Microsoft's taken steps to appeal to the casual crowd, sure. The first was NXE, which brought us all things like Avatars and Netflix, with subsequent updates adding Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. These are experiences meant to broaden the appeal of the Xbox 360 to casual gamers, a group that Microsoft spokesperson David Dennis told GI.biz is pretty tricky to hook.
Project Natal will play a big part in Microsoft's continuing goal to interest more casual players, Dennis said. He compared the interactive, controller-less experience to having the broad appeal of a title like Wii Fit -- something Dennis calls "an experience done right" that goes beyond the core yet still manages to "capture the imagination of the core." It's this dual-catering that Dennis thinks Natal excel at, as he predicts the hardware will enable experiences that the core will look forward to, as well as "casual game experiences that are easy to jump in and play."
In the interim, we offer Microsoft this ProTip for appealing to more casual players: Make more games with "Party" in the title. Who doesn't like a party?
Reader Comments (70)
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:31PM (Unverified) said
WHY ARE YOU SAYING WHAT NINTENDO SAID IN 2006 MICRSOFT AHHHH-HHHMMMMMMMMMMMM
ROLLING EYES AT SADOSOFT THE SADEST SHALLOWEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD
AND WIIS MOTION IS FOR CORE YOU INSANE IDIOTS
HOW IS THE WORLDS MOST PICK UP AND PLAY FPS PLUS MOTION DEVICE INCLUDING A ANALOG STICK NOT EVOLVING CORE CONTROLS
NATAL IS A EYETOY PLUS AND XPAD IS A CLASSIC CONTROLLER
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND GAMING AT ALL DO YOU
Reply
ROLLING EYES AT SADOSOFT THE SADEST SHALLOWEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD
AND WIIS MOTION IS FOR CORE YOU INSANE IDIOTS
HOW IS THE WORLDS MOST PICK UP AND PLAY FPS PLUS MOTION DEVICE INCLUDING A ANALOG STICK NOT EVOLVING CORE CONTROLS
NATAL IS A EYETOY PLUS AND XPAD IS A CLASSIC CONTROLLER
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND GAMING AT ALL DO YOU
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:33PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Man, someone didn't get their sippy cup of apple juice this morning.
Reply
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:44PM (Unverified) said
Thanks for murdering caps lock and raping its corpse, jack ass.
Reply
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:33PM Dance Mofo said
@ sdsdfsfd- OUCH! WHY did YOU have to PUT IT TO HIM SO NICELY!!
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Posted: Dec 31st 2009 5:17PM p dot t said
It's surprising to see that some still don't have any idea what Project Natal really is.
Let's just say this is the type of technology that will bring a whole new shift on the
way we used our console devices before. Sounds too ambitious but way too hard to miss
Project Natal Will change the world: http://bit.ly/project-natal-will-change-our-world
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Let's just say this is the type of technology that will bring a whole new shift on the
way we used our console devices before. Sounds too ambitious but way too hard to miss
Project Natal Will change the world: http://bit.ly/project-natal-will-change-our-world
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:32PM Dr Perry Ulysses Cox said
I don't think that there's anything necessarily wrong about targeting casual gamers, but the way they're hyping Natal it needs to be on par with the first time I ever masturbated.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:53PM ch3burashka said
As long as targeting implies looking down the scope of sniper rifle...
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:32PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Any game with a "Z" in it's name will sell like hot cakes:
HaloZ
GearZ of WarZ
Mario & LuigiZ
Guitar Hero 8193.5 Remix Edition HD Super Kick TurboZ
Super Street Fighter IV MEGA Mix Tournament Happy Fuck Edition RR2Z
I could do this shit all day.
Reply
HaloZ
GearZ of WarZ
Mario & LuigiZ
Guitar Hero 8193.5 Remix Edition HD Super Kick TurboZ
Super Street Fighter IV MEGA Mix Tournament Happy Fuck Edition RR2Z
I could do this shit all day.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:54PM CaramelZappa said
@Granger
Nutsz & Boltz didn't sell well because it was a vehicle based sequel when people wanted more platforming goodness. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what most Banjo-Kazooie fans wanted.
