Microsoft Debuts Full-Body Controller-less Gaming At E3

quintin3265 writes "At today's Electronic Entertainment Expo press briefing, Microsoft unveiled Project Natal, a technology that eliminates the controller from gaming on the Xbox 360. In one demo, a player used her arms and legs to hit balls in an attempt to destroy a brick wall, and in another game, an employee threw virtual "paint" on a canvas to create a painting, even drawing an elephant using a silhouette feature. An accompanying video also demonstrated automatic login using facial recognition, videoconferencing with other Xbox Live members, and participating in a gameshow against another family through the Internet using speech recognition."

Comments

Activator

[Zero_DgZ]

Does anyone else remember the "Activator" controller for the Genesis/SNES? This sounds like an echo of that concept, but with updated technology that might actualy, you know... work.

Everything old is new again. Around and around we go...

Re:Activator

[Jurily]

Everything old is new again. Around and around we go...

No kidding. "Full-Body Controller-less Gaming" has already been invented. It's called "sport".

Re:Activator

[Sycraft-fu]

"Everything old is new again."

Well it isn't a surprise. A lot of these concepts are things people have wanted forever. The problem was that the technology to make them work well was prohibitively expensive if even available. The Powerglove is a good example. It was a piece of shit, but there were and are high end controllers like that which work well. It just would have been $2000 to make.

So it is no surprise that with more advanced technology, there is a resurgence. Now that the shit actually works, people want to try it.

Re:Activator

[MooseMuffin]

From purely a tech perspective, it's pretty cool. The facial recognition to login and being able to control the dashboard by waving your hands was impressive. Ultimately though, much like the Wii, I don't think this will lead to many games that will interest me. Maybe even less so than the Wii, since the wiimote at least had buttons.

Re:Activator

[interkin3tic]

No kidding. "Full-Body Controller-less Gaming" has already been invented. It's called "sport".

Or, if you're into FPS, it's called "murderous office rampage."

Re:Activator

[ChromeAeonium]

Or, if you're into FPS, it's called "murderous office rampage."

Otherwise referred to as Monday.

Re:Activator

[KDR_11k]

I really doubt it'll get used on FPSes, just doesn't look like it'd work for that. How would you even move? You can't just walk around, the game world is most likely larger than the area in front of your TV. All the tons of extra actions will also require pretty unnatural gestures to be recognizable (e.g. cycling through the weapons)

too much work

[MooseTick]

This sounds good, but not the end all. The Wii controller can make things fun, but anyone who has used it much know how tiring it can be to have to stand or use full body motions for games for an extended period. Sometimes I just want to veg out on the couch and play a game. If I have to flail my arms all over the place I'm going to often consider it more work than fun.

Re:too much work

[Chabo]

Well, then when you feel lazy, feel free to look like a toolbox. ;)

Re:too much work

[TornCityVenz]

The idea you have to get up and move...and even get tired is actually a selling point, just look at the sells of the Eyetoy for play station...or even more to the point the Wii fit. There are a lot of gamers who could stand a bit more activity, and once you get past a certain point it's just embarrassing to go to a gym..at least some can get a bit of exercise in the privacy of their own home.

Re:too much work

[Chabo]

Back when DDR first came out, one of my friends from high school bought it, and started playing it for 30-60 minutes every day.

In about 4 months, he went from a 220-lb pudgy kid, to a 170-lb lean, muscular guy. It was hugely impressive!

Re:too much work

[Trouvist]

And I'm entirely certain if you had asked him to dance at Prom or Homecoming he would have started hopping up and down moving his legs back and forth to the pace of the song...

Re:too much work

[Anonymous Coward]

yes i ran miles on that mat as well. and boy were my hands tired from hitting the ground so fast!

Oblig. PA

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/5/18/

Full body power glove

[BigJClark]

The full body power glove. This one isn't doomed to failure. Not at all..

Re:It's alright until..

[Leafheart]

But perhaps Microsoft expects people to play online, a console for people with no real friends.

That's one hell of a big market there. And always go for the biggest market.

Exercise?

[_Shorty-dammit]

If I wanted to exercise I wouldn't be playing video games.

Not impressed... yet.

[Chris Pimlott]

Hmm...

In one demo, a player used her arms and legs to hit balls in an attempt to destroy a brick wall, and in another game, an employee threw virtual "paint" on a canvas to create a painting, even drawing an elephant using a silhouette feature.

Sounds great, but I'd be much more impressed if they had a live demo with random untrained people. Even in the demo video, you can see a noticeable input lag, particular when the guy does his "victory dance" at around 27 seconds.

The devil is in the details with these things, Microsoft is certainly not the first to try at something like this.

Re:Not impressed... yet.

[citizenr]

Its not an input lag, the demo is staged. You can see it in couple of places where actors didnt replay exact moves from the screen. Whole "demo" is a wishful thinking.

Not A Real Metal Gear Game

[MediaStreams]

1. Kojima isn't directing the game

2. It's not a real Metal Gear game, just an action game with Raiden

3. It's multiplatform - PS3,PC, and Xbox 360

Even worse, just an hour after the Microsoft press conference an interview with Kojima quoted him essentially disowning the game.

 

Re:how?

[Pinky's Brain]

Well, the rumour was that they were going to use 3DV's cameras. Which essentially measure depth for each pixel, making it much easier to determine pose.

Porn?

[freedom_india]

Forget carnage and hurt.
Iam thinking about Porn.
Imagine people playing Porn with Alba or Simpson in VR and in their excitement let their goo fly around!
Hallelujah!!!

Will it be standard?

[SoftwareArtist]

There's a long history of innovative, unconventional game controllers. Most of them are nothing more than interesting historical footnotes. Few people bought them and few games used them.

What makes the Wiimote different is that it's the standard controller for the console. It comes bundled with every single console sold. That's why game developers actually use it: they aren't restricting their market.

If Microsoft decides to bundle this thing with every Xbox sold, then it's a big deal. If it's an optional accessory that you have to buy separately, then it's another historical footnote.