IGN on Natal: "It Works"

[modeps]

Jeremy Dunham from IGN has posted (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/989/989269p1.html) his hands on impressions from a behind closed doors session with Natal. While only getting 5 minutes of time with it, he claims that it works as advertised.

Here's the amazing thing -- I played with the Natal for all of 5-6 minutes, and I have to say, it actually works.

The first demo I tried was what Microsoft was calling "Burnout Natal." Though it isn't a real game in development, the mixture of Burnout Paradise and the Natal camera was meant to provide proof that you could use the device's technology for practically any genre or software. How quickly I was recognized into the Natal's body identification system (just a few seconds) was surprising, and in a matter of moments I was controlling Burnout paradise with my feet and hands.
My second go at the Natal was with the game highlighted specifically in Microsoft's press conference by former Fight Night father, Kudo Tsunoda, known as "Ricochet." Admittedly, Ricochet isn't my type of game. I'd rather sit on the couch hitting remote control buttons instead of virtual dodgeballs (which probably explains why I've reached the point where I get winded doing simple things like chewing and talking). Nonetheless, Ricochet provided a small dose of fun as I did my best to break targets with an increasingly-prolific supply of balls. The response here didn't seem as sharp as it did with Burnout -- but to be fair, there did seem to be a small learning curve with the aiming system. Though again, it's not my type of game -- but the good news is that, when speaking with Tsunoda about things in the works down the line, that there are plenty more games -- much more ambitious ones, in fact -- in development that we're going to see in the near future.

All in all, I found Project Natal to be quite refreshing. It's nowhere near the gimmicky device I originally took it for and the fact that it works already on a retail Xbox 360 (Burnout was running on an "out of the store" model, no debugs or special systems required) says a lot about its current stage of development.

Take THAT Miyamoto!

[Pnikosis]

I hope they (MS and third parties) develop nice and creative games for Natal and not limit themselves to lame minigames. A game combining standard controller and Natal would be awesome, using both at the same time or using either the controller or the camera depending on the stage (imagine a game where the boss battles are through the motion controller and the rest of the game a beat'em up with the gamepad, or a soccer game when you physically shoot the ball, but move the players with the controller).

[SPBTooL]

During G4TV's on stage demo of Sony's motion controller the Sony person made a good point about Natal. For a complete gaming experience you still need buttons and triggers. How can you shoot a gun or rev your chainsaw with out a trigger?

Now even if Natal can get to the point of finger tracking it would still need to be able to see your fingers no matter how you are holding you pretend weapons. I think the next thing MS should do is buy that company already making a motion controller for them. Combining the kind of accuracy and versatility shown with Sony's solution with full body support would win this little battle of the waggles.

[DigiTekh]

Dave Bowman: Hello, HAL do you read me, HAL?
HAL: Affirmative, Dave, I read you.

this technology looks very kool question is what their price point is going to be for this

[abso]

During G4TV's on stage demo of Sony's motion controller the Sony person made a good point about Natal. For a complete gaming experience you still need buttons and triggers. How can you shoot a gun or rev your chainsaw with out a trigger?

Now even if Natal can get to the point of finger tracking it would still need to be able to see your fingers no matter how you are holding you pretend weapons. I think the next thing MS should do is buy that company already making a motion controller for them. Combining the kind of accuracy and versatility shown with Sony's solution with full body support would win this little battle of the waggles.

I think what you will see is the use of some type of glove or finger trackers for that kind of thing.

The biggest turn-off for me though, is the lack of physical feedback. Pushing a button with my thumb or pulling a trigger with my index finger may not be the same as actually jumping or ducking, but there IS feedback against my skin that confirms my intended action.

If I'm driving a virtual car, what are my hands resting on? I'm not going to hold them out in the air for an hour while I play Forza 3 in the future. This is going to be the biggest problem with this technology.

How do you bridge the gap between awesome tech for the casual market, with the type of game desired by the core gamer?

First company to figure this out wins gaming for eternity.

[Hellstorm]

would win this little battle of the waggles.

The battle is already over: 50+ million Wii's are already in consumers hands. The motion controller comes with the system. Sony and MS' solutions are just add-ons that will just end up like the eyetoy. Although Sony's solution is much more practical for REAL games and not tech demo's.

[Reanimated]

I have to say that this is the most exciting technology I've seen in gaming since 3D hit. After seeing the Milo demo, I can't wait to see what other devs do with this.

[Roc Ingersol]

I don't know that waggle-gaming -does- require buttons.
How many buttons do you need to play Wii Sports that couldn't be trivially replaced by motion gestures?

That's the crowd being targeted here. Not the people who care about the response characteristics of a trigger-gesture, or even being able to rev a chainsaw independent of swinging it around. MS is after the people who spent $250 to play Wii Sports.

As far as I can tell, they don't need a single button for that. (Assuming the thing does work. I'm not exactly convinced by a 5 minute controlled demo.)

[Roc Ingersol]

If I'm driving a virtual car, what are my hands resting on?That's the exact problem I had, trying to use the WiiMote as fake-steering wheel for Mario Kart. The game was far, far more fun when I used the classic controller.
I'm not going to hold them out in the air for an hour...And this is why our preferences don't matter. Waggle-gamers don't play for an hour. They play for a few minutes then pass the wii-mote to a friend. They don't even hold the controller for an hour straight.

