Earlier this week Project Natal by Microsoft was revealed at the Electronics Expo in California. For those of you that have no idea what that is. Its basically where all three console designers: Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, reveal the upcoming games and lavish projects that they have been working over the last year. Revealed to the world for the first time was Project Natal and it has shocked the gaming world.
The core base of current Xbox 360 owners are young males like myself, who typically play first person shooters and action games. With Project Natal, Microsoft is looking to expand the reach of the 360 ownership beyond the typical young male crowd. Its inviting you to live in the experience, and become more user friendly for everyone to enjoy, much like Nintendo has done with the Wii when it introduced motion controls. Well Natal takes this innovation by Nintendo to the next level.
Project Natal is a revolutionary new way to play games and enjoy entertainment via the 360 sans a controller. You can move, kick and do whatever you want simply by body gestures. It works by connecting a nine-inch wide horizontal bar with a sensor designed to be positioned lengthwise above or below your video display. The bar features a camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and software that provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities.
The Project Natal has on board sensors in the microphone that allow the Xbox 360 to conduct acoustic source localization and noise suppression, allowing for things such as headset-free party chat over Xbox Live. In laymen terms, its the next generation of noise cancellation.
If this is all a little confusing, just check out these two demos that Microsoft showcased at its conference. You surely wont be disappointed.
*Images and videos courtesy of Youtube and Microsoft*
Rebecca • Jun 24, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I’m gonna wait for the bugs to be worked out first. Because there will be many many bugs. I’m sure every time they softened Milo’s voice to let the other guy talk, he was making a mistake. He completely changed subjects from the homework and they never did actually show what he said about the picture. No doubt though, it is amazing, and far more advanced than what the Wii is capable of. I’m excited for it.
Chad • Jun 20, 2009 at 5:57 am
The Natal is rumored at $279 and is suppose to be coming out in time for Christmas. Who wouldnt want this? This go ways beyond the little motion bar that the Wii has. Using your whole body for the game. One advantage for Microsoft is that their online is WAY more established then the other two consoles. As you can see… the videos introduce how it can be fully integrated into the gaming-verse. So Pete, my question for you is if you had a 360. Would you not buy one? Games like Milo are going to the extreme.
Peter • Jun 17, 2009 at 1:40 am
Nice idea but I don’t think this is going to get the target market they are aiming for which are casual gamers and kids for two reasons: 1. The Wii has the line-up that is aimed at general gamers and 2. the cost is way cheaper.
John • Jun 8, 2009 at 7:34 pm
This has to be awesome considering the theme music to the commercial is from Los Campsinos!. It looks like it would cost more than a car though with all the things it is capable of.