Bodies In Motion

By Rob Fahey Published 26 September, 2009

Controllers are the talk of TGS, with the Sony and Microsoft divide increasingly clear.

Published as part of our sister-site GamesIndustry.biz' widely-read weekly newsletter, the GamesIndustry.biz Editorial is a weekly dissection of one of the issues weighing on the minds of the people at the top of the games business. It appears on Eurogamer after it goes out to GI.biz newsletter subscribers.

Following the upheaval in the console market which attended gamescom in Cologne last month - with price reshuffles for Sony and Microsoft, not to mention the introduction of the long-awaited PS3 Slim - it's little surprise that this week's Tokyo Game Show brought rather more muted headlines.

Nintendo's Wii price cut for the US and Japan (but not Europe, although the trade price in the UK has finally returned to its pre-price hike levels) is arguably the biggest news to emerge from the show, representing one of the final re-adjustments in the line-up before the three companies commence their Christmas battle for hearts, minds and wallets.

A new Wii bundle is expected for Europe in the coming weeks, packaging the MotionPlus accessory and Wii Sports Resort with the console, and Microsoft is expected to join Sony by offering 250GB premium bundles, but the basic prices are now fixed in place until the new year.

With the lines already firmly staked out for the Christmas battle, then, Sony and Microsoft's focus at TGS turned elsewhere - to what was arguably a retread of their last competitive heat at E3. For both firms, motion control was back on the agenda - each keen to outdo the other as they hurtle down the trail Nintendo has so successfully blazed.

It's easy to characterise both the PS3 Motion Controller (which is in desperate need of a snappier title) and Microsoft's Natal as being me-too products, the creations of companies badly stung by Nintendo's unexpected success - but looking more closely at each one, it's fascinating to note the philosophical differences between the approaches taken by Sony and Microsoft.

At TGS, Sony had several games to announce, and restated its firm commitment to a spring 2010 launch for the device. The company is moving in leaps and bounds into the showing, rather than telling, phase of the motion controller's development - while for Microsoft's part, its Natal presentation consisted largely of getting respected game developers such as Hideo Kojima and Keiji Inafune to waffle at length about the huge potential of the technology.

The reason for this disparity is simple - Sony has adopted not only Nintendo's interface idea, but also its technology development philosophy. Where Natal is a vast, ambitious technological undertaking, demanding the creation of brand new solutions to extremely complex problems, the PS3 Motion Controller is essentially a collection of broadly well-understood and mature technologies (including the PS3 EyeToy camera and accelerometers not dissimilar to those found in the Sixaxis pads) strapped together with clever software.

In other words, the PS3 Motion Controller looks, for all the world, like a disruptive product - in this instance, applying old, robust and crucially, cheap technology to create a new user experience. What's most intriguing is that philosophically, this is brand new ground for PlayStation. With Ken Kutaragi at the helm, PlayStation has always been a technology-led brand - culminating, one could argue, in the over-expensive and over-engineered PS3, whose technology-led approach lumbered the firm with spiralling costs and sealed Kutaragi's own exit.

By comparison, PS3 Motion Controller is a distinctly un-Sony piece of kit. Having watched the market it utterly dominated for a decade being usurped by Nintendo's disruptive Wii - not to mention seeing the technologically superior PSP being outsold by the DS - Sony would appear to have performed a timely volte-face, taking an approach to motion control which keeps both costs and timescales well under control.

As a result, today Sony can talk about launch games for a system which will be available early next year - and even about patching motion control support into existing titles such as Flower and, interestingly, Resident Evil 5. The integration with Resident Evil will be watched especially closely to evaluate the potential of the system for core games, of course - but the simple fact of being able to name so many products in development, even if some of them are mere patches for existing games, is reassuring for consumers and industry alike.

