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Microsoft's Project Natal: Bigger and Badder Than We Thought

Split-screen: "Microsoft Game Studios has big, big plans for the XBox 360's Project Natal. After the overwhelming reception upon it's E3 2009 showing (not to mention the 'smoke and mirrors' controversy surrounding some of the demonstrations), MGS is prepping it's motion sensing peripheral to exceed any classification as a simple 'add-on'."

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KingKionic 6095d ago

Lies!!!!

We know Microsoft always lies!

/joking

Real Gambler6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

"exceed any classification as a simple 'add-on'."

When an add-on cost more than the original product, it cannot be classified as an 'add-on'

Price of Arcade 360 before Christmas: Way below $200
Price of the 'add-on' whener it will come out: Way over $200

Nike6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

The "exceeds any classification as a simple 'add-on'" line was meant to convey that Natal may very well be integrated into the 360's core package not long after it's releases (given the amount of things planned for it).

It's in no way connected to the price of Natal, which surely wouldn't be more than $80 (unless MS is really in the mood to see it crash).

Alcon Caper6095d ago

$200 huh? Let's just make up numbers all around. How about each PS3 wand will cost $750.00. That sounds about right.

wxer6095d ago

"Microsoft's Project Natal: Bigger and Badder Than We Thought"

yah sure micriosft and the sky is green too

Christopher6095d ago

Man! I was hoping for only $400. I'm not sure I'm going to go for the wands now.

ABizzel16095d ago

How does this article show Natal is bigger and badder than we thought. There's nothing in it. No demo, nothing. I want to see what MS has planned for Natal, I can't get excited about something I don't know much about without any visuals to go along with it.

a_squirrel6095d ago

It must be bigger and badder than I thought, because I thought that it wasn't big, and that it was bad already

BulletToothtony6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

haha @ 1.5 i totally agree.. $400 it's a freaking steal.. i mean come on they even have different color leds inside.. day one for me if it's below $475

Edit..

after reviewing 1.3's comment section he's a ps3 hater.. aww i thought he was being sincerely funny.. lol too bad

deadreckoning6666095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

If it comes out this year, it'll be difficult for Sony to win the holiday. Not that they have too or anything. As long as they keep supporting and improving PSN and continue to deliver great games, I don't care if they remain in 3rd place this gen.

@HyperBear- I don't think Natal needs to prove anything. Maybe to the hardcore, but not for the casuals who make up the MAJORITY of the market. When people see video games being controlled by gestures in the first Natal commercial, do u really thk there gunna wait and see if its worth it? If Natal launches THIS YEAR, it'll sell hotcakes because the Wii has proven that the MAJORITY of the market(not us)enjoy wasting money on gimicky crap.

Also, when the 360 launched it OBVIOUSLY wasn't at 100%, yet look at the lead it has on Sony. M$ knows that without a 6-12 month lead, they can't compete with Sony. Therefore, it would be smart of them to give the public a taste of Natal this year if there interested in repeating past success.

@Nycredude- Dude, u really need to jump off ur high horse. If uve read my other comments ud know that Im proly one of the BIGGEST PS3 fanboy haters out there. Its funny, cause when that "Halo ODST pre-order article" came out I was bashing PS3 fanboys for the same thing that ur bashing me for now. And WHO THE HELL IM I HATING ON???
I said positive things and negative things about both M$ and Sony. The point is STOP ASSUMING and examine the situation before u try to be a hero.

nycredude6095d ago

Deadreckoning aka troll harder

You honestly think a freaking wannabe PS Eye rushed out this holiday is going to make a difference this Holiday Season? You are definitely delusional. I love how you people think. First it was games are everything, then after Sony start pumping out the games, it became sales are everything, after Sony drops the price and sales are rocking, now sales don't matter. Not to mention it used to be motion control is a gimmick (Sony's sixaxis is a gimmick), Now motion control is going to win the holidays! Wow just wow. I don't mind if you have a passion for your console of choice but come on now make up your mind, or stop trolling and just get the "other" console. The only thing you are doing by hating the "other" console is limiting your gaming experience.

HolyOrangeCows6095d ago

''Badder'' sounds about right.

6095d ago
PS3PCFTW6095d ago

n64 rampaks
genesis 32x and sega cd
jaguar cd

What makes you people think that microsoft can pull this off? they cant even get rid of rrod in 4 years. Nor can they build a 360 slim for that matter.

