Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Microsoft - Project Natal
It looks like Microsoft's latest XBox accessory looks to one-up the Nintendo Wii this holiday season. Project Natal, Microsoft's code name for the new technology, will have no controller. Essentially, YOU are the controller. The motion-sensing technology will capture your movements, so when you are kicking a ball in a game, you actually use your foot to kick the ball. An actual release date and price have yet to be announced, but it will be interesting to see Microsoft's pricing strategy for the accessory as well as how Nintendo will react (Nintendo was reportedly offered Natal and turned it down). Sony has already announced the release of their motion-sensing controller (PlayStation Move) for this fall.
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This reminds me of the case on PSP3 and the need of better games (read:blockbuster games) to be a dominant player. The challenge in this case for Microsoft will be to find enough development guys designing games to support this technology. Leaving that aside, even the players of Xbox (many avid software game players may not have played real football!) will have to learn a lot to play such kind of game...moving feet as a actual player!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a market that Xbox needs to get into and Natal offers a new take on motion-sensing gaming. While I agree with Debasis' point that this will require some additional learning from gamers, I also believe that this technology will make the console attractive to a larger audience. Microsoft seems to be so confident that have already begun work on the next iteration of Project Natal (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/microsoft-at-work-on-natal-2). It will be interesting to see how gamers respond once all three major consoles offer motion-sensing capabilities.
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