Epic Games VP says new consoles are a "long way off," Natal is the "next Xbox"
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 24th 2009 1:03PM
posted July 24th 2009 1:03PM
We've heard plenty of talk about ten-year console life cycles for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and it looks like there's some consensus starting to build around the idea that any new consoles really are still a long ways off. Speaking with Eurogamer earlier this week, Epic Games VP Mark Rein cast some doubt on the very need for new consoles anytime soon, pointing out that "over half the users who played Gears of War 2 so far do not have HDTVs," and adding that "there's no way we're ready for the PlayStation 4 or the Xbox Whatever." He did also note, however, that the current consoles would see some major changes, and in the case of the Xbox 360 he says, "it's called Natal. That is the next Xbox." For the curious, Rein also concluded that Natal would win in a fight with Sony's motion controller, but only if it was a kickboxing fight, "because it can see you kicking."
[Via The Digital Home]
[Via The Digital Home]
Rein also concluded that Natal would win in a fight with Sony's motion controller, but only if it was a kickboxing fight, "because it can see you kicking."
Hahahah. Gold, seriously.
I wonder if the comment about HDTV's was based on any particular information or simply conjecture.
It's probably because most people are really really uninformed and thing HDTV = HD picture, and go ahead and hook up some composite or s-video cables and think it's HD.
Look at the price of Monster Cables, it should be blatantly obvious that people don't understand technology or digital signals (or how to find monoprice).
I don't think natal will do well with the masses. Last week, the same video above was shown to an EMBA class for a project. Nearly everyone in the room started laughing at it.
Yes it would! You'd just have to tie some lights to your feet.
Only half the users who bought GOW 2 had hdtv's? Where is the data to back this up?
The data comes from the console owner, playing online all sorts of player data is cataloged this isn't an MS thing Steam, PSN etc all do it
I'm thinking...
Xbox 720 and Xbox 720 N (for Europe)
Xbox 720p
the p could stand for microsofts talking paperclip
@coyo t
He needs his own adventure game. NOW.
Guns wins over fist/
Ps3 = 1
Xbox 360 = 0
Next
What guns? Youre using plastic. Natal scans any item to be used. See the skateboard in the video?
So? Rein said or concluded that "Natal would win in a fight with Sony's motion controller, but only if it was a kickboxing fight, "because it can see you kicking."
Meaning if it was shooting Ps3 1:1 accuracy would be a better choice, no?
I heard the natal was pretty accurate what does it matter ,when you got akimbo guns(ps3 cant do akimbo,headbutting ,and kicking and shouting,and biting all at the same time),and there like (a maybe) difference of like 5%,i like to see who would win in a online game against a pc/natal setup(as natal is coming for pc too) pc/xbox vs ps3 using motion control i bet a natal would win
Not unless your in a empty room by your self with no furniture, people or objects and i don't see that happening and also Ps3 eye will be able recognize movement and voice, while your looking for another object to use i'll just say "nuclear launcher" and bam your gone.
Actually, Natal does voice recognition and face recognition--and by the time the PS3 has processed the data, you'd already be dead. Natal does a lot of the processing itself. The EyeToy is just a camera and mic. The PS3 has to do all the processing on its own.
Agreed. It's Sony's time to shine. Natal, to me, does not look like it will be enjoyable to use. It looks even more gimmicky and less tangible than the Wii's motion control.
On top of that, Xbox 360's capabilities, as far as graphics go, have already been met by the games currently offered. Playstation 3, however, is nowhere close. The reason it seems like the PS3 is being pushed by current graphics is because developers haven't been able to fully utilize the power of the PS3. Sony did this on purpose: they made the SDK difficult to develop with so that over time it would appear that the graphics just kept improving instead of plateau-ing like the 360 already has.
Sony's millimeter tracking wins for now. I liked the demo with the guy shooting the bow and arrow with such great accuracy. Yea they're gonna have it for 360 also but it looked a little off when that Bono dude was playing that one soccer game on Jimmy Falon.
I can't wait for the "Xbox Whatever"!
LOL XBOX WHATEVER
LOOK AT ME GUYS IM USING CAPS LOCK. its not always necessary...
Its a fact that most of these people who plays VG still do not have HDTV.