Microsoft's counter-argument, voiced loudly and clearly in its developer session at TGS, is that Natal is a step ahead of anything either Sony or Nintendo is doing in this space. Technologically, the idea of modelling the 3D space and tracking the motion of multiple people through the space is, indeed, a generational leap over what either the Wii or the PS3 is attempting. The potential it opens up for videogames is, in theory, entirely different to that of the Wii and PS3 controllers - but with that comes more technological complexity, with the baggage of higher costs and tougher development timescales.

This is shaping up, in other words, to be yet another face-off between disruptive technology and cutting edge technology. This time, Sony has switched sides - its solution is cheap, disruptive and will be on the market quickly - but there's no guarantee that the disruptive tech will win over consumers.

Microsoft's challenge may be a tough one - it will be the last company to market with motion controls, and its solution may well be more expensive - but if the latter half of this console battle is to be a battle of the motion controllers, then Natal's high tech may yet set it apart and wow consumers in a way which Sony's solution cannot. Before we can judge that, however, Microsoft will have to move from gathering rooms full of top developers to sing the system's praises, and instead start gathering rooms full of top developers to show off some games.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • davisorle #1 2 years ago

    In few words the article states whats known and comon sence. Sony made a Wiimote ripoff ( and thats how it is and I dont understand why some cant accept it.. ) and Natal is risky cause its way too different and ahead of it's time technologically and specially gamingwise. One is cheap and the other isnt..

    Thing is, I love techstuff. The whole Johnny Mnemonic can happen now ^^ lol. Natal will be used also for the PC so thats a plus and a reason why it will be a bit more supported other than all those huge developing companies named from MS that are already working on it. Personally I cant wait to see which aproach each company will take on Natal, which more daring and which play it more safe. Eitherway they can give you the option to not use Natal since you arent forced to use nor buy it. And also I will love to see which company will use Natal to the extreme in unique IPs made for Natal and only which means that you will use the hardware to an extend.

    MS should consider making a hentai/manga ( Larry style even ) game with Natal. Oh the glory for the first time in their lives they will see in Japan :p lol ( salewise etc ).

  • rhubarbandcustard #2 2 years ago

    Head tracking to be enabled for GT5 is the only console controller news of any note as far as I'm concerned.
    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articl es/polyphony-confirms-gt5-head-tracking-blog-entry
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/polyph...[/link]

    Head tracking is awesome, it remains the only reason why I still play the odd PC game.

    But really, motion controllers/ waggle controllers - what a load of bollocks.

    The console audience does not consist solely of 7 year old kids. And isn't that the target audience for these damn things?

  • Rack #3 2 years ago

    Yes, clearly motion controls are an ill-judged exercise of interest only to those who would never play video games or buy a video gaming system, any company introducing them is obviously doomed to failure.

  • makeamazing #4 2 years ago

    It is a common sense article... well written.

    Sony made a Wiimote ripoff ( and thats how it is and I dont understand why some cant accept it.. ) and Natal is risky cause its way too different and ahead of it's time technologically and specially gamingwise. One is cheap and the other isnt..

    Yes the sony device is a rip off of the wii controller in a way, but the difference here is that the technology is a step ahead of Nintendos controller, even the Wii remote plus isnt as good as the Sony Device. Not that is a problem for Nintendo considering the sales they have, but Sony do get some credit for taking a controller and improving on it. Im stil not convinced that I want to use a Sony controller in the same way i have used a Nintendo controller, but we shall see.

    more supported other than all those huge developing companies named from MS that are already working on it

    Working on it and actually developing on it are two different things. Yes all of these publishers have stated they are working on it, but as part of any games company pre-production stage they would be messing around with the dev kits and seeing if there is anything they can use it with. I suspect very much like the Sony wand, 3rd parties will generally be adding support for already/future games..in the early stages this will be minor things because neither Sony or MS have sold a single device.

    And also I will love to see which company will use Natal to the extreme in unique IPs made for Natal and only which means that you will use the hardware to an extend.

    Not going to happen for either device unless Sony or MS pay games companies to make IP's only for the device. Why would anyone make a unique ip for a product that hasnt sold one copy.. its too risky. Adding support to older and in development games is the way forward with little risk.

