Project Natal: New Xbox Technology Allows For Controller-Less Gaming (VIDEO)

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YAHOO FINANCE Derrik J. Lang, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Gamers, get ready for your close-up.

Microsoft introduced a prototype camera Monday that can be used as a controller for the Xbox 360. Codenamed "Project Natal," the camera eliminates the need for a handheld input device -- instead, the gizmo can track a player's full body movement, recognize their face and voice, scan images of real items and respond to both physical and vocal commands.

Microsoft also debuted 10 exclusive new games and several additions to the Xbox Live online service at their flashy Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference at University of Southern California's Galen Center.

But the biggest gee-whiz moment came when Microsoft senior vice president Don Mattrick and Steven Spielberg introduced "Project Natal."

"Two months ago, Don shared with me the 'Natal' experience, and the gamer in me went out of my mind when I got to be really interactive with this," said Spielberg, a game developer as well as filmmaker. "More dramatically, I felt like I was present for a historic moment, a moment as significant as the transformation from the square-shaped movie screen to CinemaScope and then to IMAX."

During the press conference, "Project Natal" was demonstrated with three prototype programs: "Ricochet," a soccer-like game which required the player to use their entire body to bounce balls at targets; "Paint Party," an art-making program that used the player's body as the brush; and "Milo," a virtual boy who communicated and interacted with the player.

"This is all about breaking down barriers the only way Xbox 360 can," Microsoft corporate vice president Shane Kim said before the conference. "For far too long, the controller has kept people from playing games. 'Project Natal' totally eliminates the need for a controller, and we believe it's going to bring people together in a way we haven't seen before."

The "Project Natal" prototype device showcased at the E3 press conference combines a camera, depth sensor, microphone and processor running proprietary software. Kim said game developers would receive "Project Natal" development kits Monday, and that there was no date set for when the device and accompanying software would be available to the public.

The loud event wasn't all about "Project Natal." Several announcements were made about Xbox 360's video capabilities including increased functionality with the Netflix online service, streaming 1080p high-definition video, live TV in the United Kingdom via the Sky network and the ability to watch selected movies online with friends with Xbox Live Party.

Among the 10 new games announced that will be released exclusively on the Xbox 360: the open-world action sequel "Crackdown 2," New Orleans-set zombie-killing sequel "Left 4 Dead 2," stealthy third-person shooter "Splinter Cell Conviction," sleek racer "Forza Motorsport 3," first-person shooter "Halo: ODST" and psychological thriller "Alan Wake."

For the Xbox Live online service, Microsoft announced the ability to access streaming music service Last.fm as well as the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter beginning this fall. The social networking sites will be fully integrated into the Xbox Live interface, allowing users to send messages, upload photos and tweet with their Xbox 360.

Comments

[Acidic]

12:21 AM on 06/03/2009

That's pretty amazing, however this probably won't be worth buying for years.

[frantaylor]

08:44 PM on 06/02/2009

Microsoft hires the best and brightest minds in the country, treats them like royalty, and uses them to design video games. They could be designing the car that will save the US economy or the solar cell that will free us from foreign oil but instead they write video games.

I don't understand why Microsoft has this fetish with gaming . They have still yet to clear a single dollar in profit from their entertainment division and yet they pour money into it like there is no tomorrow. By contrast, Apple products are profitable from the get-go and they don't have to explain to their investors why they are wasting even more billions.

Take a look at Microsoft's stock price. The investors know the score.

[Proxy11]

10:40 PM on 06/02/2009

I've never known that coders could be engineers.

[aristippe]

10:41 PM on 06/02/2009

A game designer/ programer has nothing to do with mechanical engineering duh

[njb444]

07:55 PM on 06/02/2009

You know what this reminds me of?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw8gE3lnpLQ&feature=channel_page

[Proxy11]

06:59 PM on 06/02/2009

I think it's best to leave gaming journalism to.. you know.. gaming journalist.

[Proxy11]

06:56 PM on 06/02/2009

Oh I'm sorry was there not an Eye Toy.

[clsmithj]

07:29 PM on 06/02/2009

The Eye Toy didn't do anything remotely close to that lol.

[Proxy11]

07:35 PM on 06/02/2009

Whether or not this Microsoft peripheral does anything new for "controller-less gaming" is to be seen. But this is certainly not some great invention that's going to redefine the way we play games.