Thus it is pointless getting a blu-ray if u have a shiety tv and not worth getting a ps3.
not sure about pointless since blu-ray has more to offer than just pixel resolution
Most of this sounds like total BS. I trust Microsoft a little bit more than a third party dev...
And as far as 1/2 of all GoW2 are on non HDTV's... I find that hard to believe... I don't know a single person that runs their 360 completely on a SDTV, most either move it or it's on a HDTV that supports 720p at least.
most of my friends run their consoles on a sdtv. most because we cant afford nice tv's because we spent our money on the consoles.
I bought my son an Xbox. His runs on a large SDTV. I run my Xbox on a 22 monitor.
Drew, you are aware that, even in the US less than 35% of households have even 1 HDTV.
I think japan is over 50%, and Europe is less than 30%.
For the total market that the 360 is available in I would be surprised if the average HDTV adoption was as high as 20%.
may I ask why you trust microsoft more?
So, your friends are an accurate statistics? You probably must be friends with the whole world.
Honestly I did not buy a PS3 and 360 until after I got my HDTV. I felt there was no point to buying a HD console until I actually had the means to game in HD.
Ditto
I use my 19" monitor. Works a treat.
Wouldnt the sony thing also see you kicking since that uses a camera also?
Yeah it would, heh, you're the first to catch on. Stupid VP I guess. Both are cameras essentially. Both have the ability to see the whole body.... and for all the people talking about scanning and what not... " biting, shouting, and kicking" all at the same time? Wait really. Boxing games have that now. You're stupid, but I won't mention your name for the sake of it.
Yes, they can both "see" the whole body--but Natal is not just a camera. It does most of the processing its own--and IT is the one doing facial recognition, voice recognition, and determining position of limbs. That's a lot of work--and I seriously doubt that the PS3 is going to be able to do all that, while simultaneously rendering high quality sound and 3D animation at 30+ fps.
Supposably, Natal has a laser rangefinder or 2nd camera. In other words, it can detect depth, where the PS3 can only detect object size. So no, there is a difference.
Take that, Wii.
This whole "You are the controller" crazyness is really starting to scare me. At first, I was like ah, whatever... its a niche market and only marketed for people who don't like, or don't have the coordination to control videogames... Basically people who have a Wii, who think controllers "have too many buttons" etc.
But more and more I am hearing from people that matter, people like Epic in this example... talking about how this is the direction of where videogames are headed. And as I stated above... That absolutely scares the ever living sh*t out of me. I don't want to be a controller! NO, that is not what I, as a gamer, want in videogames. Why in the hell would I want to work up a sweat, jumping through hoops, kicking, punching, basically acting like a god damned bafoon... just to kind of control my character in a videogame??? How does this offer me a better experience, or worst yet, better control over a standard controller?
I got news for these dopes who keep promoting Natal and the likes as the "next big thing." Real gamers like me don't want this... what we want is virtual reality, where you feel immersed in the game, but don't actually have to be acting a fool to accomplish it. Think of the Matrix, and then you'll know where I want videogames to go. Now that is what I call f'ing immersion and control. Not jumping around waving a childish "wii-mote" or "wand" or whatever the hell it is.
"I don't want to be a controller! NO, that is not what I, as a gamer, want in videogames."
Fortunately, you are correct. This is not what YOU want.
The rest of us are drooling.
@ Sisyphus:
In writing that, I knew this would come up. Yes, I know its merely my opinion... And Yes, I am aware that I could be the only one that feels like this... which is why I stated I AM scared sh*tless. All this time, I have been very quiet on this subject... hoping it would go away. But as days/weeks/months pass, the talks have only gotten louder and louder.
And one can only ask, WHY!? As far as I know, actual "GAMERS" have nothing but bad things to say about the Wii. And before that issue comes up... Let me clarify that I have tried the Wii and I thought it was full of suck. My best reasoning is simply that you feel like you have a lot LESS control over what's happening as opposed to actual controllers. Also, as stated, because I don't want to be running up walls, kicking and punching, jumping like a monkey, etc... just to barely achieve what I could instantly with a few button presses. The whole idea is completely assinine.
I see where some people love the Wii. People that have difficulty using controllers with buttons... Old people, young kids, adults who don't really like video games... etc. But for people that need pinpoint precision controlling when playing a videogame... This "I am the controller" business is FAIL and I'm sick of hearing about it. I would love to see a poll of actual gamers and where they stand on this subject.
