Joystiq

Kinect Star Wars preview: Pod (racing) people

Mike Schramm — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:33:00 EST

At the Comic-Con panel for Kinect Star Wars earlier this week (the same panel where that R2D2 Xbox was announced), Microsoft's head of Kinect Jorg Neumann told the story of how the game itself came about. Back in 2008, when Kinect was still called Project Natal, and basically consisted of just a camera in a back room at Microsoft, Neumann and his colleagues found an engineer playing with game prototypes on the system, and one of those was a lightsaber simulator. That alone convinced Neumann and his division that Star Wars needed to be on the interface in some format.

And it turns out LucasArts didn't need much convincing either. Lead producer Craig Derrick described flying out to the Microsoft campus to see the proposal for the game, and saying among his own colleagues that all they planned to do was hold out their hand and see what happened. As soon as they pushed a hand out to the Kinect unit, said Derrick, "it knocked over a bunch of droids, and we were like, 'OK, we're in.'"

We saw the game's Force-driven droid pushing and lightsaber waving at E3, but Microsoft and LucasArts introduced a new mode to the game this week: pod racing. Anakin Skywalker's motorsport of choice is in the game as well, and I got to take a pod out for a spin later on in the week at a Microsoft preview event.

Gallery: Kinect: Star Wars (Pod Racing)

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Kinect Star Wars preview: Pod (racing) people originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Dance Central producers on balancing gender and keeping it 'fresh'

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:53:00 EST

During our extended preview of Dance Central at Harmonix's studio (post-E3), we talked with project lead Kasson Crooker and lead producer Naoko Takamoto about the challenges of making a new dance "franchise" (a term Crooker doesn't like) and finding gender balance in a game that's all about shaking what your momma gave you.

Joystiq: Is Dance Central considered "a platform" in the same way that Rock Band is?

Kasson Crooker: Yeah, it is a platform. We're at the beginning and DLC will be the extension. And I hope that if people take to it -- the non-dancers take to it, the dancers take to it, people take to it from a fitness workout physical experience -- that this is the beginning of a huge world of dance for Harmonix. The same way Rock Band has been.

Continue reading Interview: Dance Central producers on balancing gender and keeping it 'fresh'

Interview: Dance Central producers on balancing gender and keeping it 'fresh' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Extended Preview: Dance Central

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

After our first body-on experience with Dance Central at E3, we wanted a more accurate feeling of what the game would be like away from the bright lights and cacophony of the annual mega show. Developed by Harmonix, best known for creating Rock Band and the original Guitar Hero (along with cult favorites Frequency and Amplitude) Dance Central is a seemingly innocent mainstream dance title which maintains the street cred and serious gaming elements we've come to expect from the Boston-based developer.

I spent a couple hours at Harmonix's studio last week getting a better idea of what the game will be like in our homes this holiday. Now, granted, none of us will likely have two of the games' producers and a publicist on hand when we're playing with our families, but it's as close as I could get to an intimate test.

Gallery: Dance Central (Kinect)

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Extended Preview: Dance Central originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dance Central DLC to cost more than Rock Band's, Harmonix explains why

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Dance Central Project Lead Kasson Crooker tells Joystiq that the game's downloadable content will cost more than the $2 Rock Band standard. The Harmonix developer explained that the "complexity" involved makes DLC for Dance Central "significantly different" from that offered in Rock Band and noted that we can expect to hear more on pricing closer to the game's ship date later this year.

Harmonix's approach to Rock Band pricing has always seemed fair, but we wanted to know the specific differences in creating DLC for DC. Crooker elaborated, "Because [Dance Central DLC] comes with a brand new unique routine with the three difficulties, we have to: engage the choreographer, find the song, license the song, come up with a routine, get them into a [motion capture] suit, shoot all the choreography, integrate the animation, build the filter system, the flash cards, the [voiceover] for 'Break it Down' -- it's a pretty elaborate process that is not only a lot more expensive, but a lot more time consuming."

Standardized weekly DLC a la Rock Band is unlikely at the game's launch. Each DLC routine is designed for use in "Break it Down" and "Perform It!" modes, as well as the the multiplayer "Dance Battle" mode.

Dance Central DLC to cost more than Rock Band's, Harmonix explains why originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Store website lists Kinect for $149.99

Mike Schramm — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:05:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Yet another retailer has listed the Kinect add-on for the Xbox 360 at a price of $149.99, but this time, it's a little different: the price is on Microsoft's own site. Over on the Microsoft Store, the "Kinect Sensor for Xbox 360" is clearly listed (and available for preorder on November 4) at $149.99. We've screencapped the image above, just in case it gets removed in the future.

