Hideo Kojima talks making hardcore Natal games for Xbox 360
Motion-sensing control systems aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Which is why although the Wii has sold extremely well in its short life Nintendo hasn’t managed to get us all waggling or Remotes. But, love them or hate them, motion-sensing control systems are a part of the present and future of gaming with Nintendo having already adopted it for both the Wii and DS and both Sony and Microsoft prepping similar efforts for the PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively.
Both companies have been showing off their upcoming motion-sensing control systems at the Tokyo Game Show. But while the PS3 Wand is interesting enough, it’s Microsoft’s Natal on the Xbox 360 which is eliciting the most excitement. And rather tellingly, this is excitement coming from the best games developers in the world rather than consumers.
One man clearly interested in developing games for Natal on the Xbox 360 is Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima. In many ways, the Metal Gear series changed gaming, with its innovative use of the environment and desire to make the gamer think about the best way to handle a situation rather than go in all guns blazing. And Kojima sees Natal as a useful tool in creating new experiences and innovating once again.
Gamasutra reports that while speaking at a special Microsoft panel at the Tokyo Game Show, Kojima said:
[Natal is] like the 2D to 3D shift, or the first time that I ever played with Family Computer [NES]. I wanted to share my surprise to everybody… but I had to restrain myself. [It] has the potential to change everyone’s lifestyle dramatically. [I want to make] a completely innovative game that nobody has thought of in the past.. but I have core users who are my fans, so I do not want to leave them behind.
He has since followed up on these comments by telling Kotaku:
I am very interested in Natal. It seems like magic. I’m not interested in making Natal games for casual users, but I’m interested in making games that hardcore users always wanted to play. I want to make a core game experience on Natal — something that, like a Halo or Gears of War or, of course, like Metal Gear Solid, is a core experience. It’s not like I just want to make an FPS. And I don’t want to make something that’s very simple. I want to make something that is deep for players. I want to give them something that is a deeper experience with Natal.
Kojima is clearly excited at the prospect of developing games for Natal. Describing it as like the shift from 2D to 3D is high praise indeed and shows that developers are seeing Natal as something much more important than either the Wii Remote or the PS3 Wand. And I can see why as Natal removes the need for a controller altogether, and that is truly revolutionary.
I personally cannot wait to see what Kojima comes up with for Natal. And I suspect he won’t be the only big-name developer eager to innovate using the new technology. Natal is due out sometime in 2010 but I’m guessing it’ll be another year or two until we see the system truly being used as intended.
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23 Responses to “Hideo Kojima talks making hardcore Natal games for Xbox 360”
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September 26th, 2009
I’m glad to see it won’t just be the casual market because that’s what would put me off.
I’d love something along the lines of the older resident evil games where you have to reach out and touch things within the game. Something really intense
September 26th, 2009
Yeah Natal is going to be awesome. I really was not about this motion control and thought it to be a gimic based on Nintendo’s efforts but Microsoft dropped Natal at E3 I was really blown away. That video really opened your mind to the possibilities that Natal can do. It really changes everything for Microsoft because games will expand on gameplay, features, creativity, and dame I can’t wait to see the possibilities. Third party titles will no longer be the same on different systems as Natal will make it a different experience for the 360 as oppose to it’s compitition. Because really guys the PS3 wand is nothing more then a Wii Mote with a light bulb on top that has better accuracy. But yeah Natal will be awesome and all the big companies are on board and even Activision said that any obstical that was in there mind is no longer there. That is great news because I could not imagine FPS with Natal but after watching more games running with natal I think I get it.
September 26th, 2009
The PS3 has had basic motion tracking available through the PSeye since soon after launch. I don’t think they were aware of how a dedicated approach to motion sensing through optics, as the Natal is doing, could move gaming forward and excite developers and gamers alike.
As I have said before, I don’t believe the PSeye, with its single lens, to be as capable as the stereoscopic Natal in the long run, but to fair to Sony, they have had active optical motion recognition in their stable for a few years now. GT5 will use the PSeye for headtracking when it hits the market, a feature that surely was implemented after whiffs of Natal started going around.
Natal is a dedicated approach, as opposed to a system capability that never got any press (PSeye), and that alone will elevate its abilities above and beyond what Sony currently offers. If it proves revolutionary (and of course, financially successful) enough, I am sure it will become an industry standard that any system will need to compete.
The wand can go to hell. I didn’t buy a PS3 so I could have a black WiiMote in my livingroom.
September 27th, 2009
Nice post and well said Jofa. I agree that there was less focus and resources behind PSeye than there seems to be with Natal and the Sony wand, but I think both have their places. I still think it will be some time before they become industry standard, so to speak, but at the same time, if one system can do something well, why not try to recreate or even tweak that experience on another system (similar to the trophy scenario)?
Perhaps one of the most intriguing paradigms for this tech is the martial arts. Not only direct translation to screen of your body movement, but also reading gestures/techniques. While tech can read your body movement, it can also teach you how to be more skillful.