    One thing i do agree with you on, it is risky because as the article suggests Sony have taken proven tech and improved on it, while MS are trying to put together a selection of technologies that may not (imho) work. From what Ive seen so far with lag issues and how to play issues MS might have the more interesting technology in a PR sense, but they also have the hardest thing to get right, and in only 1 year... I dont see it happening.

  • raion #5 2 years ago

    I believe natal motion controls can add to the experience, without being the main focus of the game. nobody is forcing developers to make a wholly waggle game. there's nothing to keep you from still using the game pad AND have natal track you (a similar scenario to GT5 head tracking for example).
    the main concern players seem to have with natal is the absence of something physical in their hands for immediate input and feedback. well, it doesn't NEED to be absent.
    but as always, it's up to game developers to think it through, think it well, and not jump on the easy cart.

    I wonder if natal will be available for indie developers to utilize in live games? have they said anything about it?

  • Negotiator #6 2 years ago

    I said it before and I'll say it again, Natal is the future of gaming, everyone can use this and everyone will want it. Sony copy, Microsoft innovate and that my friends will be the difference.

  • BlitzwingHaz #7 2 years ago

    Sony haven't changed at all, they're doing what they always did, taking what works for the competition and improving on it.
    Sega had a CD console first, Nintendo had rumble controllers and analogue sticks first, Eye Toy is one of the few things I can think on that they tried first. I reckon they might do some serious damage with this motion controller, the public already understands what it does whereas Natal is a sort of vague sci fi idea right now that I've been struggling to explain to people.
    I guess it all depends on how Natal is supported and marketed.

  • Stompy #8 2 years ago

    Nintendo has loads of money and, hopefully, something to prove as the 'daddy of motion control'.
    I wonder what they will eventually unveil. More than a heart rate monitor, I suspect.

    I suspect a full-body Mario cyborg suit, so that you can leap about your house squashing virtual turtles.

  • StooMonster #9 2 years ago

    The console audience does not consist solely of 7 year old kids. And isn't that the target audience for these damn things?

    You appear to have a naive grasp of marketing as the case is demonstrably not; similar to the DS, many non-traditional gamers have purchased the product, my mother and the mums of many of my friends have DSes (and love Professor Layton).

    Similarly many people I know who've bought a Wii are in their 40s, 50s and older; my 60 year old financial advisor bought one for him and his wife a couple of months ago, they are in casual gaming heaven, but would never have consider gaming before. I am sure these people would like your opinion that they are young at heart.

  • TheJuriel #10 2 years ago

    Sony's motion controller is just a copy of Wiimote. I'll rather take MS's untested revolutionary approach to lameness.

  • Waffleaber #11 2 years ago

    Seems a bit premature to say the sonymote is that much more advanced than motion plus, have to see some games for it first.

  • Gastrian #12 2 years ago

    I disagree that this is a disruptive product because it is not creating a new user experience it is recreating the experience on the Wii. The Wii already disrupted the console market and there's nothing in the Sony Motion Controller that will disrupt the Wii market.

    And you know you are running out of ideas when your big showcase for compatibility with the core market is adding it to a Resident Evil game.

    The article tries to paint Sony in a good light by saying its changing sides when its just repeating old mistakes. The PS3 came to market later, more expensive and with fewer good exclusives than the Xbox360 and suffered. The PS3 with motion controller is coming to the marklet a lot later, a lot more expensive and with considerably fewer good exclusives (motion control not core games) than the Wii and will very likely suffer.

    Natal is too early in development for a concise verdict but its seems to not compete with the Wii to the same degree as Sony is but Micorosft seems to have a better grasp on the Wii philosophy. Nintendo could not compete with the new boys in the market in a straight three horse power race so "removed" itself from that race by coming up with a new controller that would distinguish itself from the crowd. Microsoft knows it cannot compete against the Wii with a straight motion controller so has also removed itself from the market by creating a control method that distinguishes itself from its competitiors.

  • Alkeno #13 2 years ago

    I completely agree with Gastrian and would add that most likely MS are hoping for a long-term victory here. They know that in current generation the Wii has already won the battle no matter how many millions are poured into development and advertising of PS3 Wand or Natal.

    In that regard it seems like PS3 will likely make a better start (it will arrive earlier, similar to the Wii, cheaper, easy to integrate into old games... and the whole library of Wii games to port/copy from).

    The best bet from Microsoft is to make it obvious to the crowd that PS3 motion detection is just a Wii-clone and that Natal is the future next-gen technology. But they will need to nail some serious killer-apps (a few must-have AAA games that wouldn't be possible without Natal and a the beloved Minority Report-style dashboard) to do so. If not, it's going to be a hard sell for MS and they will lose the momentum from launching first.

  • rock27gr #14 2 years ago

    Has anyone seen how RE5 plays with the Sonymote?

    You have to hold a Dualshock with one hand while holding the Sonymote with the other.

    FAIL.

    Natal on the other hand is interesting; at the very least it will have it's quirky games that make it worthwhile, and you'll only ever need to buy it once, since it supports multiple users out of the box.

  • coomber #15 2 years ago

    This article is depressing because it shows that Sony has learnt that you are better off making less high-tech products and getting it out the doors quickly if you want to beat the competition.

    "PlayStation has always been a technology-led brand - culminating, one could argue, in the over-expensive and over-engineered PS3, whose technology-led approach lumbered the firm with spiralling costs and sealed Kutaragi's own exit."

    The PS3 isn't "over-engineered" - they built it properly. But because the majority of gamers want the latest gadget, they will rush out and buy any old piece of crap so long as it's the latest. And because of that, the rest of us are less likely to see quality products in future, because Sony have demonstrated that taking time to perfect a product is commercial suicide.

  • makeamazing #16 2 years ago

    @squarejawhero totally agree with you. Its not how the technology works with Natal (and I suspect its not going to work as well as MS tell everyone it will work).. BUT its something different and thats why they probably went down that route rather than a waggle controller, because they know Nintendo have sown up this generation.

    Sony's motion controller is just a copy of Wiimote. I'll rather take MS's untested revolutionary approach to lameness.

    Its a copy, but its not a lame copy.., in fact its much more accurate than a wii remote plus and in fact though it looks strange is much better than the wii remote. People slate the funny looking ball on top but that actually is the reason that it can work better than an infra red bar. In fact I doubt there is much more the Wii remote can be improved without replacing that bar/technology at this point. So Sony were late to the party but will have a much better remote...that surely is a testament to them for playing catch up and beating the technology that was released in advance.

    The other thing you seem to have lost is that Natal is untested and at the moment laggy...From a gamers point of view will players be happy with that.. I am not sure. Can MS fix that in 12 months (remember they will be in last place in the controller race)... I am not so sure. I agree Natal is future tech, but is the tech advanced enough to handle it.



  • GreyBeard #17 2 years ago

    Sorry, but Natal offers very little over Sony's "disruptive" product, its just hyped and packaged a lot better.

    Head/hand tracking only requires a standard camera as evidenced by Eyepet, which if you look at the latest videos of it being demonstrated also scans and recognizes both drawn images and spoken input.

    Check out the 3-part features walkthrough here: [link url=http:// www.gametrailers.com/game/eyepet/10178
    ]http://ww w.gametrailers.com/game/eyepet/...[/link]

    In terms of hardware functionality the only advantage that Natal has is its use of an IR camera, anything else can be replicated in software. And its arguable that what IR brings to the table is trumped by the array of gyroscopes, accelerometers and the tracking sphere on Sony's wand. Certainly in terms of accuracy/tracking resolution there's clearly no contest.

    Just to seal the deal the wand also has buttons, which is astonishingly useful from a game-design perspective.

  • Dizzy #18 2 years ago

    I will judge these motion devices when I get to play the games. No use thinking about it now TBH. They both have to convince me.

