http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/ Engadget Comments for THQ's CEO joins the fun, says Natal is coming "late next year" http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 4:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
With the massive cost cutting, revenue and profits declines, and layoffs wasting more billions on new Xbox hardware wasn't going to happen. They pretty much had two choices. Can the Xbox mess or try to repackage the existing hardware like Nintendo did with the Wii. Microsoft is trying option 2 but with Sony EyeToy style tech instead of the Wiimote.

A console add on to the worst console hardware ever made that hasn't shown a single game being played with it in real world conditions like Nintendo did when they blew everyone away at E3 with the Wii unveiling that was playable by anyone attending E3. That screams nothing but fail.

As anyone who as played with Sony's EyeToy has seen, it's interesting tech but waving your hands around gets old real quick and is no substitute for high quality exclusives with incredible graphics.

Microsoft has an absurdly weak first party lineup - no Miyamoto's putting out motion control masterpieces. Just Turn 10, Rare, and Lionhead - not Miyamoto quality developers.

The 360 is getting embarrassed by the PS3 graphically with games like Killzone 2,Uncharted 2,God of War 3, and The Last Guardian.

And virtually every 360 'exclusive' has PC versions with much better graphics.

EyeToy style motion controls coming out in a year and a half aren't going to save the 360.


]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Perhaps if they have something real come next E3 that is actually playable by the general public attending the show, but right now it is looking like another Sega 32X type add-on. Worth more as something to sell years later in a sealed box as a collectors item than an actual gaming device.

]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 6:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 6:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Alternatively you could just realise you're out of your depth and shut the fuck up.

]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
The EyeToy stuff of course works. No one is disputing that since everyone has seen it working on the PS2 all the way back in 2003.

It is amazing that this motion control junk is all the 360 has to hype. Certainly explains the reason there is such a desperate attempt to hype the crap.

]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 9:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Simples.]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 4:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 4:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Games that have both regular controls and Natal controls are bound to be half assed.

Its unlikely to be the next gen Xbox either. Sony have said they expect the PS3 to have a 10 year lifecycle so it doesnt make sense for M$ to outlay hundreds of millions in R&D building and marketing a new xbox with Natal inbuilt.

I just dont think its going to work lol, i dont know why they even bothered, Wii controls suck ass, they should of kept natal under wrapped and wowed us all when they introduce the xbox 3 in 2012 or whenever they do.]]>Jul 29th 2009 4:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 5:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Games that have both regular controls and Natal controls are bound to be half assed.

Its unlikely to be the next gen Xbox either. Sony have said they expect the PS3 to have a 10 year lifecycle so it doesnt make sense for M$ to outlay hundreds of millions in R&D building and marketing a new xbox with Natal inbuilt.

I just dont think its going to work lol, i dont know why they even bothered, Wii controls suck ass, they should of kept natal under wrapped and wowed us all when they introduce the xbox 3 in 2012 or whenever they do.]]>Jul 29th 2009 4:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
If they don't include it in every console, they better give it a $40 price point, but that's highly unlikely. I doubt any major developer would bother making full fledged disc copies of games to incorporate Natal; I personally think that the games based on this technology will be sold via Marketplace for around the $15 price range, maybe a little more.

It'd be a shame if something this advanced fails, but I think Microsoft will market it well, especially during the holidays with some sort of Xbox Live and game bundle]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
It don't need to be next gen Xbox , just 360 with natal built-in.]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Microsoft failed by trying to pass of rigged/scripted demos as real, no games that would make anyone but existing hardcore Xbox fans want the tech for, and no public access to the motion controls, just closed door carefully selected and controlled press viewings and a paid for marketing spot on TV.

The Sony EyeToy stuff Microsoft showed off obviously works. It's been working for years on the PS2 and PS3 already. It's the fake BS they piled on top of it that they got caught faking at E3 that is the problem for Microsoft.

There really isn't anything else to look forward to on the 360, so this Sony EyeToy style motion control stuff is getting latched onto with desperation. The tiny first party developer lineup Microsoft has resulted in the absurdly anemic exclusive release list the 360 has in 2009 and beyond. Graphically the 360 is has been destroyed by the PS3 this gen and there is nothing that is going to change that in 2009 and beyond.

Dangling this motion controller tech out there is a nice way for Microsoft to keep the existing userbase from abandoning the platform and depriving Microsoft the massive revenue from the suckers paying 50 bucks a year for the shoddy Xbox online service and help recover a bit of the 7 or 8 billion dollars wasted on the Xbox since 2001.

]]>Jul 29th 2009 6:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 7:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
*sigh*

There was a time when people discussing tech actually valued sounding sane. Now all of Gen-Y has access to these places, and all bets are ff.]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
I think you're confusing Microsoft and Sony.

Sony
PS2 = 1st
Sony PS3 = Started last, lost momentum, and continues to loose momentum.

Microsoft
XBox = last
Xbox360 = Strong 2nd and gaining. (1st in HD consoles)

]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/have you noticed on both the 'Milo project' and 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' they are waring RED OUTFITS!

perhaps 'Natal' can only see RED items at the moment!!?
]]>Jul 29th 2009 7:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
They were in a studio, with a busier than normal background, and the suits helped the device lock onto people better.

And even in the video, I assume you actually watched, fallon even said the suits weren't necessary.]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Then why didn't they prove it... hmmm.]]>Jul 29th 2009 8:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/

But hey, why let facts interfere with a good FUD campaign. ]]>Jul 29th 2009 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Just stop it, ok?

You dont like the device, fine. Dont buy it. Just one more available for everyone else that wants one.]]>Jul 29th 2009 9:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Don't get all worked up, just have the peace of mind that they are probably this kid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXGB4189io

You could just tell him to look back at some of the Engadget articles about how THEY tested it too.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/project-natal-video-hands-on-impressions-and-further-details/

Lotta people drinking haterade I tell ya.]]>Jul 29th 2009 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 7:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/I remember when Hi-Def boxes were bigger than the TV, that's just all the equipment to decode a 1080p signal, and now we have a tiny chip in a phone to decode it (tegra).

Granted, that was years ago (when plasma tvs just came out)

But maybe in a year, the technology will be able to fit in the webcam itself? Not sure about pumping the video fast enough though, I recon it does more than 30fps otherwise, why put only 1.3MP? Surely a 2MP would retain the quality but get slightly more accurate.]]>Jul 29th 2009 7:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
"that huge video/HD interface" Is part of the dev kit, All SDK 360's have them. ]]>Jul 29th 2009 9:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 8:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
Remember when Motion Control wouldn't last and it was just a gimmick? Boy have the tables turned.]]>Jul 29th 2009 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 11:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 9:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09-yAnwiIRU&feature=related]]>Jul 29th 2009 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/
I mean there's PS3 fanboyism and then there's just plain stupidity.

The PS3 is STILL and by the looks of things will ALWAYS be last for this generation. The graphics on my PS3 are hardly noticeably better than on my 360, my copy of Bad Company looks a lot better on my 360 since it's up-scaled to 1080p rather than just being left at 720p like my PS3. So where's the argument?

You can't argue on graphics.
You can't argue on storage space because the Blu-ray games are filled with dummy data because the drive is too slow to read when the games alone are put on the discs (around 10GB max of actual game data)
You can't argue that the PS3 is ahead of the 360 because the PS3 sales are abysmal.]]>Jul 29th 2009 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/thqs-ceo-joins-the-fun-says-natal-is-coming-late-next-year/Jul 29th 2009 11:37AM