14 DAY TRIAL // Project Natal, Microsoft’s motion tracking solution that does not use any form of handheld controller, is set to be launched at some point during the fall of this year and the software giant is planning a big event on June 13 during which it will talk about the videogames that will accompany it. But until then, some more details about the overall plan the Redmond-based company has for its new toy were offered and they point to a system that can actually learn and adapt after it is installed.
Talking to Fast Company, Marc Whitten, who is the general manager on the Xbox 360 division at Microsoft, said, “Natal isn't just about gaming - it's about all living-room experiences,” elaborating that “Natal could know which team you're for because it sees your jersey, or knows you thought a bad call was made when you yell 'boo'. It learns about you and gets smarter to create a more tailored entertainment experience.”
It seems Microsoft is also thinking of allowing Natal to be used to control other appliances in the living room with Whitten talking about the huge number of buttons a modern living room contained and how remotes controlled the lives of modern technology users.
Project Natal could cost as little as 50 dollars according to analysts, although the software giant has not yet announced an official launch date or a price point. The Microsoft made system will be competing head to head with the PlayStation Move from Sony.
The big difference between the two motion tracking solutions is the use of an actual controller. Natal will be more alien to established gamers, because everything is achieved through the use of a gesture or movement, while the Move concept includes a wand-like peripheral, which also has a few buttons and can even be connected to another sub-controller.