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06-03-2009: PROJECT NATAL - Microsoft Unveils New Motion Based Controller/Camera System |
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Microsoft finally took the wraps off the that rumored
motion controller we'd been hearing about. Apparently the small, black
device -- codenamed "Natal" -- will allow for an astoundingly wide
range of actions by utilizing a group of sensors (the box itself sits
beneath your TV), and the accessory will be capable of juggling
multiple users during a single session. The demo Microsoft showed off
included a skateboarding game (replete with a young man "air"
ollie-ing), and a family playing a racing game (the dad was changing a
tire, the daughter driving).
The add-on will offer features such
as auto sign-in for players to Xbox Live (based on complex facial
recognition), and sports extremely detailed body tracking which will be
able to follow the individual movements of separate limbs. During the
press event, the company demoed a painting app, which lets you use your
entire body to handle virtual painting supplies, allowing you to do
things like throw buckets of paint onto a canvas. Another title was
shown off which featured a woman interacting with a young boy on the
screen -- one of the company's creepier demos in recent memory.
Unfortunately for us, Microsoft says the device won't be released
during 2009. We're working on snagging some face time (literally!) with
a demo unit, so stay tuned... E3 is off to a wild start!
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