skateboard game when the control does fine...if its very sensitive it might be good, but I can't imagine holding my hands out and pretending to drive.

Sonys one looked stupid and has further to go, but did show a great deal of sensitivity and precision.

But really they're both just trying to follow the wii's lead.

I don't know, I'd be happier not hold a controler. But it will have more to offer in the long run. Mark my words this is going to be huge. And it's not old shit. You can bash it all you want but we'll talk about it again in a few years time.

Well think about it...how will action games work with it?

or RTS games?

It'll really only work with games that have fairly basic and direct controls.

I imagine you would reach for the weapon from the screen so to speak and fire and load it the same way by mimicking hand movements. Isn't that what it's mainly about?

at the moment, it really doesn't interest me at all for the most part. tiredhippo is right(!!!), i don't want to get off my arse when the controller does fine. i don't want to hold my hands out and pretend to drive, i don't want to be punching the air. i've heard examples given on how it might supplement the traditional controller, rather than replace it- like you might use a throwing motion to throw a grenade in a shooter. but is that really any more exciting or immersive than just tapping the right bumper? it's certainly more complicated. and what if i move to scratch my arse or make some involuntary rage-induced movement? is that going to trigger something in game?

the facial recognition stuff i think has interesting implications in the (very) long term as something to build on, as far as being able to interact with characters in games is concerned but that would have to evolve alongside AI to become something worthwhile for me.

i would be more interested in it for things outside of games. it would be something i would be interested in as an input device for my computer, for example.

EDIT: and all that said, we still don't really know a great deal about it, so i'm keeping an open mind about it. pointless cynicism and negativity FTL.

Tired-Hippo wrote:

or RTS games?

i'd say it (or rather motion controls in general) sound like a much better method of controlling a RTS than a pad.

Yeah but better than the mouse?

What did you reckon of sonys one...I mean it wasn't really anything other than a more sensitive wiimote, but I thought it could be quite good.

I'm not adding anything more but I do think it's very exciting

Its not 'very exciting' its more...'moderately interesting'.

But Abby you don't even have a 360! Does this mean you might be tempted to convert?

Not that it wouldn't be cool to have you on the winning team, but I am with Banf, I'm afraid - skeptical but intrigued.

It's exciting to me. Please let me have my excitement.

Tired-Hippo wrote:

Yeah but better than the mouse?

What did you reckon of sonys one...I mean it wasn't really anything other than a more sensitive wiimote, but I thought it could be quite good.

yeah but a mouse requires something flat to put it on. and you don't want to buy your motion control add on AND a mouse.

haven't seen much of the Sony one, to be honest.

Ah well if you're bored look at the E3 vid, it really was very precise.

Alright I know one of the guys who is behind it. I knew he was working on something top secret the Christmas before last. He's worked for EA, and Lucas Arts before joining Microsoft over a year ago. He just was not allowed to go into much detail about it. The other guy with him was very much involved in the first Matrix film. He went on to EA where they became good friends. I should get more information next time I speak to him. Apparently even Speilberg is buzzing about it from what I read in his email. SO yeah I'm very excited for my friend.

ZOMG, WTV3 could get a world exclusive! I'd cut you in on some of the revenue, Abby. Not much, cos you're already rich, but somewhat. Spielberg practically came in his pants about it at the E3 presentation.

Good for your friend though. If it does turn out to be an amazing revolution then awesome. Next time you speak to him though just ask him how you would play a Platformer game using Natal. Curious.

O Goncho wrote:

how you would play a Platformer game using Natal.

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bantha_fodder+ wrote: