5 things that’d make Project Natal a worthy technology
What does Natal need to succeed?
Microsoft's Project Natal has been getting mixed responses lately. Some critics liken it to an elaborate Sony EyeToy, whilst others see it as a Wii-like motion control gimmick. Those who like it tend to brush it off as a child's toy. So is there any hope of making Natal an interesting method of control for gaming enthusiasts? I've created a list of the things I'd like developers to implement in their upcoming titles, bar the cliché EyeToy-like functionality.
5. Voice navigation
The major drawback with the existing controller is that you have to click through multiple dialogues/menus to get to where you want. The Natal device has an inbuilt microphone which allows it to capture audio. I don't see why Natal couldn't be used to navigate the consoles various menus via voice recognition, similar to the Microsoft Auto powered Ford Sync technology. Wouldn't it be great to be in the middle of your favourite game, and be able to say "natal music Guns 'n' Roses" and have it play that album? I think so. Especially if you're busy shooting the crap out of a horde of oncoming aliens. And let's face it, who doesn't like an upbeat soundtrack to compliment their multi-kill streak?
But music isn't the only thing that could benefit. You could ask it to save your game progress at a specific instance, pause the game, take you to a specific section of your dashboard, or perhaps help with parts of the game such as answering the phone in GTAIV.
Of course, if this was implemented, it'd be available to those with existing headsets too. So even those without the money to buy the latest Natal kit will have something to look forward to.
4. Automatic account switching
If an Xbox 360 is shared among multiple people, they'll naturally want to be able to sign into their own Live accounts, and access their own save files. Microsoft's official Natal site shows that the Natal device is capable of distinguishing who is playing the console. If this tech can be linked to the switching of Live accounts, that'd be very handy.
3. Hand gestures
No, I'm not talking about waving your hand like a mad man trying to get a virtual fluffy bunny to catch flying carrots, but something more appealing to the enthusiast market. Hand gestures can be used for navigation. Say you want to navigate a menu; you could briefly flick your hand to the side. This would be particularly useful if the machine is being used for media purposes. Chances are that you won't have the controller in your hand, so searching through a list of songs and video clips would be much easier if you could merely get in sight of the Natal device and perform a few quick gestures.
It'd also be practical in-game, even for the quick paced first person shooter (FPS) genre. Games such as Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter rely on commanding AI team mates. The gamer could briefly signal the AI to do his/her bidding, using recognised squad hand gestures.
2. Head tracking
This would be an awesome addition to games where a player controls transportation machines such as cars or planes. For instance, in regards to flight simulators, the gamer wants to be able to quickly see to either side. Unfortunately, gamepads are a bit fiddly in this regard, particularly if you're already concentrating on manoeuvring the plane. To combat this drawback, a device by the name of TrackIR was developed on the PC platform. To put it simply, it tracks head movement so you can naturally move your head to the side, and the game replicates this so that you're looking to the side in-game. Implementing this into Natal would be quite an awesome feature to play around with.
FPS gamers may also find this beneficial. Being able to quickly look to the side may give them the upper hand in combat. It may even reduce eye strain, since moving your head will cause your eyes to move around to maintain focus on the screen, thus preventing them from staying in the one position for a significant period of time.
1. Noise and emotion integration
Natal's product demonstrations, in particular the Milo video, showcase the ability for gamer emotions to be recognised. Now what if this, in addition to sound, could be used to alter the atmosphere of a game? Think zombies. Say you're playing Left 4 Dead with friends online, and one of you gets caught off guard. And they scream like a little girl. Now imagine that this attracts more zombies to that particular player. But, that's not all. What if the completely freaked out face that this guy is pulling is replicated by the on-screen player? That'd be awesome and humorous. It'd also be quite cool to have a group of players with a massive grin on their faces as they plow through hordes of the undead. Now that's gaming.
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You may have noticed that all of my suggestions compliment the existing physical controller. I honestly don't think many gamers are interested in swapping their gamepad out for a virtual control system. Sure, it'll entice some of the Wii and EyeToy users over to the Xbox 360 camp, but there's so much more that they can do with this system. My main point is that Microsoft and its partners should not neglect the market they've already set up. By enhancing what they have, the new Natal technology won't be just another kids toy, but instead an extension of both traditional control schemes and the overall target market. That's what will make Project Natal a success.
That being said, there's always the opportunity to create games which rely solely on the Natal technology. These would be perfect for those who want to muck around, i.e. casual gamers. As long as Microsoft recognises the difference in markets, and doesn't force this "controller-free" experience down people's throats, they may be onto something revolutionary.
Have any other great ideas for Project Natal to implement? Let us know in the comments section below!