All u xfags banking on this to save the 360 from doom, are in for a huge surprise.

i know u guys love gettin deepboned by M$....but now is the time to stop bending over on the bed, jump out and PLAY BEYOND

mega BIG time6094d ago

nycredude.

It's people like you who are actually the fuel for the fanboy war. In fact, you are the fanboy war! Here you have someone who gives you an honest opinion with clearly no bias and somehow turn his comment into console blasphemy! I do not understand what is so difficult in having a sensible conversation without trying to berate and humiliate someone. I normally wouldnt respond to something like this, but damn if i'm the only one sensing something wrong with this I MUST BE DELUSIONAL.

mastiffchild6094d ago (Edited 6094d ago )

Another article on Natal. anothe argument here. Still we knw next to nothing abut what MS OR Sony have for us. the similarities are what strike me most, mind, with much of what MS showed being very like what we know of Eyedentify-nand the simple fact both are trying to out -Wii Nintendo us interesting even if I don't see either as the "future of gaming"-not yet anyway and def not completely as there are massive holes in our knowledge about them.

Keep your poweder dry people as we don't really know if either will work let alone if the software will be any good.

Kleptic6094d ago (Edited 6094d ago )

come on guys...'if natal comes out this year, it will be really hard for Sony to win this year?'...what?...

have any of you EVER paid attention to what happens to add-on peripherals for systems?...unless its a controller, or to some small degree, a memory card...it ALWAYS fails...

Sega CD
Sega 32x
Ninteno HDD thing for N64 (never even released)
N64 Ram module
PS EyeToy (popular in Europe, but no where else)
360 HD DVD drive
and soon...Natal and whatever the PS3 gets...

Wii Fit is the only outlier to all this...but its obvious its popularity happened because it targeted an entirely non-gaming audience...the people that watch Ellen like wii fit...most 'gamers' don't...if MS or Sony make an add-on that will make you nachos, it would probably sell like crazy...but gamers do like nachos usually, so my point is lost...whatever...

if it doesn't come with the system, it won't go anywhere...if only certain games take advantage of it, which is CONFIRMED for both consoles...it won't go anywhere...

these motion controller things will get a niche fanbase, get a few decent games, and might be worth the price to some...but they will have ZERO impact on the big picture...

thats the difference with the Wii...yeah the wii sucks imo...but the motion controller is a core part of the console...the 360 and PS3 are established in more of a 'legacy' sense already...they just pump out graphics that makes people toss their crappy white wii's in the closet for years on end...the add on motion controllers for the 360 and PS3 will get some attention, and plenty of fanboy rants between which is better...but they won't really impact anything overall...

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6095d ago Replies(4)
HyperBear6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

on topic: If Natal wants any chance of succeeding, it will have to prove that it isnt just a crappy add-on and then later on be built into the 360. If it wants to succeed they should truely work on it 100% so that it wont cause more 360s to fail and get RRoD, be competively priced, around $80-100 sounds about right, considering the Wii Fit is $99.99, and must show how innovative it really is by showing us actual, live person demos in person, rather than showing a video where practically the whole thing could be made up.

Nike6095d ago

I agree. Now that MS is done with wowing people with it's trendy actors playing it's demos in some of the most embarrassing displays of gesturing this side of Charades, it should focus more on just that: How will Natal work, how will it apply to different genres, it's pricing, it's availability, etc. They need to give to journalists early on and allow them to dissect it, analyze it and report back with any major flaws and whatnot. It's still early to suggest such things - I estimate we'll have to wait till next year's E3 until Microsoft Game Studios is ready to show off all this, much less provide journalists with kits.

iceman066095d ago

I am intrigued by what NATAL has PROMISED. The only thing is...too me...it is STILL a PROMISE! I only have a PS3...but that doesn't mean that I can't see newsworthy things on OTHER consoles. Technology and innovation, if it is proven, in NATAL will be a driving force for FURTHER innovation! I HOPE for it to be successful, but you are right about that price point. They HAVE to keep it low, just to overcome the usual 10-15% penetration rate of peripherals. (that's just about ANY console)Then, they have to "show me the money"! Let's SEE what it can do...no vids...just GAMEPLAY!

FragMnTagM6094d ago

For being a SENSIBLE Sony fan. It is really nice to see someone not bash the other console. +Bubble dude.

Kleptic6094d ago

Sony and MS are both guilty of not showing enough of either...and usually just talking about the potential of these add-ons...