Reply
Nutsz & Boltz didn't sell well because it was a vehicle based sequel when people wanted more platforming goodness. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what most Banjo-Kazooie fans wanted.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:32PM Dance Mofo said
prediction: Natal delayed til 2011. I guess I can see xbox 360 coexisting with the new xbox 360. I can see using Natal something like... in order to open doors, you have to twist your hand in a circular motion while using the gamepad for all other basic functions. Or in Star Wars, using your hand(s) for force powers.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:06PM Mr Khan said
Natal delayed till 2011 to launch with a new console. That would really be worthwhile for Microsoft, rather than splitting 360's base this late in it's life, ride out the rest of the 360's life with it's strengths, and start a new console with a new attitude (though one that is not mutually exclusive)
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:38PM Duke said
I fear they're going to keep pushing this mentality and then the "core" will be left buying an add-on that will just be used by the trash party games that Ubi has been pumping out nonstop lately. While hoping for something exciting we will probably be left with our imaginations still uncaptured by good software if their focus is to pull in the casuals.
It would be great to see them just make the device exciting for core and casual users right off the bat with great titles going in both directions and not engineer the whole project to inevitably piss off one or the other.
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It would be great to see them just make the device exciting for core and casual users right off the bat with great titles going in both directions and not engineer the whole project to inevitably piss off one or the other.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:41PM (Unverified) said
Fine, Microsoft. You do that.
But if you start forcing Natal down my throat by making it mandatory in the core franchises (Halo, Gears, Fable) then I'll dump your damn platform faster than you can say "Developers!", okay?
Reply
But if you start forcing Natal down my throat by making it mandatory in the core franchises (Halo, Gears, Fable) then I'll dump your damn platform faster than you can say "Developers!", okay?
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:01PM TheDarkWayne said
Natal is almost definitely going to be pivotal in Fable 3.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:08PM Mr Khan said
Mandatory motion controls, like mandatory anything, would be counter-productive. Natal should be universal, it should be there on every Microsoft console (which is why i feel it would be most effective on a new console, and not on the 360 as-is), but it should not necessarily be needed for every game.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:44PM Scuffles said
What would help broaden their audience would be system hardware that didn't have like a 60% failure rate ~.~
With the PS3 its the fact they don't have 3rd parties that are competent enough to program for it, resulting in under preforming ports, tho they are good enough for the US Navy to use for code cracking....
With the 360 its the horribly hardware failure rate to at least they are build practically out of off the shelf hardware (not that the end user can fix them themselves) that third parties don't have to strain themselves to code for it.
With the Wii ..... Seems like both of the other big contenders are starting to catch up to the Wii, not that its a powerhouse but its been working MoCap for some time now, Mind you not visual but with the accelerometers in the controllers and it would seem what was originally the Wii's "Gimic" has proven interesting enough that S&M are starting to migrate over to similar features.
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With the PS3 its the fact they don't have 3rd parties that are competent enough to program for it, resulting in under preforming ports, tho they are good enough for the US Navy to use for code cracking....
With the 360 its the horribly hardware failure rate to at least they are build practically out of off the shelf hardware (not that the end user can fix them themselves) that third parties don't have to strain themselves to code for it.
With the Wii ..... Seems like both of the other big contenders are starting to catch up to the Wii, not that its a powerhouse but its been working MoCap for some time now, Mind you not visual but with the accelerometers in the controllers and it would seem what was originally the Wii's "Gimic" has proven interesting enough that S&M are starting to migrate over to similar features.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:45PM (Unverified) said
Finally! Now I can play all my favorite games that arose because of a concept of expanding an audiance, like this! http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=75235
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:46PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
uhhhh yea....
so as long as they don't Natalify every major title I dont have an issue....I mean I might end up getting it IF its a reasonable price eventually(under $40) but it wont be for use in games.....more for the voice control.....I have my 360 in my bedroom where I dont really have room to stand far enough away from the camera to catch my 6'4" frame entirely in its lens
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so as long as they don't Natalify every major title I dont have an issue....I mean I might end up getting it IF its a reasonable price eventually(under $40) but it wont be for use in games.....more for the voice control.....I have my 360 in my bedroom where I dont really have room to stand far enough away from the camera to catch my 6'4" frame entirely in its lens
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:50PM (Unverified) said
Except Molyneux is already talking about cramming Natal support into Fable III, which would make the core be required to buy it, right?