Of course, this still doesn't confirm the price for certain -- the retail side may have no more inside information from the company than any other retailer does, and may be simply listing what it expects the price to be. Or, the price may have gone live early accidentally, pending an official announcement. Either way, throw another piece of evidence on the pile for a $149.99 price on Microsoft's controller-free gaming system.

[Thanks, Michael!]

Microsoft Store website lists Kinect for $149.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: Dance Central (Kinect)

Ludwig Kietzmann — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:03:00 EST

As a diminutive person who jabs at buttons and keyboards for a living, I can say with the utmost accuracy that dancing isn't my forte. You'll probably come to the same conclusion after watching the video of me gyrating to the beat of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," which I've foolishly embedded after the break. I've placed it there because I want you to see -- somewhere in that garbled body dialect -- how rapidly the "Oh my god, I can't be seen doing this" phase is supplanted by an inescapable feeling of fun. The endorphins don't lie, guys.

Dance Central isn't a quick-and-dirty ditty from Harmonix, the developers behind Amplitude and Rock Band. It's an immediately accessible rhythm title that trades multi-colored buttons for body language, presented in the form of easily processed silhouette cards. A practice mode enables you to gain familiarity with the dance move associated with each silhouette card, but I found them clear enough to follow correctly on my first attempt. Glance at the upcoming move card (think of it as the "next piece" window in Tetris) and prepare to mimic it and the group of on-screen dancers in rhythm to the music. It's like dancing in front of a mirror -- if you were a vibrant cartoon person with a boombox.

The reflection of your own body, as captured precisely by the Xbox 360's Kinect camera, is almost hidden compared to the in-game characters, and it makes the game feel more collaborative than judgmental. In comparison to rote stomp-'em-down Dance Dance Revolution, it's a dance dance revelation. I understand there's a mental embarrassment hurdle to be cleared here so, if it helps, better to think of Dance Central as a hip, hip-thrusting exercise game. Either way, you should also think of it as one of Kinect's least abstract games -- you're not awkwardly driving an invisible car, for example -- and certainly one of its most promising.

Gallery: Dance Central (Kinect)

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Preview: Dance Central (Kinect) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect: The company behind the tech explains how it works

Mike Schramm — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

PrimeSense was at E3 this week showing off the raw technology that it licensed to Microsoft for what officially became Kinect this past Monday. The company developed the method and core software that Microsoft's forthcoming camera/controller uses to read human bodies and gestures, and had it running on a prototype unit live in the booth.

Unfortunately, company reps weren't able to comment on specifics of the licensing deal, and were very quick to point out that much of what has been done so far with Kinect is Microsoft's own software -- PrimeSense only provides the raw tech behind the visual gesture system, not any of the menus or games that are actually appearing on Kinect. But they were able to explain the core technology to me, and shine a little light, so to speak, on what Kinect is capable of.

Continue reading Kinect: The company behind the tech explains how it works

Kinect: The company behind the tech explains how it works originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop listing suggests $150 price for Kinect

David Hinkle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:23:00 EST

The Kinect price has remained elusive, even after Microsoft's E3 keynote, but a new GameStop listing predicts a MSRP of $150 for the product itself -- $299 when included with an Arcade console and $399 with an Elite console. Even Kinect Adventures! and Kinect Sports are priced on the retailer's site: $60 each. It's as if a million gamers cringed and were suddenly disinterested.

It's hardly confirmation of Microsoft's intended price point for the device, but the $150 price point (along with the proposed bundle packages) corroborates a rumor we reported on late last month. We've got troops on the ground at Microsoft's post-keynote session and will try to find out what we can. We'll keep you posted.

Update: Microsoft has told us at the Xbox 360 roundtable this afternoon that they don't plan to announce a Kinect price officially this week at E3.

GameStop listing suggests $150 price for Kinect originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect motion controls coming to Forza

Mike Schramm — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:48:00 EST

Filed under: News, In The News, Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Microsoft announced at this morning's E3 event that the Kinect system will interact with very popular Forza series. So we'll get this out of the way right now: yes, you will be able to play Kinect Forza. Whew -- glad we could get that one out.

And you won't just be driving with a nonexistent steering wheel -- Microsoft showed someone actually walking around and inspecting the car with the Kinect system, as well as opening up the hood, waving a hand to shut the doors, and hovering a virtual cursor over various parts to open up menus of information. Turn 10 is developing, and a release date was given as 2011, but it's not clear yet whether this is added functionality to a current version of Forza, or a completely new game. We'll let you know when we do.

Kinect motion controls coming to Forza originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect available November 4 with 15 launch titles

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A year after its reveal, Microsoft's controller-free motion camera has an official launch date of November 4, 2010.

The Kinect will also have 15 launch titles, we've listed several after the break. Microsoft did not announce a launch price.