Sony finally is pushing the PS Eye, which is an incredible camera for just $30 or so...if the stuff they keep showing in GT5 does work properly, that is AWESOME...if the controller add on coming later does similar things through many 'normal' titles, that too is awesome...same with natal...but if both peripherals get a decent launch game and thats basically it; i can't say i'm terribly excited for either...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6094d ago
FiftyFourPointTwo6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

Project Failtal.

OmarJA6095d ago

Project Anal...

Poor Milo.

36T6095d ago

Project Fanboy. Who will be the big winner today? So far, ladies and gentlemen, we have three participants. Which one of the three wins the most important trophy of N4G? OmarJA has a nice head start! GO FANBOYS!

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500°

Kinect Technical Specifications & Xbox 360 Requirements Revealed

The most notable reveal would perhaps by the requirements of the Xbox 360 console itself. While Microsoft has insisted since the original unveiling of Kinect at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2009, then known as Project NATAL, that the device would be compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles, the revelation of a dedicated port included on the newly redesigned Xbox 360 model has sparked rumours of incompatibility, which were quickly debunked.

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electronictheatre.co.uk
5802d ago Replies(12)
lzim5802d ago

odd, i was led to believe it lacked an internal processor and so also needed a core to itself, if not 1-2 processing threads.

Wikkid6665802d ago

The article says nothing about whether the processor is internal or it uses the 360s.

darthv725802d ago

Also, the notion of a dedicated port really lends nothing to the idea of older units being incompatible. I believe the kinect port is a custom usb port (think the original xbox controller ports) but one that will feed power and data.

Older models will require a splitter that will run off a single usb port (prob the back one) that will work for the data but not the power. That is why they keep saying it will have an external power for those systems.

As for the processor, combo of both makes sense. Using 360 cpu/gpu power to help calculate the finished product on screen along with the cpu in the kinect.

Remember people...this is not a cheap usb web cam (like the original live vision).

Inside_out5802d ago (Edited 5802d ago )

They say they are using 10-15% of one 360 P4 cores. I know that the Kinect we see today is a watered down version of the patented tech they bought and own. Maybe one day the " real " tech will be cost effective. It still is very impressive tech even without a super computer running it.

wicked5802d ago

No, the previous artical said they removed a processor, but I would guess that it had more than 1 to start with. So it will have some form of processor still within it. Arm9 or Cortex M3, all dirt cheap now but powerful.

IdleLeeSiuLung5802d ago

Does it matter? They showed Forza Kinect that looked amazing working with Kinect real time!

callahan095802d ago

Are you just talking about how the graphics are able to look amazing while working with Kinect? If that's what you're talking about, ok. The game itself, though, well... I think I'll stick with the real Forza, with an Xbox 360 control pad. The limited-control Kinect Forza they showed doesn't look like it's worth any attention, in my opinion. Why would anyone want to control a car like that, with hands held out and holding onto nothing, with no control over acceleration or braking? Just seems totally pointless to me.

CrawFail5802d ago

lol real time? I don't quite think it was real time.

Bigpappy5802d ago

You guy know that the motion tech is from prime sense right? Please go to their web site primesense.com,and have a look at what they say the tech can do. It can read fingers well enough to type with each finger and can be used while sitting. No one ever said it has to scan the entire body to work. What we have seen from kinect so far is not all it is capable of.

Reading these specs and trying to compare them to PSeye is pointless, because they are different types of cameras and provide completely differnt types of info to the consoles (Kinect is a 3D camera and provides 3D images. PSeye is a 2D camera and provides 2D images). Per Primsense, the camera is capable of providing video at 60fps, but the 3D is 30fps. The specs for 2 players active is for full body scans. There are no specs given for people sitting and just using their hands.

This tech is obviously a work in progress and has yet to be fleshed out. I suggest all you N4G Kinect experts, research before you post you doom and gloom so you atleast have solid facts for you skepticism. You can also relax and see what M$ does with the tech insteat of pretending to know more that the people developing the tech.

IdleLeeSiuLung5801d ago

The game was available for people to try on the show floor at E3 so yes it was real time. Wetter you like it for Forza or not wasn't my point.

That is up to the developer to figure out.

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Apolloeye5802d ago

So pretty much the same spec as the PS Eye, although I thought the eye went up to 120 Hertz...

Theonik5802d ago

The eye goes to 60Hz i think. Regardless the eye should be capable to do any Kinect shown so far with less lag. (they revolve on a 2D axis and only use the depth tracking to separate players.) I am really disappointed by the tech and how it is utilised thus far.

shoddy5802d ago

More or less powerful we need to see the product.
So far it seem the pseye can do anything kinect can do.
2d 3d I not yet see the advantage.

