Microsoft's Spencer: Natal Is "Fraught With Risk"
- Thread starter John Funk
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I feel similar more or less, I just don't want crappy motion control that only serves to be intrusive or gimmicky in a game that has no need for it. If it's pulled off well then it could be great, otherwise I will be very annoyed.John Funk said:
The DS? What does the DS have to do with anything? I have a DSi, before that a DS lite, before that a DS, and I don't see any motion control features like the wii there at allJohn Funk said:
Also, the Wii was fun for about two months after launch, after that it became boring, the motion control thing really IS a gimmick, at least as far as most of the hardcore gaming fanbase is concerned. I am not someone who plays only FPSs by any means, but how can the Wii expect to have a solid hardcore gaming fanbase with a control scheme that basically makes all FPS releases DOA?
And saying that our options are: "Love motion control" or ONLY "push for better graphics and hardware forever" is stupid. Should we not condemn crappy innovations simply because they are innovations? I could make a game that is played by crapping in a shoebox, it would certainly be different, but it would suck, and just because people would hate it doesn't mean they condemn all innovation. I prefer innovative gameplay over controller innovation that slashes whole genres out of the games lineup. Saying "You either accept motion control, or you simply want to push for better graphics and hardware forever" is a dumb argument. There are other options, so don't try to push people into "Choice A or choice B ONLY" ultimatum.
This isn't about producing good games. Noone is criticizing MS that they don't put out good games or atleast secure exclusivity for them. This is about supporting risky projects that have potential to push the boundaries of games. Games like Heavy Rain and Last Guardian or even LittleBig Planet (what Gow 3 is doing here strikes me as a bit odd too). It doesn't matter that they are unreleased, because the type of development is still the same. I'm also pretty sure that Heavy Rain and GoW will absolutely kick ass, not too sure about Last GUardian even though that's the single game I'm most looking forward to.Yog Sothoth said:
Sony invest millions of dollars in these titles just so they have a varied portofolio of genres and advance video games as a medium. I mean, imagine if something like Heavy Rain bombs. The graphics are amazing and I'm sure they've spent millions creating them. Every game development nowadays is a collosal undertaking and a lot of games (like Halo or Haze or whatever) just play it safe instead of trying something a bit more innovative. I mean, I don't blame them.
Sony has a long history of supporting this kind of development, that's the only reason why I picked up a PS3 (okay the prospect of GoW3 didn't seem so bad). The only title that springs to mind for the 360 that does something really rad is Viva Pinata, man I want to play that game.
Maybe. Gears of War is another exclusive that's actually very good. But could it reach the level of The Last Guardian, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, InFamous, Killzone 2 or Metal Gear Solid 4? I sincerely doubt it.Quad08 said:
I'm sorry, Microsoft. Sony pulled down your trousers last year. And it seems as if they are preparing to strike again.
You're right, Viva Pinata is great fun!Brotherofwill said:
More to the point: I see your distinction 100% now... the argument isn't about quality of the games but rather budget allocated for experimental titles. My apologies for going off on a tangent after reading the story & responses without paying close attention to detail and failing to consider my argument fully before I posted it...
Another aside: I think that GoW III (God of War not Gears of War, for the record) is the only game I mentioned that's as close to a sure thing as you can have... The other two could certainly be great as well, and I look forward to playing them, but they are arguably more risky...
The 360 and the PS3 might be fighting each other nail and teeth, but I chuckle everytime I see a Windows 7 ad that not only features Sony Vaio laptops exclusively, but also a big screen Sony TV in one of the newer ads.
I know, I know, different faction of the both companies, but with all of the different types of PCs, laptops, and TVs out there, I just find it a bit odd.
I know, I know, different faction of the both companies, but with all of the different types of PCs, laptops, and TVs out there, I just find it a bit odd.
Yeah, but GT5 isn't exactly what I'd call an experimental or risky game to produce. Nor is GoW3 for that matter... Those games are guaranteed success based on their past performance as a franchise.Mornelithe said:
Totally agree here. Heavy Rain really seems to be a feeble line between amazing and never-before-seen or annoying and pretentious for me. I hope it's the formerYog Sothoth said:
.Oh yea, I just remembered. Alan Wake is the kind of game that I want to see more of from Microsoft. Awesomely intriguing title. I'll totally check it out when it hits the 360.
I doubt that they can hit the 10 mil mark again. I mean, there are only around 30 mil systems out or so, so a 33% attachment rate sounds a little extreme right now. Maybe in 5 years down the line or maybe never. I think it's going to be closer to the 5 mil mark, but I could be completely wrong here.Mornelithe said:
Good notice though, people tend to forget about games like GT 5 in the current shooter-dominated environment.
