Some early details on Microsoft's controllerless control system Project Natal have leaked out of a behind-closed-doors Microsoft tour of English publishers and studios. Here's the word:
- A sub $80 price-point. The idea is to get it as close to "impulse buy" territory as possible.
- 5m units shipped for release date.
- 14 games are planned for launch -- most will be first-party games from Microsoft-owned developers like Rare. Third-party games will come later.
These details are not confirmed, but they seem pretty reasonable to me, especially the price-point. While there's not much monetary difference between 80 bucks and 100 bucks, there's a huge psychological hurdle there. For instance, $80 seems like a reasonable amount to pay for a couple to have a nice dinner, but once you get to hundred it's like, "This place is a rip-off!"
Five million units shipping at launch seems logical (if a bit optimistic) as well. The question raised by this whole Natal thing (and PlayStation's motion-controller too) is: Have both of these companies entirely mis-judged their market? There's a chance -- I'm not sure how big of a chance -- that people just don't want to be jumping around and moving a lot when gaming.
Everyone has tried the Wii, and it's a lot of fun in a group, no doubt, but if you've ever tried to play a longer, solo game with the Wiimote, you have probably reached the point where the novelty of wagging the stick around gives way to boredom, and then frustration. Motion control works best with social gaming, let's face it, but I spend about 90 percent of my gaming time solo.
This is a big gamble for Microsoft and Sony; they could be be betting a lot of dough on a played-out fad.
What do you think of Natal? Are you going to rush out and pick one up on launch day, or wait for the reviews to come in?
Source: MCVUK
Comments
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kayla38111
I own a Wii, and yeah it can get tiresome.But for me, it's the right game system choice. However when project natal comes out, Microsoft will add me to their customers. I will go out and buy a xbox360 and project natal and probably a couple games. Project Natal seems to me as if it's about to kick Nintendo's butt. Some people like being an active part of their game like me, it's just kinda cool. The good thing about Microsoft's Project Natal is that if you wanna be lazy or you just want to play video games conventionally sometimes. is that you still can revert back and play your 360 normally. So you guys that are complaining about wanting to play video games the way their meant to be played, Don't buy it or buy it and don't be too lazy to unplug some cords or switch games. Project Natal represents innovative new technology and is a step n the right direction. Ok that is my rant for 2day
Plasma_Cake
I was right... im taking this
JD5DAD
I think it would be cool if you could use it to talk to other gamers or to video conference with family in other states I know I would get one then
Jordanz98
I think project natal should have an $80 price.I don't want to have to pay an arm and a leg to get it.
buiman11
I'm picking it up regardless of all the mixed emotions. I just think that it could turnout well, and if it doesn't, thats okay, I can say that I had it at some point.
buiman11
I'm picking it up regardless of all the mixed emotions. I just think that it could turnout well, and if it doesn't, thats okay, I can say that I had it at some point.
collinE
I guarantee half of those launch titles will be bundled into a wii sports-like mini game package. The other half will be normal "natal-compatible" titles.
o_NIGHT_TRAIN_o
Project Natal is stupid, like come on you need some kind of controller, not your hands.
Blue_Vortex
btw I would just like to say that I'm happy that my price point prediction was correct for natal, just like I said 80 dollars
Blue_Vortex
it would be cool if they got Audio Surf tilt for Natal, I mean they were able to get if for the zunehd.
Hallowethe
I will definitely be getting Natal. If it is as good as they make it out to be, it will be worth every penny.
jamaicangamer
wii stop selling so they can steal it
atari05
I think there is room for motion control for both sony and MS. It just wont' be to the degree of the WII thats all. If they think they are going to get Wii like numbers.....Their nuts.
To this day though, I still think Sony's motion control looks like it can be something that even hardcore games can use without getting to "jumpy" or "waggly"
Aristofiles
im exited. Sure it may be a crapy gimic thing like for the wii but it could also mean a totaly new way of making games and even if not it could still be used for some nice tutches, Wouldent it be nice if the xbox recognised you as soon as you sat down in the couch, automaticly going into sleep mode when you run to the bathroom. Think Fable 3 will be the first big game that uses this full and who can do it better, Just look at "dog" in fable 2. A totaly new and inventive game element.
darthallen417
I am going to get the natal. I love being interactive and microsoft has not ignored the consumer. Do any of you chukle heads think that a technology like this would be released without doing the hard research. If Nintendo made a console that evey one allow to gether dust then by those terms the console sales would just drop right. No one wants a piece of tech that is going to gather dust. My son used to sit on a couch and play, now he is getting exersice and having fun; so do I. I want the natal because I don't want to hold a controler unless it is necessary and the wii falls short there. If you chukle heads want to sit then go right ahead but the interacive games that MS will come out with are going to be cutting edge.
LandoGriffyn1969
I'll be getting one,yeah MS is trying to get on the nintendo bandwagon,but Natal's motion control will be better than the Wiimote.It all depends on how the developers use what this will offer...it can go either way & MS better step up & support the developers with all the tools it can to make it a success.And no says that MS has to replace controllers with Natal,I can see using Natal & a controller at the same time...Natal tracking my head movements in a FPS for all the camera work,using my hands holding the controller like a steering wheel but still having access to all the buttons for driving games...its up to developers as to how successful this is.
lucidity
@Johnny
Change is bitter bill for some to swallow.
JohnnyBuku
It seems like a lot of the posters want just want M$ to fail and natal to die regardless of whether or not it will improve our experience (we have to wait and see for that). This reminds me of the current GOP leadership trying to kill all Obama initiatives regardless of whether they are good or not for the country. Ridiculous and counter productive.
Jabman0025
If they live up to the hype with the Peter Molonue demostrantion and I can litterally interact with game characters "face to face" the I will buy it, no question. However I have my doubts that Natal will be nothing more than a simple Wii clone
philjn99
A large part of the appeal of video games to me has always been that aspect of simulation; the capability to be "doing" something without actually doing it. I feel like a lazy pile saying it, but that's why I've never had much interest in the Wii. I'm much more interested in the different control options that were presented in that E3 video with their "vision" of Natal. Regardless, $80 is a pretty small price to pay if it does half of what they claim it will. If developers make good use of it, and the motion control doesn't feel tacked on or gimmicky (like it so often does), I'm pretty damn excited. Also, never got around to getting a Vision camera. Anyone know if Natal will replace that entirely? I couldn't imagine why it wouldn't.
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