IHateYouFanboys5802d ago

no, the PSEye cannot do 3D tracking. Kinect can.

the PSEye does 2D motion recognition, Kinect does 3D motion tracking. they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things.

Sheikh Yerbouti5802d ago

Going from alkaline to lithium was a significant step for batteries, but at the end of the day it is just a battery. PSEye and Kinect are kind of the same way. At the end of the day it is a game camera - with camera games.

IHateYouFanboys5802d ago

@Sheikh Yerbouti: your example is not really on the same scale of difference as PSEye/Kinect.

a better example using batteries would be the jump from standard batteries to rechargable batteries. theyre both doing the same thing - being batteries - but one of them does things that the other one cannot possibly do, which is be recharged and used again. it does everything the standard battery does, and more.

Kinect does everything the PSEye does (2D motion recognition), and more (3D motion tracking). no amount of software updates can change the hardware in the PSEye, and the hardware is not capable of 3D motion tracking as it lacks infra-red.

IaMs125802d ago

Yes i see your point but how you guys feel about the PS3 can be said the same way.

The PS3 may produce better graphics and be more powerful then the Xbox360, but by the end of they day its still only a console. Also inferior to PC :)

PirosThe4th5801d ago

... PSeye can do 3d as you say... even eyetoy... they used shadows and other stuff to recognize it.
Move is also 3d...

Sheikh Yerbouti5801d ago

Lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries.

Kinect isn't a true 3D camera - it can't render a picture of your butt if you are always facing front. It makes an approximate 3D model using visual cues. The PSEye can do the same, although it will be cruder.

Plus, just because the technology is different, doesn't necessarily mean gameplay will be.

@lams12
Yes, you're right. Similarly Kinect will have some good games, different from PSEye, only if Microsoft makes them. But they haven't made games too different from the PSEye.

Theonik5801d ago

Which is what i meant from the start. None of the games they have shown so far could not have been on the PS Eye.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5801d ago
Xwow20085802d ago

"Tracks up to 6 people, including 2 active players"
I think now its official that just 2 ppl can play at the same time.

Godmars2905802d ago

Love that you're quoting something and you're getting disagrees.

Sheikh Yerbouti5802d ago (Edited 5802d ago )

Only room for two anyway when you think about it...
but it can keep track of six people during a game in regards to facial recognition. I think that's impressive.

I would love to have Kinect built into my laptop, so only I can get in even without a password. Why is Microsoft wasting this on the XBox again?

Ilikegames765802d ago

still couldn't play it sitting down. Honestly, some guys are so easily impressed by copy cat technology.

blackpanther255801d ago

i was at the engadget show and kudo showed its 3d tracking and when two people where on screen......one person would be red while the other would be green.......but as soon as a third person steped into the camera view two people automatically turned gray and it couldnt read their movements well.

what i took away from that event is that the kinect is pretty kool but for right now it can only work with two people(they could still be working on it)

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150°

Kinect Re-Appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon & Miranda Cosgrove

Xbox Evolved:

"Microsoft is holding no breaks in making sure the general public knows all about Kinect. What cooler spot to also show it than with Jimmy Fallon? "

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xboxevolved.e-mpire.com
Coded-Dude5810d ago

although i usually watch fallon. i'll have to catch an internet clip of it later.

ProA0075810d ago

it's nothing you have to see. trust me. zzzzzzz

tokoshix5810d ago

I'm sure it's just the usual marketing stuff, so nothing really interesting. Pretty much learned everything about the device at E3.

Tony P5810d ago

The more I see this targeted at non-gamers, the sadder I get.

I want a Kinect game I can be *proud* to own as a gamer. One day.

sonarus5810d ago

I saw it full of lag. The girls was standing there and her character just started twitching out of control.

Plus you can clearly see the game is full of Lag. Regardless though i don't care...its a piece of tech directed to casual gamers so kudos to MS for this. Unfortunately i don't fall into the casual crowd so this does not interest me one bit.

What does interest me though is a cheaper 360 slim with a hard drive and wifi capablities for 50 or maybe 100 bucks cheaper

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5810d ago
Blaze9295810d ago

was pretty funny. same demos they showed at E3 though. Nothing new. But they sure are marketing it quick.

AridSpider5810d ago

Yeah they did the same thing the day after they announced Natal last year with Good Morning America and Fallon back when it was called Natal. No doubt this thing will sell I suspect. Will it succeed technically though is the question

ProA0075810d ago

well they did say they are launching this like the launch of a new xbox.

