The concept of the controller as a barrier between player and game has been around for a very long time. From early experiments with balance boards on the Atari 2600 through the Power Glove, VR, the Eyetoy and the Wii controller it has constantly re-asserted itself. With the announcement of Project Natal, Microsoft have continued this trend. As a brief re-cap, this technology as presented today at E3 will allow the player to interface with the Xbox360 entirely through gestural inputs with no other peripheral required.
If the on-stage demonstrations are to be believed then Natal will follow the players movements with astonishing precision. No longer will motion sensing be tied to a specific set of peripherals, instead the body itself becomes the controller. Microsoft clearly believe that this will revolutionise gaming beyond what the Nintendo Wii has accomplished. I would strongly disagree and do not believe that anything the gaming world witnessed at Microsoft’s E3 conference will truly change the gaming experience.
Motion controls, as opposed to pointless waggling where a button would do the same thing, can truly enhance certain games. I for one couldn’t imagine using a standard analogue stick to play an entry in the Tiger Woods franchise. To go back to such abstract controls after being able to swing my controller like a golf club would be a step backward. The Wii motion controls massively enhanced the experience of that game and will continue to do so in many realistic simulation. As a refinement of that interface, Natal is to be applauded. If I could swing a real golf club, rather than a little plastic stick, that would be much more immersive. As an aid to simulation Natal must be applauded but as an aid to gaming it remains at best unproven.
Videogames, perhaps more so than any medium to have existed previously, can transport us into utterly fantastical environments. The traditional controller is not and has never been a barrier between us and those worlds. It has been and will continue to be an enabler. With the simple press of a button I’ve been able to throw fireballs, leap tall buildings, defeat monstrous creatures and create whole civilisations.
Sure I can make steering wheel motions with my hands but will I be able to simulate reloading and cocking a lancer? Will my on screen character be as limited as my own fat, pasty body? I ask these questions because as soon as you tie the limitations of your avatar to your own limitations, you defeat the point of playing a game in the first place. Conversely, if developers fail to tie the motions of the player directly to their avatar, then gesturing in front of Natal is as meaningless as waggling the Wiimote in Zelda.
Natal will undoubtedly make a great contribution to the simulation of real-world activities. I’m sure it will help bring in even more people to the world of gaming and I appreciate that. However, I urge any Negative Gamer readers to think strongly before jumping on Microsoft’s bandwagon. We’ve already seen in the space of 3 short years how a revolutionary interface can become nothing more than a cheap gimmick. I know I’ll still be pressing buttons and pulling triggers for a long time, how about you?
Image Via: Gizmodo
Agreed. I think that one rant that Reverend Anthony did on Dtoid (too lazy to dig up the link) about Snatcher and the Wii controller was one of the best examples I can think of that used peripherals/motion control to really increase immersion. Most of the games that I’ve played on the Wii just make me feel silly when I waggle the wiimote around. Sure, it’s great for bowling/gold in Wii sports, but it gets old. The immersion needs to be brought into a tangible object rather than simulation of the motion, and the example of snatcher having those quick draw gun scenes where the light gun could be used is probably one of the best examples of that.
Flaining your arms around != immersion, sorry Wii/Natal developers.
I just wanna sit on my arse while playing games(sobs like a girl)
the xbox 360 project natal has been unveiled…i m personally a fan of playstation as i bring my psp to work and play movies and play my ps3 at home after my xbox 360 broke but i ll try to be unbias on the matter
1st off ive watched the trailers and read the previews on it and i have to say im quite impressed
it does look quite fun
simple
easy
and stylishly designed
but…
theres a few things to note,im a owner of the ps eye which before its release got similar reactions as did the eyetoy and the nintendo wii in general,but the thing is that these always have the flashy previews of guys in HUGE 25-30 feet rooms and nothing in the way…which a majority of consumers dont have these humongus rooms so alot of the consumers are counted out,including college dorms and normal bedrooms for the consumer
also to note is xbox ’s obvious faulty hardware,now why xbox didnt release either A: a portable device to increase their market or better yet B: a redesigned xbox without the concaved design thats the clear flaw of its faulty machines
but maybe xbox has stepped over the border of what an “eye toy” can do but until actually demonstations in average house holds with random movement in the background and cramped spaces between the tv and gamer are shown…then only speculation can be shown
You can be the hem and haw, I personally cannot wait to try this.
@superd1984: agreed
I just wish they would save both of these ideas for the next generation of consoles! I’m more impressed with Natal, but they should work on the tech, make it better and release it as part of their next gen console, and not give us a half ass attempt add on accessory. History has proven that not everybody buys these types of add-ons. Why not make something impressive with Xbox next?
I’ll stick to controllers. If i wanna exercise,I will go out and play basket ball or go for a jog.I don’t find the idea of waving around my hands like an idiot in front of a tv set appealing…But it seems that many of you guys in America love it so I’m pretty sure it’s gonna a be a success :P