Of course we all saw Natal working without the jumpsuits. What people are saying, though, is that it seems that Microsoft is trying to make sure they are using controlled circumstances (eg. invitation only, behind-closed-doors demos where the only video to come out is edited and released by Microsoft). They certainly didn't want another "Bam!" moment on network TV. The thing that is suspect with the jumpsuits is that nothing was said about them, they were just wearing them. It w...
It may just be a matter of optimizing the software but, playing devil's advocate, here's another possibility. It might be a matter that would require improved hardware. Natal, like all hardware, is a performance/cost balancing act. Motion capture technology that doesn't require predefined reference points and works really well is prohibitively expensive (professional Mo-Cap studios still use the mo-cap suits we have all seen). Since Natal is clearly aimed at the casual crowd, they would p...
The ideas i've seen from people on threads for using Natal with a controller would be things like turning your head a little bit to move the in-c0ckpit view of a racing game and throwing a grenade in an FPS by arcing your arm in a throwing motion, which could allow for more precise throws. I don't think they would need to make a special controller because they could easily work around the current one. I do agree that a new controller designed with Natal in mind would probably make the integ...
You're absolutely right there. There seems to be a minimum wallet amount, but anything above that can charge the exact amount to your credit card.
Also, PSN cards are available at retailers (in U.S. at least), so you don't have to use credit card over the network if you don't want.
You said "Points are the better way to go, but how about making it a little less confusing and takin a zero off to keep the number a little smaller."
That's exactly the problem. The points system is designed to make it seem like things are cheaper than they are.
That would open up a whole lot of really cool opportunities.
In fact, i am absolutely positive they will include Natal exclusive features into Halo:Reach, which will guarantee millions of sales of Natal to Halo fans who want "the full Halo: Reach experience."
Look carefully at what has been shown.
1: Promotional video that is obviously actors mimicking pre-rendered footage put in front of them (evidence: none of those "games" were demoed anywhere)
2: Milo was very impressive, but i had one question while i watched it. "Why didn't Milo turn around the paper and show us the picture that the woman drew for him?" I don't have degree in marketing, but even i saw an opportunity for a real "WOW" m...
With PSN you can also set up a "wallet" for a user and put a set amount of money in it. Only the master account can put money into a wallet. Microsoft's points are set up deliberately to make you FEEL like you're paying less (something that's $10 on PSN is 800 points on XBL, making it FEEL like $8).
My prediction is that Microsoft will put Natal-exclusive features into Halo: Reach. Millions of Halo fans will buy Natal for that reason alone, creating an install base of hard-core gamers for Natal who will then also share it with the rest of their casual-gamer family members.
I don't know if Natal is racist, but you're stereotypical ebonics kinda seemed to be. The rest of your post doesn't read like that, so i'm guessing that's not how you talk. If you are of African descent, i apologize, but if not, then you should be more careful.
Dark skin evolved as a protection against sunburn from intense sunlight near the equator. The pigment absorbs UV rays before they can reach and burn the lower layers of skin. Maybe dark skin also changes the heat signature (infra-red emissions) of people enough to affect an IR camera.
Watching footage of Natal again, i've seen a definite input delay in what was shown on-stage. I've also read one report about the Burnout Natal demo that said the same thing. I wonder if it's partly that N'Gai was just more observant of this than people like Victoria Beckham (who was also invited behind closed doors to play Natal Burnout). Either way, i guess they have over a year to iron out the wrinkles.
The second camera as for IR, and the third spot is an IR emitter to allow it to see in a dark room. If it were actually stereoscopic, it would have been better to have the two cameras as far apart as possible to maximize the stereoscopic effect and make it more accurate for judging the "z-axis," but the two cameras are right next to each other so that the images match as much as possible.
That demo (Burnout) was reportedly running more slowly to mask Natal's slight input delay, and accelerator was all-or-nothing, but was working pretty well other than that.
Compare the Sony guy actually writing words with the motion controller to the Microsoft guy throwing buckets of paint on a wall.
Natal will be great for what it can do, but so will Sony's. Natal is more versatile and innovative, but Sony's is more accurate.
MGS:R actually isn't from Kojima. But he IS working on that Castlevania game, which has me excited about that franchise again. That's multi-plat too, right?
Konami had said repeatedly that MGS4 was staying exclusive, but the fanboys refused to accept it. Now that a NEW MGS game is coming multi-platform, they are acting like their predictions have come true.
Anyone see Morgan Webb talking to the guy from Microsoft (Shane Kim was it?), when she said "Now you have ALL [Sony's] exclusives!" She and Kevin Pereira both looked like they were hoping he would ask them to prom.
Seriously though, CNN uses these things all the time. Looks pretty neat, and may be the future of computers, but in a different form. Would i have to move all the crap i have piled up on my table every time i want to check my e-mail?
chaosatom, you forgot to mention the fact that, when they think it's real, it's the most awesome thing ever and will make games SOOO immersive, but then when it turns out fake, it's okay to fake it.
Even that picture shows the input delay of Natal. Jimmy Fallon's leg is up, but the avatar's leg is down.
To be clear again, I think developers will work around Natal's flaws just fine, but it does have its flaws, at least at this stage.