Natal is about more than gaming, according to the Microsoft boss in charge of the motion-sensing wonder. While we’re starting to get excited about Natal games like River Rush, he’s looking to a wider future where Natal watches you grimace at sports games and shout at Question Time…
Xbox 360 general manager, Marc Whitten, tells Fast Company magazine that thinking about Natal as just a games controller is short-sighted. He says Microsoft has bigger plans for its motion sensing tech.
He says: “Natal isn’t just about gaming. It’s about all living room experiences. Imagine a sporting event. Natal could know which team you’re for because it sees your jersey or know you thought a bad call was made when you yell ‘boo’. It learns about you and gets smarter to create a more tailored entertainment experience.”
After seeing the recent Natal video we know it’s likely to be clever enough to do the things Whitten promises but we can’t help but ask: is he a bit polite? We definitely don’t just yell “boo” when we disagree with the ref. Will Natal recognise swearing?
As well as cheerleading the slightly chilling prospect of Natal watching our every living room activity, Whitten also manages to deliver a subtle dig against the Playstation Move and Wii.
Aghast at all the controllers we already own, he declares: “If you counted the number of buttons in your living room, it would send a chill down your spine. A lot of people can play games amazing well but others feel locked out if games involve a bunch of triggers and buttons.”
By way of balance, we shall point you to this Playstation Move video which picks on Natal just as much.
Out Winter 2010 | £TBC | Microsoft (via Fast Company)
