Microsoft unveils “Project Natal” for Xbox 360
Microsoft Corp. debuted a new video-capture, game control technology dubbed “Project Natal” on Monday. At the E3 video game convention in Los Angeles, the software giant showcased a new system that will allow players to control games with their body motions, with no other control device needed. The company demonstrated several games using the system, but did not give a launch date or price for the product.
Project Natal is a bar that sits above or below your TV, much like the Wii’s sensor bar. But instead of sensing controllers, this thing has a camera, sensors and a microphone inside that lets it get an accurate sense of your space and you in it. This lets you control games just by moving around; kicking, jumping, whatever. But that’s really just the start.
Microsoft says it’ll even pack face detection, and voice recognition too, which looked stunning when shown off at their E3 press conference. The camera will see who you are and even sign you in automatically. It’s set to work across every Xbox 360, so you won’t need to be packing an Elite to join the party.
This is a whole new way of controlling not only games but what’s quickly becoming the media and communications hub of your living room. And it already makes the Wii seem like a gimpy and outdated piece of tech. There’s no way it can touch what this will do.
