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Posted by Joystiq Sep 28 2009 18:05 GMT
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As you've probably guessed, the dearth of footage of actual Project Natal gameplay can be attributed to Microsoft's ban on filming the screen during demos of the technology. Hence, the gameplay-less video above, captured by Engadget during a Natal preview of Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme. Watch as Project Natal creative director Kudo Tsunoda shows how one rolls giant sticky balls or pushes back extraterrestrial attackers using only one's limbs. Without seeing the screen, we can't be certain how well he's performing these activities, but we can certainly attest to his remarkable dancing prowess.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 25 2009 23:50 GMT
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If there was any doubt left in your mind that Japanese developers are on board for using Project Natal, we've got seven fancy, high-powered Japanese developers ready to convince you of their dedication in video form -- in case you didn't know, all the cool kids are doing it. Above, we've dropped Capcom's Keiji Inafune. He sees Natal as an "enhancement" rather than a replacement, saying the current controllers prevent game developers from creating "games without limits." This of course begs the question: What happens when you combine Garry's Mod and Project Natal? Our guess: Madness.Peep developers from Tecmo, Namco, Kojima Productions, Konami, From Software and Sega extolling Natal's many virtues after the break.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 25 2009 21:40 GMT
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In one of a series of videos released by Microsoft of developers offering their thoughts on Project Natal, Kenichiro Imaizmu, producer of the Metal Gear Solid series at Kojima Productions, revealed that Hideo Kojima had been leading the design of a custom controller for use with his "previous production," Metal Gear Solid 4. As Imaizumi described, the ideas were figuratively -- and literally -- shocking. "We tried running electric shock waves, install a pulse reader ... we also tried to build a controller that's receptive to the strength of the [player's] grip," he divulged. "We tried a lot, even a transforming controller." It's too bad none of these concepts ever saw the light of day; Kojima could have birthed a truly shocking DualShock.Imaizumi also extolled the virtues of Project Natal, mentioning its ability for gesture, voice and color-based interaction. But, as far as we know, Natal doesn't have the ability to zap players with electric shocks. (Though we've learned to never say "never" ... again -- see what we mean after the break.)

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:48 GMT
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A plethora of Japanese game creators were on hand to give their thoughts of Project Natal.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:01 GMT
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Namco Bandai General Manager Yozo Sakagami wagers his reputation on the future of Natal.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:01 GMT
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Managing Director Masanori Takeuchi breaks it down in a way even a nub could understand.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:01 GMT
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Konami producer Naoki Maeda loves Natal.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:01 GMT
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Sega R&D Creative Officer Toshihiro Nagoshi envisions a future where Natal is relevant.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:00 GMT
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Senior Producer Kenichiro Imaizumi talks Natal and Kojima Productions.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:00 GMT
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There are others who do more, so Tecmo steps up even more after that.

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Posted by GameTrailers Sep 25 2009 19:00 GMT
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It's tough revolutionizing an industry, but Capcom R&D head Keiji Inafune knows what it takes.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 25 2009 18:35 GMT
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Speaking to Destructoid, Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda had some bad news for gamers hoping to see old Xbox 360 game updated with Natal controls. The Natal team has been able to effectively implement motion controls in older titles -- like Beautiful KatamariSpace Invaders Extreme and -- but Tsunoda intimated that it required large portions of code to be changed. According to Tsunoda, it's not something that developers could easily patch into older titles. In other words, if you want your favorite pre-Natal title to support motion control, you'll have to hope for a full-fledged re-release from the publisher. That's definitely a blow for those hoping to enjoy some of their favorite games with motion control, especially considering Sony can patch motion control into older PS3 titles. Here's hoping Namco sees the light and releases Beautiful Natal-amari once Project Natal hits retail shelves.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 25 2009 14:05 GMT
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Explaining Project Natal's mantra of fun and accessibility can't be the easiest task in the world, especially since it has to be done while ricocheting about in front of a motion-detecting camera. And despite that, creative director Kudo Tsunoda makes it look easy, calmly elaborating on Natal's goals and features while he dances about in a room full of journalists. We've heard it before: Natal is Microsoft's sledgehammer, swung straight into the walls that years of button pressing and circle strafing have slowly erected around traditional gaming. We've seen similar attacks from Nintendo's Wii, as well as from the massive genre of the Instrument Protagonist, but Microsoft is hoping for much more than a dent. In the wall. Do you get it? It's like a metaphor and stuff. The bizarre problem with Natal in its early state is that it, um, works. The technology is clearly functional -- heck, it's vaguely magical -- which makes the absence of truly compelling software almost immediately disappointing. Anyone can simply hop in front of the camera, which never seems to stop and ask, "Who are you and where did you come from -- and why are you so fat compared to the last person?" You're recognized within seconds and can start playing a moment later. And then you slap flying balls.It's a bit of an unfair demand considering the product's not due until 2010, but the impatience is testament to the convincing nature of the technology itself. In the meantime, Microsoft is exploring Natal's tricks in two existing games: Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 24 2009 19:05 GMT
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Dubbed a "public brainstorming session" in a sorry-I-couldn't-make-it introductory video from Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business VP, Don Mattrick, the Xbox 360 Creator Discussion Panel saw three esteemed Japanese game developers share their dreams and designs for Project Natal.It was immediately noted that no ideas or concepts -- erupting from Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), Keiji Inafune (Mega Man, Dead Rising) and Toshihiro Nagoshi (Monkey Ball, Yakuza) -- should be considered actual, in-development concepts. Which is just as well, because it didn't take long for the trio to joke about a motion-enabled female feel-'em-up (see above gesture for context).Keiji Inafune was the one to bring it up, noting that the evolution of controllers was "way behind the evolution of graphics." According to Inafune, "Body language is part of this important evolution. With Natal we can involve ourselves. I'm getting really excited and show it in my body or action. Instead of pressing the button, it can be truly immersive experience."