    "In terms of hardware functionality the only advantage that Natal has is its use of an IR camera, anything else can be replicated in software"

    You really do not get it do you? The whole idea behind Natal is that it will have zero impact on the performance of the games letting devs include Natal support without worrying about it. That is probably why EVERY game in 2011 will have the Natal logo on the box (whatever the name of Natal will be in 2011). Even if the game has minimal Natal stuff it will be easy to include, this is only possible if Natal doesn't "do stuff in software" and has no performance impact.

    And yes ofc everything can be replicated in software... that software is what Natal is running. What a stupid argument.
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/09 @ 13:56

  • LilithsCurves #19 2 years ago

    Will these products be bundled with a console or sold only separately?.... The PS3 motion controller will be successful in the casual market. To some degree that is not a new accomplishment by Nintendo but was already done by things like EyeToy and the music games and their guitars. It's about people who do not spend time to get information about games but who go into a store or saw a fun looking commercial and then bought that thing.

    The price will be one of the biggest factors in it. On Tv, I see some people hopping around with a glowing light ball in their hands smiling and laughing. And with Natal, some people smiling also hopping around also laughing.... great.

    How expensive will Natal be? How much will it cost and how much money must be pushed into MS's gaming division.

    We will see who will own the better console and thus be a better man. I guess some people really think that way. ufff

    What really would be cool, are better analog sticks or something to replace them on the gamepad, to make them more accurate and quicker. Some new tech in that field would be nice.

    Edited by 1 at 26/09/09 @ 13:54

  • zazamak #20 2 years ago

    i dont mind natal or motion control...but i dont want it to be the only option of a game either.. id still like a flexible choice of controllers rather than forcing myself to buy the stuff

  • Doctor_What #21 2 years ago

    Natal will be able to teach you yoga or martial arts kata, therefore it's got an instant appeal to the self-improvement crowd. Whether they will stump up for the noisy and big 360 plus another £100 for the Natal tech, compared to the tiny and silent Wii... Well, I wouldn't want to place bets on that.

    The Sony controller looks like it will offer a much more conventional game experience at a price that is more acceptable.

    If I had to place money, I think that this generation of Natal won't be astonishing, but next-gen it'll probably do well. For me, I think the PS3 wand is going to be a better long-term seller, appealing to the same (very large, but usually internet-quiet) audience as the Eyetoy.

  • IronGiant #22 2 years ago

    No interest in natal whatsoever, limited interest in the sony wand. Same goes for all the gamers i know.. most have got a wii but hardly use them anymore. Natal could be an incredibly expensive flop.

  • Gastrian #23 2 years ago

    Not if its marketted properly, just look at Wii Fit thats an £80 item that was going for £150 on ebay when it was first brought out. Quitar Hero is selling extremely well and thats normally £80ish on release with just a guitar.

    Natal's standalone price will not be a concern espeically if they bundle it in with the Arcade at a lower price point than if it was sold alone as long as its marketed correctly.

  • makeamazing #24 2 years ago

    Not if its marketted properly, just look at Wii Fit thats an £80 item that was going for £150 on ebay when it was first brought out.

    Question is will everyone who has already purchased Wii Fit be wanting/need to move onto yet another console with another fitness product. I see your point, but I question whether all those people who already have a wii just for Wii fit will bother to buy a brand new console for this. They need to think of new software ideas that Nintendo havent already done, otherwise the only people buying natal will be xbox users, which isnt going to help shift more consoles.

  • Stompy #25 2 years ago

    The PS3 isn't "over-engineered" - they built it properly.

    I'm afraid that the Betamax showed, a long time ago, that 'brand perception' is mostly down to the content providers behind the tech.
    Gamers want games, not well engineered consoles. Otherwise we'd probably all be playing the Neo-Geo or something.

  • el_pollo_diablo #26 2 years ago

    Motion controllers? As John McClaine put it,
    "Welcome to the party, pal!"

  • robson_wii #27 2 years ago

    Here comes the ball...keep your eye on the ball...here it comes...