We got here first. The casuals have the Wii if they want that kind of gaming.
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We got here first. The casuals have the Wii if they want that kind of gaming.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:59PM hiruuamon said
No, support does not mean required...it means supported, and if you don't have it, well you make that choice. The s ame goes for it being integrated into any core games...if you want to use it...great, but you are not required to. That would be stupid and suicide for their business.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:02PM Uncle Jesse said
"We got here first"?! What a stupid thing to say. I hate to break it to you, but they don't care about you. They are trying to get NEW people to purchase and play their console. They will obviously still make games for the "hardcore gamer" you label yourself as, but Natal is all about bringing in a new audience.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:05PM (Unverified) said
Except Microsoft isn't showing that they aren't going to screw over their core audience the way Nintendo has this gen. If anything, they're acting like they plan to screw us on purpose.
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:54PM kenny goo said
*Facepalm*
If you guys thought it was bad having three first party games even remotely worth playing on your 360, have fun watching more and more of their resources being sucked up by an attempt to tap into the Wii market with Natal and next to nobody in the core gaming sphere gives a shit about.
Me: So Rare, how ya doing?
Rare: Working on some new and exciting stuff!
Me: Really?! Conker? Perfect Dark? Kameo? Banjo-Kazooie? Killer Instinct?
Rare: Well... not exactly.
Me: NO WAY! You're making an all new IP?! That's fucking sick what is it?!
Rare: Well... we're working on Project Natal... and Avatars. And well... that's about it.
Me: *Silence*
Reply
If you guys thought it was bad having three first party games even remotely worth playing on your 360, have fun watching more and more of their resources being sucked up by an attempt to tap into the Wii market with Natal and next to nobody in the core gaming sphere gives a shit about.
Me: So Rare, how ya doing?
Rare: Working on some new and exciting stuff!
Me: Really?! Conker? Perfect Dark? Kameo? Banjo-Kazooie? Killer Instinct?
Rare: Well... not exactly.
Me: NO WAY! You're making an all new IP?! That's fucking sick what is it?!
Rare: Well... we're working on Project Natal... and Avatars. And well... that's about it.
Me: *Silence*
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:59PM ch3burashka said
Don't you worry your fat little face. I'm absolutely positive Killer Instinct 3 is set in their near future - there have been too many leaks and references to it for them NOT to be working on it.
Reply
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 6:54PM (Unverified) said
BK: Nuts and Bolts was really really good but a lot of idiots ignored it because OH NO ITS NOT A PLATFORMER
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 7:12PM kenny goo said
@ Menz
That last Rare developed game I played and liked was Conker on the Original Xbox. Yea, it was a remake, but it was still fun, and I'd be up for more Conker, even if it was a smaller scale XBLA release. Since then, PDZ was about as average as average gets and so was Kameo, but they both had potential to be much better and I'd look forward to a proper Perfect Dark sequel specifically.
As for Viva Pinata, good concept, terrible structure and execution. I find it funny you mentioned that's the only game the girls you know like, because I have a handful I know who always end up playing Modern Warfare or Left 4 Dead at my house when we get a bunch of people together and they're not half bad either. They aren't gamers or "nerdy" or anything either. Pretty regular chicks, they just like to shoot shit.
@ Filthy Assistant
Nuts & Bolts, much like everything else Rare has done on 360, is so overwhelming average it's insane. Like, you have your great games, you have your bad games, and you have Rare 360 games right in the middle. I don't dislike N&B, but there's nothing I really like about it either. It's so meh.
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That last Rare developed game I played and liked was Conker on the Original Xbox. Yea, it was a remake, but it was still fun, and I'd be up for more Conker, even if it was a smaller scale XBLA release. Since then, PDZ was about as average as average gets and so was Kameo, but they both had potential to be much better and I'd look forward to a proper Perfect Dark sequel specifically.
As for Viva Pinata, good concept, terrible structure and execution. I find it funny you mentioned that's the only game the girls you know like, because I have a handful I know who always end up playing Modern Warfare or Left 4 Dead at my house when we get a bunch of people together and they're not half bad either. They aren't gamers or "nerdy" or anything either. Pretty regular chicks, they just like to shoot shit.
