Peter Molyneux shows 'Milo' for Project Natal

by Randy Nelson { Jun 1st 2009 at 3:27PM }

Lionhead founder and famed game designer Peter Molyneux took the stage at Microsoft's E3 press conference to demonstrate "Milo," a virtual boy who interacts with players via the Project Natal motion camera. After introducing the project, Molyneux presented a video of a Lionhead staffer speaking with Milo, who reacted to what she said -- and even wrote on a piece of paper held up to the screen ... like a real person.

Following the video, Molyneux addressed what was likely a considerable amount of doubt as to the simulation's validity saying that it will be demo'd in real time behind closed doors during E3. He said that Lionhead has been tinkering with Project Natal for several months, and that he feels "what developers do with Natal will change the landscape of games." We'll ask Milo what he thinks of that later in the week.

Tags: e3-2009, lionhead, microsoft, peter-molyneux, project-natal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Tehman @ Jun 1st 2009 3:29PM

So Seaman 360?

Michael S @ Jun 1st 2009 3:36PM

Yeah for pedophiles.

Donny J. @ Jun 1st 2009 3:37PM

they just created skynet for realz

Ridgecity @ Jun 1st 2009 3:42PM

Hopefully, but I'm sure this was just scripted conversation. A character to feature AI with random dialogue would have to use a couple hard drives just for all the possible answers.

Not to mention Peter "Mr. Pipe Dreams" Molyneux was demoing it. I still remember his Black & White "A sentient all-seeing God ruling over the citizens" was pretty much missing from the game and instead you got a cow that you moved with the mouse.

Temple @ Jun 1st 2009 3:51PM

Not Seaman. More like "Hey, You Pikachu".

Wiizer @ Jun 1st 2009 4:07PM

I thought it was "Hey You, Pikachu"...

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 1st 2009 6:23PM

ay man who the fuck you calling a pikachu?

Ese @ Jun 1st 2009 10:42PM

Ridgecity: Did you not see the like 3-4" Hard Drive extension on the E3 Demo? Even on that photo above, It's the Silver portion on top of the Elite, lower left of the photo.

Noldster @ Jun 1st 2009 3:30PM

Milo will eat your children

G3ORGE @ Jun 1st 2009 3:36PM

Say good bye to Human Interaction lol

Ridgecity @ Jun 1st 2009 3:51PM

If Mylo is an xbox360 kids, I'm surprised the doesn't speak like the xboxlive kids.

woman: "Hi Mylo! How you doing today?"
Mylo: "Shut up or I'll kick you *ss b*tch!"

Gokie @ Jun 1st 2009 3:30PM

If what they showed was real, then it's extremely impressive. And more than just a little creepy.

I'm sure the ID@LMASTER people are going to have a ball with it though.

joeybeast @ Jun 1st 2009 3:39PM

I was thinking of Nintendog.

Hyams @ Jun 1st 2009 3:40PM

Even the best AI we have going can't compare to what they showed. This is like Star Wars stuff.

Most likely it was all cleverly put together - with the woman already knowing beforehand what to say, with the Milo AI designed to react to her script.

A real playthrough is almost certainly no where near as organic and realistic - it's probably more akin to the AI chatbots you can find on the internet.

Obie @ Jun 1st 2009 3:52PM

It was all pre-recorded stuff. If it were a live presentation I would be more impressed.
Still we'll see. It could be epic.

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 1st 2009 3:57PM

the kudo guy said with G4 it was all real time

Dazza @ Aug 14th 2009 6:37AM

that was all done for real it isnt fake

Jim Halpert DM (XBL) @ Jun 1st 2009 3:30PM

Ummm...anyone else feel a little creeped out while watching this?

Runch @ Jun 1st 2009 3:32PM

Yes, very creeped out. Are we really getting to the point where we can replace actual friends with virtual friends? Apparently, the answer is yes...

MarkHawk @ Jun 1st 2009 3:39PM

My virtual Girlfriend is better then yours!

How long before you can sell your appearance as a friend?

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 1st 2009 3:43PM

no.no i do not.

DO NOT LOOK AT MY NAME OR AVATAR.

Shagittarius @ Jun 1st 2009 3:31PM

Pedo-Trainer 2000

Obie @ Jun 1st 2009 3:34PM

Milo..do you like Gladiator movies? Are your folks around? You like popsicles?

Shagittarius @ Jun 1st 2009 3:43PM

Can you make Milo reach into your pocket for candy?

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 1st 2009 3:43PM

exxxcellent.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 1st 2009 5:41PM

Joystiq is a crime you don't let me have back my Chris Hansen avatar.

Anyway Gentlemen why don't you take a seat right over there?

rov947 @ Jun 1st 2009 5:42PM

hey there strong arm...mmmmmmmm

Henry @ Jun 2nd 2009 2:19AM

Say, Billy...have you ever seen a grown man naked?

TendoMan @ Jun 1st 2009 3:31PM

BLEW MY MIND.

MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ Jun 1st 2009 3:31PM

Thank God, now I can ditch my imaginary friends for Mylo

Ridgecity @ Jun 1st 2009 3:46PM

don't ever expect Mylo to tell you to torch the house.

Joe @ Jun 1st 2009 3:32PM

grrreeeaat more peter molyneux bullshit. i bet the kid can be either GOOD or EVIL what an amazing concept

Ridgecity @ Jun 1st 2009 4:10PM

lol the force is strong on this one...

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 1st 2009 3:31PM

mind=blown
games=changed
Skynet comes online

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 1st 2009 3:32PM

Like I said before, the idea of it is cool but how much depth will there be? Pretty sure this thing isn't an AI, therefore it can only do what it was programmed to do. Meaning if you say or do something it doesn't understand, you're likely going to get a blank stare from this thing until you do something that it does recognize.

A good early step into the future, but I think we're a long ways away still.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 1st 2009 4:35PM

that's how i feel. i'm not intrigued by talking to a little boy on screen at all but the technology itself is a GREAT idea. i can imagine talking to my teammates in asquad based FPS and them reacting to exactly what i tell them to do. pair it with a light gun and that's about as immersive as possible. so yea, not excited by this per say but the technology itself is VERY promising.

Mr Khan @ Jun 1st 2009 6:35PM

I would be astounded and amazed if they had an AI like this actually working. I mean, IBM is spending millions to build a robot who can play jeopardy, and its all experimental.

ArchiGamer @ Jun 1st 2009 3:33PM

Point?

ice~ @ Jun 1st 2009 4:46PM

Picture Fable 2 or Fallout 3 except you can have full blown interactions like these with the characters!!!!!!! Don't be such a pessimist this is extremely ambitious...I can't wait!

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 1st 2009 4:48PM

ah man this is mind blowing, regular games just seem meaningless. Im freaking out, I wish I could play games right now to reaffirm my sanity

Runch @ Jun 1st 2009 5:29PM

@ice: I think you're confusing the "AI" with the motion control. If Milo, the "AI" that was shown, really were able to think and react to your actions (unlikely...), that would be great to incorporate into a game like Fallout 3. But for everything else, motion control would ruin Fallout 3.

Are you really telling me that jogging in place, pretending to open chests and drawers, and pretending to shoot a rifle would improve Fallout? I'd rather sit on my couch and use a controller, thanks very much.