Offical: Project NATAL is now known as "KINECT" in stores November 2010

MegaDrive20XX

Segatron Genesis... call me the wizard.
Xbox 720?

Last week, Microsoft's Shane Kim told us that the launch of the 360's motion-controlled camera system - Project Natal - would be as big as a console launch. Maybe he was onto something with that.

Because 1UP are reporting a rumour that while Natal will be released next year for existing 360 consoles, it will also be released next year as a standard inclusion with a new Xbox console, due out in the Fall.

This console won't be as "new" as we're accustomed to with console generations; rather, 1UP say it'll be a slight improvement over the existing Xbox 360 technology, with games able to run with slightly faster framerates, or with slightly better graphics than those on the "older" 360 consoles.

Sounds crazy, but as 1UP point out, it's not that different to what Nintendo did the Wii; repackage existing hardware and re-release it in a new casing with a new control method.

I don't know how I like (or put much stock in) the idea of two 360 consoles, especially two with varying hardware configurations; what's to stop developers from optimising for the more powerful unit and leaving owners of the older 360 with a sloppy, sub-standard product?

Hopefully that's not a problem, and if true, the "new" console is just a rebranded, repackaged 360. Maybe in a smaller box, with a snappier name. First impressions, fresh start and all that.


It doesn't surprise me at all, Microsoft launching a new console so soon is just history repeating itself. Xbox 1 was only 4 years old when the Xbox 360 arrived.
 
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3176878

The first launch details for Project Natal have reportedly leaked after Microsoft conducted a behind-closed-doors tour of UK publishers and studios, with sources telling MCV the motion-control device will launch in November 2010 with 14 games and a price set at $80 or lower.

According to these undisclosed sources, Microsoft plans to ship 5 million Natal units when it launches in both stand-alone packages and packed in with Xbox 360 consoles. One anonymous source from a publisher said that Microsoft is "trying to get as close as possible to 'impulse buy,'" with the price likely to be set below £50 ($80), and possibly even as low as £30 ($50).

14 games will supposedly be ready for launch, although no details were given on what any of these games might be. Back during the Tokyo Game Show in September, Microsoft announced the pledged support from 12 major publishers, including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ, and Ubisoft. But whether any of them will have launch games ready (and if so, which ones) is still unclear.

At least one game that's been heavily speculated to launch alongside Natal is Lionhead Studios' Fable 3. Peter Molyneux has confirmed the game will include Natal functionality, and its release has been set for "late 2010" since it was first announced.

Keep in mind all of these details are still unconfirmed, although the release timeframe certainly sounds believable enough. Don't be surprised if any official details don't come out of Microsoft for a little while yet, though.
 
Re: Scared of the price of the Project Natal? Rumors say, don't worry.

this blew my mind at E3. I hope it wasn't scripted/taped. that was amazing
 
Re: Scared of the price of the Project Natal? Rumors say, don't worry.

Auron234 said:
this blew my mind at E3. I hope it wasn't scripted/taped. that was amazing

Did it really? I know of a lot of people, including myself, that were underwhelmed. I guess we'll see how it goes.
 
Re: Scared of the price of the Project Natal? Rumors say, don't worry.

Auron234 said:
this blew my mind at E3. I hope it wasn't scripted/taped. that was amazing

Wow dude! Loooooong time no see! Decided to come back?
 
I love KINECT as a kid :D

knex-canada-lever-pulleys.jpg


http://kotaku.com/5562418/project-natal-officially-renamed-kinect-more-games-revealed

Seriously, Kinect is the official name of this new add-on.
 
Re: Offical: Project NATAL is now known as "KINECT"

Mega shouldn't This be in the natal link or the gaming device formally known as "Natal"
 
Re: Offical: Project NATAL is now known as "KINECT"

I think changing it now is a bad choice... they were pushing the name "Natal" for a very long time. This will almost certainly confuse consumers.
 
Re: Offical: Project NATAL is now known as "KINECT"

I still think they could have thought of something better...
 
Re: Offical: Project NATAL is now known as "KINECT"

http://kotaku.com/5562539/kinects-final-hardware-revealed

Here's the final hardware and it will be released Nov 2010.
 
No way. Nothing besides the little Star Wars game caught my eye. They need to make this more appealing. Right now it just seems like a gimmick, just like the PS Move.
 
Strubes said:
No way. Nothing besides the little Star Wars game caught my eye. They need to make this more appealing. Right now it just seems like a gimmick, just like the PS Move.


Agreed. I like its potential, but thats all I've really seen. I havent seen anything good yet that I would use it for.

As for the name change, I don't think its a big deal. Gamers like us know that its Natal or Kinect now since we follow the news. For non-gamers, they probably don't even know anything about Natal/Kinect since there haven't been any TV commercials or anything, so it doesn't really matter IMO.

Although I do think they could have picked a better name.
 
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