Continue reading Kinect available November 4 with 15 launch titles

Kinect available November 4 with 15 launch titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect moves into retail this November

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

According to Xbox.com, we'll be flailing our arms and jumping in the air with Kinect this November. Microsoft seems to be aiming directly for mainstream culture's jugular, with broadcast media getting body-ons this morning. Enjoy.

[Thanks, Jason C.!]

Kinect moves into retail this November originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision's Kotick knows when to get on the boat

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick discussed the current state of the game industry and Activision's position within it. Regarding Microsoft's Kinect and Sony's Move motion controllers, Kotick believes they will "excite" consumers, though he doesn't expect them to "rush out and buy millions of Xboxes just for Natal." Still, the novelty of the hardware combined with the impending marketing barrage will "generate new excitement for a whole new set of video games" according to Kotick.

Concerning other sectors of the industry, Kotick didn't seem afraid of social and mobile games eating into Activision's business. "I honestly don't think FarmVille or Tap Tap Revenge is having any impact on Guitar Hero," When confronted with the fact that Guitar Hero sales have seen a massive decline in the last year, however, Kotick admitted that Activision "misjudged opportunities" and noted that the company is "doing a better job now of accessing what's important to the audience in terms of features of the games, music and design of the instruments."

Kotick also brushed off the possibility that gamers may start shying away from physical retail titles in favor of cheap (or free) downloadable games. "We could go either way on Call of Duty but we can't download guitars for Guitar Hero anytime soon," said Kotick, adding that he is "not worried in the near term" about cheap iPhone games competing with retail.

The CEO isn't worried about Activision "missing the boat" on any impending downloadable transition. "In 20 years, we haven't missed the boat," said Kotick, "In fact what's made us so successful is that we know when to get on the boat." So take that, boats.

Activision's Kotick knows when to get on the boat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect debut event recap (featuring Cirque du Soleil and LED ponchos)

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Tonight we stood in a stadium wearing polyester ponchos (made in Canada) with LED shoulderpads. What did you do this evening? Below you'll find our account of Microsoft's "'Project Natal Experience,' imagined by Cirque du Soleil." As the event was a "technology free" show, we had to depend on our notes and exceptionally detailed (for a two-year-old) artistic sketches to convey the Experience (yes, capital E). If you'd actually like to see what we saw tonight in moving pictures, you'll have the chance on Tuesday, June 15, at 3:30PM on MTV and at 9PM on Nick at Nite, MTVu, MTV Hits, and Logo.

And here are our notes on the Project Natal Experience:

7:15PM - Entered into dark room, given big white poncho with pointy shoulder pads. Terror sets in. A massive amount of people adjust each others' shoulder pads. See, we're kinect-ing.

7:20PM - Standing around in waiting area. Ponchos are white 100% polyester and are made in Canada. These things are going to get hot.

7:23PM - We're escorted down a dark hall and step through a rectangular box into an African American family's living room. They smile and wave at this home invasion. We pass by them into what appears to be a rainforest.

7:24PM - The "rainforest" is a converted sports arena, roamed by dancing Cirque du Soleil performers. They are dressed like wood nymphs.

7:40PM - Still standing around. Poncho heat increasing. Almost accosted by gyrating wood nymph. If you don't look it in the eyes it won't approach.

Continue reading Kinect debut event recap (featuring Cirque du Soleil and LED ponchos)

Kinect debut event recap (featuring Cirque du Soleil and LED ponchos) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinectimals plush pets unlock in-game content

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Upon leaving Microsoft's Project Natal ... er Kinect event, we were presented with the plush kitties you see above. Adorable, to be sure, but they conceal a deeper purpose -- a Kinect-related purpose. The animals come with a special code that can be scanned by Kinect (note the colorful "K" in the image above). Once scanned, the cat is unlocked in Kinect's precious pet sim ("Project Natal Animal" here) for some motion-tracked cuddle time.

We've seen similar functionality in Rare's Viva Pinata with the Vision Camera. The real question is whether Microsoft will make these available for purchase in the future. The ones handed out at Kinect's unveiling event are marked as "promotional purposes only."

Kinectimals plush pets unlock in-game content originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect yoga game debuts at Cirque du Soleil event

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

[My Yoga Online]

Among the acrobatics displayed at tonight's Cirque du Soleil Kinect event, a demonstration was given of a yoga game where players emulate the actions of an on-screen instructor performing various Tai Chi and Yoga moves. Rather than the occasionally frantic actions of Wii Fit or EA Sports Active, the actions in this games seemed much more tranquil.

