Feb
22nd

I’ve played Natal!!!

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If, like me, you’ve been waiting for every measly snippet of news about Microsoft’s potentially game changing Xbox 360 add-on, these three words will mean an awful lot to you: ‘I’VE PLAYED NATAL!!!!’ I’ll get straight to the point - while the demo rig I used has already been superseded by advances on the latest gen prototypes, it rocked my world. IT ROCKED MY WORLD, PEOPLE! It’s not bang on - you move a hand rather than a finger with this version of the hardware but there is an exactness to the experience that is missing from those waves of your Wii-mote and a kinetic connection to the action on screen. I played the bouncy ball demo. I now want a full on Kung-fu smack-down and gestural control of my movie collection.

With the right developers, we could be talking about a paradigm shift in our living rooms come release before Christmas 2010 (not actually sure what that means, but it’s late, I’m tired and I’m excited!)

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LA_Way says: → http://lawaycartoons.blogspot.com

February 22nd, 2010 at 10:27 pm

I’m still skeptical, it just sounds like a more advanced eyetoy with that demo, and I imagine until they really show something off, and people actually have a go, it may tank. I hope it does succeed for microsoft and the xbox’s sake. But still…a bouncing ball demo doesn’t exactly float my boat. Bring on Fable 3 already. ;)

Colin says:

February 22nd, 2010 at 10:31 pm

Totally unconvinced. In the same way the Wii was the biggest casual gamer fooling device on the planet. Nintendo convinced the public to invest money into 5 yo tech because it had an inaccurate control method. I have one sat idle, under my telly. At least the Xbox is a slick piece of kit although, I expect Natal to be as annoying as the Wii concept. Gamers want controllers. Gamers do not want to dance about like muppets.

Eddie says: → http://eddieswain.wordpress.com/

February 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 pm

The only problem for me is I haven’t got much room where my xbox is, I would have to move it into my living room… or you could give me the one that they just GAVE you and then I wouldn’t have to ;-)

Eddie says: → http://eddieswain.wordpress.com/

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:08 pm

I disagree Colin, the Wii and Natal accessory are aimed at families and kids - hardcore pro gamers are the one’s using the Xbox’s and PS3’s! I guess Microsoft saw a gap in the market with the Natal and took it. They now have pro gamers, families and kids all on one platform - the 360.

Nigel(Nce007) says:

February 23rd, 2010 at 12:13 am

To be honest as much as I am eager to see Project Natal running after seeing your photos on Twitter of you playing with it Jason, I just hope that Microsoft & other developers do not just concentrate on making games for Project Natal when it comes out, & forget about gamers who will not be able to use Project natal due to Disability’s. I will say though it is a exciting concept to come the Xbox360 :-).

Twitter hits 50m messages each day @ Technology News says: → http://www.insightts.com/blog/?p=13347

February 23rd, 2010 at 9:15 am

[...] starting to get pimped out for testing with high-profile fans. Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury got hs hands on it, while there’s a little YouTube video of Jonathan Ross trying it at home. Not sure it seems a [...]

L.Rawlins says:

February 23rd, 2010 at 10:45 am

@Colin

This is about more than just games. It stands to take multi-touch as a method of input into a virtual domain if executed well. Imagine the way you peruse content on a modern touch phone, and then apply that to your TV… whilst sat 10 feet away from it.

It has a lot of potential, but at present it is mostly only that. Here’s hoping.

I’m a PS3 user myself, but it’s the precedent that this project could set that has me all-a-quiver.

c00ke5ter says:

February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 pm

I think the real jump for Natal will be camera control, linked with normal controllers, using your head to control POV could add an extra dimension or even a 3D-esque experience.

Glow Gaming says: → http://www.glowgaming.co.uk

February 23rd, 2010 at 3:28 pm

How jealous are we!! Was just quietly watch some TV and checked twitter out, onlly to find Jason at a super secret Natal event!! Bahhhh!! We have to admit, we’re more PS3 peeps than X360, but we’re still VERY excited by the possibilities of ‘Project NATAL’

Will Natal Change the Game? an article from archives of The Digerati Peninsula says: → http://www.thedigeratipeninsula.org.uk/archive/2010/02/23/will-natal-change-the-game/

February 23rd, 2010 at 8:26 pm

[...] ever-excitable Jason Bradbury has posted a written and video review of his experience playing with an early prototype of Microsoft’s much [...]

Kabia » Blog Archive » Project Natal Secrets! says: → http://kabia.info/home/?p=888

February 24th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

[...] Bradbury blogged his thoughts, [...]

Daniel Harrison says:

February 27th, 2010 at 12:21 am

i love project natal, i haven’t stop talking about it since it came out. when i see it i am going to get one (hopefully in time for my birthday)

Shimo says:

March 4th, 2010 at 9:20 am

Really looking forward to project natal. Not so much as a gaming tool, since most of these things are just gimmicks, but as a media tool.
Being able to search through your media with your hands, play, rewind and fast forward seems like a really cool idea.
Roll on winter 2010

steve says:

April 4th, 2010 at 10:14 am

Looks very good i think i would be ok using this type of gaming only because i am all fingers and thumbs on a controller,i am useless at using them i have no control over the buttons i just press any. I like a lot of games but its the controller i have trouble with unless its point and shoot.

adam timms says:

May 11th, 2010 at 7:54 pm

oh wow i carn’t wait for this to come out for the xbox 360
I have been eagerly antisipating this addon and its sure gonna be great


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