TGS 2009: Kudo demoes Natal, invents dance craze
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Sep 28th 2009 at 2:00PM } 
As you've probably guessed, the dearth of footage of actual Project Natal gameplay can be attributed to Microsoft's ban on filming the screen during demos of the technology. Hence, the gameplay-less video above, captured by Engadget during a Natal preview of Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme.
Watch as Project Natal creative director Kudo Tsunoda shows how one rolls giant sticky balls or pushes back extraterrestrial attackers using only one's limbs. Without seeing the screen, we can't be certain how well he's performing these activities, but we can certainly attest to his remarkable dancing prowess.
Watch as Project Natal creative director Kudo Tsunoda shows how one rolls giant sticky balls or pushes back extraterrestrial attackers using only one's limbs. Without seeing the screen, we can't be certain how well he's performing these activities, but we can certainly attest to his remarkable dancing prowess.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:06PM
I really wish he would at least shave his neck.
Shagittarius @ Sep 28th 2009 3:39PM
Then you would have to look at his double/triple chin.
Jason @ Sep 28th 2009 8:11PM
This guy just comes off as a total douche-bag to me.
I'm not sure why.
I think it might be the neck beard that says, "I'm not really committed to my job" combined with his fancy glasses that say "I'm so much better and more fabulous than you", Japanese shirt that says "I'm so original" and obnoxious voice that always says the first dumb thing that comes to his mind.
SimbaDogg @ Sep 28th 2009 9:03PM
ahhhh yes...the neckbeard. always hated, but seriously the ability to grow one should be treasured. on a side note, throw a trucker hat on that guy and he's be frank from 30 rock. i was a BIT confused at first
Zee @ Sep 29th 2009 4:37AM
Looks like Bono
Adam @ Sep 28th 2009 2:08PM
Microsoft screen capturing ban never seems to make me confident I'm going to want any of this...
Badboy1979 @ Sep 28th 2009 2:15PM
It's probably in response to how some react to pre-production phase demos of products by completely ignoring the fact that they are just that "demos of unreleased" tech.
For example, people seeking to be negative will ignore the fact that there's some pretty interesting technology being shown (one that would normally require a suit with "mo-cap" balls) and point out how "an avatar's foot flipped out all Excorcist style" ... or how "it's not 1:1 yet... so it sucks and can't be used" ... or how even tho they're just showing demos of old games to give examples of how it could be used, "no one's gonna wanna play [insert a game name] that way".
Just my two cents.
ducttapeBigSexy @ Sep 28th 2009 2:16PM
That's a good point - unless there's something seriously wrong with it, why wouldn't they want to show people the technology?
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:28PM
What, the awkward motion controlling with your body wasn't enough for you Adam?
Mr Khan @ Sep 28th 2009 6:33PM
It is a critical error on their part to neglect showing Gameplay footage. That should be the centerpiece of their strategy.
We shall remember Cowboy Jed:
"Look at the footage!"
CaramelZappa @ Sep 28th 2009 2:09PM
Yea, that's what I want, making simple games complicated and tiring to control.
justme @ Sep 28th 2009 2:11PM
That's the same thing that was said about the Wii before it came out.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 28th 2009 2:17PM
Yea, and I still don't like games that force me to do that. IMO the best games on the wii are Super Mario Galaxy and No More Heroes, neither of which require you to flail around like an idiot.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:17PM
But when they don't let me see what's going on on-screen, I'm automatically imagining that he's just running that Katamari into walls over and over again.
Just as what happened with Burnout during initial public demos.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:33PM
I really only see Natal being great for those of us with large TVs and/or projectors. I just think it's silly to play a game with your whole body, or any sort of motion control, on a screen less than, oh about 55"-60".
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Sep 28th 2009 3:27PM
Captain Planet you have a point there....
Who in their right mind is going to be doing this in front of a TV smaller than 32"?? lol...
and even a 32" that sitting on a TV stand instead of on the wall would be a tad weird IMO
Avatar @ Sep 28th 2009 3:28PM
@justme
The thing about the Wii is that you can be lazy and still play the game. Judging from what little we've all seen, it appears that movements have to be in certain proportions, which may limit how lazy one can be. It's not motion sensing, it's motion capturing. Completely different.
Scott @ Sep 28th 2009 3:59PM
Well, you can scrap the idea of playing with projectors.. I tried some playstation eye games with my projector, and not only is it incredibly annoying to hook up the console to a projector....in the back of your room....and then put a USB, wired camera by the screen...in the front of your room... I had to buy two USB extension cables.
And it was all for naught, because the room was so dark the camera couldn't really see me. So if you want to play with with a projector, grab your neon-colored mo-cap suit.
Turkey @ Sep 30th 2009 10:17AM
Scott, they said this uses an infra red camera as well so this should work fine in low light conditions. its probably also alot better at working out distances towards as well as away so it see's you not just as a shadow but as an 3d object.
Kenoji (aka Neo Asuma) @ Oct 2nd 2009 11:38PM
The Wii didn't look this tiring. At all.
And I'm sorry, but if I have to do all this just to play a simple game like Space Invaders, I'd hate to see what would happen to a more complex game.
Natal would be awesome for exercise purposes, though.
Arnie @ Sep 28th 2009 2:11PM
Probably Space Invaders was not the best game to demo this type of control scheme. Honestly, they really need to think about showing demos of integrating Natal with the traditional controller and enhancing current gameplay. Exclusive Natal control scheme does not appeal to hardcore gamers who would generally be the kind of people who come to these type of gameshows.
