Halo will incorporate Natal 'when it makes sense'
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Sep 11th 2009 at 7:30PM } 
Regarding the feasibility of Natal control for first-person shooter, Cutting says that many doubted console FPS play before the advent of dual analog sticks. In other words, there's room to see controls evolve again. Cutting concluded that he wouldn't "bet against" Natal, saying, "There is a lot that can be done with it."
Joystiq readers will recall that Bungie boss Harold Ryon stated earlier this year that he "absolutely" thought Natal could work in Halo: Reach. Given Reach's likely proximity to the Natal launch, and Halo's massive following, we don't think it's reaching too far to assume it will incorporate the device in some way.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jabra the Hutt @ Sep 11th 2009 7:33PM
I didn't even read the article because I'm still in bewildering awe of those captions.
IS RADD
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 11th 2009 7:46PM
2 Girls 1 Natal
Sev @ Sep 11th 2009 7:55PM
Thanks, you brought back memories. Bad memories.
ARRGHHHHHH IT CANT BE UNSEEN, IT BURNS US.
DEEZNUTZ @ Sep 11th 2009 8:07PM
Photo captions full of win.
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:43PM
I noticed that Scribblenauts has summaries od the levels you are about the play. One is "Two buttons, One switch"
OMGMEMEMG
pete @ Sep 11th 2009 11:11PM
those made my fucken day
JewUnit666 @ Sep 12th 2009 3:29AM
Halo+natal= u doing the t-bagging
Helloimbob @ Sep 12th 2009 5:56PM
http://5secondfilms.com/watch/aggressive_marketing
MonkeyMan @ Sep 11th 2009 7:34PM
I want My @*#$^ chocolate milk.... THIS IS A CLAN MATCH!!!!!
MechaGamerX @ Sep 11th 2009 7:37PM
You should see the MLG matches...
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 11th 2009 7:40PM
I play MLG matches,they are actually good people compared to the wretched mentally unstable guys you see on social.
They are all like "YO bro here xxxIsnipeyouxxx and this is my bro johnspartan123445 and we are here to pwn you bitches".
You have to hear all their commentaries when they lose,it is just so funny.
rabbler78 @ Sep 11th 2009 7:37PM
im sorry but am I the only one that's NOT really psyched about the whole Natal business?
motion control is well and good, but i wouldnt want to play a "serious" game only with motion controls.
Bradwart @ Sep 11th 2009 8:33PM
You're not the only one. It feels like the 90's again, with the Sega CD and 'interactive' FMV games being the 'new hotness', when it's really just a very cheap (albeit expensive) gimmick. I play with a controller. If I wanted to move around, I'd go outside.
Demaar @ Sep 11th 2009 8:46PM
Easy: hold the controller in your hands like normal. Everything on the pad remains the same except hey, the target reticule is moved with your arms and the right stick just controls camera. The game could work with or without Natal then, and probably end up being more fun WITH it.
Open your minds, people.
Bradwart @ Sep 11th 2009 8:52PM
Isn't that pretty much what shooters are on the Wii already?
Also, I'm not a person who keeps an open mind. Humanity doesn't deserve it.
Demaar @ Sep 11th 2009 8:58PM
Nah, Wii only has one analogue stick, so turning is clunky and sucks ass.
So long as they make it optional and not a critical part of the game, I don't see the problem.
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:21PM
Nobody has implied you should. Ever. I don't understand where people keep getting this misinformation from.
Natal will supplement "serious games" (as you put it) for the most part.
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:22PM
Demaar has the right idea. I just can't wait until they split the current controller for the ability to aim each arm independently.
maveric101 @ Sep 12th 2009 3:46AM
i really trust bungie to the the right thing here. i guarantee there will not even be an option to use only motion controls. the only way i could see it being used is for hand signs to direct a squad or something.
t_m @ Sep 12th 2009 3:48AM
Natal isn't for "serious games" its for people who can't use a dual analog stick with 6 face buttons, 4 shoulder buttons and a d-pad.
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 12th 2009 2:33PM
i know it's been said before, but with the recent allusions that Reach will be squad based at least to some degree it's entirely plausible and to me at least a cool idea that instead of mapping squad commands to the D pad, you could do the actual hand movements yourself. I.e. closed fist for hold, two fingers forward for advance, circling the air for regroup etc.
EI8HT @ Sep 11th 2009 7:37PM
Call me skeptic, but I will be believe it (FPS) when i see it demoed, not prerecorded, on joystiq, ign, gamespot, ...
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 11th 2009 7:37PM
Best Caption of the Month.
I can't imagine how Halo could be played with motion controllers.Something like playing a Wii FPS perhaps but you still need an analog stick to rotate,maybe if it used a peripheral like the parody of that Modern Warfare 2 Mad Catz controller.
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 11th 2009 7:43PM
Well it could work as a 3rd person shooter or an over the top game I guess.
There isn't a way to actually advance foward withou running to your tv.The more you think about it the more you realize it can't be done with just Natal,it needs some sort of peripheral.
Brendan H @ Sep 11th 2009 8:40PM
People keep missing the point of Natal. Yes, there will be games that use full motion control and no controller. But there will also be games that use motion control only minimally, in conjunction with the standard controller. And still other games that might not use the motion control at all.
For a FPS like Halo: Reach, they're basically saying that if they find a way to use Natal to enhance the gameplay, they'll implement it. But they won't just tack it on just to make it use Natal.
