The release explicitly states that the still-codenamed Natal project is "scheduled to be available in holiday season 2010," adding that Natal "is only the most recent example of Microsoft's work creating natural user interfaces." With any luck, by E3 we'll have an actual name and maybe even a specific month for when we'll get to check it out at home! Until then, we'll have to get by with the inspirational video about Natal's origins created for today's release, embedded above.
The release explicitly states that the still-codenamed Natal project is "scheduled to be available in holiday season 2010," adding that Natal "is only the most recent example of Microsoft's work creating natural user interfaces." With any luck, by E3 we'll have an actual name and maybe even a specific month for when we'll get to check it out at home! Until then, we'll have to get by with the inspirational video about Natal's origins created for today's release, embedded above.
Reader Comments (98)
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:35PM The Punisher said
This is going to rock.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:36PM nighttime said
any party with a megaphone sounds like a really annoying party.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:38PM (Unverified) said
I see nothing good coming from this for actual games, unless they can tie a gimmick or two into it with some games while you still use a real controller. Certainly not going to hold my breath though, it will be nothing but shovelware most likely.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:42PM Dr Perry Ulysses Cox said
You're probably right but I would pay for a first-person ninja game, or a game where you choke people or a game where all you do is head-butt, or...
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:42PM (Unverified) said
If its under $150, I'm getting it.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:44PM drnerd said
I hate casual gamers
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:54PM The Blank Mage Returns said
I've found that most casual gamers hate us, too.
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:26PM (Unverified) said
Khan, have you seen the DS and Wii sections in a store recently?
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:48PM TheDarkWayne said
tangible? Well, i guess you can't really touch DLC prices driven up by casuals buying whatever is for sale without realizing they're being ripped off. Admittedly, this is a hard line to walk as most hardcore gamers can't see that either! Also khan, arent project natal and ps3mote examples of how casuals have affected the industry? Not necessarily, but we'll see what kind of games actually come about, probably shovelware, which is also a clear example of my point. Or how games are generally becoming shorter for the same price, come on Khan don't be in denial
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Posted: Jan 7th 2010 10:32AM Mr Khan said
How is project Natal a bad thing, though? When i said tangible effect, i meant something straightforwardly detrimental to gaming as it was before Wii/DS entered the picture.
And i'm sorry to say it, Batman, but shorter games and higher DLC prices have everything to do with the core gamer, and nothing to do with the casual. The companies know that they can get *us* to pay premium prices for shorter games, and milk us for all that extra content.
And don't give me "all that money could have been spent towards real gaming" crap. Game development is not a zero-sum venture.
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And i'm sorry to say it, Batman, but shorter games and higher DLC prices have everything to do with the core gamer, and nothing to do with the casual. The companies know that they can get *us* to pay premium prices for shorter games, and milk us for all that extra content.
And don't give me "all that money could have been spent towards real gaming" crap. Game development is not a zero-sum venture.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:45PM (Unverified) said
Hey Kudo, ever wonder what the back of my hand looks like? well BAM!!!
But seriously... let's see some actually 1:1 footage already. Stop talking about it, and show what it actually does.
But seriously... let's see some actually 1:1 footage already. Stop talking about it, and show what it actually does.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:47PM (Unverified) said
Judging by the fact this thing still isn't ready, I'd say they're having technical problems.
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:25PM Jack Tretton said
"Judging by the fact this thing still isn't ready, I'd say they're having technical problems."
Remind us again for which software or hardware game developer you're currently occupying a corner office?
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Remind us again for which software or hardware game developer you're currently occupying a corner office?
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:27PM (Unverified) said
If Natal was working, they'd be hyping the hell out of it to take some of the air out of Sony's PMC. Since they're not, it's not too difficult to deduce that it's not ready. Most of those E3 demos, like Milo, were staged anyway.
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:51PM spin cycle said
Sounds like reality is setting in now. No more talk of playing Halo: Reach with it and more talk of casual games or even just "interfaces". Unlike the way over the top hype before, this seems more like what Natal will actually be used for.
MS did a great job making their Natal demo fun and spectacular, but overemphasizing a controller which will not be a big part of core gaming isn't a great idea and MS seems to be wisely moving away from it.
