After touting around not having gimmicks, it seems odd that Microsoft would turn around and try to introduce controller-less gameplay. As much as they'd have you believe otherwise, it is a gimmick until we have holodecks. Perfect motion capture is still sci-fi stuff as of this demo.
I think Microsoft really doesn't care about Nintendo, like they say. They are obviously cutting into the market with the new dashboard and the avatars, but they're Microsoft, they always do that. They aren't worried about Nintendo, they're expecting to pummel the competition down over time like in all other areas they dabble. Whether or not that will be true is anyone's guess...
Good grief, I'm such a nerd. I don't even play that many video games anymore, it's almost more fun anticipating them than playing them! Of course, I'm also putting off homework by examining these things, so.
Originally Posted by OldManGoofball After touting around not having gimmicks, it seems odd that Microsoft would turn around and try to introduce controller-less gameplay. As much as they'd have you believe otherwise, it is a gimmick until we have holodecks. Perfect motion capture is still sci-fi stuff as of this demo.
It's not odd really - they think this thing will be huge, and if it is then it will make then a TON of cash. That's only ever going to happen if it gets to a point were it works like it did in that marketing video.
Kudo's avatar acted pretty weird when he moved it around at the start. That could be more to do with the software rather than the hardware. But the fact they bothered to show the thing in an important conference shows how early in development the thing could have been. The painting thing was pretty cool though it was pretty much just splashing paint around. Didn't exactly look great for drawing pictures. I'm sure this was just something to demonstrate the hardware and not something that would actually be released though. The creation of the elephant at the end was pretty cool.
I'm not really convinced. Could be because I grew up using a controller and don't really want things to change - either way I see Microsoft promoting Natal as a gimmick rather than an actual game changing interface, just to make some quick money.
More news coming from Microsoft at E3 (this stuff wasn't in the briefing):
+ Games on Demand service coming to Live in August with 30 titles
+ Win avatar items as rewards in games coming soon
+ Also a marketplace to buy stuff for your avatar on the way
More info on the way. I'll update the first post with all the big news soon-ish.
You know, nothing was shown besides the tech demo, no game support announced, no release date, no titles, etc. Theres a good change this is merely a pipe dream, and they know it, but they intentionally showed it just as a jib at nintendo. You know, nintendo being a bit twitchy and all, it could provoke a reaction from their management. And that might be a better success for the 360 than actually seriously developing the darned thing O_o
I've got a wii and I don't play the 'motion' stuff, its all a gimmick. I loved the zelda/mario titles, and smash is a good party game, but it could all have been done with regular controllers. Zelda and its tacked on wiimote slashing is probably the best use I've seen of the motion controls O_o
imo its seems more like business posturing than actual serious design
I don't like useless waggle any more than the next dude. For some reason I really just like the ergonomics of the wiimote. It's the only video game system I can play sprawled on the couch with my arms stretched out. The pointer is fantastic too. There are cool uses of the motion but it's not the defining feature for me. And in all honesty, even if I hated the Wii's design (and I don't, I love it) I would probably have one just to play Mario and Zelda. I guess that makes me sound like a fanboy, but then again maybe I am.
No, I'm not. Because I think the 360 and PS3 are cool in their own right.
I don't mince words with it; I bought it merely so I could play those zelda/mario AAA titles.
I really could have cared less about the motion controls, but I knew they had top titles ready to go, and that was enough of a reason to jump on it. But their continued support has been.... lacking. I got one for price and games, and it was well worth the $200 US over here, but I'm pretty much done with it now. I'm really thinking that unless they announce any new AAA titles this E3, I'll pawn it off or give it away
I just watched the Halo 3 ODST video. I missed most of the previews when the stream cut out and I just went to live. This guy is one of the few people who did a good job of presenting, and almost had a theater stage presence. Of course that's probably just because he's very good in comparison with the rest of them. I still haven't been able to play Halo 3.
I've never really been a fan of the Halo 3 campaign and ODST didn't really change my mind. Cinematically it looked amazing, but gameplay wise it felt like it was missing something (the same feeling I had playing the Halo 3 campaign). Like walk up to a wall, press a button to plant a bomb (no bomb planting animation for the player also? just doesn't seem very immersive), shoot some guys, fire a rocket. I'm sure the multiplayer will be awesome though.
valves thing with L4D2 seems a little questionable. L4D barely had any content to begin with, just a single major DLC release, and now all the rest goes into a sequel? O_o not remotely worth shelling out $50 a pop for. Well, at least its better than Blizzard/Activision trying to squeeze us dry with starcraft 2(/3/4), but still
Lads and lasses we have a traditional Mario game coming to the Wii. Educated guess is that its a flat out new Mario game. There's no "New" before it, so it won't be a kind of prequel like New Mario DS, it was at the Wii booths. Such an announcement would explode me.
Clayton, by 'reusing the Mario Galaxy engine' I didn't necessarily mean the entirety of it, eg the gravity/planetary aspects. I'd just be surprised if they didn't reuse it (having said that, Nintendo have certainly stuck to the one engine, one game rule many times over the years).
Eg:
Capcom with PN03/Resi 4/Godhand
Nintendo with Wind Waker/Twilight Princess,
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass/'The Train Thing'
As development costs go up, they've become less 'wasteful' with their engines than they were in the SNES/N64 era.
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Whether or not that will be true is anyone's guess...
I don't even play that many video games anymore, it's almost more fun anticipating them than playing them! 
Edited by OMC
And in all honesty, even if I hated the Wii's design (and I don't, I love it) I would probably have one just to play Mario and Zelda. I guess that makes me sound like a fanboy, but then again maybe I am. 
