Time picks Natal as one of 2009's best inventions
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Nov 12th 2009 at 2:00PM } 
"Since time immemorial ... one barrier that has stood between gamers and total Tron-like immersion in their video games has been the controller," the piece posits, going on to say that Natal will break that barrier by allowing the player one-to-one access between the game and the game's controls. "You move your hand, and the Master Chief (or whoever) moves his hand. It's that simple. And that cool." Though we're excited for the many prospects Project Natal seems to offer, we're a bit more intrigued by teleportation.
And yes, that's seriously on the list.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ridgecity @ Nov 12th 2009 2:04PM
Even as a Nintendo fan, I'm happy Microsoft is making this.
sdfsdf @ Nov 12th 2009 2:20PM
Doesn't this just further demonstrate how paid off the media is? I mean it's nearly 2010, and Natal is still another 12 months away, assuming it does not slip, and it's got the 2009 award?
I wonder how much that Award cost Microsoft? I wonder if Americans that can't see whats happening here will get any dumber?
Edge @ Nov 12th 2009 2:50PM
First, there is no Microsoft conspiracy, any more so than there is an Apple conspiracy.
Second... if an AIDS vaccine or test-tube chicken fingers is on there and we can agree that it's significant, it's not out yet either. Where does that leave us?
Space @ Nov 12th 2009 3:13PM
wait...this is just a robust eyetoy.
fffunfarm06 @ Nov 12th 2009 3:15PM
i think the aids vaccine is more important than a 3d camera.
incendious @ Nov 12th 2009 3:32PM
It should actually be the best 2009 acquisition of a company who invented the tech years before. ZCam has been around for a long time.
Brysonial the Bison @ Nov 12th 2009 5:15PM
If microsoft pulls this off it could be revolutionary! oh wait.....
Brysonial the Bison @ Nov 12th 2009 5:17PM
If microsoft pulls this off it could be revolutionary! oh wait.......
DeepFriedSushi @ Nov 12th 2009 6:23PM
man if this thing is getting this much hype in 2009, i cant even imagine how 2010 is going to be when it actually releases, ms is definitely going to make a huge marketing push for this thing.
Babel @ Nov 12th 2009 2:04PM
Seriously? Wow.
Deadpool @ Nov 12th 2009 4:22PM
Yeah, I know!
I've had a teleporter since the 90s. Damn, I love this thing!
Banstyle @ Nov 12th 2009 2:05PM
lol you guys used the image with the Ubisoft logo hidden inside Natal. :)
nick @ Nov 12th 2009 4:23PM
I thought the same thing when I saw the image. What does Ubisoft have to do wiith anything? But then I remembered there was an Natal/Ubisoft article some time ago. They must have just re-used that image.
Whocares @ Nov 12th 2009 5:20PM
Subliminal advertising - you won't manipulate my brain thoughts joystiq!!!!
must....buy.....splinter cell
pika2000 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:05PM
Really? A gaming device that is NOT even shipping yet is the best invention? So much for quality journalism.
JoeStillLife @ Nov 12th 2009 2:07PM
i agree. we don't even know how well this will be yet.
The Baron @ Nov 12th 2009 2:09PM
Yeah, might have been better to see whether any games are going to integrate it well before this. Although I'm sure the waggle controls were getting the same treatment before the Wii came out.
Also, doesn't natal not work for black people? We've finally uncovered Time's secret white supremacist agenda!
Warlock @ Nov 12th 2009 2:11PM
My thoughts exactly. How do they know? The thing isn't even out yet!
iamnotafish @ Nov 12th 2009 2:12PM
HEY! this is the same magazine that awarded me man of year 2 years ago! show some respect!
pika2000 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:15PM
@iamnotafish: Yeah, the same magazine that awarded George W Bush as man of the year too, twice.
Meh @ Nov 12th 2009 2:20PM
"Also, doesn't natal not work for black people? We've finally uncovered Time's secret white supremacist agenda!"
You're talking about the EyeToy. Natal has a 3D camera, and is able to scan people in complete dark.
Marius Returns @ Nov 12th 2009 2:19PM
BAM! there it is
MystileArmor @ Nov 12th 2009 2:23PM
Playing devils advocate here, but the AIDS vaccine hasn't proven itself yet either...
