Microsoft: Major gamemakers developing for Natal

CNET News' Ina Fried got a chance to try out a demo of Project Natal earlier this year. On Thursday, Microsoft noted that nearly all of the big names in video games are working on titles that take advantage of the motion sensing technology.

(Credit: CNET)

Microsoft has been pretty quiet about its Project Natal since showing off the motion-capture technology at E3 earlier this year.

However, a lot has been going on behind the scenes, particularly in getting developers to build games that can take advantage of the technology, which lets a player control a game with their body as opposed to a joystick. In an announcement at the Tokyo Game Show on Thursday, Microsoft noted that nearly all of the big names in video games are working on Natal titles.

Microsoft's list includes Activision, Capcom, Disney, EA, Konami, MTV, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ, and Ubisoft. Game makers have had development kits in their hands since June, Microsoft said.

"'Project Natal' gives the industry's creators and storytellers the freedom to dream of new experiences and to tell stories never before possible," Microsoft Senior Vice President Don Mattrick said in a statement. Microsoft has yet to announce further details on Natal, such as when it will be released and how much it will cost, but many expect the add-on to debut next year.

Microsoft has said that Natal, which consists of an RGB camera, depth sensor, and multi-array microphone, will be sold as an add-on to the existing Xbox 360 console.

"Project Natal could fundamentally change the way players experience sports games," EA Sports President Peter Moore said in a statement. "At EA, some of our top development teams are experimenting with these tools with the goal of delivering a completely fresh take on genres like sports and racing."

Ubisoft, meanwhile, talked about the opportunity to reach new audiences.

"With the 3D camera, your body can become the interface," Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in a statement. "Any barrier related to the use of pad controllers that may have existed for potential gamers is now abolished."

Microsoft's own game studios are also working on several projects, the company said.

To get an idea of how Natal looks in action, here's a video report I did earlier this year after getting a chance to try out Natal firsthand.

[Rolker]

I hope they'll bring this technology to the PC wrold.
This is a technology that may change the way we interact with PCs and TVs (as touch did with cellular phones). This is not just for video games, but I think much more can come out of this.

[chrkeller]

I agree 100%. I don't see it working overly well with videogames, though I could see it working well in conjunction with a standard controller. The problem with random motion like the Natal is there isn't any resistance. Peter (maker of Fable) talked about this a bit ago. He worked on a system where the player would motion to pick things up and the character on the screen would follow suit. The problem is when you are "holding a plate" in the game, in the real world you are not, there is no gravity force, there is no weight resistance. It doesn't quite work nor does it feel right. When I turn a steering wheel in real life, there is resistance, there is weight. Turning an imaginary steering wheel isn't the same thing. Now I could see Natal working well for menu systems in RTS and RPG games.

[atcocoabeach]

@chrkeller
Obviously you are correct that there is no resistence but I'm hard-pressed to see how holding that plastic wii wheel (it isn't attached to anything, i just has the wiimote embedded in it) is any different?

Lightsaber games... this is what Molyneaux was referring to, swordplay. When you hit someone else's sword your arms don't stop (naturally). But they worked around this with the wii just fine. The avatar on screen reacts the only way it can (rebounding off? falling to the ground if you follow through too far? has a powerful blow? who knows?).

[chrkeller]

Honestly having owned a Wii for a couple of years now, I don't feel Nintendo has gotten around that. Most things on the Wii are fun for a while but age quickly. There has yet to be that defining game that changed gaming forever. The Wii has the same problem, acting something out does not feel real. The lack of physics is a problem, until they fix that motions controls are not going anything special. I am still glad I have a Wii, but make no mistakes, it suffers from the same thing Natal will. Though casuals don't seem to care, so from a business point it is an excellent idea, or course so was the pet rock.

[shellcodes_coder]

It will be available for Windows too. It has already been mentioned by Microsoft

[wanorris]

One possible solution to not having anything to hold: sell a bazillion cheap plastic peripherals as game throw-ins -- they don't even require any embedded tech. You could even chroma-key them (i.e. make them green-screen green or similar) so that they're trivial for the camera to identify. Judging from the dollar store, it doesn't exactly cost much to make a plastic sword or whatever.

