Some early details on Microsoft's controllerless control system Project Natal have leaked out of a behind-closed-doors Microsoft tour of English publishers and studios. Here's the word:
- A sub $80 price-point. The idea is to get it as close to "impulse buy" territory as possible.
- 5m units shipped for release date.
- 14 games are planned for launch -- most will be first-party games from Microsoft-owned developers like Rare. Third-party games will come later.
These details are not confirmed, but they seem pretty reasonable to me, especially the price-point. While there's not much monetary difference between 80 bucks and 100 bucks, there's a huge psychological hurdle there. For instance, $80 seems like a reasonable amount to pay for a couple to have a nice dinner, but once you get to hundred it's like, "This place is a rip-off!"
Five million units shipping at launch seems logical (if a bit optimistic) as well. The question raised by this whole Natal thing (and PlayStation's motion-controller too) is: Have both of these companies entirely mis-judged their market? There's a chance -- I'm not sure how big of a chance -- that people just don't want to be jumping around and moving a lot when gaming.
Everyone has tried the Wii, and it's a lot of fun in a group, no doubt, but if you've ever tried to play a longer, solo game with the Wiimote, you have probably reached the point where the novelty of wagging the stick around gives way to boredom, and then frustration. Motion control works best with social gaming, let's face it, but I spend about 90 percent of my gaming time solo.
This is a big gamble for Microsoft and Sony; they could be be betting a lot of dough on a played-out fad.
What do you think of Natal? Are you going to rush out and pick one up on launch day, or wait for the reviews to come in?
Source: MCVUK
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 57
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Project_Alice
I think Natal is an interesting concept I think with the right games it could be really cool, and if not Microsoft will be left with cranking out "Wii Sports" like games and it can get old. Either way I'm probably going to end up buying it just for the gratification of being able to punch an annoying character in the face.
thechamp1985
hehehe "played out". haven't heard or used that a long time.
xegster
Probably going to be the biggest financial disaster either company has experienced. Sorry, but if people WANTED that garbage, they'd buy a wii, and probably already have.
Fullarr
depending on the games I'd consider picking it up for $80, but isn't that true of all games/controllers/accessories.
I guess we'll see.
cvesper2000
They're releasing motion control to compete with other consoles, and they happen to have a better way of doing it than them (IMO). I think it's a great idea. $80 sounds just right - especially when compared to the cost of a Wii.
joseph_martinez91
ah im just gonna wait for the reviews. Like you said, i mostly play solo, and so the idea of jumping around all over the place seems a little bit lame. It will just depend on the initial reviews and whether or not there are entertaining games (fingers crossed for some sort of FPS!).
lucidity
I think it will depend on the games and how NATAL is implemented.
It rests with the foresight of developers to see how they will utilize this peripheral.
The Europeans but the price between 30 and 50 pounds, that's a lot better than some of the silly predictions I've seen in some posts.
fatman2008
I don't plan on picking up either of them... its just a stupid gimmick in my opinion
Not_FAT
don't plan on picking
babyscottback
Yeah, I don't enjoy the Wii for more than about 10 minutes, unless I am drunk and with friends and figuring new ways to play the same game over and over. More than likely going to pass on Sony and Microsoft's attempts.
TimYeoman
Although Natal seems to have merit, I just can't see gamers using it in it's current state.
LoveLifeMusic
I will get it just to see what other things I can do with the camera, beside playing video games, especially with face-book and twitter. If anyone is complain about having an options must be far right republican. Hehe
cvesper2000
Does this mean that Fable 3 will be released then? What better game to be the flagship?...
aztecyankee
The point is to give people "options" . By Sony and Microsoft releasing Natal and Orbs (I think that's the name) Their trying to cut into the Nintendo pie. To someone that owns a PS3 of an Xbox360 the idea of spending 50 to 100 on what basically the Wii can do (minus nintendo games) it sounds more appealing than 200 bucks for a Wii.
@Stephen Johnson
Why would you omit the other sources that indicates as low as �30 ($50) or as high as �50 ($84) . That's a big part to leave out. 34$ is a bigger difference to somebody that just made a 16$ sound like a "rip off"
mikemill
I think the ultra casual consumer that Microsoft is hoping to land with this has by in large already bought a Wii, and Wii owners have clearly demonstrated that they barely buy any extra software... let alone a 2nd console!! Good luck Natal!!!
notafanboy
I can't tell if Microsoft is admitting ideological defeat to Nintendo or just broadening their appeal...
PiMD360
I don't think it will be a disaser, if anything it will keep the 360 going till next gen. Soon we will have the ability to order pizza through our xbox live. I am looking forward to boxing games or MMA games with use of the Natal. I will actually get to use my mad skills!
MrPickering
I will be getting Natal.
TheSiwentKiwwah
I think ms and Sony are misinterpreting the success of the Wii. The Wii isn't successful because of its motion-controls, it's successful because they quit targeting the hardcore-gamer and targeted their little brothers, sisters, and parents. MS and Sony obviously can't abandon their main demographic (us) and go to families--it won't work. They may do okay, but they both should take hints from their respective camera add-ons and realize that it won't be what they said it will be, and it won't have the success they imagined it would.
RRODisBack
Who wants to flail their arms and legs at virtual balls on the tv screen? Also, if M$ charges $150 for a 120gb HDD then surely this Natal gimmick will be no less than $100.
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