MS did a great job making their Natal demo fun and spectacular, but overemphasizing a controller which will not be a big part of core gaming isn't a great idea and MS seems to be wisely moving away from it.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 10:54PM wardob said
Natal seems awesome in theory but I'd still like to see some real games working on the thing, not just tech demos.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:01PM Svenhoek said
Awesome. My games were seriously lacking in other peoples balls while I play online.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:06PM Ashkental said
BAM!
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:16PM Mal F4cti0n said
Well color me excited.
My mind is starting to wander at all the possibilities this tech allows. Can't wait to see and play the games the true genius come up with.
You wanna add a "sword" to your experience while killing baddies in the latest RPG, go grab a stick, a wrapping paper tube, a ladle, or whatever and Natel would be able to "see" what you have and the way you are holding it and interpret it into the game.
I can even think of fencing training.....but anyway, this just prepares us for the day technology stops working and we revert back to the middle ages.
My mind is starting to wander at all the possibilities this tech allows. Can't wait to see and play the games the true genius come up with.
You wanna add a "sword" to your experience while killing baddies in the latest RPG, go grab a stick, a wrapping paper tube, a ladle, or whatever and Natel would be able to "see" what you have and the way you are holding it and interpret it into the game.
I can even think of fencing training.....but anyway, this just prepares us for the day technology stops working and we revert back to the middle ages.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:17PM QuePasa87 said
That Kudo sunglasses guy angers me. I can't really explain why, he just does.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:20PM Mr Khan said
That's what i had figured from the beginning
But no name yet, huh? I suppose that'll be for E3.
But no name yet, huh? I suppose that'll be for E3.
Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:20PM TheDarkWayne said
I'm excited about Natal, i just hope it isn't shitty and stuff is actually good i.e. hand squad commands or star wars force powers
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 12:45AM The Blank Mage Returns said
I'm more interested in quasi-realistic scenarios. Things I want to see the most are some kind of Mech game with an interactive cockpit, first person shooters, or anything involving swordplay. (The issue with swordplay, even more than with the Wii, is that without a stick, your hands will constantly be changing distance and position in ways that you don't intend. Not to mention that the sword would have to go 'through' a blocking opponent...)
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Posted: Jan 6th 2010 11:37PM nighttime said
LOOK, I JUST GAVE YOU THE TICKET TO THE BEST PARTY. CAN'T YOU JUST ENJOY IT?????????
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 12:01AM Colostomeboy said
i hope the natal stuff in Halo Reach is cool, maybe melee combat, or something, i am kinda excited by natal, i hope that it works well and is cool to use.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 1:26AM anemico said
Anyone else notice the actual piece of hardware being used in the video. Multiple times it shows an actual unit sitting on top of a computer screen. Hmmmm.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 1:48AM Mexico619 said
you want to see the bottom of an avatar shoe well BAM! there it is coming to you this hoilday season
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 2:31AM kinsella5 said
Wow, I posted that it was going to be launched in late 2010, way back towards the beginning of 2009 and got nothing but people saying "No, it wont be out for several years". Microsoft will be launching this in November, and it will be treated just like a new console release, lots of marketing, fanfare, etc. It will be mark the 5 year anniversary of the XBOX 360, some say half of the expected life span of the console. Natal is there to fill the void per say, we will see a new console by holiday 2013 most likely. But this XBOX 360 w/ Natal will be packaged as a new console, with a possible re-design of the current 360 look and size.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 2:32AM Whoppinberg said
Wii, prepare to get PWN3D!!
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 2:51AM armageddon said
@all the people comparing Natal to the Wii: the Wii does have good games but marketing is a big problem, so is the perception that the Wii is for kids. Part of the reason the Wii is perceived as for kids is Nintendo's long standing policy of toning games down (just look at their version of mortal combat compared to the genesis version), another part is the lack of HD graphics (not really a big deal for me but it is for a lot of others).
Yes Natal will get some shovelware but the 360 already has shovelware (and don't forget XBLA had shit loads of shovelware for quite a while), every system has to some degree shovelware, the Wii has more for the reasons stated above.
MS will quickly find the casual market doesn't buy much and give us real gamers more quality games or they already figured this out and that is why it's releasing as late in the year as it is (to give third party developers time to turn out some quality games and of course the holiday shopping rush).