    Oh it's already hit the ground and you fail...miserably... Is it ready, aim, fire OR ready, fire, aim?

    +1T to the post above...

  • Alterego-X #28 2 years ago

    @insane_cobra:

    You, and some other posters misunderstood disruption too.
    What you described ( finding a new, different market), would be th Blue Ocean Strategy.

    Disruption is a business strategy that involves finding the LEAST DEMANDING part of the market, serve them, start evolving, and conquer the upper market.

    The Wiimote is still in the process of disruption, as it will proceed in improving in game library, value, an even technological quality (with m+).
    The Wand and Natal are both technologically superior products, therefore they are the ones being disrupted. The article was right, that if the market would only have these two, the simplier, cheaper, weaker one would disrupt the other one.
    But there is the Wii, and it will disrupt both of them, as they have the reasons for improvement, while the other two don't have the reasons for simplification.

    The Wii could be disrupted only by an even simplier console, that would find an even lower market.

  • Alterego-X #29 2 years ago

    @insane_cobra:

    Weird. While I read lots of disruption literature, (and no, not just Sean Malstrom's articles ;)), I didn't ever get the impression that there is supposed to be any emphasis these two different categories.

    Most textbook examples would involve finding an *underserved* part of the *downmarket*. I guess Wikipedia's "new market" category was supposed to be that.
    The latter, "downmarket" thing is the essential part, this is why the product can start "upstreaming", and surprisingly defeat the "superior" competition, hence the name "disruption".
    If it would simply find its own niche, it wouldn't disrupt the other companies.

    Scott Anthony, Disruption books co-author famously simplified the whole concept of disruption as: crummy products for crummy consumers"

    In the Wikipedia article, the *new market* version still seems to focus on the low market, too, in the Linux example, but for some reason, they wrote most of the article about a specific and (I guess) more rare version, when the disruptors adventage is simply being cheaper, and there is no new market.

    About laymen, I guess most of them simply use it as a buzzword, for "awesome", that is a bit ironic, considering that disruption is basically the opposite.
    Edited by 2 at 27/09/09 @ 15:25

  • Zappa #30 2 years ago

    Natal looks like crap and they still have shown nothing that PSEye cant do.

  • timberwolf #31 2 years ago

    is natal built by nasa or something. what the hell do these journalists see in the tech...? am i missing something here? what if microsoft produce tech that fails to deliver on the BS what then? this is all just conjecture.

  • Dizzy #32 2 years ago

    >am i missing something here?

    A brain?

  • Gastrian #33 2 years ago

    @ makeamazing.

    I wasn't so much hinting at Microsoft doing an exercise program for Natal more that high priced items do sell and sell very well in some cases which was a counterpoint against people commenting on Natal's price as a failure.

  • woodnotes #34 2 years ago

    It annoys me how people keep saying that Sony's technology is ahead of Nintendo's.

    The Wiimote is a far more elegant solution as it doesn't require a big light-bulb sitting on the top. And if it wasn't for Nintendo's patents on such a design, I'm pretty sure Sony would have stuck to IR themselves.

    Sony's design is simply a patent work-around which results in some advantages (higher refresh, better accuracy) and disadvantages (light bulb).

  • mrmonkey1980 #35 2 years ago

    Basically, Natal, if it works, will be the future of gaming giving people complete freedom in controling games and entertainment where as Sony and Nintendo's efforts are just cash grabbing gimmicks.

  • Freek #36 2 years ago

    Patching Flower to include motion controls? Something it already has! 0_o

  • metalangel #37 2 years ago

    I've not played Mario Kart Wii (I hate Mario Kart games but that's besides the point) but can't help but wonder - don't your arms get fucking tired holding the stupid plastic steering wheel up for so long? In much the same way holding your hands on a pretend wheel for Natal will?

  • WinterSnowblind #38 2 years ago

    @Zappa
    I'm not a huge supporter of either of these pieces of tech, but comments like yours really puzzle. You don't think Natal is capable of anything the PSEye doesn't already do? Then I can only assume you've read nothing but a vague description of Natal on Wikipedia.

