E3 2009 News: Microsoft Reveals Project Natal –Controller Free Gaming?
June 1, 2009 by Shawn Deena
Filed under Video Game Marketing
Yeah it sounds like some crazy sci-project but that was the big reveal to kick off E3 from Microsoft. Kudos for a killer opener showing off video of the much highly anticipated Beatles Rock Band complete with celebrity stunt casting of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr coming out on stage and proclaiming, “The game is good.”
But this — well you have to see it to believe it. Remember how goofy the Wii looked when it came out? Videos of people jumping around and doing crazy moves with a Wiimote? Well imagine that now but without a controller. Yeah that’s right, as the tag line goes–
No Controller Required
How? What? Huh?
It’s like some weird morphing of Minority Report and voice activated computers. Code named Project Natal, the new technology will work with any Xbox (even current systems) sits near the Xbox 360 console, and allows Xbox users to control their games, movies, and other Xbox media without touching any hardware. Combining an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice. This could conceivably outWii the Wii. Of course no one knows how much it costs yet.
Other big news from the Microsoft stage included a trailer for the new Halo: ODST game, more choices on netflix, a new Facebook and Twitter interface as well as a way for an XBL party to watch movies together (hey let’s go to the movies together virtually?) There’s a reason Microsoft likes to kick off these shows.
Stay tuned to SOS for more E3 news …
