Molyneux talks Xbox Natal vs. PS3 Move
The Wii has been the one competitor in a one-horse race for motion control superiority so far. But not for much longer, with the PS3 set to get Move and the Xbox 360 set to get Natal, both by the end of this year. But what does Pete Molyneux think of the forthcoming battle?
Being the Creative Director of Microsoft Game Studios, Molyneux is very obviously in Natal’s corner. But as a longtime gamer, games developer, and industry watcher, his views on the matter are still inherently interesting. At GDC 2010, he spoke to Eurogamer first about the Playstation Move and then about the shift towards motion controls in general, saying:
At E3 last year we saw they were having a wand, and that’s kind of what I expected. It looks like they’ve taken a step forward but it’s not as big a step as something like Natal, I don’t think. This is purely me talking personally, but I think maybe it’s slightly more a device for the core than it is for the casual market, because I think it’s quite precise. As a designer it’s another one of those things I’d love to get my hands on and to play around with.
It’s all down to what us poor old designers do with this stuff, because all these guys do is make the hardware. Whether we utilize that hardware in a real way or whether we just take shortcuts, that’s really going to be where we succeed or not. All of this stuff is making all the designers sweat. I’ve met lots of designers at GDC and we’re all very bleary eyed at the moment because every rule we’ve got, we’re having to throw away. We haven’t got buttons any more – we’ve got motions and arms legs and faces, and that really is tough.
I don’t think the first wave of these motion control titles will be what you expect. Just as with every hardware chain, it’s the second wave where they usually come up with stuff that’s interesting. So the second wave could be really cool.
I can’t really disagree with anything Molyneux said. And his last statement concerning the first wave of games on both Move and Natal is bang on the money. The chances are that these early efforts will suck compared to what is released on the systems in years to come. Which is something we need to remember when the launch games are detailed.
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49 Responses to “Molyneux talks Xbox Natal vs. PS3 Move”
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March 15th, 2010
I think Natal looks like it might be more advanced, but I think that is also going to be a disadvantage.
The Wii and Move are very similar, so multiplat games will be easily shared between the 2. Plus Sony has a lot more 1st party resources to utilize.
If MS has their 2 studios making casual games for Natal, there goes the platforms whole line up.
March 15th, 2010
WOW, I agree with a MS executive !!?? Wonders will never cease.
March 15th, 2010
I’ll be honest Project Natal seems more appealing because it’s something totally new, but given Microshaft’s previous record with consistent FAILURES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, and annoying bull [*censored*], I’m gonna have to go with the PS hand wavy thing.
I just don’t like the idea that Sony is playing off of the Wii. As I’ve said before for the past 2 years the Wii sucks. It was made for kids.
And I’m not a kid. I like adult oriented games. Not Kiddy eenie weenie mighty BULL CRAP games!
March 15th, 2010
Spideydog, I heard a rumor that you’re an idiot. Any truth to that??….
March 15th, 2010
Well Sony already has some awesome first party games so his statement by just be true for Xbox 360 they need a second and a third wave to find a good game unlike Them Sony has talent.
Peter a gamer LMFAO.
Core my market LMFAO this guy is a JOKE.
Oh and Fable II sucked.
Fable and Natal = FATAL
March 15th, 2010
@BJ
“The Wii and Move are very similar, so multiplat games will be easily shared between the 2″
Natal games can also be translate to the PS Eye as it also has mic (for voice recognition) and it can track body movement (also has face recognition)
March 15th, 2010
@ TFoS
That rumour came from the same clown that said you were cool ….. both obviously untrue
March 15th, 2010
Nah I think I’m inclined to disagree on that one
March 15th, 2010
“Second Wave”
Peter knows full well that Sony’s PSEYE already have that Z Camera technology capable of “Project Natalesque” user interface as shown in the 2005 PS2 EyeToy tech demo Dr. Richard Marks conducted at Stanford University.
Dr. Marks also stated that even though Move is capable of Project Natal controller-less gaming they did not go that way because of that scheme’s tried & tested short comings.
