D+BATE: XBOX 360’s Natal
‘Can Natal be the industry game-changer that Microsoft anticipate?’
Following on from our exploration of the PlayStation Move, this week we turned our attentions to Microsoft’s much hyped motion sensing technology, Project Natal.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on it (just peruse any gaming forum!!), so, here’s what we had to say when presented with the following question:
‘Can Natal be the industry game-changer that Microsoft anticipate?’
Chris Morell: “I think Microsoft is in possession of a very special piece of equipment here. True, those who consider it to be an advancement of the EyeToy have reason to think this way given some of the game reveals, such as the first glimpse of Ricochet, which saw an excited participant jumping and kicking about on stage. That’s not to say it didn’t look like good fun, but Microsoft will have to try a lot harder if it hopes to silence the naysayers who expect Natal to be little more than a gimmick designed to pull in the Nintendo crowd.
The true success of Natal lies in the probable advancement in interactivity. It’s exciting to think that there’ll soon be a system available that can recognise your face, your clothes and respond to you in a way that’s at least somewhat realistic. Will we be having full blown conversations as showcased in Peter Molyneux’s Milo? I somehow doubt it. But when the new tech can allow a character to track your position in the room, respond emotionally to your statements and be aware – at least to some degree – of what’s going on over at your side of the screen, it’s easy to see Natal as an advancement that could hold at least some level of influence over the industry.
As with anything, third party support is an absolute must. I recall reading that a handful of journalists at the press reveal got some hands-on time with a Natal-integrated Burnout, where making a quick fist-pump would trigger the boost. If developers are willing to integrate the new tech into their games in such a manner, then perhaps this will indeed be a game-changer. Sony’s Move requires this very same support however, so it’s looking rather likely that the console war will be getting a whole lot more heated in the future.”
Zoheir Beig: “Because so much of Natal, at time of writing, remains unproven it’s a little difficult to discuss in any authoritative way; especially when the main evidence on which to form an opinion is that creepy Milo/Molyneux link-up. Nevertheless my main concern with Natal is whether the technology will be able to foster experiences as detailed, immersive and enjoyable as those I can currently enjoy on the main consoles using that, er, outdated and suddenly irrelevant piece of hardware: the lowly controller.
I think the relationship between myself, the controller and the game being played is one of the most important in videogames, and is at risk of being overlooked in this debate. I love the feedback, the tangible link between my reactions and the on-screen action. The thought of controlling Burnout with just my hands, or kicking a digital football with my feet, sounds fun at first, but ultimately exhausting. And the lack of an abstract interface makes me doubt that the experience would be as satisfying. But then Natal could turn out to have just the opposite effect.
Of course so much of Natal is pure potential, and unlike Move (which is at least a more dependable and proven development), it’s actually a huge step for Microsoft to be taking. If ever there was a make-or-break moment in the 360’s progression surely this forthcoming E3 is it.”
Simeon Paskell: “Natal has the potential to change the way we interact videogames forever. That being said, it also has the potential to be another PlayStation Eye – i.e. a moderate success but hardly the earth-shattering development that Microsoft is no doubt hoping for.
Personally, my main interest in Natal lies not in its ability to track your movements, but in the facial recognition elements. Sure, being able to leap around your lounge and have your movements replicated on screen is bound to provide some knockabout thrills (at the very least); but the possibility that an in-game character could recognise you, gauge your mood and act accordingly is a mightily exciting prospect.
I don’t think that Milo was the best way of demonstrating this concept, and the smoke and mirrors that (I believe) were used in the demonstrations given thus far gives further fuel to the doubters. Despite this, creating a two-way emotional link between the game and the gamer is a beguiling concept, that will no doubt take some time to perfect; but if Natal can move us a little further along that road, then I think it could be huge.
However, if it relies too heavily on the novelty of the full skeletal tracking, it’s facing a much steeper climb (especially if the recent pricing rumours are true…) – with the Wii already established as the party/casual console of choice, and the PlayStation Move potentially offering greater accuracy for a more hard-core experience, Natal’s controller free gaming may struggle to outdo the competition in either area, and ultimately flounder.”
Graham Naunton:
“When we discussed PlayStation Move last week, I made it pretty clear – in no uncertain terms – that I am of the belief that Microsoft and Sony should simply step away from motion control, and leave it in the steady hands of Nintendo. This sort of thinking sounds a bit rash, and I’d concede – to a certain degree – that such notions are naive until we have the tech in our homes and experiencing it for ourselves. However, at the risk of making further generalisations, I put this to you – take a look at the sales of Wii software which specifically aims towards the core gamer. Then consider these numbers as a percentage in comparison to how many people own Wii’s…
…small, isn’t it?
To stoke the ‘core vs casual’ fires even more, I’d say that Microsoft and Sony are preaching to an empty room. If the followers of their particular sects – a primarily core-gamer based market – have a keen interest in motion control technology, then…well, they would have just bought a Wii years ago. Natal is as much a next-level EyeToy as PlayStation Move is a next level Wiimote, and – coupled with the opinion that the demand for such is nowhere as near as high as Microsoft and Sony think – I hope they fail.”
So, now you’ve heard what we think, why not have your say? Is Natal going to change gaming as we know it? Or will the device be gracing bargain bins alongside tennis-racquet shaped Wiimote peripherals and Tony Hawk skateboard controllers within months after release?
Let us know your thoughts below!
- The D+PAD team.
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Despite the hype I don’t see this as a bid to change the face of gaming, I think its just continuing the trend of targetting the casual gamer. Why do I think this is mainly aimed at them? That’s because they are a large, relatively untapped market. The problem for the more regular gamer is, as many Wii owners will tell you, hands on interaction can be exhausting.
If you look at some of the recent popular games they are much, much bigger than they have been in the past. Would you be willing to wave your arms through the whole of Just Cause 2 for example? Alright maybe that’s an exaggeration but you can see the point, after an hour of motion play you may well want to sit down and relax with your controller.
Leave your response!