So there I was, sitting in front of the TV with my trusty notepad, writing down all the new game announcements and release dates. And then came the end of the Microsoft press-conference. I was expecting one last yeehah! type speech before I could go and update the blog, and then it came.

Project Natal. Full body motion capture gaming.

No controller. Just a set top box and some amazing software that’s recognizing everything you do - your movements, your surroundings, your voice. Game control has never been more direct.

Now this isn’t coming in 2009. But when it gets here, if the technology indeed holds up, this will be very, very major.

Microsoft demonstrated the technology in 3 ways.

First, Ricochet - a 3D breakout-type game where you move your hands, feet and everything else to deflect balls at a platform of blocks. Nothing special game-wise, but pretty rocking as a technology demo - the girl on the stage was jumping around wildly, no controllers, no gadgets attached to her body anywhere, and she was translating onto the screen in a pretty darn snappy manner. Cool.

Second - a painting program controlled with simple voice, hand and full body commands. All right as a tech demo, not something I would ever actually do.

And third, came the real stunner - a demo created by Lionhead, presented by Peter Molyneux, where a boy game character named Milo interacts with a player - a girl named Claire. They hold a fluid conversation across the TV screen. Milo reacts real-time to things Clair says and the way she says them. He throws her a pair of googles - she makes a catching motion. She draws a picture for him - and passes it right into the game world as it is instantly scanned and processed by the Natal hardware/software magic.

Needless to say, it is a pretty stunning demo. Now go search YouTube for “E3 2009 Natal” and be amazed for yourself.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm and is filed under Gaming Events, Gaming News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.