Posted by Joystiq Sep 24 2009 17:05 GMT
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Microsoft Game Studios' corporate vice president, Phil Spencer, doesn't seem like the easily startled type. In fact, on the list of things that wouldn't catch him off guard, the incorporation of Project Natal into a high-profile, Xbox 360-exclusive franchise probably doesn't sit very high. Perhaps a few spots below lots of people buying a new Halo game.During a Tokyo Game Show interview (look for the full transcript soon), Spencer told Joystiq that the innovation fostered inside Lionhead Studios made it a good match for Microsoft's forthcoming motion control system. "You know, Lionhead's been a real innovation studio for us," he said. "We have the release of Fable 2 episodic this week, where they're taking Fable 2 and breaking it up into chunks, allowing people to buy the content at their pace. Fable 2, I thought, was a great release, with the orbs they added with Live, adding new functionality to the franchise. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Natal found its way into future iterations of Fable."Whether or not motion functionality will show up in 2010's Fable 3 is a matter of speculation, though your role as king in that game would certainly lend itself to some interesting ... regal maneuvers. Waving your hand to permanently dispense with an annoying peasant? That's our kind of role playing.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 24 2009 09:35 GMT
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Microsoft Game Studios' corporate vice president, Phil Spencer, doesn't seem like the easily startled type. In fact, on the list of things that wouldn't catch him off guard, the incorporation of Project Natal into a high-profile, Xbox 360-exclusive franchise probably doesn't sit very high. Perhaps a few spots below lots of people buying a new Halo game.During a Tokyo Game Show interview (look for the full transcript soon), Spencer told Joystiq that the innovation fostered inside Lionhead Studios made it a good match for Microsoft's forthcoming motion control system. "You know, Lionhead's been a real innovation studio for us," he said. "We have the release of Fable 2 episodic this week, where they're taking Fable 2 and breaking it up into chunks, allowing people to buy the content at their pace. Fable 2, I thought, was a great release, with the orbs they added with Live, adding new functionality to the franchise. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Natal found its way into future iterations of Fable."Whether or not motion functionality will show up in 2010's Fable 3 is a matter of speculation, though your role as king in that game would certainly lend itself to some interesting ... regal maneuvers. Waving your hand to permanently dispense with an annoying peasant? That's our kind of role playing.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 24 2009 01:35 GMT
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Kicking off Tokyo Game Show 2009 with a kick digitally translated into a game, Microsoft has announced massive industry support for upcoming motion device Project Natal. Trumpeting a laundry list of gaming industry all-stars from Activision to Ubisoft, it appears that every major publisher is in some way "actively working on games for Project Natal." Microsoft says publishers received development kits in early June and have been hard at work ever since. EA's Peter Moore thinks Natal "could fundamentally change the way people play sports games" while Capcom's Keiji Inafune says it "will expand the possibilities of gaming." In fact, Microsoft is so intent on proving that developers love it, the company is hosting a panel at TGS featuring the aforementioned Inafune, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi and Konami's Hideo Kojima.Wait a minute, Kojima is working with Project Natal? But we can't do any of that crazy Raiden ninja stuff!

Posted by Joystiq Sep 22 2009 17:05 GMT
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Guitar Hero peripheral maker Red Octane has been adding approximately 2.5 plastic instruments per year to each American household for nearly four years now. If you're using your computer from atop a stack of music game peripherals like we are, you'll be happy (or perhaps dismayed) to hear Red Octane prez Kai Huang told Digital Spy that his company is looking into Project Natal and "a lot of other different technologies that could enhance the Guitar Hero playing experience."Huang specifically picked out Natal to address the "many different things you can do with it," echoing statements made by MTV Games last month on the next iteration of the Rock Band franchise. He outlined some potential implementations in the "motion detecting; maybe sensing how you're playing, or the ability to use it for interactivity purposes and taking advantage of it for party purposes." Huang, however, remained cagey on specifics, restating his company is still "evaluating it." Though the tech's still in its relative infancy, as of right now it seems that next year's music-rhythm games are going to feel very different than this year's bunch. We've dropped a demonstration of how awesome you might look playing them after the break!


Posted by Joystiq Sep 21 2009 09:05 GMT
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The new motion controllers for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are likely to make big appearances at this year's Tokyo Game Show. While both Microsoft and Sony are attempting to take away some of Nintendo's mindshare with its new controllers, Square Enix head Yoichi Wada believes neither company will be truly successful. "Present game machines already have a lot of functions: they are a network terminal, a Blu-ray or DVD player, and a gaming machine. Compared to these three pillars, the [new motion] controllers are quite limited, so the impact may be small," Wada told the Financial Times.Wada also believes that the three platforms will start looking more like each other by the year 2011, when he believes Nintendo will release the fabled successor of the Wii. The system will add features found on the PS3/360, and may also introduce a brand new controller. It'll certainly be interesting to see what moves consumers when an HD Nintendo system exists concurrently with motion-enabled Microsoft and Sony systems.

Posted by Joystiq Sep 17 2009 00:00 GMT
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Microsoft is looking to add 18 new faces to its payroll in an attempt to bolster development on software implementing its new body movin' technology, Project Natal. These positions run the gamut from producer to audio director, all of which will be based out of Microsoft Game Studios' campus in Redmond, Washington -- indicating that MGS is building an entire team to work on future Natal projects. If you're a game developer with clever, original ideas about how the technology can be used, then check out Microsoft's now hiring page. If you've got a clever, original idea about a motion-sensitive Tae Bo fitness game, then keep that garbage to yourself. [Via Edge Online]