Project Natal making a guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon tonight

by Christopher Grant { Jun 10th 2009 at 10:35PM }

Remember when Jimmy Fallon said he was "going to treat a video game premiere as if it was a movie premiere"? Yeah, we do too. While Punch-Out!! was cute, it didn't quite cut the mustard around here. How about Microsoft's controller-less wunderkind Project Natal? It's such a hot premiere, it's a year early! Eighteen months early? Two years? Who knows, it's early!

Regardless, Fallon's invited Microsoft's own Kudo Tsunoda to show off his sunglasses indoors again (mark our words). But that's not all – he's bringing along a prototype Project Natal camera (see the decidedly unattractive box above) and a demo of Ricochet, the ball-slapping simulator (ahem) they showed off during the E3 keynote. Unfortunately, it's not the best-looking demo we can imagine showing on a 108" display (it's bested by Punch-Out!!) but the tech is what's on display here. Tune in at 12:35pm ET (or thereabouts) to watch for yourself.

Gallery: Project Natal

[Via Engadget]

Tags: Jimmy-Fallon, Kudo-Tsunoda, Project-Natal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

nofriendo @ Jun 10th 2009 10:39PM

Jimmy Fallon is not funny.

Wiizer @ Jun 10th 2009 11:18PM

Your comment's not that long, so I'll attach this.

Did you see Project Natal on Good Morning America this morning? The more you watch it, the more I'm starting to realize it's not 1:1... Don't know if it it will eventually get there, but it lags.

vidGuy @ Jun 10th 2009 11:54PM

Agreed. I tried watching his show, but I can make it through the whole thing without even cracking a smile. I can't believe he's still on air.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 11th 2009 12:05AM

Do you have a link to the video?

That’s disappointing ,that was one issue motion sensors always had I thought they had fixed that.

Mike @ Jun 11th 2009 12:18AM

Wizzer I noticed that when they showed it off at E3, I'm still gonna get both Natal and PS3's Motion Controller thingy.

Also... Zack from "Saved by the Bell" was on Jimmy Fallon the other night. That was pretty funny. Best of all the late night is Craig Ferguson followed by Conan O'Brien.

CzAr @ Jun 11th 2009 1:28AM

I'm watching it right now. The delay is annoying. Make it 1:1..

LOL. For Burnout, There was a part where Jimmy had his hands to the left but it wasn't turning for a few seconds. Ugh....

Wiizer @ Jun 11th 2009 1:31AM

@ CzAr

Yeah, I just saw that, too! It definitely isn't 1:1, and it would be a pain playing that dodgeball game, but it was actually pretty responsive on the Burnout Paradise demo with steering!

Too bad the response was still pretty loose...

NaeemTHM @ Jun 11th 2009 1:53AM

Take it easy on the 1:1 thing boys...it's still just a prototype.

This is just like all the people complaining about the glowing balls on the Sony Wand. It's not going to look like that people! It's still in friggin R&D.

Michelobius @ Jun 11th 2009 1:59AM

@Naeem

At least Sony's prototype was 1:1.

Just sayin'.

CzAr @ Jun 11th 2009 2:00AM

When did MS say it was a prototype?

NaeemTHM @ Jun 11th 2009 2:09AM

@Michelobius

Two TOTALLY different tech's are being used though. Sony is approaching motion controls using proven technology. Microsoft is basically trying to achieve something that won't feasibly exist for perhaps 2 years. It's almost as if they slapped together a make-shift motion cam and hoped for the best.

@CzAr

Was that a serious question? Isn't it obvious that it's in the PRE-alpha stage? The damn thing is held together by duct tape and the wishes of children. Plus currently it takes an external computer to help it run. Natal is nowhere near ready for primetime. This was a huge mistake if you ask me.

Michelobius @ Jun 11th 2009 3:19AM

@ naeem

That's exactly my point. Microsoft's project is FAR more ambitious, but that's a double edged sword. Sure it looks impressive, but it's a ways away and won't be perfect even when it comes out.

So for now Sony wins the motion control round, at least until some major Project Natal advances, which I wouldn't rule out.

