A supposed leak from closed-door Microsoft meetings in the UK has made its way to
MCV, who has all sorts of new details on
Project Natal's launch next year. Rumor is that the device will be released worldwide in November 2010 (we've heard "late next year" before), with 5 million camera units ready for day one, included in solo and console-bundled SKUs. Word varies on the price, with some saying "under £50" (about $84 USD), while others say as low as £30, about $50 USD. Apparently Microsoft is aiming for "impulse buy" territory, and it makes sense to subsidize the unit and make that money back in games sales, like a regular console launch (which Microsoft sort of sees it as, in many ways). There are supposed to be 14 games readied for launch, but no specifics on which developers that've signed up for Natal work will be among those on launch day. It all sounds about right, though we of course won't know for sure until Microsoft goes into tell-all mode, which we expect will be a decent ways down the road if they can't even confirm a
silly WiFi adapter for the holidays without months of hand-wringing.
posted Nov 11th 2009 9:21AM
WOW, that has a long time to come...
If she comes with it, it will be worth the wait
She'll cost you $80 an hour too
$80/hr?? That's a steal!
Its really not that long if you think about it, they obviously aren't going to release it this Holiday season, so they'll likely launch it at the next (November 2010).
However, considering that MS charges a $100 for a WiFi N adapter and $150 for a 120GB harddrive; $50-80 sounds insanely cheap. Wish they could make the actually useful accessories for their device an "impulse buy".
$80/hr usually doesn't include tips for "extras"
Natal
**snicker, snicker**
A whole year? Come on. Sony's dil..wand comes out this March. Maybe MS wants to launch with loads of games. I was hoping an earlier date but the price seems very good.
You're forgetting Sony's tech actually exist and is ready to go now. Natal runs on magic and the laughter of children, do you have any idea how long it takes to collect that shit?!
Sony's dildo is being rushed, and probably will still work as crappily as the e3 demo. Had they spent more time on it, they could have found a better way to implement it than tracking a glowing ballsack.
I have an idea, let's compare two slightly similar products that operate on COMPLETELY different technologies and then ridicule one of them for getting to market late without knowing anything about them other than what we've seen in demos.
Before that can we actually see real people interacting with this tech that isn't a tech demo?
Microsoft confirmed the wireless adapter yesterday. Heck you can buy it today.
@Anthony La, my friend got to use it. It's as good as it is in those tech demos.
I'm just wondering how it handles multiple people.
Jimmy Falon had it on his show where the guys from ms came in and all the guest played it.
Natal on Late Night: http://www.hulu.com/watch/77038/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-project-natal-demo
@Templarian
I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to make it double ended. ;)
I think if they price it cheap enough it may be successful. Although I'm really not sure which route MS will go with pricing--either really cheap like their arcade or expensive like their console add-ons (Hdd, wireless adapter). But subsidizing the price seems to make sense to get the adoption rate up.
I think if its cheap, Sony will have to make their controller priced cheap as well. But I'm guessing Sony is going to sell theirs for $50 for one controller. If thats the case, I think they'll really shoot themselves in the foot like they did with the DS3 overpriced chat pad that they are selling for $50. If Sony were to bundle 2 wands for $50 then I think they might do alright.
Price is certainly be an issue for Sony with the wand. One would like to think they would bundle at least a couple of these wands together, for the $50 you mention, but experience on how Sony has dealt with controllers this gen, suggests differently.
A Wii-mote already runs $40, and an additional $25 gets you the Wii MotionPlus which upgrades the Wii-mote to the same one-for-one type control that Sony's wand will deliver when it ships next year. Together, that's $65 for the Nintendo version of Sony's wand, so we can safely say that one Sony wand will likely cost in the same ballpark. So at $50 to $65 for a single wand, Sony may want to take yet another page from the Nintendo handbook, and bundle some cheap mini-game collection with a wand, ala the Wii Play bundle. The package of mini-games will certainly make the price of a single wand that much easier to swallow.
Then with Sony's wand, you still have to buy the Playstation Eye camera, and that is going to set you back another $40.
Interestingly enough, the Playstation Eye + EyePet bundle, is slated to hit retail next spring (in early April) for $60, suggesting that Sony has no plans to subsidize price of the camera. Which makes a lot of sense when you consider Sony is still has a long way to go, digging themselves out of the fiscal hole the PS3 has put them in to date. So unlike Microsoft who is actually making profit on their current-gen console, Sony is not in the best position on the planet to subsidize anything (which partially explains why PSP Go costs more than PSP 3000). So do not be surprised to see $100 Sony wand bundles packed with a single wand, a camera and a disc full of mini-games.
