Ante-Natal anticipation wins Microsoft kudos at E3

Easily generating the most buzz at the last week’s E3 in Los Angeles was Microsoft’s Project Natal for the Xbox 360…

Promising the most responsive, immersive and naturalistic gaming experience ever, Natal might be the next step towards the full virtual reality gaming experience that we’ve been clamouring for since Nintendo’s Virtual Boy – minus the clunky and impractical headsets.

In fact, the smug crew at Microsoft have done away with headsets, handsets, joysticks – all gaming gear and paraphernalia altogether, claiming somewhat dramatically that “You Are The Controller” (dunno how many of you guys are wrestling fans, but does this remind anyone else of Triple HHH? ..I AM the game!!).

Still in concept stages, Natal’s premise is based on the development of a highly sophisticated motion-sensor camera system which reads full body movement (identifying an impressive 48 points on the human frame), together with speech and facial recognition, trumping the interactive capacity of Wii.

It is also boosted by multi-array microphones, depth sensor, and proprietary software running from a custom processor. On-screen characters recognise and interact with real life gamers on a personal, individual level – although programming of games is going to determine how exciting this gets, and there aren’t any yet. Still, its potential may offer a whole new gaming experience, where the lines between virtual and real activity are effectively blurred.

The promotional video, with the picture-perfect family of users, actually demonstrates some quite amazing technologies, even beyond the delight of being able to play completely unfettered by handsets.

For example, being able to “scan” in your own kit and use within a game (in the video generic teenboy scans in his skateboard), as well as controller-free acrobatics which make players look even more mental than with the Wii.

Meanwhile, generic teengirl demonstrated the Natal’s communicative capacities by chatting on a social network platform (Twitter and Facebook are both supported on the new 360) with her mate about what to wear. Tuh.

Microsoft wowed E3 visitors with special guests Ringo Starr and Paul MacCartney, who appeared to promote the Beatles game, but for the Natal’s realisation of filmic fantasy they wheeled out the big daddy of sci-fi; none other than Stephen Spielberg, who said of the system “It’s not about inventing the wheel, it’s about no wheel at all”.

Check out Project Natal for yourself in the video below!

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