However, unlike Crunchy I do see some potential in Natal. Not for playing the likes of CoD or GoW, but as an interface for as-yet unrealised games. The fact that companies such as BioWare and Lionhead have expressed serious interest is surely a positive, even though I’m still struggling to imagine exactly how it could be implemented in a ’serious’ way. Mapping your facial expressions to Shepard’s in Mass Effect 3 doesn’t really cut it…

On the subject of motion control and disabled people, I might be wrong, but hasn’t the Wii allowed people with certain disabilities to play more games, thanks to its one-handed control method?
http://www.accessibility.nl/games/forum/viewtopic.php?id=262

Although, of course this won’t apply to every game or every gamer:
http://kotaku.com/216826/the-disabled-and-the-wii-an-open-letter-to-nintendo

you nailed…I agree with everything you said.
whenever I see Natal I see failure. if Halo or Gears uses Natal thats will be the end of those franchise.

I would have love something like the PS3 wand with with bottons and something that you can hold and feel

Aside for Viva Pinata, which was good (it still could have been better executed, thanks to motivation-breaking pop-ups tips, etc), the rest of the 360’s stuff has been diabolical.

Looking at back at Kameo, proves it was absolutely dire and soulless. This group lost their way an age ago. I’d even go as far as to say they ought to have a huge shake-up throughout the company or just put it (and us) out of it’s misery.

Of course, I won’t forget that it’s the same company that gave us Goldeneye. But, the sad truth there is that the majority of that team cleared off to form Free Radical Entertainment (who disappeared a short while ago). So, I would say there’s not much left at Rare anyway.

But, leaving Rare aside for a moment, am I the only one who has grave reservations for Project Natal?

Let’s start by looking at the Eye Toy and the early days of the Wii, particularly. Both sensational, and ground-breaking … but in many ways limited. I’m not saying in the sense of technology, but limited in sales and marketing force.

Even Nintendo have had some serious concerns about where the motion-control function has steered the path of video gaming. The reality is that, at present, motion control doesn’t sit well with “hard core” games.

Also, consider this. Taking the UK population alone, how many of the UK population are disabled in some way? It’s around 22-25% (depending on who’s statistics you believe). In any case, that’s about a quarter. I’m a member of a couple of disabled gaming groups, and many members would love to play the Wii, but can’t for some reason.

What has astonished me about some members of these groups, is the huge lengths some (make that most) will go to to play a particular game – custom-made controllers and interface devives abound. And all these made by people who have difficulty enough HOLDING a controller. It’s an inspiration if nothing else.

Now taking into the account the number of disabled who actually play games (and it is the majority), that’s roughly a fifth of our population out of contention straight away. I can’t see MS being too great at allowing custom devices to be accomodated on the 360, as so far, they’ve been a bit of a nightmare compared to the rest.

I predict a huge flop for Natal, which is nothing but a gimmick. The only way you’d get any sort of success is the same way Nintendo have done – appeal to a new market.

And don’t even get me started on the games which won’t accomodate the new controls very well. I can already picture seeing some red-faced gamer, flapping his arms for all he’s worth, whilst mouthing choice phrases at the screen…