But yes, some games may want buttons and such, in a way that makes a normal game controller harder to use. It may turn out that a Wii remote is the best controller for some kinds of games.

[drfillgood]

I see boxing games on their way! Sly could make a fortune with a Rocky franchise, or Muhammad Ali. But I think Rocky would be the best 'contender'.

[Jonathan]

Dear MS. I see that Disney and Square Enix are involved in this. Might I suggest that if you could somehow get them to create a Kingdom Hearts game that uses Natal your user base for this device is going to shoot up 3 billion percent. Just saying.

[wusupjohn]

Will this mean that there is going to be a motion sensing fps? I'm excited for it but at the same time concerned for the possibility it being too life like. Video game shellshock?

[Mr_fleabite]

I don?t think it would then become too life like, it's still the same imagery and game play. You aren't getting blood and guts on your face, you can't feel being hit, nor do you become out of breath from running like a mad man. If you could experience all of those things on a truly life like level I think FPS's would drop in popularity (and your playing area would be very messy).

My big question for the FPS is how would you move your character and aim your weapon at the same time (you can only move so far in your living room). If the answer is the character is on a rail/ track/ auto path or walking and running in place, no thanks. Maybe there is a good way to accomplish this with the system they are inventing but I can't think of it (but I'm not that creative, so like everyone else I'll wait and see). Natal has my interest, but ATM I'm in the skeptic/ gimmick camp (for video games at least).

[Ryan_R]

Can someone enlighten me as to how this is different from the Sony EyeToy (at least conceptually) released a number of years ago? I never owned the EyeToy, just saw them at department stores, where you interacted with the game using your body movement, captured by the camera.

[jessiethe3rd]

There is several differences. EyeToy uses basic motion. This has much better sensing technology.

Depth / 3D sensing
Heat Signature
Voice Recognition
Scanning Capabilities

Natal will have sort of processor for the additional processing power meaning good performance with this add-on. This is much more than an EyeToy.

[McPlot]

EyeToy was a webcam. It just took a picture and detected what pixels on the screen moved. Very basic. Something you could get on a PC for years before the playstation had it.

This thing though, two cameras so it can do depth perception. So it knows how far or close you are. Not only using the pixel method, it has actual motion sensors so it knows when you are moving, even if you cover the cameras. The software is a big part of it too. As the other person said. So much, so much more. If it works the way Microsoft says it will, and does not cost and arm and a leg, it will take off in a flash. Even without feedback. As for the person who said "No feed back", I am sure someone will make a vibrator that you can place on your body so you can have that interaction too. (keep it clean now).

[sharmajunior]

I guess we'll have reports of people headbutting their TV's...LOL

[sharmajunior]

or even better, make adult games using Natal and do/watch the fun...LOL

[DrtyDogg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzNJwk9Z4ds

See for yourself, the differences are pretty obvious when you see it. The link is for eyetoy, there is an embedded video of natal game play in the article. The difference is pretty obvious.

[kenright60660]

to be honest, until we can work around the issues of not actually having virtual objects in existence, video-games will never become that life like. We can't simulate forces on the level required for video games (at least, not without several billion dollar laboratories) so the closest we can get feasibly is motion capture video games. Maybe you'll be headbutting your TV but it for sure won't be headbutting back for at least a few decades....

[DarkHawke]

All I want from Natal is a kick-ass lightsabre-wielding Star Wars game. 'Nuff said.

[iowampb39]

I doubt you will get that with Natal, at least not a very accurate one... they have no motion wand for you to hold and control. Chances on PS3 having this are very likely however... their motion controler system will be extremely accurate.. What I want more than a star wars game though is some RPG where I can wield a shield and sword with the Sony Wands.

[PrNatal]

Yep, the developers seem to be quite enthusiastic about Project Natal:

http://prnatal.com/news.html

In fact, some of them seem to be too enthusiastic )