AridSpider5810d ago

Well they price has not been 'confirmed' yet by anyone....

AridSpider5810d ago

wow first that girl's co-worker hosts the Kinect event and now she's her playing it. I see the audience Microsoft is definitely going after with Bieber, Cosgrove and McCurdy - teenage pop audiences.

Cueil5809d ago

it's that female crowd that they would love to hook into...

JasonXE5810d ago

She's kind of hot.

/pedobear

Boring show.

SpaceSquirrel5810d ago

Interesting. They did the same last year as well.

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200°

Hey Microsoft, Where Are The Core Games For Kinect?

Meodia writes, "So about a year ago when Project Natal was first starting off, many Xbox 360 and even other gamers were worried about the future of their console. A local shovelware dumping ground didn't sound quite appealing and Natal looked like it would serve extra servings of it. But Microsoft reassured us, holding our hands and telling us that everything would be alright. Since then, nothing has changed. After that "conference" at E3, we were shown nothing but how to please little girls."

xHarvey5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

Kinectimals. Raising a tiger isn't hardcore? lol

ipwnall5814d ago

Bubbles to you sir.

I'm extremely aggravated about this Kinect business. I mean, look at the image in the article. Those are the games for Kinect's future. Do we want to be playing those?

B-Real2065814d ago

They told you to wait till gamescom and now you will wait.

005814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

But you won't be when that tiger mauls you.

ShinMaster5814d ago

"Wait till E3" they said.
Well E3 has come and this is the result.

Moonboots5814d ago

LOL! +bub for funny on that one!

PS: I love you Skittles! Don't eat me!!!!

BiggCMan5814d ago Show
HolyOrangeCows5814d ago

"Wait until E3"
"Wait until Gamescon"
"Wait until release"
"Wait until next E3"
"Wait until...."

So if we want core games, the best option is the waiting game?

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5814d ago
Alcon Caper5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

hey ms remember this list from tgs 09?

Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom Co. Ltd, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft

>:(

Imperator5814d ago

Behind closed doors being shown to paid celebrities who could care less about gaming.... if there's even any at all.

Mr Logic5814d ago

It needs buttons. There is only a limited a limited amount of things you can accomplish through gesture recognition.

Inane_Asylum5814d ago

I heard Kevin Butler say buttons existed in the future...

...I believe him...

Moonboots5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

Obviously Kinect is a casual device designed for those gamers first and foremost and that is the message MS wanted to send at E3 much to the angst of the core. And they have been saying all year that is what to expect.

I am going to give it some time because I don't think MS are going to ignore their core for long. And in the mean time enjoy my controller on games like Gears 3, Reach, Fable 3, Kingdoms, Black Ops, etc etc on the 360.. Not even going to mention my plate for the other systems I own.. There is just no time to play it all. (heaven?)

Redempteur5814d ago

Don't you see ? hardcore games are coming ..just now they annonced .. BURGER KING !!

............

neverming .

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5814d ago
Arnon5814d ago

It's funny because after the Microsoft conference, we actually saw some. In fact, I'm surprised that they showed off the shovelware they did, and then an hour later Sonic Freedom Riders and Child of Eden were shown off and completely destroyed what Microsoft displayed.

Imperator5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

Child of Eden is a multiplat, and do you have any gameplay vids of Sonic (I honestly want to see how it works).

@Orange Juice, Ah, I see. Looks kinda simple though. wouldn't really call it a core game.

@Arnon, if that's the case then Kinect really does have the edge in that game... but that's just one game. MS needs to show a LOT more.

Orange Juice5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

http://n4g.com/news/546595/...

There you go

EDIT Now that I watch the gameplay closely its most likely a game for kids. I couldnt see an adult "hardcore" gamer playing this game for an extended period of time.

Erotic Sheep5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

Eyetoy Antigrav says hi..

Arnon5814d ago (Edited 5814d ago )

Child of Eden is multiplat, but it's exclusive to Kinect in regards to motion controls. The developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi does not have a dev kit for Move.

http://www.computerandvideo...

HaVoK3085814d ago

If core gamers are anything like me they could careless about them.

pimpmaster5814d ago

gotta agree, MS is exactly like nintendo 2 years ago. hey, what ever happened to that dumb ass vitality sensor.

gynecologistcobra5814d ago

Like Nintendo two years ago? As in, raking up a fuck ton of cash?

pimpmaster5813d ago

as in having nothing to offer for the hardcore audience. and only for casuals

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