Some Thoughts About Project Natal
You have probably heard about Microsoft’s latest feature that was announced at this years E3 Expo, but if you haven’t then your in for a surprise. Apparently soon we are all going to be using our Xbox’s without any controllers, frantically making crazy body gestures that interact with the game play. Sound familiar? Yes it’s clear to say that Microsoft is following a similar route to Nintendo and is trying to make an experience that will appeal to the whole family.
You can hardly blame them. Nintendo showed that with clever hardware and a lot of expensive advertising you can get whole family to buy into games consoles. People that once scoffed as such activities are right now jumping about on Wii boards and punching invisible opponents. A friend of mine that works in a game store told me of a lady in her 80′s that brought back a Wii fit game claiming it didn’t work, she was surprised to hear that you needed to buy a game system with it! This whole thing reminds me of computer giant Apple. In the late 90′s I thought I was “different” owning a mac. Hardly anyone knew what it was or had even seen one let alone uses OS7! Now everyone has an iMac, iPod and iPhone. Apple is the latest cultural icon that people just have to buy into. The only way to be different now is to not own one!
It will be interesting to see how Project Natal will develop, I just hope it’s not just a Pr stunt and that it will become a reality.
The time for Natal will soon be here, although I for one will not be buying it. I just don’t get it, if I want that sort of interaction with my games console I will get a Wii, after all that’s the whole concept of the Wii and why I enjoy playing it with friends and family.
The 360 to me is a games console to be enjoyed with real games, especially online and without the need for gimmicks etc.
So, by your rational the Wii doesn’t employ real games? what’s definition of a real game? The Wii offers a far more tangible experience than that of the 360, so you could suggest that this is a closer tie to reality than pushing sticks to operate a body.
Natal is not a gimmick, it’s a manifestation of public demand and the direction the consumer has pushed the industry. Nobody knew the Wii was going to be the success it has proved to be. The industry had no idea it was going to explode the way it did, and the consumer as per usual, didn’t know what it wanted.
Natal is real, and it works. And every major publisher is on board. I am just not convinced that it will arrive at a reasonable price point.