TGS 2009: Every major publisher 'actively working on games for Project Natal'

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 23rd 2009 at 9:00PM }

Kicking off Tokyo Game Show 2009 with a kick digitally translated into a game, Microsoft has announced massive industry support for upcoming motion device Project Natal. Trumpeting a laundry list of gaming industry all-stars from Activision to Ubisoft, it appears that every major publisher is in some way "actively working on games for Project Natal" (full list after the break).

Microsoft says publishers received development kits in early June and have been hard at work ever since. EA's Peter Moore thinks Natal "could fundamentally change the way people play sports games" while Capcom's Keiji Inafune says it "will expand the possibilities of gaming." In fact, Microsoft is so intent on proving that developers love it, the company is hosting a panel at TGS featuring the aforementioned Inafune, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi and Konami's Hideo Kojima.

Wait a minute, Kojima is working with Project Natal? But we can't do any of that crazy Raiden ninja stuff!

Activision Blizzard
Bethesda Softworks
Capcom
Disney Interactive
Electronic Arts
Konami
MTV Games
Namco Bandai
Sega
Square Enix
THQ Inc.
Ubisoft

Tags: activision, capcom, ea, hideo-kojima, keiji-inafune, konami, microsoft, peter-moore, project-natal, sega, tgs, tgs-2009, toshihiro-nagoshi, ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Enosoma @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:32PM

Speak for yourselves.

*disappears*

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:33PM

The fanboy in me wants to flame Natal and trash the Xbox360 in blind rage.
But all I can say is... Well played, Microsoft. Well played.

...as long as they are not all mini-games...

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:35PM

SUPER HALO PART 1!!!!!!!

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:36PM

Hmmmm. That comment should have had a "y" in it. Fiddlesticks.

jon @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:52PM

Actually, part 1 works, we know how MS likes Halo sequels.

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:34PM

Did anyone else hear the rumors of MS trying to acquire EA?
Hmmmmm....

Enosoma @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:36PM

A thought appears!

Moving my coffee table over in order to accommodate playing certain Natal games is going to be a pain.

David @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:15PM

you're right. let's scrap the whole project.

Enosoma @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:48PM

I'll never scrap my TOP SECRET coffee table project.

CzAr @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:57PM

My top secret project is a coffee table...

Aww crap... Scrap that.

Nineset @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:12PM

I was just thinking the same thing. I wonder if they will address this "coffee table problem".

JoeTheBlow @ Sep 24th 2009 5:16AM

Every video shown so far has it being played in a vast open space, bigger than my whole lower floor (if i'd knocked the walls out).
Terrifying.

Jack_Jackington @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:37PM

I'm glad this whole wave of innovation is optional. I like to just kick back and relax when I play video games. With school and work killing me slowly, I can only play on weekends.

Off-topic: how long do you think it will take me to beat FFVII, FFVIII, FFX, and FFXII only playing on weekends?

Tep @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:39PM

Play 9 & 10, best final fantasy games on that list.

David @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:16PM

don't listen to him, 7 DEFINITELY belongs on that list.

and to your list, i'd also add 6 and tactics.

screw, just play them all.

...except for X-2.

Dalrint @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:51PM

Only playing on weekends, and assuming you're wasting a good chunk of those weekends on the games, you're probably looking at three or four weekends each. More for twelve, it...wanders.

You really should put nine in there though.

Van @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:23PM

I don't think XII is worth the countless hours you'll be throwing into it.

I second VI and Tactics being on the list if you haven't already gotten to them.

Tyger @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:53PM

9 is my favorite. But I put around 30-40 hours on each game, so i guess it depends on how much you play and how much exploring you wanna do.

Bobby Kotick @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:40PM

Why was Peter Moore a tag instead of me?

Answer me this; what does Peter Moore have that I don't?

(Besides good looks, lack of virginity, people who actually care about him, general WIN, and my mother...)

WINterfang @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:12PM

LULZ.

Stevetrop @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:07PM

Probably your wife. But thats just me taking a shot in the dark

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:42PM

Speak for yourself, Gilbert. I'll have you know I was personally trained by Frank Jaeger.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:45PM

Goddamnit, somebody already made that joke.