Technically, if Natal is as advanced as it is advertised as being, their are exponentially more potential movements in just one of your hands vice a traditional controller, let alone the body.
Yet Sony’s wand has extreme potential as well as the Wii’s, considering, at least in the martial perspective, staff, stick, sword, knife, bow, and even guns, let alone all the various sports items currently being utlized. This is at least as important as touch has been for the DS, or iPhone, yet I still agree it’s success depends upon how well individual manufacturer’s support it and how well it is executed.
I still think this is a nascent technology, but as it moves from supplementary to primary to perhaps full control in at least some games, maybe at least a few gamers could see some pretty astonishing results in the real world as well.
September 27th, 2009
Carl B
I don’t believe that the controller will ever go away especially with Natal or the PS3 wand if anything it will probably be an option for controls.
September 27th, 2009
Even Nintendo has classic controllers as an option.
September 27th, 2009
I’m still not buying (figuratively or literally)it until I play something that is amazing that uses either natal or the ps3 wand.
As a supplement to ‘regular’ controllers, maybe ill bite. When I watched the video of those guys playing burnout I couldn’t help but think how disconnected I would feel. No rumble, but most importantly nothing to hold, no stick that can only be ‘pushed so far’. Anywhoos, I suppose we’ll see how it goes. Maybe someone will surprise me.
September 27th, 2009
I wonder how much the finance department at MS are wondering if Natal might end up being a shot in the foot for them seeing as natal now does away with the need for accessories – a very lucrative income stream otherwise.
September 27th, 2009
lucrative income stream? Are U kidding me! What a plug and play kit or a charge station which there are plenty of third party suppliers such as Niko or Madcatz. Lets be real controllers aren’t going anywhere. Some games still need them because I could not imagine me and 3 other buddies playing NBA Streets with Natal or some WWE with natal even though Natal wresteling may be cool. Who’s down for royal rumble in the livingroom.
September 27th, 2009
So cad how was life without the blorge??
September 27th, 2009
‘Who’s down for royal rumble in the livingroom.’
I would pay to see people ‘air wrestling’!
I agree with you about the controller thing, they’re not going away, plus on top of that I believe that people want to ‘hold’ something. So MS/3rd parties could fire out a variety of things such as ‘air’ steering wheels etc etc (presuming they would work with natal).
September 27th, 2009
SW royal rumble has law suit written all over it lol
September 27th, 2009
I agree CAD, even if it does happen retro will always be there. I couldn’t see it really taking off for another decade or so, but who knows at the rate tech is advancing.
September 27th, 2009
I cant see it taking off by its own. not even 20 years from now.
I saw the way you play Space Invaders with NATAL, and it looked so stupid..raising your arms to shoot lol WTF?
but nata should be cool for some game (Heavy Rain will fit perfectly).
I like Sony’s Wand approach a bit better, with triggers, buttons and a magical ball that lets you know whats going on in the screen. and most important…and least you are hold on something and not just moving your arms and hands like a retard
September 27th, 2009
10-20 years from now it should be that neuroheadset, as long as it doesn’t fry your brain. Before then I think the Minority Report/Children of Men style controls should be much more popular.
September 28th, 2009
haha…Imagine a fighting me like that. you just order your character to kick his opponent’s ass.
here are a few commands:
-kick his ass
-punch him in nuts
-shoot at will (if guns are available)
-take his eye balls out
-do a 500 hit combo to finish him
September 28th, 2009
Kind of like Breach Bang Clear in SOCOM 1-3 single player heh.
September 28th, 2009
oh I loved the Socom series…I hope Socom 4 takes the series to the next level
September 28th, 2009
It better. Confrontation is OK, but mostly feels like a higher def rehash.
September 29th, 2009
Both the Natal and the Sony Wand look like a bag of wank to me.
I like to lie here with controller in hand and play my games.
Plus I play my games at night on my days off work when the Mrs is asleep, if i start jumping aroung like a twat when she’s sleeping she’ll beat me up lol.
September 29th, 2009
around**
September 30th, 2009
I bet Natal is going to come up with a pheripheral for more precise and accurate movements…..it doesnt have a change to stand by its own. just look at the space invaters demo (pictured above in the article’s body)
February 26th, 2010
The only thing cool about natal will be moving the menus, that indeed sounds very nice…
As far as motion controls for “core” games…rofl…lol…rofl…yeah, let’s see how they do motion controls against someone in street fighter….madden…fps like bad company, I.e action packed, fast paced, lots of stuff to interact with, action platformers like ratchet, jak, etc….
Notice on the wii the genres that work…action rpg albeitslower paced, I.e zelda, mario.
Metroid would be the only good example of fps, but it is much slower paced, and less to, much less to do than in bad company…
Sorry, ms/sony, I’m not biting out of your shit sammiches