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News Natal launch details begin to surface

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by CardJoe, 12 Nov 2009.

  1. CardJoe

    CardJoe Freelance Journalist

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  2. ChaosDefinesOrder

    ChaosDefinesOrder Vapourmodder

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    much rather have some sort of controller in my hand that pure gesture based.

    example1: "light-gun" type games. Natal recognises you holding your fingers in a gun shape, but how does it detect trigger pulling? Sony's version has a trigger on the controller...
    example2: Driving games. Natal recognises you holding a plate and interprets it as a steering wheel. How does it detect accelerate/brake events? tracking your feet? do you want to physically hold your feet at different angles/positions in the air? Sony's version uses two hand-held controls which have left finger and right finger triggers similar to current gen racing game controls...

    call me cynical ('cos I am) but I don't quite see how Natal plans to get round the lack of buttons on it's object recognition stuff. Still having to use the regular Xbox controller for buttons kinda defeats the point of being able to use any old household objects for "controllers"

    Also, Sony's version still uses a camera, but interprets the wand positions rather than any old object tracking.
     
  3. mi1ez

    mi1ez Modder

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    I was thinking the exact thing about racing games.
     
  4. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Minimodder

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    atleast it shows they dont intend to replace the 360 anytime soon if this is coming out in november 2010

    to me it seems gimickey and maybe just suited for a few games
     
  5. NuTech

    NuTech Minimodder

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    From the videos I've seen, I think it's pretty clear that Microsoft aren't planning on Natal being a forced control scheme for traditional games (*points at PS3's sixaxis*). They seem more focused on delivering new concepts similar to the demo's they had at E3 (e.g. hand painting and full-body dodgeball).

    They're also giving major publishers quite a long time to get games ready for it, so hopefully there wont be any rushed crappy ports of existing games at launch. No doubt you will see the odd poorly controlled racing game or shooter but I think developers will learn quickly what does and does not work.

    Anyway I'm pretty sure the average Bit-Tech reader isn't really the target demographic for Natal anyway but if Microsoft can get it out cheap enough, kids are going to absolutely love this. Add the fact it's something non-technical parents can understand, and I think they're on to a winner.
     
  6. AshT

    AshT Custom User Title

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    Gonna throw an idea into the ring for a use of Natal.

    How about a VR headset projecting the same image from the TV screen as a 3D image on the visor, Natal recognising which direction you are facing and assuming you have a gun in your hand (in fact a controller with fire, reload, strafe, change weapon buttons). I'm thinking of an FPS of any sort. The game also inserts a simulated ring out square around the player so if the player attempts to actually walk through the glass in their patio doors then a warning signal goes off for the player to warn them to get back in safe zone.

    Now imagine ducking in real life.

    Jumping.

    Punching ... kicking.

    Takes me back to the days of the old chunky VR headsets and expensive setups that were too expensive for most arcades.

    I would happily turn my living room into a padded cell for that experience.
     
  7. War-Rasta

    War-Rasta What's a Dremel?

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    My thoughts exactly.
     
  8. perplekks45

    perplekks45 LIKE AN ANIMAL!

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    Yep, I agree. It seems to be an alternative controlling mechanism not something devs HAVE TO use.

    If this is actually the case, well done, MS! :thumb:
     
  9. andrew8200m

    andrew8200m Multimodder

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    I think this is brilliant... price point seems brilliant too :)

    Andy
     
  10. The_Beast

    The_Beast I like wood ಠ_ಠ

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    It's really sweet but I don't know how it would work in some games
     
  11. M_D_K

    M_D_K Modder

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    as mentioned above with the lack of buttons I would think they are not aiming at it replacing the controler more of an Add on, would be funny sitting there holding a plate for driveing etc...

    Will see what previews and examples come out between now and next year, but for £30-50 its not bad impulse buy.
     
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