Who is looking forward to Natal?

[keyed]

I wonder if MS will target women when it comes out. I could see them developing a dance game for girls, with an option to watch a replay of it with game character doing the dance.
For that matter, it would be a great add-on for fighting games, especially those developed for kids.

 

[Beev]

[...]Natal, essentially a next-gen Sony EyeToy[...]

This is the best comparison I've heard. The EyeToy sold well enough to keep it afloat, but it wasn't anything special at all. This is exactly what Natal will be.

 

[Queasy]

This is the best comparison I've heard. The EyeToy sold well enough to keep it afloat, but it wasn't anything special at all. This is exactly what Natal will be.

The difference though appears to be the amount of support thrown behind it. The EyeToy was treated as an accessory by Sony and developers. MS is treating Natal like a whole new platform.

 

[Queasy]

I wonder if MS will target women when it comes out. I could see them developing a dance game for girls, with an option to watch a replay of it with game character doing the dance.
For that matter, it would be a great add-on for fighting games, especially those developed for kids.

I'd expect games like Just Dance, EA Sports Active (pretty much confirmed) and that Karate game that is coming out for the Wii.

The question is how creative can devs get with Natal and not try to churn out Wii Sports clones.

 

[Lotheron]

I'd expect games like Just Dance, EA Sports Active (pretty much confirmed) and that Karate game that is coming out for the Wii.

The question is how creative can devs get with Natal and not try to churn out Wii Sports clones.

Well there could be a more advanced DDR type game too. But you're right, as long as they don't rehash all the same old boring titles, they might have some success.

 

[tdawg]

I'm looking forward to seeing what developers come up with to take advantage of Natal. I think sports games are perfect venues for this tech and I like the idea of controlling menus with voice and gestures.

 

[Beev]

The difference though appears to be the amount of support thrown behind it. The EyeToy was treated as an accessory by Sony and developers. MS is treating Natal like a whole new platform.

Which is silly of them, because it IS just an accessory for the platform. The 360 isn't built with Natal in mind, so it will never be anything more than an accessory. If you want to make a feature like Natal revolutionary and the "standard" then it needs to be bundled with the system from day one.

 

[RedRooster]

Man, if the sports devs can pull off baseball and golf on it, I'll totally get one. Imagine playing first person baseball?!(without a bat and ball of course, the system should be smart enough to superimpose them for safety)
Just thinking about that is exciting. Any other type of game, meh. We already have more than enough functional controllers to make them super fun.

 

[Queasy]

Which is silly of them, because it IS just an accessory for the platform. The 360 isn't built with Natal in mind, so it will never be anything more than an accessory. If you want to make a feature like Natal revolutionary and the "standard" then it needs to be bundled with the system from day one.

If the rumors are true, Natal will be bundled in with every new 360 when it is released while also being sold separately.

 

[Beev]

If the rumors are true, Natal will be bundled in with every new 360 when it is released while also being sold separately.

Well, that's definitely a good start, but everyone that already owns a 360 doesn't have one, and consumers generally don't like it when they feel like they are required to buy something extra in order to use their system.

 

[Queasy]

Well, that's definitely a good start, but everyone that already owns a 360 doesn't have one, and consumers generally don't like it when they feel like they are required to buy something extra in order to use their system.

Well, I'll say that if Natal comes out at around $50 and is includes a game bundle I will definitely be picking one up just for the novelty and chance to review it.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

No poll...fail.

And no, I am not looking forward to Natal. I already have a Wii to get my fill of gimmicky waggle games.

 

[Lotheron]

Well, I'll say that if Natal comes out at around $50 and is includes a game bundle I will definitely be picking one up just for the novelty and chance to review it.

Depending on the launch titles bundled and the foreseeability of it actually being worth it, my limit is up to $100.

No poll...fail.

And no, I am not looking forward to Natal. I already have a Wii to get my fill of gimmicky waggle games.

Polls are overrated.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Polls are overrated.

I think a poll would say no.

 

[PimpJuice]

I will assume that most of the fatty population would not be looking forward that requires them to get off their fat asses.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'm dreading Natal because I'm afraid it will cause too many game devs to try their hand at it and fail miserably.

Not to mention I don't think there's any way to make a good motion control system without some sort of physical feedback. That's why force feedback steering wheels are good and non-force feedback wheels are terrible. Imagine trying to steer a car without a wheel at all and having to guess. It would suck, just like Natal will.

 

[RagingBITCH]

If anyone caught the episode of Smallville this past Friday - they were playing with a Natal in the episode. I was wondering what the motion capture game was. It looked like fun. Whether it is when it comes out will remain to be seen though.