March 15th, 2010
Move has the better ‘casual’ name imo. I wouldn’t be surprised if natal gets renamed at some point.
We’ll see how these shoddy devices pan out I suppose. Ugh, the thought of gaming in 15 years makes me shudder.
March 15th, 2010
haha Richard Marx
March 15th, 2010
SW:
NATAL is not the final name is a working name.
March 15th, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PjTuSQNLI4
Hey guys check out this mass effect 2 video, its really funny
March 15th, 2010
I’m uploading this below to Megaupload. I converted this to this resolution.
GDC 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards
Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 720×480 29.97fps [VideoHandler]
Audio: AAC 48000Hz stereo [SoundHandler]
Size: 1013.44 MB
I will post the link when is done uploading.
March 15th, 2010
PISS. . . . . . .PISS OUT MY ASS!!!!!
March 15th, 2010
“I think Natal looks like it might be more advanced, but I think that is also going to be a disadvantage.”
That remains to be seen. So far it has only been a staged video except the eyetoy looking ball games which is pretty gay.
“If†they pull it off then great but I don’t think it will happen without big problems.
March 15th, 2010
Pete Molyneux is full of it, I think MS pays Greenberg, Balmer, Molyneux and CarlB just to run their mouth praising the 360 every way they can, even though they are all full of it.
Pete Molyneux should just stick to make games and keep his mouth shut.
this is the same man who desperately asked for Fable III to sell more than 5M copies
March 15th, 2010
“Pete Molyneux is full of it, I think MS pays Greenberg, Balmer, Molyneux and CarlB just to run their mouth praising the 360 every way they can, even though they are all full of it.”
roca they dont pay them, the four ppl you mentioned just offered to take it in the ass for microsoft. . . .especially carlB. . . .if anyone has ever seen “goatse.fr” thats what they look like after it! lmfao
March 15th, 2010
LMAO
March 15th, 2010
@Liquid
Donkey Boner!
March 15th, 2010
I forsee Microsoft having issues with the lack of buttons with Natal and coming out with an additional peripheral like Move.
March 15th, 2010
“I forsee Microsoft having issues with the lack of buttons with Natal and coming out with an additional peripheral like Move.”
LOL that would be funny.
March 15th, 2010
@phranc
and by that time it will be too late
March 15th, 2010
GOW 3 Today! “I hope”
March 15th, 2010
Mine hasn’t shipped out from Amazon yet. I did choose the free shipping method, so it might be a little latter.
March 15th, 2010
Not today
March 15th, 2010
“I did choose the free shipping method, so it might be a little latter.”
don’t worry, we’ll be here to lay down all the spoilers
March 15th, 2010
“don’t worry, we’ll be here to lay down all the spoilers ”
LOL
March 15th, 2010
“I can’t really disagree with anything Molyneux said. And his last statement concerning the first wave of games on both Move and Natal is bang on the money. ”
That sounds like an excuse to me.
He knows Natal is going to be crap. So he is saying Halo one was crap because it was an Xbox one launch title?
March 15th, 2010
by the sound of it…it seems like Nintendo is still in its first wave lol
March 15th, 2010
and the 360 is on the second and last wave.
March 15th, 2010
lmaoo….
March 15th, 2010
Microsoft is gonna keep waving for ever trying to find their number LMFAO.
March 16th, 2010
I still have this feeling that Sony should have put that PSP like analog stick and a digital direction button on the Move controller to get rid of that Sub-controller.
This is in reference to the Sixense Motion Controller for the PC.
March 16th, 2010
Announced at TGS 2009, a similar service to PlayStation Home, is being developed for the PSP. Named Room (officially spelled as R∞M with capital letters and the infinity symbol in place of the “oo”), it is currently being beta tested in Japan. It will be added to the PSP in an upcoming update in Q4 2009 or Q1 2010 and can be launched directly from the PlayStation Network section of the XMB. Just like in Home, PSP owners will be able to invite other PSP owners into their rooms to “enjoy real time communication.” A closed beta test will begin in Q4 2009 in Japan.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_for_PlayStation_Portable
March 16th, 2010
Was listening to the 1up podcast the other day and they seem to have some insider natal info.
