MCV this morning posted details from a “behind-closed-doors Microsoft tour of UK publishers and studios” regarding Natal’s potential 2010 price-point. Aiming to attract the “impulse buy”, the article rumours a sub-£50 price ticket, with 14 games being readied for the as yet unannounced launch with support from Activision, Capcom, EA, Sega, Square Enix and other big hitters confirmed.
Assuming prior ownership of the 360, this would provide the hardware to enable near 1:1 replication of flailing limbs, Rolf Harris’ Dulux canvas disasters and floods of Wii Fit inspired fat-busting sweat aids for less than the cost of a real game.
Xbox Studio’s boss Phil Spencer announced earlier this year that when “Natal arrives it will feel like a new generation has come”; a generation helped of course by the close release of Sony’s own “TV reporter in the field” style waggling device of virtual simulacra. Indeed, in this copycat era it can’t be long before handhelds get in on the action and Nintendo’s DSi demands a real-life quest to the local supermarket to help Link uncover Tri-Force fragments amidst diced lunchmeat. Truly, escapism has never been so exciting.
Gamers should look forward to output from first party developers like the often maligned Rare, no doubt locked in secrecy discussing why Perfect Dark’s next iteration would feel far more immersive if cover was initiated by the player actually pressing themselves against a wall while swinging wildly on pelvic-pivot to avoid shots like Konami’s dreadful Police 24/7.
