Microsoft reveals Project Natal for Xbox 360

"No controller required" for Microsoft's motion-sensing gaming solution

Microsoft reveals Project Natal for Xbox 360

1 June 2009 20:13 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

"You are the controller", Microsoft has announced during its E3 2009 keynote speech.

Rather than offer a Nintendo Wii-rivalling motion-sensing controller, Microsoft has revealed "Project Natal", a way of controlling video games using only your body movements or your voice, with keyword recognition.

However, Project Natal is still only at concept stage. It consists of an RGB camera, a depth sensor, a multi-array microphone and a custom processor running proprietary software, but Natal-compatible games are a while off yet.

With the boast the system will recognise you instantly - with no need to sign in - the company has demonstrated the prototype gaming solution, describing it as "a revolutionary way to play, a new era of interactive entertainment".

The claim is that a gamer will have full control of their avatar just by moving their body, with no restrictions set by the game.

Offering a "breakthrough" sensor that tracks full body movement - as well as recognising individual voices - "the only experience needed is life experience", is the boast from Microsoft.

Microsoft says Project Natal will work will all Xbox 360s and development kits are arriving with Microsoft's developer partners now.

"It's not about inventing the wheel, it's about no wheel at all", said Xbox 360 special guest film director Stephen Spielberg during the Microsoft keynote.

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Comments

  • Awesome just awesome Posted by Anthony, USA
  • OMG That ish is KRAZY!!! GROUNDBREAKING!!! and the ANSWER,finally!, For the Wii!!! Posted by w, united states
  • Just saw it on G4 ....Great job MICROSOFT kill the competition Posted by Brownievtec, USA
  • like eyetoy combined with wii. so groundbreaking and not.... Posted by masie, uk
  • cool it will be at the top game console's but i won't to know how much is it and when does it come out Posted by Sam, USA
  • GestureTek is the inventor, pioneer and world leader in video gesture control technology for both 2D and 3D cameras. Our software works with 3DV, Mesa, Prime Sense, Canesta and other 3D depth cameras. For more than 20 years, we have been creating 3D tracking technology and evangelizing video gesture control as the next step in computer human interaction. With more than 4000 public installations worldwide, we have a robust library of video gesture control technologies, applications and patents. GestureTek has licensed these patents and technologies in various ways to a multitude of consumer electronics providers, including for PlayStation, Xbox 360, Hasbro, etc. GestureTek is proud of the trail we’ve blazed in the area of 3D depth tracking and control and our current leading position in the market today.

    Here’s more on GestureTek’s 3D tracking and control software: http://www.gesturetek.com/3ddepth/introduction.php .

    Here are some examples of work that GestureTek was showing more than a year ago, before Natal:

    - Beijing Olympics Flight Simulator http://www.gesturetek.com/3ddepth/businesscases/3dexplorer.php
    - Two-Handed Control Driving Demo http://www.gesturetek.com/newscenter/media.php?media=58
    - Rock em Sock em Robots http://www.gesturetek.com/3ddepth/introduction.php
    - Our technology is also being used in a 3D depth sensing interactive digital signage system for Sprint.
    Posted by Patti Jordan, Canada
  • es lo maximo en tecnología y es realista Posted by Guillermo,Alegría, Chile

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