By Lorin Baumgarten 

Here on EpicBattleAxe.com we try to cut through the crap.  We even made it our motto.  Sometimes that means that we have to take an unpopular position and then stand our ground.  We hold strong to our beliefs and and we aren’t afraid to do so, even if we will get flack for it.
   
This week’s episode of EpicBattleCry presented our illustrious podcast hosts with just such a situation and they planted their flag to defend a lesser taken viewpoint.  Well, sort of.  Their intents were good – to try and say something positive regarding a gaming topic about which they are generally espousing negative verbiage.  But alas, it proved too much for them.  They were unable to maintain the loving attitude that they intended.  Ultimately, the conversation digressed into a pool of negativity with DK Money Shizzle lackadaisically trying to throw out a life preserver at the end.  Well fear not, my friends, for I will tow the line.  I do this because there has been a cacophony of disdain consistently hurled at this product by everyone except those who have actually seen it, and I don’t know why.  So I will take the unpopular stand, and say it loud and proud, Project Natal is cool!   

Aww, pipe down and read on.  I will tell you why…
 
If you don’t know what Project Natal is, Google it.  But briefly, it is Microsoft’s upcoming addition to the Xbox 360 that offers motion capture capabilities that will allow you to move objects (or people) on the screen simply by moving your body – no controller necessary.  But beyond that, Microsoft claims that the device will also be able to recognize color, facial movement, respond to your voice, and even read emotional cues such as vocal intonation and expression.
 
Since the moment of its announcement in June of 2009, I have heard nothing but negative things about Project Natal from the the gaming community.  Correction – I have heard nothing but negative comments from those who have not yet seen it in person, and nothing but positive feedback from those who have.  Almost without exception, those who have had hands on time with Project Natal have said that it pretty much does what Microsoft claims and that it is very impressive.  On January 14th of this year Ryan Geddes wrote on IGN.com, after seeing a demo of Project Natal, that “we were all believers”.  He went on to say that Natal “was so different, so engaging, that we couldn’t ignore its potential.” These are words that have been echoed by nearly everyone who has actually spent time with the device.  Will Natal change gaming forever?  I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t care.  I just know that it is an amazing piece of technology.
 
Popular Science Magazine described the device in its January 7, 2010 article by saying that Microsoft “is working on more than just a new video-game system. Microsoft is trying to move AI forward”.  Incredibly, it is rumored that they will be tackling this problem for around a $50 expense to the consumer.  Should Microsoft succeed at doing this, we could be looking at a redefining of user interface technology that reaches far, far beyond gaming.  Imagine ATM’s that you don’t have to touch, or classroom presentations with no PowerPoint remote.  Picture a home that turns your lights on and off as you walk through the house and at your pre-set light preferences not only because it recognizes where you are, but because it recognizes who you are from the shape of your body.  Picture Minority Report.  How does that not give you a little bit of a geek-gasm?
 
But what about gaming?  After all, the device is premiering on a gaming console.  Do you not care about the myriad of possible uses for Natal’s technology throughout the real world?  Would you, instead, rather talk about what it is going to do for your games?  No problem.  We are all clear that Paint the Elephant and Flailing Ball Kicker (See Microsoft’s Keynote speech from E3 2009) are not what most gamers are looking for.  But it is easy to see that with even a little bit of progression from these silly tech demos, developers will be able to create games that a kid would love, and that is a legitimate endeavor.  Additionally any kind of fitness game would do very well with Natal.  Laugh if you will, but there is a significant research movement around exer-gaming involving renowned universities and fitness personalities who are trying to integrate exercise into gaming to make healthier kids (as a side note, imagine if you were trying to learn to exercise and Natal could correct your form until you do it right.  Your Wii-mote wont do that).
 
But what about more mature games?  How can Natal integrate into deeper, more serious games?  This is also a blank slate with a world of possibilities, you just have to see them.  My hope is that Natal might bring some interesting new aspect to the old school adventure games.  I could see using my hands to manipulate and investigate a crime scene.  In a different genre, perhaps Natal’s voice integration would allow for more fluid dialogue in RPG’s by allowing the player to simply ask the questions they want to instead of picking from a list of the obligatory good, neutral, or bad guy choices where you are not always sure which one you are picking.  Or maybe it simply gives the player the ability to create a game avatar that actually and completely looks like them.  Here is one more possibility for you (and my particular favorite).  Imagine Natal paired with the new 3D technology that is just coming out.  Envision yourself sitting in an over sized swivel chair with a joystick on each arm rail.  Now picture that there are 3D images coming out of the tv and you are swiveling your chair to move these images around you in a full 180 degrees arc (very Minority Report, I know), all the while continuing to use your armchair controllers.  It may seem far fetched to you, but it is not.  This is not science fiction.  It is very possible right now and it is slowly getting more consumer friendly. 
 
I am sure that the device’s successful integration into hardcore games, as we currently conceive them, will likely be its most complicated challenge.  But difficult doesn’t mean impossible.  I really look forward to what our industry’s most creative minds come up with.  The are a multitude of possibilities out there and most of the game developers seem to be interested in finding them.  So brush off that negativity, gamers, and (in the immortal words of the immortal Monty Python) look on the bright side of life.  

Project Natal is a lofty idea, to be sure.  And yes, as gamers, we are conditioned to be disappointed by grandiose claims made about a new hardware that will change gaming.  But Natal is getting remarkably  good press, and consistently.  This particular console addition has far reaching potential that could impact devices beyond gaming.  So, will it?  How will it impact gaming?  What do you think?  I want to know.  Drop a comment and tell me if you agree with me or think I am insane.  As usual, we want to hear it loud and proud! Cleave on! 
 

Editor’s Note: Lorin Baumgarten is the founder/owner of Furious Gamer Radio and when not daydreaming about the technologically-enhanced future of ATMs and armchairs, he enjoys breaking off pieces of rare, imported, and outrageously expensive chocolate for his feline friends “Kit” and “Kat”. Oh, and if you wanna sound off with YOUR ideas on cool ideas for Natal, you can do so here.