$100 for that package is not a bad value, but the rumor this article is reporting on, is the 3rd rumor (that I have heard so far) to surface from 'reliable' sources close to, or inside Microsoft, pointing out Microsoft's plans to sell Project Natal not only at a loss, but possibly as low as the sub-$50 price level ($49.99). Even without a bundle of mini-games, the technology and paradigm shift that Project Natal represents, is a steal at $50, and places it not only in the enviable position of making both Wii-mote and Sony wand look like dated tech, but at the price ($10 more than a Wii-mote; $50 less than a Sony wand bungle), it's definitely priced at a sweet spot to make anyone interested, seriously consider Project Natal as the option to spend their money on.
What really gets interesting however, is the options of bundling a low cost peripheral like Project Natal, with console hardware. The 360 Arcade SKU currently retails at $199.99 and has done so since September of 2008. Come September 2010 (two months before Natal is speculated to ship), it will be ripe for a $50 price drop. Now bundle that with a $50 Project Natal bundle, and for $199.99 Microsoft may finally have the hardware bundle they have needed all along to finally give Wii a run for it's money. Not saying that they will as there are other factors at play, just observing that if things fall into place like so, the 360 + Project Natal bundle will be retailing for the same price as the Wii. If given the choice of waggle control on a console that does not properly support their HDTVs, or 'next-gen' hands-free motion control on a console that supports HDTV, there is the possibility that Wii may lose it's appeal in the face of such competition.
If Wii sales remain strong, then Nintendo is not likely to lower price. And if the rumors are true of a new Wii model surfacing next spring (in Japan), then not only is a 2010 Wii price drop likely out of the picture, but there is the strong possibility of a Wii price hike to accommodate the introduction of the new model. If it works out like it has to date with each new DS update (DSLite, DSi, and DSi XL), then a newer version of Wii (potentially with an HDD or SSD for digital distribution and TV/movies/music streaming, plus a new Wii-mote with Wii Motion Plus standardized) early next year, could push recently slumping Wii sales, back up into the stratosphere. And then you are looking at Nintendo being in a position where they will not feel the need to reduce the price of Wii at all in 2010 - and rightfully so.
It definitely is looking more and more likely that we will be looking at direct face/off between a $200 Wii vs. a $200 Natal 360. It will certainly prove interesting at that point, to see which way the consumer base will head when posed with the question of brand loyalty to Nintendo, or option for the superior system and superior motion controller from a competing brand . . . both priced at the exact same price point. With rumor suggesting that Microsoft may take yet another page from Nintendo/Apple and market Project Natal in much the same way that Nintendo has been marketing Wii, things should definitely prove interesting next fall. With Microsoft aping Wii's marketing, I wonder just how many consumers will confuse the Natal 360 bundle with being a 2nd gen Wii?
I don't understand why there is so much hype in natal? i don't see engadget coming with such hype regarding the playstation eye. I'm just paranoid.
Plus, xbox should have done three things that they havent done
1.) Create a more efficient and compact xbox 360
2.) make it as cheap as ps2
3.) They should have changed theur revenue to live membership and games royalty, not consoles. Or maybe they are just too cheap to do all the above.
If early reviews are good I could see buying a 360 for this. Tech demos seem awesome but I am eager to see what happens when the real games are released.
Oh Project Natal, it's kinda hard to get excited over an addon for a console where most of your friendliest was banned in the last two weeks.
I suggest you get some friends who don't break the Terms of Use then.
No sympathy for them.
There are plenty of other people on Live you can add to your friends list to play with.
You cheat, you get banned. It's a simple and effective system. A system that needs to be in place for a better online environment.
That's what they get for using pirated copies online.
They MUST be working on a better console. I got my PS3 robbed and haven't even considered replacing it with an XBOX 'cos the thing's SO big and loud! ugh.
What world do you live in? PS3 is way bigger than the X-Box 360 and it's super quiet when you run the game off the hard drive.
You obviously haven't seen the slim then.
They are about the same size, why because you don't live in a cardboard box where space actually matters.