Also, on a semi-related note, has anyone done a comparison between Sony's new motion controls and Nintendo's Motion plus? The demos I saw tell me Sony's is better, but I'm not exactly console agnostic, and I've heard MotionPlus is supposed to be 1:1 also. Anyone know for sure?

ill trooper @ Jun 11th 2009 4:48AM

Naeem: no, can't support your "just the same as..." assertion. Glowing balls on the end of a controller for a system that can do 1:1 is NOT the same as a control system that does NOT offer 1:1 control. in terms of "prototype." While Natal is awesome in concept, MS has a long way to go.

Sony trumped them in my eyes with something for the gamer that actually works and looks like it wouldn't have the lag that would get annoying in fast-paced gaming situations.

Now... will Sony actually release it by Spring 2010, or will they drop the ball again? If they werequick and smart, they'd have that controller with a pack-in game out by Christmas.

ottoman673 @ Jun 11th 2009 8:03AM

@Czar

"he's bringing along a prototype Project Natal camera"

reading the article helps too.
just sayin.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 11th 2009 9:19AM

i noticed the lag in Natal during the E3 conference. and while i wasn't sold on the 'no controller' thing, their voice and facial recognition along with their AI was pretty impressive. i do realize it was VERY early though so i'm not sure they should have shown it yet, at least in this road tour fashion.

i was much more impressed with Sony's offering since it obviously offered zero lag 1:1 and had applications that actually looked fun. Natals games looked alot like those Wii games i only break out when my aunts and uncles come over, it's fun for them but kind of boring to me. plus (and i'm not sure on this) but who's to say that the PSEye can't do that Natal stuff? it's been reading controllerless motion since the EyeToy (and it wasn't fun then) so the thing would be if it could handle the speech and facial recognition.

it all depends on how MS and Sony do it obviously. if either just tries to make their games like Wii 'party' games then i won't give 2 shits about either because i know from owning a Wii, that's not fun to me. but if they can put this promising tech into hardcore gaming situations and not just casual stuff then they have my attention. i loved Twilight Princess's motion controls until i realized i could do the same stuff sitting in my chair since it's not 1:1, and it was a great game still, just maybe these other companies can get it right.

Phil Fauble @ Jun 11th 2009 9:43AM

@Everyone! yay!

A few points... some of you have made some of these..
Natal isn't complete, Microsoft isn't about to say it's complete either... that's a prototype and I'm sure they have some major issues to work out now.

"It's not 1:1" or "it doesn't do 1:1" Just like I said before.. that's because it's a prototype... it's technology that hasn't been used for this that are face paced like games... it's "new" It will take a lot of work and a lot of money for it to work.
Personally I don't think it will help MS catch up, but I also think it's an awesome piece of tech if they can get it right.

One more point here... You guys... and I hate to say this because I'm going to get bashed in the head by some of you.... Sony's controller... is the exact same type of technology everyone that's not a Nintendo fan was ripping on a year ago... and Wii MotionPlus "does do 1:1" ... If you're going to talk about how great the technology is and compare it to something else... say "Natal doesn't do 1:1 but Wii MotionPlus which Nintendo unveiled a YEAR ago and just released, as well as Sony's motion controller that they just officially started talking about do... about the same way... it's great technology!"

Just sayin..

Don't hate me for that one.. but I have to say it.. and it's true.. a lot of people don't seem to get that.
and I mean A LOT... go out today.. buy a Wii.. buy Tiger Woods PGA tour 10... with Motion+... try it out.. watch some Youtube videos.. aside from the fact that at all angles Sony's controller is able to detect it's depth in real time (hence the bulb... which was a fantastic addition because of what it does) they do the exact same thing.. just as well...

Basically all I'm saying is.. it's all great technology... Natal.. Sony's controller and Motion+ Don't rip on it if you don't know how it works.. and give credit where credit is due... Microsofts is pretty freaking original.... Sony's is not... Nintendo's is. Jesus this comment needs to end...

Phil Fauble @ Jun 11th 2009 9:48AM

LOL I'm such a jackass...

I did call Natal original..

Hmm I should have said it's.. an advanced version of something Sony did..

Thank you... to KillJebus... who everyone is ripping on (I don't know why only saw this one comment...)

Eyetoy! I ... forgot! I know they aren't the exact same thing... but really Natal is just a super advanced version of the same thing (Ya know with all the updated neat stuffs)

anyways if you disagree with this and my other comment don't hate me... O.o

I just... ya know ... think.. I think.. .err...