One of the possible examples that keeps coming up is headtracking for FPS games or driving games. You'd still use the controller, but Natal could track your head to change the view onscreen slightly. Also, these types of Natal controls will probably be configurable, so you will still be able to use the controller for everything if you so desire.
Omega2k3 @ Sep 11th 2009 8:43PM
Just like how you can't put one foot forward to accelerate and that same foot forward to reverse on Burnout, it can't be done.
Oh, wait... It already has been done...
Omega2k3 @ Sep 11th 2009 8:44PM
No edit button for the lose. I meant backward, but that serves me for Joystiqing while drunk. Don't do it, kids, because everyone loses.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 11th 2009 7:38PM
So far nothing I've seen makes me interested in Natal.
But I'll save judgement until it's out and we have some Natal games.
MechaGamerX @ Sep 11th 2009 7:46PM
Get the hell off my plane!!
*kicks Longhorn*
Mr Khan @ Sep 11th 2009 7:46PM
Obviously shoe-horning anything isn't going to work, Nintendo has shown that. For all their bluster about motion controls, they've only used them where they actually help. The only proper shoe-horning that went on was back with Zelda, and even that had some good practical uses
Despite the Burnout tech demo, Natal's success is going to come from original software.
captainprotonx @ Sep 11th 2009 7:47PM
WTF is the obsession with putting NATAL into every project?
Was this even a consideration for anyone that has been playing Halo over the past 7 years?
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:24PM
Huh? Where do you get that from? I've only seen a small handful of devs/pubs even mention they're interested in seeing what it can do. We haven't seen any names apart from that 'Ricochet' techdemo.
Lone Starr @ Sep 11th 2009 7:49PM
I have enough confidence in Bungie that they won't implement a vastly inferior control scheme.
nsdcx @ Sep 11th 2009 8:25PM
Ummm...You do understand that a controller can be used with Natal, right? If I had to guess, there would be very little change to the control scheme.
You would use hand (or voice) signals to issue squad commands (which would most likely be mapped to the d-pad if you didn't have Natal) or possibly a quick jerk to the side would send your character diving out of the way of an inbound rocket (which, again, could be mapped to the controller).
Nothing about Natal is limiting developers, it's just giving them additional resources beyond the controller.
Lone Starr @ Sep 11th 2009 9:51PM
I don't dispute any of that. But if they do use Natal, something definitionally in the control scheme will be different. And if the new options don't work as well as the old options, Bungie will probably use the old options.
And I think furthermore, this will be the trend we'll see across developers.
under13warrior @ Sep 11th 2009 7:50PM
yeah and i wont wear my helmet dad F YOU!!!!
B3astofthe3ast @ Sep 11th 2009 7:52PM
Didn't they say Reach is gonna be their last Halo? If thats the case, then Reach will be their last chance to implement it.
manoftalents @ Sep 12th 2009 10:09AM
Just because Bungie's staple is Halo does not mean that they will just stop making games when they are done making Halo games.
Gamer4Life @ Sep 11th 2009 7:55PM
I don't expect to see a controller free FPS in the next few years at least but as more and more developers become comfortable with the technology they will incorporate it more and more. As Khan said shoe horning isn't really the best option, the game should be built around the interface not stuffed into it.
I expect at some point FPSs will go controller-less but not this gen and maybe not even next gen but at some point they will as will many other genres.
nriveraexpress @ Sep 11th 2009 8:06PM
thats a funny ass caption
whookid @ Sep 11th 2009 8:07PM
Halo will incorporate Natal 'when it makes sense'.... which will be never.
Lukeyo @ Sep 11th 2009 8:26PM
How does changing the control scheme to a beloved video game franchise to keep up with the ever innovative, technological times not make sense? Don't knock it until you try it, just because the Wii is worrying about grandma doesn't mean Bungie wants us to take Master Chief to a fantastic getaway resort to go wakeboarding. ...Not that that wouldn't be sweet or anything.
If Natal + Halo: Reach promises one thing, I'm sold.
1:1 screen punching energy swords
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:25PM
It makes more sense in FPS than most other genres. You should look at current head tracking tech in PC fps games. That's only the start of it.
CH3BURASHKA @ Sep 11th 2009 8:14PM
EFF OFF, MOM! I'M GONNA RIDE MY BIKE WITHOUT A HELMET, AND THEN PLAY SOME FRISBEE, BY WHICH I MEAN A LOT OF EFFING FRISBEE!!!
xFenixKnightx @ Sep 11th 2009 8:22PM
MS has done a damn good job (sans rrod) with the 360. But then they go and announce Natal. I'm sorry but I've hated it since I saw it.
Natal, GTFO!
Bradwart @ Sep 11th 2009 8:36PM
Yes. This comment is pure logic. Natal does suck-I don't have a Wii for a reason, and control is a big one.
MrKlorox @ Sep 11th 2009 9:26PM
You obviously don't understand the hardware if you're actually comparing it to the Wii. Nice regurgitation without research.
Bradwart @ Sep 11th 2009 8:23PM
@Mecha
If you were referring to Harrison Ford, it's "Get off my plane!"
For future reference.
Heh @ Sep 11th 2009 8:28PM
superior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLbMloO6wXM
Lukeyo @ Sep 11th 2009 8:30PM
The more everyone hates on motion controls, the longer it takes for us to get VR gaming that doesn't make eyes see only red (and then promptly bleed). Give Natal, Sony's goofy-ass wand, and "some" Wii games a chance. If it turns out the next Halo sucks, we can all go back to playing 3 and bitching about it on Joystiq.