Yes Natal will get some shovelware but the 360 already has shovelware (and don't forget XBLA had shit loads of shovelware for quite a while), every system has to some degree shovelware, the Wii has more for the reasons stated above.
MS will quickly find the casual market doesn't buy much and give us real gamers more quality games or they already figured this out and that is why it's releasing as late in the year as it is (to give third party developers time to turn out some quality games and of course the holiday shopping rush).
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 3:02AM Dannybuoy said
I wonder if it will be able to track a life sized puppet so that you can sit on the sofa, pull some strings and not dance around like some sorta prize bellend...
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 8:29AM Mabui said
One demo really perked my interested was the fighting one - that seemed pretty cool - and overly tough to imagine in the otherwise tight spaces of my current living arrangement. Though, the idea seemed pretty awesome.
The Wii on the other hand, just barely fits and works (for one player at a time) in my gaming space - without that is totally wrecking shit, aside from scraping the ceiling during "jump shot" Mimicry (Thank goodness for wii-condoms)
The Wii on the other hand, just barely fits and works (for one player at a time) in my gaming space - without that is totally wrecking shit, aside from scraping the ceiling during "jump shot" Mimicry (Thank goodness for wii-condoms)
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 8:33AM angelkin said
It might be impressive technology, but I think it's applications for enjoyable gaming are fairly limited, even if it works as well as it possibly can...
Fighting games...this probably will translate just fine in most cases.
Sports games...I can see throwing an imaginary football, shooting hoops with an imaginary basketball, or pitching an imaginary baseball working out alright, but how about catching an imaginary ball? Swinging an imaginary bat or tennis racket?
Driving games...who would want to hold their arms up for hours and pretend steering an imaginary steering wheel? Atleast with Mario Kart you have a plastic wheel to hold on to...
FPS/Action/RPG...anything involving a char using a weapon to attack things is going to feel pretty lame without actually having something in your own hand to perform the action...with the exception of casting LIGHTNING BOLT!
So, I’m waiting to see how this all pans out.
Fighting games...this probably will translate just fine in most cases.
Sports games...I can see throwing an imaginary football, shooting hoops with an imaginary basketball, or pitching an imaginary baseball working out alright, but how about catching an imaginary ball? Swinging an imaginary bat or tennis racket?
Driving games...who would want to hold their arms up for hours and pretend steering an imaginary steering wheel? Atleast with Mario Kart you have a plastic wheel to hold on to...
FPS/Action/RPG...anything involving a char using a weapon to attack things is going to feel pretty lame without actually having something in your own hand to perform the action...with the exception of casting LIGHTNING BOLT!
So, I’m waiting to see how this all pans out.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 10:05AM Firebug2009 said
what happened to the free "Joy Ride - Holiday of '09????"
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 11:46AM Katana Master said
I'm not gonna get hyped, Peter Molyneux was in that video.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 2:47PM TRONdll said
Next gen is Natal.
Gen is Natal.
Gen Natal.
Gen is Natal.
Gen Natal.
Posted: Jan 7th 2010 5:57PM (Unverified) said
"holiday season 2010"
I didn't know holidays came in seasons??!!
this makes the release date unknown as there is a holiday almost every month
I didn't know holidays came in seasons??!!
this makes the release date unknown as there is a holiday almost every month
Posted: Jan 8th 2010 10:50PM LaurelRenee said
I have a good feeling about Project Natal and an iffy feeling about it as well. Although, I had the same feeling about the Wii when it was still under the name "The Revolution." As we know now, the Wii has done great in sales, but has still been seen as more of a gimmick and less of a "hardcore" gaming system. We shall see in time how this new device adds (or subtracts) to/from the fun, innovation and over capabilities of the Xbox 360 overall. As a Xbox 360 player myself, I hope it becomes a great success. Good luck Microsoft.
Posted: Jan 24th 2010 1:22PM (Unverified) said
I REALLY HOPE THIS PROJECT WORKS I REALLY WANT TO TRY IT BUT MY QUESTION IS IF YOUR PLAYIN CALL OF DUTY THEN WANT TO TURN AROUNED TO GET IN TO THE BULIDING BECAUSE IF U TURN AROUNED TTHEN U CANT SEE TH SCREEN AND IF U TURN AROUND AGAIN YOUR BACK WERE U STARTED.
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