[ANTIverson]

06:51 PM on 06/02/2009

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but it has very limited use except in mini games or if you have no friends. No one is going to be playing Forza motorsprot or GTA with this.

[Snowspot]

07:01 PM on 06/02/2009

True, the wiimote is the same, I play games with it.. then I go back and wonder why the wiimote was even necessary.

[FlyingHacker]

02:52 PM on 06/03/2009

very true, i wonder how people will play older games when this comes out

[MrBlu]

06:33 PM on 06/02/2009

Beyond the gaming features that will be coming I'm more excited about the fact that you can now browse the console without a controller and the fact that it recognizes you based on your voice. Like a car that has personalized settings when you jump in the front seat.

Like the NXE Microsoft has once again reinvented their console without having to release an entirely new console.

I'm a PS3 owner but I have every intention of getting a 360 before the end of the year. Now, if they could just manage to make the system quieter I'd be more excited about getting it.

[blademasterson]

07:32 PM on 06/02/2009

The whole sound issue I assume you speak of comes from the spinning of the disc. You can rip games to the hard drive now so after you rip the game to the drive you just have to put the disc in the tray to prove you have it and then can play from the hard drive which keeps the drive from dieing so quickly. Doesn't fix the issue as far as watching movies but half the battle is won.

[stav506]

07:56 PM on 06/02/2009

You can download games from the disc to the 360 hard drive. Wastes space but it reads off that instead of the constant disc spinning noise. Less chance of games w/ large maps/content (GTA4, Saints Row) from freezing too. The disc only has to be in while paying to start the game.

[MrMike513]

06:21 PM on 06/02/2009

I just hope they have holodecks before I die.

[cooket]

06:11 PM on 06/02/2009

i just hope they make porn with this.....

[nexus2089]

07:56 PM on 06/02/2009

i lol'd

[BryantG]

05:07 PM on 06/02/2009

If you're going to use your whole body to play soccer then why not go outside and actually play soccer. I like the face that I can play video games all day and not get tired. I thought that was the point.

[SkareCro]

05:27 PM on 06/02/2009

What if you dont have anyone to play with or dont have the soccer equipment....

[CrackerJacker]

05:57 PM on 06/02/2009

You would have a 360, a large tv and an(Undoubtedly) expensive Project Natal add-on, with the game to play.....but you couldn't afford the ball?

[rkreyn]

06:00 PM on 06/02/2009

My mother used a Nintendo Wii to rehab from a stroke.

[pokemon]

05:03 PM on 06/02/2009

I will have to have that, its like the WII but no controllers. I do not think the games can be too complex though, so great for the family but you'll need a controller to play the complex multi-layer shooters, etc.

[Vegan Valorie]

04:48 PM on 06/02/2009

Does this mean Obama will bail soon have to bail out Nintendo?

[jsgaetano]

07:05 PM on 06/02/2009

Does this mean that Republicans will try to have terrorists attack the XBox?

[marchamlin]

12:25 AM on 06/03/2009

You thought you were being clever with that one. To bad you stuttered.

[Snowspot]

04:28 PM on 06/02/2009

Why even bother with a screen if you're using this technology? Make some goggles and let the person have full VR... the screen is becoming such a hindrance.

[SuPaMan]

05:02 PM on 06/02/2009

goggles suck, everyone has come up with goggles and no one wants goggles. I for sure don't want to be hindered by some stupid glasses that cause you to trip over crap while trying to play a game. BOoooo

[Snowspot]

07:00 PM on 06/02/2009

Well, not goggles, but regular glasses that have something overlayed on the screen. Goggles are kind of an old-fashioned idea. All we would need is a pair of sunglasses with some sort of display in them, then the glasses would need a network connection, since the processing probably couldn't be done on the actual glasses..

Anyway, VR tech is about 5-10 years off, I can't wait :P

[Moshe]

04:24 PM on 06/02/2009

Congratulations Microsoft: You just assured that that guy will never move out of his mom's basement.

[SkareCro]

05:27 PM on 06/02/2009

yeah, but he wont be fat.

[marchamlin]

12:26 AM on 06/03/2009

You've offended my people.

[nootrope]

04:22 PM on 06/02/2009

Good to see that in these trying times some of the most technologically advantaged minds in our culture are using their skills... to develop video games for "here we are now, entertain us" americans. I guess it's one step up from developing things for america's other great passion, war.