They're Hard drives are over priced. So yeah, I bet this will be priced as an impulse buy.
cmon Microsoft, youre not Apple keeping secrets :P
This device is dead in the water even before it comes out. I love my X-Box 360 but I won't be buying this to stand around and look weird with gestures. You need a physical device like the Wiimote or PS3's Wand to play games no question. There is a huge delay playing with it that all videos show. This is an over hyped product that doesn't have a market for (Unless there going to do Video Chat in Games which is a waste anyway). I'm sorry I don't see myself talking to a virtual character named Milo and going over the tv and giving him a piece of paper. If I wanted physical activity after a long day of work I would go to the gym or outside. Will this make money yes will you playing it after the "Coolness" factor wears off NO. The Eyetoy for PS2 and X-Box Camera failed why even make this.
Who shit in your cornflakes?
@John I don't eat cornflakes. Nor am I speaking in a loud tone. I'm just typing normal just saying my opinion. Now move along TROLL.
Come on, you gotta admit the "cornflakes" thing was pretty funny. People in the study room are giving me odd looks from lmao. =X
"This device is dead in the water even before it comes out. I love my X-Box 360 but I won't be buying this to stand around and look weird with gestures."
#1 Who are you?
#2 Why does the sucess of this product somehow hinge on your personal hang-up of not wanting to interact with it in a way that you thinks makes you look silly?
As if you look "normal" holding a hunk of plastic with 8 buttons and a cord.
@N900 Your right it was kinda funny. LOL!
@Look_Around_You
1) Why do you want to know are you stalking me?
2)Mind you people have been holding remotes with and without cords for years and enjoy it. TV Remotes, Gaming Remotes, and even the mouse your using is a remote and how is that not Normal?!
You still haven't put up a case where you would even want to buy this. Look at the past results all fails so why even try this one that's the same as the others. By the way your second statement makes no sense. "Personal Hangup on not wanting to Interact". Aren't we interacting as we type or when we are on phones? Like I said this is a fail.
there is no coolness factor when you're playing motion-sensor games. It's about enjoyability, dude. That's why the Eye-Toy is still around even though you think it "failed". So yea, someone DID dump a load in your cornflakes. A HUGE load.
You playing these things in public areas xey?
Otherwise what do you care what you look like while playing it IF you are having fun. I am not sold on the device, but I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt at least until I've tried it.
"1) Why do you want to know are you stalking me?"
Because I want to know what type of person you think you are where you think that somehow this product is useless to the entire population because YOU personally dont want it.
"2)Mind you people have been holding remotes with and without cords for years and enjoy it. TV Remotes, Gaming Remotes, and even the mouse your using is a remote and how is that not Normal?!"
Are you really asking something this stupid? So because we have been using "corded" controls for years, we have no reason to explore new controlling methods.
Better toss those touch-screen phones in the trash, because we cant rid ourselves of them button phones.
"You still haven't put up a case where you would even want to buy this."
Because The method of controlling things from games to software applications using the precision that was demonstrated will be an incredible leap. I envision using it to control my entertainment center without having to use a wireless mouse/remote that keeps getting lost.
" Look at the past results all fails so why even try this one that's the same as the others."
Can you explain to me how you would even remotely know this?
" By the way your second statement makes no sense. "Personal Hangup on not wanting to Interact". Aren't we interacting as we type or when we are on phones? Like I said this is a fail."
Wha? You statement was the same douche statement that all of these others use about not wanting to look "stupid" waving your arms in the air. Ok, you think you are too cool for this, then dont buy it.
I just got a Jasper and have to say that if you install the games to the hard drive the thing is really quiet.
I am simply not interested at all. I thought the Wii remote would revolutionize gaming when it came out, but count me in the underwhelmed category. I much prefer playing my Wii with the traditional NES-style controls. Maybe in about 10-20 years this stuff will be ready for primetime, but no way is it ready right now.
I do not understand where all of this hype is coming from,
I dont know about you guys but Natal does not interest me in any way...
So I can buy two Natal high tech 3d motion capturing, facial recognising, voice processing cameras...
Or a wireless adapter?
THE CHOICES!
Or you can buy neither because there both wastes of money. Run a wire to the X-Box 360. That's it. You just saved yourself money. Your welcome. LOL!!!!
What's on the hard drive???
i dunno i was just gonna ask the same thing? maybe its a terabyte hd!
Same Thing I was wondering
That's what the Xbox development kits look like.
It will only be an impulse buy if the games that come out with it are compelling.