Steve Balmer says this new xbox controller system will be featuring a “natural interface” that’s “really, really close” to reality. This supports what Microsoft executive Shane Kim’s said earlier this week about a Project Natal launch that would be every bit as big as the original Xbox360 launch.
The Microsoft CEO, added that the console will feature a camera that recognizes motion and voices.
A hands-on experience with XBOX 360 Project Natal at the E3 show.
Here basketball players Jordan Farmar and Josh Shipp check out the new xbox controler.
Apparently, there will be a new xboc which will have the <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
new xbox contoller already incorporated into the console.
In a recent speech in Chicago, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that there definitely will be a new Xbox console on store shelves by 2010, despite constant denials by Microsoft executives. The characteristics of Natal were suggested to be housed within the main Xbox console, as opposed to Natal’s original design of being an external peripheral.
Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg says Natal will be completely compatible with the current Xbox 360 system, and will not need additional auxiliary support to function the XBOC.
Microsoft’s no-controller 3D motion and voice recognition technology (presently known as “Project Natal”) is being designed for the existing Xbox 360, not an imaginary “performance-upgraded” one.
At least that comes from an official statement released by a Microsoft spokesperson:
As the Xbox team stated at E3 two weeks ago, we are not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade. Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time.
With actual 1-to-1 motion tracking, the new Xbox 360 controller makes it possible for more than one user to work on the same image at the same time. You can wave your hand and your onscreen avatar follows you accurately. Do a back bend with a friend, to form animal silhouettes on screen.
XBOX Paint
Algorithms intelligently sort behind the scenes attempting to recognize your intentions, filtering out flailing limbs or ignoring unnecessary maneuvers. Surprisingly, they most often get it right.
The new XBOX console won’t just be an Xbox360 with a camera, there is rumor (1up) it will be considered a new platform and carry a new name (Xbox Natal?).
Likely to be a slight upgrade of the current Xbox 360 technology, current Xbox 360 games would be playable on it, but future games would be able to take advantage of the added muscle.
Quite like what we see in the personal computer arena, games played on the more advanced Xbox would look or perform better. Publishers will still be able to support owners of both systems. Some developers have complained that they’ve already maxed out the Xbox 360; now this will give them room to improve.
A camera, depth sensor, microphone and processor running proprietary software will put an to end the need for any button-mashing controller with Microsoft’s new motion controller, referred to now as “Project Natal.” The new XBOX controller tracks a players’ full body movements, recognizing their faces and voices, scaning images of real world items while responding to both physical and voice commands.
Three prototype programs have been demonstrated: “Milo,” a virtual boy who communicates and interacts with the gamer; Paint Party,” kind of an art program where the player paints using their hands as the brush, and “Ricochet,” sort of a soccer game where one uses their body to bounce balls at targets.
“That blew me away,” said said Forrester analyst Paul Jackson. I don’t think people have seen anything like that outside of artificial intelligence labs in universities. It showed ‘Natal’ wasn’t just about flaying around or responding to commands on a screen.” He went on further, “The first two games Microsoft previewed were very polished, but ‘Milo’ showed where this stuff can go above and beyond in gaming.”
XBOX 360 is now, more than ever, not just fun and games.
