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Project Natal Release Details Emerge

scruffybr writes "Today the first information about the pricing and launch of Microsoft’s Project Natal has emerged. The pricing for the hardware will be much much lower than many had anticipated, coming in at around £50 when sold separately from the console. The idea being that it’s low enough that people will purchase on impulse."

11 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. As to what PN is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    For the confused: Project Natal (per Wikipedia).

    1. Re:As to what PN is... by sopssa · · Score: 5, Informative

      Wonder why summary left out the release date as it's a lot more interesting. Trying to get us to read TFA now?

      As for the hardware launch, November 2010 is being touted as the month of release, with around 14 games expected to be released in conjunction with the new device.

      So actually not that far in the future and with some games supporting it too. For example Wii's MotionPlus still only has 3 games in PAL region.

  2. long way by jDeepbeep · · Score: 4, Funny

    *sigh* And I still recall when I thought having a plastic gun for Duck Hunt was cutting edge.

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  3. Maybe Natal has a chance after all? by grapeape · · Score: 4, Informative

    If its that low, Natal actually has a real chance of making a dent in their user base. Addon peripherals are always risky and usually end in less than stellar support but this sounds cheap enough to be bundled not only with the console but with hot titles much like Sony has done with Singstar and the Mics or Eyepets with the camera.

    There are already 14 development studios confirmed to be working on natal titles, including Lionhead, Rare, Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ and Ubisoft. Not a bad lineup for a peripheral, sounds more like a console lauch than a peripheral introduction.

    1. Re:Maybe Natal has a chance after all? by $1uck · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think you will see more of this, the console makers want to extend this "generation" out longer than previous ones. Instead of creating next gen consoles Sony and MS seem to be working on enhancing the current crop with things like this. I just hope that when the next generation does come around that they will be backwards compatible with all the games and addon hardware.

    2. Re:Maybe Natal has a chance after all? by grapeape · · Score: 4, Informative

      You mean something similar to Sony's initial funding deals for 40 PSN titles and their newer pub fund program which exchanges funding for exclusivity?

      http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/11/1-2

      http://www.ps3informer.com/playstation-3/news/sony-will-pay-devs-for-psn-exclusivity-010110.php

  4. Speculation... by xtracto · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah, 7 comments and nobody has mentioned that this is just speculation from some "tip" heard by mcvuk web page (which is down right now) and that pretty much all game news sites have been running?.

    I'll believe it when I see it.

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  5. Purchase On Impulse? by BJ_Covert_Action · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... coming in at around £50 when sold separately from the console. The idea being that it’s low enough that people will purchase on impulse.

    Maybe I am just a cheapskate...but isn't 50 pounds a little above the 'impulse buy' margin? Usually impulse buys for me run in the arena of $20.00 or less. 50 pounds converts to, according to google, $83.27. That's approaching that dreaded $100.00 limit. When I am walking through wal-mart stocking up on whatever I need, I rarely, if ever, see an $80.00 item and say, "Ooooh I need that!" and throw it in the cart. That's a week and a half's worth of groceries... I don't know, maybe I am the exception to the rule, but I think 50 pounds is a little on the high side to term it an 'impulse buy.'

    And yes, people can fill in all the snarky responses about, "Oh, well, since YOU wouldn't spend the money I guess NOONE would...its not like anyone else has DIFFERENT buying habits..." and so on. I am not trying to say that nobody will fork over eighty bucks for the Natal, but it just seems a little high to be deemed an impulse buy type item...I mean hell, I won't even impulse buy new release games that I am excited about and they retail for $60.00.

    But like I said, maybe I am just a cheapskate.

    1. Re:Purchase On Impulse? by chrysrobyn · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think OP was onto something when he defined an impulse buy as "in the area of $20.00 or less", and I don't disagree. The whole point being that £50, regardless of how you convert currencies, isn't an impulse thing. Admittedly, after looking at what MS charges for other XBox 360 accessories, anything short of $100 is a bargain.

  6. Re:$83 by pankkake · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't seem to know many women.

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  7. Re:$83 by natehoy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Clothes are not really the "impulse" item, accessories are. That $80 handbag is a "must have" accessory when seen with the two $120 dresses, but the intended purchase was a $240 in dresses. The handbag is an impulse buy that, in the buyer's mind, adds perceived value to the purchase already made that is more than the money spent. So the dresses are not an "impulse" item, but the handbag sure is.

    In the same vein, if you are going in to spend $240 on 4 new games, and you see a controller that could potentially make all four games more fun, $80 could be a "must have" accessory. If it makes all four games twice as much fun, or you think it might, then it's a no-brainer to add that to the cart, right?

    That's impulse. The "hey, in the context of what I'm doing right now, this item seems really important to me in relation to its price".

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