The player replicates the stance of the on-screen instructor, effectively following an exercise routine. Considering an Xbox Live Avatar wasn't anywhere to be found, it would seem this is an entirely separate game from the already revealed Kinetic Sports. We'll find out more as the week goes on.

Kinect yoga game debuts at Cirque du Soleil event originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect official hardware, in pictures

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:10:00 EST

Project Natal not only has a final name, it has a final design. The 3D cameras are housed in a sleek, black design. The only thing it's missing right now? A final price.

Gallery: Kinect (Hardware)

Kinect official hardware, in pictures originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect gets gesture-based Video Chat

David Hinkle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:28:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Microsoft's Kinect unveiling pulled back the curtain on a new video chat program, aptly titled Video Chat. Here, gamers will be able to participate in face-to-face communication and even share photos -- remember Photo Party?

The program is entirely navigated through gestures. No price nor a launch date was revealed by Microsoft. We'll let you know when we find out.

Kinect gets gesture-based Video Chat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Aaron Greenberg, on Kinect core games, flailing

Christopher Grant — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

Can you tell us about the decision to have these two separate events and what the Natal event is really supposed to accomplish from a media perspective, that tomorrow's press conference won't be able to do?

For us, this is a really special year. It was ten years ago that we unveiled the original Xbox and this is actually my tenth, and our tenth, E3. It's the beauty of our business. This will be the biggest year in the history of Xbox and really as we thought about E3, we've never had this much to share at one E3 as we do this year. We've taken a very non-traditional approach to E3. I think with what we're doing with Natal and working with Cirque du Soleil to bring that to life is a whole new way to tell a story.

Continue reading Interview: Aaron Greenberg, on Kinect core games, flailing

Interview: Aaron Greenberg, on Kinect core games, flailing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect Star Wars game features controller-free lightsaber fighting

Justin McElroy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:57:00 EST

Filed under: News, In The News, Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

It seems that tonight's Kinect event is about more than just crazy ponchos. Attendees were just shown a preview of the Star Wars game (revealed earlier by USA Today) for the movement-sensing peripheral. Judging from the clip, the on-rails game features controllerless lightsaber dueling and motion-activated Force powers.

Most exciting? The trailer closed with the game's lead facing off against Lord Vader.

Kinect Star Wars game features controller-free lightsaber fighting originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@E3: Journos and fans ready to drink the Kinect Kool-Aid

Justin McElroy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:08:00 EST

As our friend Cheapy D demonstrates, attendees of tonight's Cirque du Soleil/Microsoft event are apparently being asked to wear these crazy white ponchos. There are two explanations. 1. It's the formation of a new Kinect Kult. 2. Sledge-O-Matic.

Either way, we're jealous.

Gallery: Microsoft Kinect Event

Continue reading Seen@E3: Journos and fans ready to drink the Kinect Kool-Aid

Seen@E3: Journos and fans ready to drink the Kinect Kool-Aid originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect is in, 'Project Natal' is out

Justin McElroy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Update 2: Major Nelson confirms it: Project Natal is now officially called Kinect.

Update: Oops! It looks like USA Today jumped the gun on the announcement and has since pulled the piece from its site. Stay tuned for Microsoft's official unveiling later.

We've got either good or bad news depending on how you felt about the rumored name change for Microsoft's motion-sensing Project Natal. The new brand "Kinect" has just been confirmed by USA Today. The story, which includes no pricing or timing info, seems to have been slated to run tomorrow, though we imagine it might have been rushed out when the name started circulating after appearing in an Italian ad.

There's even a list of games!

[Huge thanks to Jake for the heads up.]

Kinect is in, 'Project Natal' is out originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Xbox 360 Slim and Kinect outed by Microsoft ad

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:43:00 EST

An alleged Italian Microsoft ad, originally found on Console Tribe, seems to have revealed a slim Xbox 360 alongside a renamed Project Natal, touting a 250GB HDD, built-in WiFi (it's the future!), and compatibility with "Kinect" -- presumably the new name for Natal. The advertisement leads back to the Italian Microsoft site and the source of the page tells us that Atlas Solutions -- a Microsoft-owned ad company -- pushed the image automatically to the site.

We've checked in with Microsoft to see if the news is legit, but we're not expecting much before tonight's Project Natal Cirque du Soleil "spectacular." In the meantime, you can check out the ad embedded after the break.

Update: The ad we embedded after the break seems to have been pulled, so we've added a video in its place.

Continue reading Rumor: Xbox 360 Slim and Kinect outed by Microsoft ad

Rumor: Xbox 360 Slim and Kinect outed by Microsoft ad originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: We've arrived!

