Xbox Moves Beyond Wii with Project Natal
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Microsoft showcase new motion-sensor tech at E3.
Bill Gates’ Microsoft have so far stolen the show at E3 2009 with the unveiling of their potentially Wii-beating motion-sensor system for the Xbox 360, Project Natal.
During a keynote speech at the annual games expo, legendary film-maker Steven Spielberg unveiled Natal with the tantalising tagline: “You are the controller”.
Using a camera Natal has the ability to completely track the user’s body movement and construct a fully 3D map of the player using the camera, software, microphones and a depth sensor. The system not only responds to body movement, it can also recognise voice commands, even picking up changes in voice tone.
Peter Molyneux, the fabled British games designer, gave an awesome display of the power of Natal when he introduced the E3 crowd to Milo, the life-like little boy who lives within the Xbox. Using the full range of Natal’s capabilities Milo can interact with the user just like a real person, he can respond to questions and movements, at one point he was shown a real-life drawing which the X-Box promptly scanned, enabling Milo to inspect the drawing with his own hands!
Of course without a controller, motion-sensory gaming can truly be taken to the next level. Video demonstrations showcasing potential of Natal were shown and the crowd witnessed players saving goals in football games with elaborate dives, a monster being ordered to attack with clubbing arm movements, and a car being driven with an invisible steering wheel.
Speaking of the system Spielberg said: “The next step in interactive entertainment is to make the controller disappear, with this device, we’ll see games that bring everyone together through technology that actually recognises us.”