Umm... I find various Russian woodland creatures delicious.

Ben Gilbert @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:49PM

Listen, Brown. You get back to what you do best -- making delicious things and teaching me about those interesting things in a way that makes me both laugh and feel educated. I'll get back to this -- making silly jokes about Raiden jumping around and me not being in nearly good enough shape to try those jumps myself. Now teach me about the flexibility of the egg yoke, goddamnit!

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:55PM

Well, played, sir.

guelth @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:54PM

I look forward to all this. I'd like to see an alan wake/indigo prophecy thriller move type of game.

With a lineup like, sure they'll have at least one interesting concept around natal.

guelth @ Sep 23rd 2009 9:55PM

movie*

Matthew Perry @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:08PM

Wait, people are actually excited about this?

WINterfang @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:15PM

Natal>PS3 Slim.

-Vexx- @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:12PM

Define "actively".

I remember when they said publishers were "actively" working on the Wii too.

All I got were shattered promises D:

Swarley @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:25PM

So could I scan my own box and crawl around in it?

-Vexx- @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:32PM

Dude...

DUDE....

jaaaaaaaaaaames @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:36PM

cool as long as its nothing like the carnival games on wii or the eye pet on ps3 im cool with the games :)

Geist @ Sep 24th 2009 9:47AM

If you think the games are going to be anything unlike minigame compilations, then you are sadly, sadly mistaken.

xgarryx(warXroutine on LIVE and PSN) @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:46PM

as much as i want this and will buy this all i see more mini game collections coming.
as a side note it'll wil be hard to play a game without my standard controller- its hard recreate the feeling of involvement in a game without holding a tangible object.
maybe its just me.

also i wander if it will be always named ''project natal'' or will have a more consumer friendly name.

makimak22 @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:02PM

"HAL 3600" ?

Boff @ Sep 24th 2009 5:18AM

Skynet?

makimak22 @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:49PM

Maybe Kojima will announce the 1st Natal-compatible accessory.... a cardboard box for you to hide & sneak around in so the camera won't detect you.

Kodros @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:50PM

"actively working on mini-games for Project Natal."

Fixed

Johnny @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:00PM

Natal is probably the best motion device, but without a controller minigames is the best it will get.

David @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:05PM

you're probably right, but what i'm hoping is that you're proven very, very wrong.

dood @ Sep 24th 2009 12:57AM

This shit is like amazingly accurate, look at the video here
http://www.n4g.com/News-390257.aspx

Jacksons @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:10PM

I'll believe it when I see it!

Oh, I'm lying again. I doubt I'll pick up Natal.

Rop @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:12PM

Would this then mean that more funding from MS - timed exclusivity - is to go toward PS3 future titles, with added/modified features to take advantage of PS3's motion control features?

rahmenxnoodles69 @ Sep 24th 2009 12:20AM

I have a feeling that something wicked this way comes... Oh God no it's... it's..

FUZION FRENZY 3

WITH OVER 9000 SHITTY MINI GAMES TO DRIVE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE!!!!!!

David @ Sep 24th 2009 12:40AM

better a game of 9000 mini games than a console of 9000 mini games.

rahmenxnoodles69 @ Sep 24th 2009 1:26AM

@David

Nice Wii joke but I'm not bashing the 360 btw lol

dood @ Sep 24th 2009 12:36AM

Well at least you won't constantly need fresh batteries for your remote. This will be totally awesome for fitness games at the very least.

Johnny @ Sep 24th 2009 1:02AM

I really love the concept of putting your bone structure on screen in one to one with your personal Avatar so it moves as you do, but how do you move in different directions within a game, which is fundamental to gameplay. Do you jog on the spot or move in a WASD type manner then shoot by saying "bang". It will be hella difficult to make this work, but for fighting games and soccer goally simulators it will be good. On-line this could rock, fighting games would be great fun and a pong type game down a long corridor could work. The new Tron movie comes out next Xmas and a "discs of tron" tie in would rule, the 1983 game would translate really well to Natal.