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:30:00 EST

Stop worrying! We're here in Los Angeles, corralled in the usual E3 Joystiq War Room, preparing fierce lines of questioning and sharpening our newswriting hands for a week sure to be full of sweltering hot scoops. Aside from tonight's Project Natal ... spectacle, we'll be live from Microsoft's other press conference tomorrow, as well as Nintendo, Sony, and the many, many other events being held over the next few days.

Looking to filter out our normal, everyday news for just E3 stuffs? Head to the E3 2010 hub and go nuts! Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a week of madness to prepare for.

E3 2010: We've arrived! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nielsen: Majority of gamers in the dark on Natal, Move

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The Nielsen Company has released the results of a recent survey designed to gauge gamer awareness of Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's PlayStation Move. Among the 2,400 gamers surveyed, 21 percent are currently aware of Natal, while 23 percent are aware of the Move. Things look a little better when restricting the results to those who actually own and play the 360 or PS3, with 39 percent of 360 gamers aware of Natal and 42 percent of PS3 gamers aware of the Move.

Of the gamers aware of the Move and Natal, those who actually own the respective console show more intent to purchase. 42 percent of 360 owners plan to purchase Natal, compared to only 35 percent of total gamers aware of the device. PS3 owners show a nearly identical 41 percent with intent to purchase, compared to 28 percent of all those aware. Strangely, even though both Natal and Move have publicly known launch windows, a surprisingly high number of respondents -- nearly 40 percent -- don't know when the products will be available.

Also noteworthy, respondents show a wide disparity as to what they believe the hardware prices will be. To the 6 percent who think Natal will be less than $25: you're going to be disappointed.

Nielsen: Majority of gamers in the dark on Natal, Move originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Natal applications revealed in LA Times preview

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

In just a couple short days, we'll be soaking in the Vitamin D provided by the blaring Los Angeles sun, digging for stories at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. One of the first events we'll be attending is a preview of Project Natal -- an occasion which could bring about some major announcements for the peripheral. Before that, though, the LA Times has published a hands-on report on the device that's worth checking out, as it reveals a pair of heretofore unannounced Natal applications.

The first is "Obstacle Course" (which was briefly hinted at in Parade's wildly flailing Natal preview), in which players will have to navigate a "summer camp"-esque row of hazards. As dangerous as that sounds, it's pretty tame compared to the other unveiled application: "Living Statue," which lets players record and send video messages using their Avatars. Which is great, because we were just talking about how awesome it would be to be bombarded with videos of our friends' Avatars doing pelvic thrusts and other suggestive maneuvers every time we turn on our Xbox 360.

We look forward to learning about these applications (and more) during Microsoft's Natal sneak preview this Sunday.

More Natal applications revealed in LA Times preview originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parade previews Natal, manic flailing ensues

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A.J. Jacobs of Parade -- along with his children -- recently got a chance to try out Project Natal. Here's the thing though, it's kind of hard to remember anything in the article once you've seen the accompanying video -- especially with Jacobs admitting he accidentally "smacked" one of his children during one of the mini-games. Still, Jacobs has some nice things to say about Natal, noting that it isn't "the invention of flight" that the Wii was, but rather "the invention of the jet engine."

After watching the video -- see it yourself after the break -- we hope he's right, because it certainly doesn't look like a jet engine. If anything, it looks like the people playing are standing behind a jet engine. We've had a few hands-on (or is it body-on?) experiences with Natal so far, and look forward to seeing how it's evolved in the past year once we step in front of its sensor at E3.

In related news, one of the games in the video appears to be River Rush, which was rumored back in April. The game has players riding in a raft and avoiding obstacles. Jacobs points out, however, that the demos he played may not actually be released as games.

Continue reading Parade previews Natal, manic flailing ensues

Parade previews Natal, manic flailing ensues originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Natal-compatible 'Sonic Free Riders' coming to XBLA [update: it's retail]

David Hinkle — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST

Update: Sega has announced that Sonic Free Riders is, in fact, a full retail title.

On Sunday, June 13, Microsoft will host its Project Natal event -- you know, the gala event with Cirque du Soleil? We're betting we'll get details on launch price and date for Project Natal (not to mention its real name) there, but ahead of that event we've got some interesting news on an upcoming Natal title, care of our Joystiq Superspy[TM].

We're told that Sega is preparing an Xbox Live Arcade game for Project Natal, titled Sonic Free Riders. As you may have guessed, it's a motion-compatible entry in Sega's racing series. Players will supposedly steer an on-screen avatar via bodily movement, and will acquire weapons by reaching out toward the screen, and attack other racers by motioning towards them.

It all sounds very intuitive, but will it be fun? We'll let you know in a few weeks when we touch down in L.A. for E3 2010.