@ Filthy Assistant
Nuts & Bolts, much like everything else Rare has done on 360, is so overwhelming average it's insane. Like, you have your great games, you have your bad games, and you have Rare 360 games right in the middle. I don't dislike N&B, but there's nothing I really like about it either. It's so meh.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 10:57PM CaramelZappa said
@Filthy Assistant
You're kidding me right? You really think an audience excited about the next game in a series of PLATFORMERS are idiots because they didn't want to play a mediocre GTA-like driving clone? Even if it was the best of the best in terms of vehicle gameplay, I wouldn't be interested. Go on XBL and download BKI or II, play for a while, and then go back to nuts and bolts. The only thing the games have in common are the characters. There is literally nothing else. Banjo-Kazooie was great because it had great gameplay. If you replace that, you might as well have made a new ip. One me, and many other banjo-kazooie fans aren't interested in.
Honestly, the only things Rare has done that's really worth playing since they joined microsoft are the Banjo remakes for the XBLA and the conker remake for the original xbox. It's really no wonder Nintendo sold off Rare when they did, because they haven't made anything new, original, or even all that fun since then.
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You're kidding me right? You really think an audience excited about the next game in a series of PLATFORMERS are idiots because they didn't want to play a mediocre GTA-like driving clone? Even if it was the best of the best in terms of vehicle gameplay, I wouldn't be interested. Go on XBL and download BKI or II, play for a while, and then go back to nuts and bolts. The only thing the games have in common are the characters. There is literally nothing else. Banjo-Kazooie was great because it had great gameplay. If you replace that, you might as well have made a new ip. One me, and many other banjo-kazooie fans aren't interested in.
Honestly, the only things Rare has done that's really worth playing since they joined microsoft are the Banjo remakes for the XBLA and the conker remake for the original xbox. It's really no wonder Nintendo sold off Rare when they did, because they haven't made anything new, original, or even all that fun since then.
Posted: Dec 16th 2009 11:38PM kenny goo said
As I remember it, there were some problems at Rare, some people had left, Microsoft tried to capitalize on the situation in the aftermath and ended up spending way too much money on them. Then Rare made them shit money.
It's a shame though, cause they have the potential for much more. Poor Rare... =/
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It's a shame though, cause they have the potential for much more. Poor Rare... =/
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 4:21AM (Unverified) said
Jesus Christ, Caramel. If it's a good game it's a good game. It still had the characters you apparently have a giant boner for, and it had some really great BK-style humor in it. Yeah it was about driving/flying/whatever but the creation options were really robust and the challenges were fun.
I don't give two shits if it isn't a platformer and neither should you. If you want Banjo Kazooie/Banjo Tooie, go back and play those, nobody's stopping you. They've aged really well, it's not like they're suddenly awful and you NEED A NEW PLATFORMER OR THE WORLD WILL EXPLODE.
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I don't give two shits if it isn't a platformer and neither should you. If you want Banjo Kazooie/Banjo Tooie, go back and play those, nobody's stopping you. They've aged really well, it's not like they're suddenly awful and you NEED A NEW PLATFORMER OR THE WORLD WILL EXPLODE.
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 4:39AM CaramelZappa said
You completely missed the point. All I'm saying is I don't care about vehicle games, even if the characters from old nintendo games are in it. I don't care if they never make another proper Banjo game, I just don't care about this one. By the way, I could give two shits about the actual characters in Banjo, it's the gameplay that was fun.
Why should I not care about what kind of game it is? To me, the gameplay is the most important thing, so why on earth would i buy a game with gameplay I'm not interested in? And judging from both the reviews and the demo of Nuts and Bolts, it's mediocre, nothing groundbreaking. But you had to go on trolling saying that people are idiots for not being interested in it when according to pretty much everyone but you it's very clearly nothing special.
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Why should I not care about what kind of game it is? To me, the gameplay is the most important thing, so why on earth would i buy a game with gameplay I'm not interested in? And judging from both the reviews and the demo of Nuts and Bolts, it's mediocre, nothing groundbreaking. But you had to go on trolling saying that people are idiots for not being interested in it when according to pretty much everyone but you it's very clearly nothing special.
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