    The Playstation Motion pad doesn't really interest me because it doesn't really seem to do anything vastly different from the Wii. I didn't like it there, and I'm unlikely to be to think anymore of Sony's. Natal, in my opinion has more potiential, but again as others have said it lacks any method of control for more advanced games, so while a lot of what they've showed is impressive, I don't see how it can really be used for much, unless they come out with some kind of analogue stick peripheral.

    Still, I'd love to see Black & White and Viva Pinata using Natal, and rumour has it both games are being worked on for it. Those are at least two that would work very well, and aren't aimed purely at a casual market.
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/09 @ 23:25

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #39 2 years ago

    don't your arms get fucking tired holding the stupid plastic steering wheel up for so long

    Only about as tired as they'd get holding up a DS or PSP in roughly the same position whilst playing a game.

    Essentially you rest your elbows against your body, you're not holding it out with your arms straight in some kind of Guantanamo Bay stress position.

  • SAH1977 #40 2 years ago

    Natal seems to be a generation too soon and potentially too expensive to play what will essentially be party games and the very occassional more in depth title. I'll buy the Eyetoy for GT5's head tracking, if I can then buy a sub £40 motion controller that would be ideal.

  • DrDamn #41 2 years ago

    I think there are a couple of big plus points the Sony controller has over the Wii-mote. For a start it's on a far more capable machine which can produce substantially better visuals. You don't need great visuals for a great game, but it can damn well help. Secondly the accuracy shown with the the controller is pretty damned impressive and also opens up possibilities. The other point is it is also better suited to more traditional game types, more usable buttons, use of two controllers for FPSs & use with the camera for head tracking.

    Whether it gets the games which exploit it is another matter. That is more the crux. The Wii didn't do so well simply because of the tech, it did it because of the games. Sony don't need to explain to people what it does better than the Wii-mote at all. It has to come with compelling games which people want to play.

  • DrDamn #42 2 years ago

    Natal expensive? Unless they price it ludicrously high then in real terms I can't see that in comparison to the others. Natal you buy one camera gadget and that's you sorted for multiplayer as well. (Wii-mote + nun-chuk + wmp) x 2 for multiplayer I would wager is going to be more expensive. Sony controller may be cheaper but again two controllers for multiplay/multi-controller games and then factor in a PS3Eye too. I think Natal may well be the cheaper option realistically.

  • Dan234 #43 2 years ago

    @Dizzy #20

    You really do not get it do you? The whole idea behind Natal is that it will have zero impact on the performance of the games letting devs include Natal support without worrying about it. That is probably why EVERY game in 2011 will have the Natal logo on the box (whatever the name of Natal will be in 2011). Even if the game has minimal Natal stuff it will be easy to include, this is only possible if Natal doesn't "do stuff in software" and has no performance impact.

    Experience with the Wii shows that bolt-on movement controls are rarely successful, and games which are automatically enhanced with bolt-on movement controls without the devs needing to worry about will probably be even less so.
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/09 @ 16:01

  • Adam128 #44 2 years ago

    Interesting article, when you look at it that way it looks like Sony is taking the safe route, which in reality is fair enough. Sony are not in the situation to be able to throw cash at cutting edge high risk hardware add-ons, where as MS are.
    As the PS3 is picking up momentum it’s just possible they may be able to attract some of Nintendo’s new demographic by giving them an upgrade of what they know, essentially they could market it is a successor to the Wii.
    MS however are going to have to educate the masses to what Natal can do, then they are going to have to sell it to them. Natal does look impressive but it will be nothing without software that can make it shine.

  • Skooch #45 2 years ago

    "I disagree that this is a disruptive product because it is not creating a new user experience it is recreating the experience on the Wii."

    @ Gastrian - that is exactly the point of a disruptive product. Push something to consumers that is a similar offering to what a competitor is providing in order to give the consumer a choice, and disrupt the market for controller-tracking games so that one company does not have 100% of the market share.