Game Harlot

Project: Shiny New Gimmick [Part 2]

So, Natal.

I don’t think the general public is quite ready for a controller-less system.  First off, I find one of the most charming aspects of gaming to be that I can do it while relaxing on the couch with a beer.  While things like Wii Fit have their place (in the closet, covered with dust, apparently), I prefer to keep my workout in the gym and my gaming nice and sedentary.

Secondly, while controller-less systems are touted as completely intuitive and natural, I think the casual market finds them the opposite.  I had the pleasure of getting together with the HarlotFamily over Easter break to re-enact a Wii commercial: three generations all cozying up to the soulless glow of the big screen to do some virtual bowling.  (And, you know, drinking heavily.) I’ve seen a lot of inexperienced gamers interact with regular controllers, and the way my family dealt with the Wiimotes was very similar: apprehensive, clumsy, and kind of confused.  Maybe my family is just a little slow, but I think hardware companies might be overestimating the user-friendliness of motion sensing controllers.  Multiply that by having to learn voice commands and gestures and interacting with a game system in a completely new way, and I think it could be quite a challenge for casual gamers.

Finally, unless Microsoft is planning on pulling a Nintendo-esque “What’s that, core player fanbase?  You want games that don’t involve pretending to be a wedding planner or playing a musical instrument?  SHUN!” reversal, I wouldn’t consider the 360 to be the most family-friendly platform.  While I adore playing on Live, it is a hive of scum, villainy, and squeaky voiced 13 year old boys calling everyone some witty variation of “homosexual.” Somehow, I can’t see them calling up their friends via Natal and discussing what they’re going to wear to the party tonight.  I realize that this whole thing is a push to get casual gamers and all, but I would caution Microsoft to be wary of pushing their former players out.

Despite all my snarkiness, I think it’s going to be a really neat toy.  But whether game developers will be able to turn it into something lasting and innovative remains to be seen.

My expectations are a bit higher. This isn’t a new game system, it’s only a new controller. The XBox system doesn’t have the graphic limitations of the Wii and has already established its player base.

If you look at the Wii, you can also see that the games are improving in sophistication. Take Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, for instance. This is likely the most complex game for the Wii, but this would be little more than a starting point for the XBox 360.

My parents own a Wii, btw. They have no problem bowling or playing tennis.... If it became any more sophisticated I’m sure they’d have issues, but I doubt they’d be interested in a kickboxing game anyway.

If you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out “Milo” for the Natal. I expect that a lot of it was staged, but the idea of what they are trying to acheive seems pretty unbelievable. I’m sure that we are a few years away from realizing any of this technology, but I can’t imagine any of this *not* being the future for both gaming and computing.