Three things to note:
The price will be closer to $130.
MS is not allowing wii to Natal ports.
It will be significantly more casual then thought as prior.
March 16th, 2010
“It will be significantly more casual then thought as prior.”
Exactly like the eyetoy.
March 16th, 2010
Thats should read, It will be significantly more casual than previously thought.
March 16th, 2010
“The price will be closer to $130.”
sounds about right for a Microsoft peripheral
March 16th, 2010
Aaron Greenberg talking like an idiot he’s delusional.
Microsoft says costly Blu-ray put PS3 at disadvantage
techradar.com/news/gaming/microsoft-says-costly-blu-ray-put-ps3-at-disadvantage-677077
Microsoft: Blu-ray absence key to 360 outselling PS3
computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=239246?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-News-RSS
Greenberg: Lack of Blu-Ray Was Key to Xbox 360 Sales
gamerant.com/greenberg-lack-bluray-key-xbox-360-sales-will-13361/
LMFAO that was the worst mistake they ever commited not using Blu-ray
March 16th, 2010
Well….technically Greenberg is right, but he’s just off by a couple of years.
Blu ray made the PS3 launch at $600 which is why the 360 was outselling it annually until last year.
The $199 360 he mentioned lacks a HDD and it costs more for an arcade and a 120GB HDD than it does for the $299 PS3 which also had a blu ray drive.
He’s talking out of his ass as far as now is concerned as the PS3 has been outselling the 360 worldwide even with supply constraints.
He’s just trying to make an excuse as to why MS hasn’t released an “add on” by now.
Anyway.. this is all fun and great but I much rather talk about how Natal is going to only sell to the dumbest of the dumb and be an epic failure as far as games are concerned….
March 16th, 2010
give less – sell more
and then they will spend even more buying all the piece missing
March 16th, 2010
phranctoast:
If actually read what he said you will not say that.
Roca.:
Xbox 360 has to be build from add-on just to get a little close to PS3 and still no Blu-ray or mandatory HDD or charger or free online or quality. Xbox 360 doesn’t allow for videos saved on a flash drive to be saved the media has to be own wow so lame.
March 17th, 2010
I read it. Blu ray made the PS3 more expensive so he’s partially correct. He just seems to imply that the USA is the only country in the world, which is crazy.
The PS3 has already outsold the 360 in Japan in 2010 by over 400K units.
March 17th, 2010
phranctoast:
The only reason is because Gaybox is an American product so most USA people would follow like puppy. According to Sony Xbox 360 doesn’t exist in Japan they got smoke by the PS3 sales. Soon the whole USofA will go gaga over PS3.
PlayStation is a drug and a virus combine it gets hook but instead of leaving you needing more it instead gives you more for less.
PS1 – 103 Million
PS2 – 140 and counting it might be a lot more since those record are really like 6 months or more old.
PS3 32.81 million and selling fast. Xbox 360 is just 38.48 with a full year head start what a joke. When the PS2 had a year head start Sony actually did something to make history.
PSP 56.94
PSX ???
March 17th, 2010
I agree. 360 is doomed….. Eventually.
March 17th, 2010
phranctoast:
Is just a matter of time before Microsoft gets outer the gaming business like SEGA did.
March 17th, 2010
how far will they go with their 6.8GB games
I remember when XBL had a 150MB size limit for downloadable games…then they raised it to 300MB and now there is not size limit for XBL games….
they faced many problems for downloadable games, now they are facing it for disc-based games but the problem is that MS is stuck with DVD9 and wont be able to raise its size limit like they did for XBL games
March 17th, 2010
Roca.:
8.5 GB but i know you might had taking off the security GB.
“I remember when XBL had a 150MB size limit for downloadable games…then they raised it to 300MB and now there is not size limit for XBL games….”
I thought the max was 200 MB from 50 MB.
Microsoft’s it made a huge mistake by using at least HDD as the primary game drive that holds 30gb DL they screw themselves for being so stupid we got Blu-ray Disc. Plus we got no PLAYSTATION Network limits.