Quiggy @ Nov 12th 2009 2:26PM
@pika2000: Time's Person of the Year isn't necessarily for people who are doing good. Rather, it's the person who has influenced the world the most in the past year for better or for worse. Among the winners: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Ayatollah Khomeini.
gulpo @ Nov 12th 2009 2:31PM
Um... you do realize half of the list are things that have been tested but not in general release or use right? You just can't buy it... it does exist, media were allowed to test it out at various events, and was invented in 2009. So thus it made it on the Best Inventions of 2009. How is that bad journalism?
joeybeast @ Nov 12th 2009 2:33PM
It's not like I can teleport right now either.
pika2000 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:34PM
gulpo: Because there are plenty of other more important inventions out there, other than a gaming device. Besides, motion capture is nothing new. Really, this is simply MS using Time as a venue to advertise and hype up natal.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 12th 2009 2:37PM
Relax guys. Just because it's not to market yet doesn't mean it can't be included on the list. A lot of 'inventions' on that list are more ideas than actual products.
But I do agree it doesn't really belong on the list given what we don't know about it. They should have just added the Sega Activator instead.
Vcize @ Nov 12th 2009 2:40PM
Pika, you put the emPHASis on the wrong sylLABLE.
Edge @ Nov 12th 2009 2:54PM
Like I said above, the AIDS vaccine isn't out either. Are we doing to handicap Microsoft because... well... we just don't like them *pouty face*?
Duke @ Nov 12th 2009 3:14PM
You guys are gonna really be feeling silly bitching about this if it turns out that Natal cures AIDS. Yeah, chances are slim, but hey, it's not out yet - there's still time to add features.
Mouthsmasher @ Nov 12th 2009 3:16PM
Sounds like Obama winning the Nobel Prize.
Levi @ Nov 12th 2009 6:58PM
dude, this. It's not only not out yet, but it's not even due to release this year! This is so stupid, but then again, the iPhone won a best invention, so...
NitroMikeo @ Nov 12th 2009 2:05PM
Its not even out... It might be the worst thing ever.
iSwarm @ Nov 12th 2009 2:07PM
It isn't even out yet?
johnnynumber5 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:32PM
Hopefully thats a rhetorical question.
Sho Minamimoto @ Nov 12th 2009 2:09PM
So the natal beat a possible aids vaccine for invention of the year?? I got to say, I think the media is giving the natal a little too much hype.
Badboy1979 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:11PM
"as ONE of 2009's best inventions"
Orchard Pear @ Nov 12th 2009 2:09PM
http://animoscrypt.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/hahaha-lulz.jpg
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/hahaha-wut.jpg
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/ha-ha-ha2.jpg
Hyams @ Nov 12th 2009 2:09PM
Apart from a CGI concept video, a obviously-staged Milo presentation, and some poorly-done mini-games, what has the public seen of Natal so far to get everyone so excited?
Geist @ Nov 12th 2009 2:28PM
Nothing. Nothing at all. Welcome to the world of hype.
Welcome to the world of video games.
johnnynumber5 @ Nov 12th 2009 2:31PM
rumor has it pedophiles anxious to get a test run at their very own Milo stuffed the ballot box.
Vcize @ Nov 12th 2009 2:59PM
I'm pretty sure TIME wrote this article, not the public. And TIME got to use the device themselves months ago.
Mr Khan @ Nov 12th 2009 3:09PM
Microsoft is a master of hype. I mean, this was delivered as part of an overall excellent E3 presentation (but then all of theirs have been excellent that i can remember, except 2007s), and they managed to come away from E3 with more of the hype, even though Sony i think had an overall better lineup of games, and Nintendo had their true-motion control solution that was really real, and shipping in a few weeks
Point is, Microsoft plays this game well.
digiboi @ Nov 12th 2009 5:01PM
Jimmy Falon jumping around like an idiot wanting to hit balls - then putting on a bright orange vest (because it can't see dark colors) and jumping around like an idiot pretending to hit balls.
Fun for like 5 minutes then what are you left with. Its the Wii 2.0. In 2011, everyone will be using Natal as a punchline.
Bobby Kotick - Co-Founder of the ATDF @ Nov 12th 2009 2:10PM
Why would they give the best invention of 2009 out to a product that isn't guarenteed to work as well as not even being released in 2009?
Then again, Obama got the Nobel Prize for what he MIGHT do...
Orchard Pear @ Nov 12th 2009 2:14PM
Watch it, Kotick.
To question Obamessiah is racist, and unfair.
Bubbameister33 (Confused by Fanboyism) @ Nov 12th 2009 2:25PM
@Orchard Pear
Shut up.
copa @ Nov 12th 2009 2:28PM
@Orchard Pear
Oh my God, how right wing and delusional do you have to be to think "nobody is allowed to say anything critical about Obama these days."
Sho Minamimoto @ Nov 12th 2009 2:33PM
@copa
You mean Bubbameister33 right?