[Reanimated]

Also, I have to say that the light up dildo demo that sony gave impressed me far less.

[Pnikosis]

During G4TV's on stage demo of Sony's motion controller the Sony person made a good point about Natal. For a complete gaming experience you still need buttons and triggers. How can you shoot a gun or rev your chainsaw with out a trigger?

Now even if Natal can get to the point of finger tracking it would still need to be able to see your fingers no matter how you are holding you pretend weapons. I think the next thing MS should do is buy that company already making a motion controller for them. Combining the kind of accuracy and versatility shown with Sony's solution with full body support would win this little battle of the waggles.

You can play using Natal and a controller in your hands. Imagine a FPS where the leaning is made through your body. Or... maybe Natal + Game Trak Freedom (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/xbox-360-motion-controller-dev-not-afraid-of-project-natal/).

[saulob]

I will miss Force Feedback :(

[Evil Avatar]

Wow, it works! They took a control scheme that was simple and made it needlessly complex and difficult to use. :rolleyes:

Put your arm in the air like a Top Gun High Five for Turbo? I can't be the only one who sees how stupid that is.

[Major Scud]

Maybe Nintendos next innovation will be releasing a console that doesn't use motion control because everyone elses console will use it now. I am feeling more and more like Gabe might be right in this penny-arcade:
http://penny-arcade.com/images/2009/20090518.jpg

[lockwoodx]

Gamers like to use their mind. Not their bodies or they would be athletes.

[Mr.Green]

Gamers like to use their mind. Not their bodies or they would be athletes.

So I take it you're a fucking scientist? :rolleyes:

[Meusli]

I am not looking forward to Natal so I can stand in front of my TV waving my arms but other more mind blowing possibilities. What we have here is something that can do many things to make game immersion more advanced than it is today. For a start it will be able to do head tracking like the TrackIR, so imagine Forza 3 races where you can pan your head about in the car. Also the interaction in RPGs should be massively improved as shown in the Milo demo. There must be more stuff that can be done with it so we will just have to sit back and wait to see what exactly does.

[Zaro]

There's many possibility for his tech, i can't wait next E3 :)

[abso]

That's the crowd being targeted here. Not the people who care about the response characteristics of a trigger-gesture, or even being able to rev a chainsaw independent of swinging it around. MS is after the people who spent $250 to play Wii Sports.

Ah, but it isn't really 250 dollars. At a minimum, to play all of wiisports, you need another controller (50 dollars). And while we are at it, lets just include the nunchuk (30 dollars). So, you are really paying, minimum, 320 dollars for your Wii just to play all of WiiSports (need 2 controllers for tennis). Now, if you want more than 2 people doing something at a time (say maybe we can have tennis double's matches, requiring 4 controllers), than it's another 150 over the cost of just the Wii. So, 400 dollars.

You are now more expensive than a 360 pro. Figure 100 dollars for this Natal thing, and now you are competitively priced. From this point on, it would be who can produce the fun, interactive content.

[brandonjclark]

Gamers like to use their mind. Not their bodies or they would be athletes.

I think the correct thing statement would be that when gaming, people would rather use their minds than their bodies, as I know plenty of athletes (myself included) who enjoy gaming.

I think it has to do with the origin of gaming, and the limitations set forth in the original setups. Before, you only had one choice, use your head. Now, we will be presented with options. Usually this makes people happy, not sure why some hate the motion-control ideas. I mean, its not like controllers are going away, they're just becoming another way to game.

[drakkarim]

"works as advertised" AND "microsoft" in the same sentence ?!?!? WTF is the world coming to...

[drakkarim]

oh yeah, this should be great if it starts getting incorporated into games, or however it interfaces to them. can't wait.

[Ozymandias]

During G4TV's on stage demo of Sony's motion controller the Sony person made a good point about Natal. For a complete gaming experience you still need buttons and triggers. How can you shoot a gun or rev your chainsaw with out a trigger?

Now even if Natal can get to the point of finger tracking it would still need to be able to see your fingers no matter how you are holding you pretend weapons. I think the next thing MS should do is buy that company already making a motion controller for them. Combining the kind of accuracy and versatility shown with Sony's solution with full body support would win this little battle of the waggles.

You're missing a key point - a button is simply a physical object. Natal can watch the entire room, including physical objects should there be a need. Short form, there no reason a piece of plastic with buttons couldn't be released should a game feel like it's needed. The point of Natal is that games can now explore new genres and ideas, not constrained by a physical controller... but if you need it, it's certainly possible.

[Dakar]

I don't believe it for a second.

IGN used to rave about the Wii and made it seem as if the Wii was tracking motion 1:1 from day one. Then when it got into gamers hands people realized how inaccurate it was for tons of motions/situations.

[Duskfire]

Not sure why people seem to be against it.

Its just an option, an add on. Its not as if Microsoft have come out (or sony for that matter) and said "every game released from now on will use one of those new things." If it doesnt catch on, it doesnt catch on. However if it does, it could be the beginning of the first step onto the next console era.

[the soUL TRAder]

I know it works, I saw it in action at CES '08!

And I can already imagine plenty of games which could be enhanced by the ability for me to have two hands on the controller, take one hand off the controller, NOT pick anything up, make a motion and put both hands back on the controller.

Not to mention I'd love a new Links game where I can swing my own golf club.