Olicon @ Jun 11th 2009 6:57PM

Sony's thing tracks a special object. That's not too terribly hard to achieve. I'm still surprised it works so well with such a small setup. Today's CPU really is a lot faster than back when I was a kid..haha.

But MS's NATAL? Hahaha.. that thing is a joke. If it is possible to cram multi-point facial recognition into a tiny gadget with almost no CPU power like that, you wouldn't see it first on a video game. You'd have seen it deployed in airports and battlefields. The entire thing is a sham..at least for now. Hopefully they will have an actual working prototype in a few years.

gordo @ Jun 10th 2009 10:41PM

Joystiq: Punch Out!! looks better than the 360!
*Mince, mince, mince*

tenor77 @ Jun 11th 2009 10:51AM

One's a tech demo, another is a retail release. They're not worried about graphics right now.

Mr Khan @ Jun 11th 2009 11:19AM

Punch-Out!! had a pretty slick look, its brand of cel-shading was pretty tight

gordo @ Jun 11th 2009 1:17PM

Either way, it sure looked fun!

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 10th 2009 10:41PM

meh I want to like him but after awhile I just had to give up on him.. I mean his opening monologues are just excruciating to watch.. and he laughs at the weirdest times during interviews

DeepFriedSushi @ Jun 10th 2009 10:45PM

all talk show hosts start off like this. conan was horrible when he first came on.

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 10th 2009 10:48PM

I guess but it's not like I hate the guy or anything but I'm hoping he gets better before they fire him or something

JXCgunrunna @ Jun 10th 2009 10:54PM

Yea conan sucked his first few years. InFaMoUs1 doesnt like Conan either so thats saying something about what he/she thinks is funny

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 10th 2009 10:57PM

WHOA!?

Who the fuck said I didnt like Conan O' Brien!?

I actually love his show

Markez @ Jun 10th 2009 10:59PM

I think it was Marius Elijah (only on PS3) that said he didn't like Conan, not Infamous. I think he also said he doesn't like puppies, babies, sunshine, rainbows, or happiness.

WREturns @ Jun 10th 2009 11:05PM

No, Markez is right, I have a photographic memory. If memory serves (and it does) Marius also said that he loves balls but he hates sports. I don't know what that means, I'm just reporting what I read or possibly imagined.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 10th 2009 11:05PM

inFamous1 is right. I watched the first week Conan had a show (not the new one, the last one) and he was so awful I couldn't bear to watch it again for months. It was so awkward and lame.

But a little under a year later he was doing great.

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 10th 2009 11:06PM

Whoa!?

Who said I don't like puppies, babies, sunshine, rainbows, or happiness also?

I love all of them because I love life!

Markez @ Jun 10th 2009 11:13PM

It was Abraham Lincoln that said you hate all those things, I heard 'em.

JXCgunrunna @ Jun 10th 2009 11:15PM

i take back what i said. i am sorry. I thought it was you and i agree with the jimmy statement. he is too uptight. he needs to relax more and stop laughing so much

Shmil @ Jun 10th 2009 11:21PM

Thats whats always bugged me about Jimmy Fallon, he's always chuckling under his breath, even when doing his SNL skits. It just made me not like him.

Shmil @ Jun 10th 2009 11:23PM

sunshine, lollipops
and rainbows
and everything
thats wonderful is what i feel when we're together.

MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ Jun 10th 2009 11:35PM

Yes, I HATE CONAN, he is so boring I find myself watching Letterman
@WREturns
you have a sick imagination

WREturns @ Jun 10th 2009 11:36PM

I'm sorry, Marius, it was just too perfect. Friends?

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 10th 2009 11:44PM

sorry if this double posts, but for conan's first couple of years his ratings were so bad he wasnt even getting several year, let alone single yearlong contracts, he was signing on a monthly basis!

gamepete64 @ Jun 10th 2009 11:46PM

I agree with you on the monologues, I normally skip them.

d889 @ Jun 11th 2009 12:18AM

meh as long as conan wrote for the simpsons back when they were funny ... i will give him respect

Sphere @ Jun 10th 2009 10:47PM

I will be staying up until 12:35pm ET to see Jimmy Fallon possibly dislocate one or two of his arms from there sockets playing this demo. AND HE BETTER!!