Rumor: Natal-compatible 'Sonic Free Riders' coming to XBLA [update: it's retail] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crave announces bowling for Natal

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:00:00 EST

We're sorry if the above headline is misleading, but we feel we should inform you of two things. One, Crave has not announced a game show entitled "Bowling for Natal," so don't expect to see everyday schlubs competing for a Natal on daytime TV anytime soon. Two, what Crave has announced, according to Multiplayer, is a bowling game that will support Microsoft's Project Natal.

More specifically, it's actually a Natal-ified version of Brunswick Pro Bowling, the PlayStation Move bowling title revealed earlier this year. While it was essentially inevitable that Natal would receive some kind of bowling game, we can't help but wonder how strange it will be to pretend to bowl without something to hold on to. If only there was some peripheral, something tangible we could use to enhance the experience.

But wait, there is!

Crave announces bowling for Natal originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 May 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Project Natal priced at $150; bundled with Arcade SKU for $300

David Hinkle — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

If a report by Edge proves accurate (wait till E3), then Pachter's estimation that Project Natal will cost less than an average game is off. Instead, a source backed by Edge has alleged a $150 price point (with plenty of room to drop) for the forthcoming Xbox 360 motion tech camera -- or $300 when bundled with the Xbox 360 Arcade console. Additionally, the source has suggested an October 26 worldwide release -- give or take "a few weeks."

Of course, both the rumored pricing and release date remain uncorroborated (we repeat: wait till E3). But, hey, that doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun with the supposed intel. And by "fun," we mean, "host an online poll asking if you'd spend $150 on Project Natal" ...

View Poll

Rumor: Project Natal priced at $150; bundled with Arcade SKU for $300 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft remains refocused on Xbox 360, PS3 in new year

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:49:00 EST

In January, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot told investors that the company would "refocus"' its development efforts on Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2010, with particular emphasis on iterating its major franchises on the HD consoles. Today, as Ubisoft reported its earnings (actually, losses) for the fiscal year ending March 31, the company remained committed to the ongoing strategy outlined earlier this year.

"We will have more 360 [and] PS3 revenue this [fiscal] year than we had last year," Guillemot said during an investor call today. "The big franchises -- seven of the eight franchises -- will be on 360; and six will be on PS3. And we will have around six or seven on the Wii."

CFO Alain Martinez put last fiscal year's combined sales from PS3 and Xbox 360 software at "about 45 percent" of revenue for the publisher, adding, "I wouldn't be surprised if we are over 50 percent on these two platforms" at the end of the current fiscal year (April 2010 - March 2011). Martinez noted that Wii software sales accounted for "about 26 percent" of revenue in the last fiscal year and hopes sales to be close to that percentage again this fiscal year. In total, Ubisoft is looking to draw "about 77 percent" of its revenue from the three console platforms over the next four quarters.

Continue reading Ubisoft remains refocused on Xbox 360, PS3 in new year

Ubisoft remains refocused on Xbox 360, PS3 in new year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 May 2010 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft reports $76.2 million operating loss in fiscal year 2009-10

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Ubisoft today released its financial earnings report to investors for fiscal year 2009-10 (ending March 31), reporting sales of €871 million ($1.1 billion) with an operating loss of €60 million ($76.2 million). CEO Yves Guillemot softened investor reaction by saying: "The global economic crisis had a pronounced impact on the video game industry in 2009, which contracted by nearly 10 percent year-on-year. Ubisoft's sales were hit particularly hard, falling 18 percent over the full year despite a stabilization in the second half of the year."

Ubi's Q4 sales were up 1.9 percent year-over-year to €210 million ($266.7 million), outpacing internal guidance by €10 million ($12.7 million). The company says the inflated numbers are due partially to "a strong increase in sales of Just Dance," the "ongoing exceptional performance delivered by Assassin's Creed 2 which sold-in nearly 9 million units during the year," and higher-than-expected sales of both Red Steel 2 and Avatar.

And Guillemot predicts a sunnier 2010-11. "We forecast a return to profitable growth in 2010-11 with positive cash flow generation, driven by a games line-up that is more closely tailored to growth segments based on strong franchises." He also notes his excitement for new technology driving increased sales, saying, "Lastly, the upcoming launches of new consoles, including Natal and Sony Move, should enable us to capitalize on the technology investments that we have undertaken in recent years and re-energize the casual games segment."

Source -- Ubisoft FY2009-10 Sales & Earnings Report (warning: PDF link)

Ubisoft reports $76.2 million operating loss in fiscal year 2009-10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capcom president on E3 2010, new motion controllers

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

Speaking to the Financial Times (registration required) Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimoto declared that the success of Microsoft and Sony's upcoming Natal and Move motion controllers depends on sound planning. "If there isn't a strong business model message from the platform holders about how they will develop [motion controllers] with users," said Tsujimoto, "then I don't think it will go well." In other words, Tsujimoto places the onus of success on the manufacturers of the motion controllers, and not necessarily on the games that will be created for them.

