Back in 2006, Nintendo reminded us that you do not need cutting-edge graphics to make a great game. The highly-joked about Wii blew us away with the simplest games like Wii Sports. The motion-capture technology was revolutionary to the gaming world, one that video game fans dreamed of. Yet, as it is with all technology, it is about to be out-dated by Project Natal for the Xbox.
Officially revealed at E3 last year, Project Natal is a fully interactive motion-capture system. You say jump? Project Natal says, “How high?” Actually, it is programmed to jump, dodge, and swipe as you do. Your whole body is the controller.
Microsoft recently announced that this technology comes by way of PrimeSense. For the most part, PrimeSense sells visual home computing and entertainment systems using their designs in sensing technology. Project Natal is the first time they have entered game consoles. The technology uses an RGB camera, an infrared camera, a multi-array microphone and a depth map. With these features, they allow the system to track a player in 3D space as well as pick up spoken commands.
Will this new black box drive out the Wii? Extremely doubtful. The Wii still has much potential and playability for a wide audience. The ability to play old classics is just a bonus. However, this may push Wii off the top spot in cool, innovative technology.
Some potential problems with this new system that I’ve seen have been the ability of the system to recognize new players as they step in front. Don’t kid yourself, we all know people that would do so in order to mess with your game. Also, it appears that some of the effectiveness of the motion-capture is reduced if the player does not stand in the right spot, which could easily be a problem in multi-player gaming.
Despite these reservations, Project Natal is the next step in interactive video gaming and just looks so darn fun. It is scheduled for release in time for Christmas 2010.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah, it’ll be sick – but there will still be room for Wii…
I didnKt care for this technology when it was called a Playstation 2 eye toy. Yawn. Get on the ball microsoft, no one wants to jump and dodge balls with your silly camera toy
Cost and originality will almost definitely be the deciding factors. If this thing costs anything near what the PS3 Move does, it’s got to blow it out of the water as far as games go. Plenty of potential to do that, as from what I’ve seen, Move isn’t really impressing many people. Still gotta watch Nintendo too; they’ve got good games somewhere, and they might just be waiting for the right time.
Two things…
1. Wii blows. It’s worse than the original Xbox. The games all suck (with maybe one or two exceptions) and the graphics are terrible. The Nintendo64 is still Nintendo’s best non hand-held console. The motion controls on Wii, while novel at first, quickly lose their appeal. After having owned all 3 major consoles at one point (Wii, Xbox360, PS3), I will always think of the Wii as the obnoxious younger brother you could swear is just a bit retarded.
2. I have no faith in current motion technology for games, but I support it. I won’t buy it, won’t use it, and I’ll make fun of anyone who does. But these poor first attempts are necessary to developing the technology to the point where it’s awesome.
Nintendo has absolutely nothing to worry about