Let me ask you a simple question Sisyphus to help me understand... why are you "drooling" over this?
Drooling? Drooling over....this???? Or are people who like this just the type of people who drool in day-to-day activities?
What is there to drool over, my god, the quality of video games is going down the shitter.
"Hey all, lets sacrifice gameplay and quality and introduce motion control that will never be what we envision it to be!!"
Look at motion control games for the Wii. Holy Garbage dude, you don't EVEN CONTROL THE CHARACTERS LEGS. In most of the titles I see, ping-pong, basketball, baseball, etc.... you get to, drum roll please, control the characters arm. His ARM.
Wow motion-control, you sure are taking video games to the next level. How about 20 levels back.
Natal? Even if it is better then current motion control, it will still be decades behind in the level of quality gamers are used to.
What a complete waste of resources.
@ Freedom Town:
Exactly. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone here.
Drooling!? Wow. Just, wow. The gaming industry is destined for sh*t quality games full of short-term profit, all the while alienating its hardcore audience... Yeaaah, that's definitely drool-worthy.
@SkoGoody
I play games pretty often but don't consider myself an "avid" gamer but I have been playing lots of games since the SNES came out. I know that this may seem ridiculous to you "gamers," but the latest game that I have been playing a lot is Mario Kart Wii. I have mastered it using the nunchuck,which really doesn't require use of accelerometers except for shake to do a trick and pull up to do a wheelie. I have tried to use the wheel before (the wiimote turned horizontal and you steer the character by turning the wiimote left and right like a steering wheel, for those of you who don't know), but I didn't like it.
My complaints about the wheel were 1) There was no feedback whatsoever telling me that I have turned too much, so I always overturned which messed up my gaming, 2) It seemed much more inaccurate compared to the nunchuck analog stick, and 3) I couldn't just sit back and relax on the couch.
I stopped using the wheel completely for a while but picked it up again. I realized that, unlike you said, you can have incredibly accurate control when you get used to it. I have managed to get as good at it as I did with the wiimote/nunchuck combo in about a week and I have the same accuracy levels as I do with the nunchuck. It just takes practice and control. I haven't tried the WiiMotionPlus, but I'm sure that gives you even more accuracy and control in the games that support it.
So the only problem I have with the wheel now is that I can't completely relax on the couch, which I don't mind too much. If I want to have a leisurely race with friends and relax, I'll use the nunchuck, but otherwise the wheel is actually really fun!
You make a valid point. If Microsoft think that Natal is going to save them then they must be stuck in a daze. Here are some reasons why Natal will never live up to its name:
1. The reason the Wii succeded is because the console was ACTUALLY BUILT FOR MOTION CONTROL. And some games I own for the Wii (Yes, I have a Wii) do not require much use of motion control.
2. It's only half-way in to the Xbox's life-span. Even Sega didn't realese the Genesis add-ons till somewhere near the end of the system's life.
3. Console add-ons never succed. NEVER.
4.How much is it gonna cost? The WiiMote only costs like $20 or so. And if this thing is over $70. I'm not buying it.
5. What game is going to support it? Most games for 360 a made to played while sitting on your ass. Can you imagine Street Fighter on Natal. Just make sure you don't "Hadoken" your friend, or TV
Let this be a reminder to all the Natal fans out there (and you too Vitality Sensor.). This is nothing more than a failed attempt for Microsoft to rape your wallet for all it's cash
you can see a video demo on http://www.ilogan.info/microsoft-une-nouvelle-facon-de-jouer-a-des-jeux-video/
here's the real issue....GOW2 sucks, on any TV.
I can understand Microsoft and Sony would want to hang onto their current platforms, but why wouldn't Nintendo come out with a new console just to screw over Microsoft and Sony?
They would given the perfect time frame.
Sales are strong and if R&D says the future possesses an opportunity for the taking then Nintendo would act.
I doubt if we'll see any new console before 2014.....
I agree with the above poster though... i am not gonna buy an HD capable console before i get an HD display.
lol , well i got my full HD 24" display yesterday , so gotta start saving up for a console now ;)
Stupid ass comment that since they do nothave HDTV's than they do not need new consoles. As long as they always work on an SDTV what is the big deal? We who have invested in HDTV's should have to wait for people to get off their asses and buy a new TV? I don't think so.
SDTV = poor or stingy people
HDTV = guinea pigs.