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Microsoft’s Project Natal Looks Awesome

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The Nintendo Wii changed the way people interact with games by getting rid of the traditional game controller. Microsoft’s Project Natal takes things several steps further by making you the game controller.

This motion detecting system is under development for use with Microsoft’s XBOX 360, but I’m sure the guys in Redmond could work some of this technology into mobile computers.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. rocke86

    06/03/2009 at 6:56 am

    If they do head tracking and it looks like this technology will this could be huge! It would allow a true 3D experience on any tv set with out 3d glasses!

    It is hard to explain so here is a video
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
    It is remarkable

    Update:
    I looked up the guy in the video is involved in the natal project!
    https://procrastineering.blogspot.com/
    Natal is a very advanced 3d camera so I’m guessing head tracking is being currently researched. If MS were wise they should keep it secret till e3 2010, this would blow the socks off of anything else!

  2. Tim

    06/03/2009 at 10:20 am

    We don’t even need Microsoft to implement this on computers. A ton of flash games around the interwebs are acually using webcams for the input device. It’s pretty basic but that’s about the entire technology behind Project Natal.

    Gogo flash!

  3. Daniel

    06/03/2009 at 10:51 am

    I agree, Rocke. The Wii allowed tracking of controllers, but the Natal Project has much broader tracking abilities (though the threat is that the broader tracking may reduce the accuracy of any given point). This is why I’m more excited about the Natal Project than either the PS3 or Wii-like Game Trak peripherals.

    There seems to be some concern that the Natal Project may be -too- immersive for the common user. According to a quote from Newsy.com, Cinema Blend is concerned that the developers are “crossing the bridge between interactivity, real-life and everything that was once sacred.”

  4. Hilton Locke

    06/03/2009 at 11:23 am

    While the idea of ‘whole body immersion’ into gaming is appealing, I think this whole announce is more FUD from the leaders of the FUD farm.

    It’s (Project Natal) a gaming device being announced a full 18 months ahead of any reasonable ship date.

    It’s a paradigm-shifting technology in a space where even motion sensing in the controller is still only primitively used.

    It’s a $200 (est SRP) device meant to be used with a console that costs $199 (Xbox 360 Live Arcade). If gamers won’t spring $499 for a PS3 with Blu-ray, what makes you think they will spruce up their projected to be 4-years-old Xbox 360 with a $200 accessory?

    Think about it people!

  5. Clayton

    06/03/2009 at 6:27 pm

    Over-hyped and inaccurate technology. :)

  6. Matt

    06/03/2009 at 10:05 pm

    First and foremost, this project looks amazing! The possibilities are endless! That being said I understand Locke’s point about the pricing. The big difference here though Locke is that i have already spent 200+ for my current xbox, this new device at $200 (using your estimations) is a small price to pay, compared to having to go out and buy a brand new system. And that is what Natal will be. It will completely transform the Xbox 360 into a new device for gaming. I would rather spend 200 to update my system then go spend 600 to get a brand new one.

    However, with this update rumored to be out late 2010 what will become of the supposedly Xbox 720? Will they still release a new console, or will they push that back as they make room for Natal?

    There are many questions, but one things is for sure, Microsoft just made history, yet again.

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