Tsujimoto also took time to reiterate Capcom's stance on overseas game developers, noting that the company will use them for sequels to established products. Regarding E3, Tsujimoto discussed a shift in the gaming industry toward downloadable titles, devices like the iPad and social networks. He added that Capcom will be heavily pursuing downloadable titles, the iPad and Facebook.

As for the likely star of Nintendo's E3 showings, the 3DS, Tsujimoto said he is "interested" to see what the device does "apart from 3D."

Capcom president on E3 2010, new motion controllers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Divnich makes E3 predictions, expo to be 'inflection point' for game industry

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:00:00 EST

In his latest Divnich Debrief column at IndustryGamers, EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich has made some predictions for E3 2010. Divnich sees this year's expo as a pivotal one for the industry, noting that new technologies like PlayStation Move, Project Natal and the 3DS must make a big splash. Otherwise, says Divnich, we may see industry funding driven toward sectors like MMOs and social gaming. Divnich sees the expo as an "inflection point" in gaming history, saying, "Either E3 2010 acts as a positive catalyst and boosts industry confidence, or it reinforces the negative notions about the long-term viability of traditional gaming."

Divnich makes a few predictions about the show, notably that Rockstar may reveal Grand Theft Auto 5, though it won't announce any hard street date if it does. Divnich believes, however, that you can expect a new teaser for Agent. Nintendo, meanwhile, will announce the official name of the 3DS and announce plans to launch the device in "at least two regions" this November. He also expects the unit will sell 5 million units by March 2011. Furthermore, Nintendo may finally show off its Vitality Sensor in more detail.

Beyond that, the show will likely revolve around Move, Project Natal and the 3DS. "Whatever the outcome or your own personal opinion, one thing is for certain," says Divnich, "E3 2010 is a must attend event for anyone with any vested interest in the video game space."

Divnich makes E3 predictions, expo to be 'inflection point' for game industry originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 May 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's E3 Project Natal event to feature Cirque du Soleil performance

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:00 EST

Though Microsoft has already announced it will be doubling up on this year's helping of E3 media showings, we received word this morning that Sunday evening's Project Natal event will feature a "spectacular live performance imagined by Cirque du Soleil." The June 13 event had only been scantly detailed since we first got our invites back in March -- luckily, we always anticipated some kind of media circus.

We also expect to see that "full lineup" of Natal titles that Microsoft promised -- only, you know, with super-bendy acrobatic performers outclassing Microsoft execs at stage demonstrations.

Microsoft's E3 Project Natal event to feature Cirque du Soleil performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Natal's worldwide October launch apparently outed by MS Saudi 'vendor' [update]

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:25:00 EST

In an interview on Saudi television, the marketing manager for Microsoft's entertainment and devices division for the region revealed Project Natal's launch window: October 2010. GamerTagRadio has the clip of Microsoft's Syed Bilal Tariq saying, "We will be in a position to confirm the date after E3, which is in June. But definitely it is going to be October 2010 and we will have it in Saudi Arabia for sure."

The last official word we'd heard about the all-seeing, motion-tracking peripheral's launch date was "holiday season 2010." With E3 a little over a month away, we're expecting to learn specific dates soon -- likely at Natal's standalone press conference.

Update: G4 reports that according to Microsoft, "Syed Bilal Tariq is not a [Microsoft] employee ... He is a vendor employed through a third-party company on behalf of the Microsoft subsidiary in Saudi Arabia." The company also wouldn't comment on the alleged October launch window.

[Via Edge]

Natal's worldwide October launch apparently outed by MS Saudi 'vendor' [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:31:00 EST

Unless you're an engineer who designs cutting-edge user interfaces, you've probably never heard the name John Underkoffler before ... but you've definitely seen his work. Remember the computer Tom Cruise uses by waving his hands around in Minority Report? He designed that. And it wasn't just faked together for the movie, Underkoffler had a working prototype at MIT before that, and now he's designed a version that you can actually purchase.

Underkoffler now serves as the Chief Scientist at Oblong Industries, and we spoke with him recently in connection with the now-on-Blu-ray Minority Report, and he talked extensively about the future of computing, how video games are driving technology forward, what in the hell the game Tempest is all about, and why it's time for the mouse to die. Read on after the break for the full interview.

Continue reading Minority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures

Minority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ CEO: Move & Natal games shouldn't be ports

JC Fletcher — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:50:00 EST

During an earnings conference call today, THQ CEO Brian Farrell told investors and press not to expect the publisher to release ports of its existing games for Project Natal or PlayStation Move. "What you will not see is porting of games to Natal, or I don't think you should see that," he said. "I think they should be specific, standalone game experiences that exploit that very new and significant technology. And the Move is the same way: You've got to do something unique and not just an add-on with respect to that platform."