Edit: Wait a sec GT 5 prologue sold 4 mil? Woah, maybe 10 mil for the 5th iteration isn't so far off afterall
.
*Cough-cough* Forza Motorsport 3 *cough*Brotherofwill said:Good notice though, people tend to forget about games like GT 5 in the current shooter-dominated environment.
Edit: Wait a sec GT 5 prologue sold 4 mil? Woah, maybe 10 mil for the 5th iteration isn't so far off afterall
...sorry about that... had something in my throat I guess...
Ok, I'm done here for now... been nice chatting with you all!
Honestly, I don't know what Microsoft is thinking with NATAL, here. This guy seems a hundred percent convinced that this is going to be a revolution in our collective pants, but I'm just seeing an interface for grossly expensive flash games. Wait, I take it back. Even Flash games have a keyboard and can provide a means to navigate, whereas this doesn't even give you the benefit of one analog stick. NATAL's is the kind of interface that goes one step farther, confining developers to either JUST one-screen minigames, or else awkward, non-tactile gestures for movement. I'm sorry, guys, opening my hand or stamping my feet in place in a pretend-march just isn't as intuitive as pushing a joystick forward to go forward. Even for the kinds of things it is equipped to do it doesn't seem all that great since it'll often require a lot of guesswork on the part of the user as to what any given gesture will cause them to do onscreen--especially when it comes to aiming. Without tactile sensation, no matter how good the camera is at picking up motions and translating them to stuff happening on the screen, it's going to feel like trying to stick a key inside a lock in the dark. That's how I see it, anyway.
The other possibility in this thing is trying to find a mix between the controller and the camera tracking, which I'm really iffy about. It's like taking your hand off one controller to put it on another, completely different controller, and if anybody thought THAT was a good idea then we'd have seen freaky two-Xbox 360-controller-but-not-two-player games. Maybe it could track your posture or something? Great, that's just what I want--I'm a fidgety gamer who changes his sitting position every five minutes, and I REALLY want the game to accidentally start up some function just because I crossed my leg. Otherwise what it's got left is voice recognition, which is cool, but we didn't need NATAL to be able to do it.
I just don't get it. This doesn't seem like a product that'll enrich gaming and provide new and interesting interactions so much as a product that brings us the oldest of old interactions with a newer, more gimmicky coat of paint.
The other possibility in this thing is trying to find a mix between the controller and the camera tracking, which I'm really iffy about. It's like taking your hand off one controller to put it on another, completely different controller, and if anybody thought THAT was a good idea then we'd have seen freaky two-Xbox 360-controller-but-not-two-player games. Maybe it could track your posture or something? Great, that's just what I want--I'm a fidgety gamer who changes his sitting position every five minutes, and I REALLY want the game to accidentally start up some function just because I crossed my leg. Otherwise what it's got left is voice recognition, which is cool, but we didn't need NATAL to be able to do it.
I just don't get it. This doesn't seem like a product that'll enrich gaming and provide new and interesting interactions so much as a product that brings us the oldest of old interactions with a newer, more gimmicky coat of paint.
Most Xbox exclusives are ported to PC... I don't know, I think Microsoft makes computers. It is still a Microsoft exclusive if it is on PC.Korten12 said:
(Narrowing focus with requote) God of War III is not a big risk here. God of War III is the sequel to a wildly popular series that helped breathe new life into a genre. Halo 3 is sort of the exact equivalent of God of War III, except for a different genre and more successful. For a new game that is coming out? Halo Reach. Or Mass Effect 2. Crackdown 2. Etc.John Funk said:
Now that we have beat God of War III, to counter the Last Guardian: Alan Wake. Both developed by experienced teams (Team Ico, Remedy Entertainment) for Sony and Microsoft.
Natal is not a risk, a risk has to at least have a chance of succeeding.
On the other hand I'm seriously beginning to wonder if the whole thing with Natal is purely a distraction on MS's part to draw everybody's attention away from something else there doing. Though what they could be doing escapes me, a keyboard and mouse controller for the 360? Remote controlled Pope? A WoW clone?
Oh god what a horrible image, a Halo themed WoW clone...
On the other hand I'm seriously beginning to wonder if the whole thing with Natal is purely a distraction on MS's part to draw everybody's attention away from something else there doing. Though what they could be doing escapes me, a keyboard and mouse controller for the 360? Remote controlled Pope? A WoW clone?
Oh god what a horrible image, a Halo themed WoW clone...
The Xbox 360 was broken for 3 years, then the whole 15 million people with the broken ones HAD to switch consoles, as in, a new 360 or a PS3. Thus it seems more like a very well built....scam.... (No grudge to the 360 at all, most of my friends are on it.)JWW said:
