RedOctane working with Natal tech

By Ellie Gibson Published 26 November, 2009

New Guitar Hero to be motion-controlled?

RedOctane boss Kai Huang has hinted that the studio's next game could work with Project Natal technology.

"We haven't made any specific announcements of what we're doing with new technologies in Guitar Hero 6 and beyond," he told the Seattle Times, but one of the areas we're exploring certainly is camera technology and what you can do - track your movements and maybe have your characters on the screen do certain things you're doing, or personalise it more so it can look more like you on stage rather than just be an avatar.

"There are a lot of possibilities that technologies like Natal will bring and we're definitely exploring those possibilities," Huang added.

RedOctane is also investigating other types of music and different instruments. "In the US, country music is obviously very popular. Globally, classical music has always been very interesting. Latin music - there are just so many different genres of music and instruments that haven't been tapped into yet."

The studio's most recent release was DJ Hero, which failed to set the charts alight - but Huang is optimistic for the future. "We'll see how the rest of the year goes but so far the launch has been great," he said.

When asked whether he reckons DJ Hero will outsell Rock Band: The Beatles Huang replied, "We're planning for it to be the No. 1 new IP of the year. So, yeah, we're excited about it."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #1 2 years ago

    Not sure how this would work vis-a-vis chord selection - maybe holding up fingers on your left hand, or just moving it up and down an invisible shaft (steady...) whilst your right hand strummed? Anyway, it sounds exciting and MESSIAH's right, Guitar Hero games without expensive equipment to buy are a good proposition.

  • TopKatt #2 2 years ago

    ^^

    Hello donnie.

  • rotmm #3 2 years ago

    Donnie is the New Messiah.

  • Toothball #4 2 years ago

    @Britesparc

    It doesn't sound so much like they're looking to replace the instruments, but just to have your characters on the TV do similar things to you. I'm not really convinced that playing air guitar would be all that satisfying an experience either, and much of it revolves around holding an instrument, albeit a fake plastic one. Supposedly it has microphones or something so perhaps you could get away with singing into a hairbrush or something, but drumming without impact is just not a satisfying experience. I guess we'll see, but I don't see myself ditching the instruments I do have to replace them with nothing.

    @MESSIAH999

    I have heard about Natal the place. Some explorer landed there on Christmas Day so called it that. I can't remember who the explorer was though as I learned about it in high school history which seems about as long ago now as the actual history. I could have looked it up but that would have been cheating.

  • jim1975 #5 2 years ago

    how are they going to sell an air guitar

  • BabyJesus #6 2 years ago

    Dropping plastic stuff?

    Hehe I doubt it...

  • jonsaan #7 2 years ago

    The plastic stuff bubble is about to burst in spectacular style. Hello DJHero and Tony Hawk.

  • Widge #8 2 years ago

    Guitar Hero would be shit without the instruments you utter mental

  • EvilBob_leeds #9 2 years ago

    Jeeesus. Leadbetter already covered the probability of air guitar rock band - [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articl es/digital-foundry-vs-project-natal-article?page=3
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/digita...[/link]

    So that ain't it. Extra points for headbanging maybe?

    And sorry for the obligitory Monty Python reference, but he's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
    Edited by 1 at 26/11/09 @ 12:40

  • makeamazing #10 2 years ago

    I think plastic products have been overdone, and i think there will be a quick slowdown in sales. I dont see DJ Hero beating Beatles as the New IP sales of the year (though I dont see more Beatles games...lol).

    I dont see them doing away with the instruments though if they can still sell 300K to 800K as they must be making a packet on those devices.

    If Natal is to work for body/tracking, then this is certainly one game where it could do well because any technical issues such as lag will not be noticable or an issue.

  • Xerx3s #11 2 years ago

    Must be very satisfying.

  • miiiguel #12 2 years ago

    It's for the characters movements, most likely.

  • IMD1_Pk #13 2 years ago

    LOL Air Guitar Hero

  • davisorle #14 2 years ago

    So you could be playing Slipknot, headbanging and be on stage shown through Natal? Sounds funky lol.. Missed being on stage but I dont plan on getting my rocks off by doing it through Natal now but i know i'll be trying it for sure just to see how it looks. I love Natal already lol So much stupid shit on each genre will make it worth its money by the end of it eitherway.

    P.S. They never said about using it an instrument. Maybe for drums it could be accurate but not as a guitar.At least thats how I see it ;) Still though better than paying for those as well. Not to mention you wont need a mic to buy forthe newcomers. :)

  • Jonny5Alive7 #15 2 years ago

    I'm not sure if Activision will be too happy about not making millions from cheap plastic peripherals anymore. All music games will just be solus only if this were to happen and be a success.