Later in the call, however, Farrell did not entirely rule out ports of Wii games for PlayStation Move. When asked about the possibility of "Moving" games like De Blob (future iterations of which have been confirmed as multiplatform), Farrell said that THQ would "take advantage where we can in terms of development environments [and] take advantage of technology we already have," though he noted that because of the HD capabilities of the Xbox 360 and PS3, "just porting over those assets doesn't work." We'll see what THQ is developing with the new technologies next month, as Farrell said, "you'll like what we show at E3."

Even without porting, Farrell said that development costs for Natal and Move games were lower than on traditional games, "because, again, it's not about the technology, but it's about the gameplay." The big draw for Natal titles, he said, is the "interaction with digital objects." Farrell even alluded to passing the savings on to the consumer, rather than defaulting to a $60 retail price for future HD motion games published by THQ. He said that the company is "still deliberating internally on that" and "may not even announce those launch prices until much closer to the launch" of the games.

THQ CEO: Move & Natal games shouldn't be ports originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 May 2010 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega to reveal Natal, Move projects at E3 suited for 'PS2 type' audience

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:45:00 EST

Last September, Sega promised to clue the world into its plans for Project Natal and PlayStation Move in early 2010. Actually, back then, we were still calling it the PlayStation Motion Controller. Oh, so young and naive! Now that we and Sega are both a few months older and wiser, the latter's plans have been pushed back a bit -- in a recent interview with IndustryGamers, Sega West president Mike Hayes explained that the company's Natal and Move plans would be revealed at E3 2010.

Though we haven't heard much about Sega's feelings on the upcoming wave of new motion control technology, Hayes explained the company is excited about "the fact that Move and Natal will bring in more of what I'd call the PS2 type of consumer for those platforms, which then suits very much the IP that Sega has." We've hypothesized that the PS2 IP he's referring to is the already motion-infused Sega Super Stars (pictured above) -- in our heart of hearts, though, we're secretly hoping for a motion-controlled Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future.

Sega to reveal Natal, Move projects at E3 suited for 'PS2 type' audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Natal test kit photos reveal 'motorized tilt mechanism,' power cord

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST

Motion camera meta-voyeurism news now, with an alleged Project Natal test kit capturing every movement of a man ... taking pictures of it. According to Italian gaming site Multiplayer.it, the photos originate from a tester, who was tasked with having an unreciprocated conversation with the Xbox 360 peripheral in order to test its speech recognition capabilities.

The surprisingly cheerful documentation included with the supposed test kit explicitly warns against tilting the camera manually, as it's already equipped with a "motorized tilt mechanism" -- all the better to see you with, my dear. The "Quick Start Guide" also shows how the early model of the camera connects to an Xbox 360 development kit via USB and a power outlet via a split cable.

It's not known how representative these photos are of early Project Natal development kits, nor how much of it will change by the time the final product arrives this holiday. Microsoft did not comment on the veracity of the images, with a representative telling Joystiq: "We announced earlier this year that Project Natal will launch this holiday, and our teams are working hard to bring the best experiences to life. We have nothing further to announce at this time."

[Via Engadget]

Rumor: Natal test kit photos reveal 'motorized tilt mechanism,' power cord originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Natal game 'River Rush' revealed by film writer James Gunn

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST

What is Project Natal's "River Rush" game, you ask? Well, it sounds an awful lot like Wii Sports Resort's canoe-paddling game, albeit minus the whole "physical controller" thing. Hollywood writer James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Slither) got to demo the game at a media preview held by Microsoft recently in Los Angeles, where the company was showing off its latest consumer offerings -- from Project Natal to the Courier to Halo: Reach (Gunn says he "was slaughtered instantly and numerous times by the Microsoft employees playing when they're supposed to be working" of Reach) -- and couldn't help but share his feelings about the experience with the world via his blog.

Gunn describes River Rush as "a game where you stand side by side in a river raft, so it's two people playing at once ... to move right, you have to step right; to move left, you have to step left." The game also features a jumping mechanic that, as you might guess, involves players actually leaping into the air. "As you rush down right rapids, you have to jump up and slap floating stars in the air -- the whole raft jumps up every time you do." You'll forgive our reticence, but it only takes one life lesson to learn that jumping into the air blindly near friends and expensive technology almost always results in bad memories. We've asked Microsoft for more information, but the chances of that before the company's E3 press event are about as likely as us going upstream without a paddle.

[Thanks, Jonathan Dixon]

Natal game 'River Rush' revealed by film writer James Gunn originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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