While some studios see it as a game changer, others call Natal a risk
This week’s Develop Jury Service has seen conflicting views from the development community, with both praise and concerns expressed on the potential of Natal.
And while the praise was glowing, with some developers claiming that Natal will create new genres, others remain confused on what to expect from the motion- and voice-tracking peripheral.
“If I'm honest, Microsoft have confused me a little with Natal,” said Proper Games’ Andrew Smith.
“Microsoft is looking to hop on the Wii bandwagon with what they think is the next step in easily-accessed games bringing simple, fun, arcadey titles to a new audience.
“While this is laudable, I'm just not convinced that people can enjoy the same range and fidelity of games as they do on the Wii without at least some physical connection to the experience.”
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Smith added that Natal provides a “risky opportunity for developers on a machine that's actually pretty expensive to develop for”, claiming that studios will have little choice but make games exclusively for Microsoft’s device – possibly another risk in an age of multiplatform releases.
“It's not even like it'll benefit as the Wii did from the PS2/Wii crossover potential,” he added. “Yet another risk in an already iffy-seeming prospect.”
Emmeline Dobson, a freelance game designer who’s worked with studios such as Kuju and The Creative Assembly, said that Microsoft needs to focus on “the real needs of a non-traditional audience”, as opposed to make core titles for its installed base.
“I do not think that Natal will be enhancing core game genres soon, as players go to shooters, action games and racers for mechanics that deliver on fast reflexes and mental agility,” she said, “and movement control is a step backwards from the reponse offered by our familiar joypads.”
Meanwhile Adrian Hirst, managing director at indie studio Weaseltron, said that the key to Natal’s success will be a game which leads the way.
“Whether Natal becomes a real game-changer – evolving the Xbox 360 into a new software platform – or simply remains an amusement, will relate heavily on its ability to find its 'killer app'” he said.
i can't believe all the hype this is getting, seriously. i think it's a cynical ploy to create interest in this product when it has largely gone unproven, other than in less than satisfactory tech demos since E3'09 or ads that openly say they represent nothing at all to do with the final product.
PLEASE MS!!! show us something tangible and credible!!! then i'll decide whether or not i'm on board with this. in the mean time however i'm getting disillusioned by people talking about potential that may well never by realised.
Just show us something or shut the hell up (not you guys @ Develop. MS, that's who)
Microsoft is picking the scraps off the table with Natal. The wider consumer already has a Wii.
Tom and Liamm BE QUIET, SHUT UP, STAND BACK and let the professional developers do their job like they have done in the past and stop being so negative and critical. MS have created many products in the past including the Xbox 360 which has been and continues to be a massive success. What have you done Tom and liamm ??. If Natal Launches it will be a huge success i guarantee it.
What most people don't seem to realise is that the 360 already has a perfectly good control scheme for normal games - it's called the 360 controller. Natal doesn't have to duplicate it, and it's potential to add something genuinely new is huge... It's a risk, but it's a braver and better risk than Sony's 'wand' ^-^
Hopefully this will end the need for all manual control and input peripherals entirely. I hate my mouse and keyboard and I hate my controller. This technology stands to eliminate these tethers that bind us to our devices,and for that alone I cheer HOORAY!
