MS: Natal doesn't need a new console
Microsoft has promised that the Natal controller system will work with existing Xbox 360s and won't require a new console.
Rumours have been persisting however that Microsoft has a new Xbox console lined up for release in Autumn 2010, though nothing has yet been announced.
"I think part of the excitement...is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation," Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told Eurogamer. "With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary."
"Don't believe nonsense on the internet is all I'll say. We'll do the right thing for Natal," another, anonymous source said.
Microsoft unveiled the new Natal controller system at E3 2009 and, while no price or release information has yet been released, the system has got a lot of positive attention for Microsoft. Natal is essentially a camera attachment for the Xbox 360 that tracks movements of multiple players and uses the latest face-recognition systems.
What do you think of Natal? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyI'm all for the jumping and moving around because it means gamers will get more exercise but c'mon... I don't perceive most gamers to be up to that.
Agreed.
Also, expecting a newer version of the console with potentially more powerful chips but the same os/support list is absolutely daft. Even MS know that doing that would create more bad will and, most likely, lawsuits.
A totally new console, however, isn't as insane a. expectation. Totally unlikely, but not as insane.
I think you underestimate what the take-up will be based on this - just because gamers won't be playing *all* their games using natal, even if most of the time you will be using a controller I still think ~80% of xbox owners will get one of these, largely because of the novelty and because those times you do use it it'll be awesome.
Agreed
If you read what he says, he dosent actually say anywhere that there will be no new console, only that no new console would be needed to run Natal.
Interesting.
you'd be silly to think there isn't already a development team working on the new one, and they have been working on it for at least 2 years. How soon we'll see the results, I don't know, but I think they'll wait at least another two years.
or an expensive eye toy
It will be able to play all old 360 games as it essentially will have a 360 mode which runs the CPU/GPU at 360 speeds.
It will be bundled with Natal, Wireless, and have a next generation CPU/GPU.
Game developers will ship 'enhanced' versions of the games on the same disc for the higher power console , or offer downloads for the higher spec model as 'premium content DLC'. Its a way for MS to offer console users some form of 'upgrade' path just like the old Amiga 600 / then 1200 days..... which worked out quite well.
It will also stop people buying PS3's which people will then consider to be 'old tech' as some amazing demos/games will be made available for the 360+ which look astounding...
The above model was NORMAL in the 16bit computer era with the Atari ST to STE, Amiga 500 to 600 to 1200 etc etc
**just an idea**
My 1200's in the loft, with a 68030/16MB card stuck in the bottom and a high density diskdrive modded into the side.
I can see where you're coming from though. The promise of ever better things, grass being greener, etc, just buy our stuff and you'll see.
natal is another gimic if 80% of xbox users by this good for them, But i cant see this been cheap.
microsoft need to do a massive upgrade of cpu and gpu, And bring it somewat close to pc standard. 360 is at least 4 gens behind current tech. soon to go 5 gens if nvidia and ati get there act together.
Of this gen theres only been about 15 good games total. and only 2 great games.
However, seeing as the 360 was the first of this generation to be released by a year or so, I would expect it's life cycle to be a bit more than 5 years, more comparable to the PS2s life before the 360 was released. Still seems like it's got a lot of life in it, it's only really got into the swing of things in the last year or two. Hell Alan Wake hasn't been released yet and that was announced before the console was released.
This ambiguous statement tells me two things, either Aaron is actually a woman or they are releasing a new console, it might not be next year, but it's going to be relatively soon. If they weren't releasing one, they would have straight up denied it.