Oorang @ Sep 28th 2009 2:17PM
I think what were all waiting for is Natal / Call of Duty integration. Not this casual gamer crap.
EX3CUT1ON @ Sep 28th 2009 2:34PM
The irony!
(01) @ Sep 28th 2009 2:58PM
Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders = Casual Games?
I'm baffled.
GameWorks (www.PrizeLive.us) @ Sep 28th 2009 3:03PM
Freakin Eh :)
NATAL BOMB People (natal intergrated into noobtube)
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com @ Sep 28th 2009 4:04PM
Shooters with Natal does sound awesome to me. Throwing a grenade, cocking a gun, peeking around corners, using hand signals to troops, touching com on ear to activate it... Then, throw in stereoscopic 3D that reacts with your head placement... Epic.
Orion @ Sep 28th 2009 2:18PM
I like how he dissed the 360 pad controls while tooting the Natal at the same time... not really how I would have worded it...
This still looks horribly boring to me. This reminds me of the Wii all over again.. how I'm supposed to stand up and do all this crap. Give me a joystick and I'm happy. I hope both Natal and PS's motion controller flop.
The day I play Space Invaders like that is when all modern controllers don't exist and someone has destroyed every classic console.
sourvideogame @ Sep 28th 2009 2:21PM
sometimes i forget to pause the video before that video add appears. i just mute my pc after that...
Dadidito @ Sep 28th 2009 2:25PM
Does shame ever come into his mind during this demo? ugghhh
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:27PM
shame? he doesnt know the word shame.
no seriously, i asked him.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:32PM
He later added that they were "looking into incorporating the 'Shame' technology into the Natal experience" but "not to expect it in initial releases."*
*not an actual quote.
Giroro @ Sep 28th 2009 3:53PM
What is this 'shame' thing? I am a gamer I know not what it means.
Rocketboy @ Sep 28th 2009 3:53PM
Have you looked at him?
Did you not notice how hard he's trying to look cool?
bluetev @ Sep 28th 2009 2:30PM
So we have actual gameplay (including "proper" games like RE5, not just casual stuff) and demonstrated zero lag / pinpoint accuracy from Sony's product and no actual gameplay videos from an MS "concept" that is untested, appears to be laggy as hell and unplayable from the brief videos actually glimpsed, is likely to be more expensive to implement and cannot be integrated with the existing 4 years worth gaming library. Brilliant stuff fro MS. Maybe if they call it the definitive motion controller, it will turn out well.
GiggMan @ Sep 28th 2009 2:31PM
I can see now I'm getting too old for this shit.
I can't imagine coming home from a days work and wanting to actually do this.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 28th 2009 2:35PM
That's what I'm feeling. I look at gaming as a way to come home and unwind. I want to sit down with a cold beverage and play some Halo or L4D or whatever and just relax. I don't want to be flailing about and expending more energy. Especially after all the walking I do all day.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Sep 28th 2009 2:39PM
I wouldn't say I'm gettin too old...but sometimes I want to be active playing games and sometimes I just want to relax...when I'm active playing games its on my Wii....and I can Bowl, golf, play tennis, and box while sitting down...lol
(01) @ Sep 28th 2009 3:00PM
Plus gaming is a great way to double as cuddle time with the cats. Not so much with this.
Shagittarius @ Sep 28th 2009 3:36PM
The cats are on to your double timing and are plotting your demise as we type.
Cody @ Sep 28th 2009 4:07PM
But thats just it Storm Eagle,
Look at the majority of 360 owners. They do little more than game on their 360s alllll day long. For many of them, there is no "coming home from work" or where ever else.
Literally 6 out of the 8 ppl i know with a 360 is unemployed and games on it 6-10 hours a day.
Flame away.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Sep 28th 2009 2:35PM
I still say 2 minutes of this sliding side to side to play space invaders is going to be all I can stand...
Might as well do an Electric Slide game....or the Cupid shuffle...
Whingnut @ Sep 28th 2009 2:36PM
Put motion controls in games where motion controls make sense... otherwise it seems silly and pointless.
nukee @ Sep 28th 2009 2:38PM
Any particular reason you showed absolutely no gameplay footage Microsoft?
FraGNeM @ Sep 28th 2009 3:33PM
Ask that to any developer showing behind-the-scenes footage or demos of games at E3.
It's early, and they don't want the general public focusing on the wrong parts of the presentation.
EX3CUT1ON @ Sep 28th 2009 2:38PM
Long live traditional controllers and all who sail on her!
JUNG GUNS @ Sep 28th 2009 2:38PM
that guy thinks he is so effing cool with his neck-beard.
EX3CUT1ON @ Sep 28th 2009 2:41PM
Um because natal is sh*te!
EX3CUT1ON @ Sep 28th 2009 2:45PM
Damn that was suppose to be a reply to nukee.
sourvideogame @ Sep 28th 2009 2:58PM
what if this technology recognized facial expressions? and when you get home from school/work the little boy asked you "what's wrong?" "how was you're day" "i see it didnt go well" "Well? Did you screw her or not?!!!" "tell me all about it"
Sordid State of Eclairs @ Sep 28th 2009 3:05PM
Thanks go out to you, sir, for making me laugh. I couldn't stop once I got to the "Well? Did you screw her or not?!!!" "tell me all about it."