Dante Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 computerandvideogames.com = Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata was offered the chance to sign up the device that became Project Natal - but turned it down as he didn't believe he could launch it at a mass-market price. That's according to a top insider (and we mean top insider) at the platform holder's Japan HQ, who told us that Israel firm 3DV Systems showed an early demo of the technology to Iwata and other Nintendo bigwigs at the end of 2007. Despite being impressed with the prototype, Iwata was reportedly unsold on it as a peripheral for Wii - leaving the door open for Microsoft to snap up the tech and its creator a year later. "Iwata-San only ever invests in something he can guarantee will work for a Nintendo audience," the exec told us. "3DV showed off a camera that detected motion in 3D, and had voice recognition - but Iwata-San was unconvinced he could sell it at a Nintendo price point. He also had some worries around latency during gameplay." The new information appears to confirm 3DV's involvement in the creation of Natal, which Microsoft has never certified. Microsoft first showed off Natal at E3 2009. - with Peter Molyneux in particular stunning the audience with boy-sim Milo. "Honestly - I've heard Iwata describe the prototype he saw at length, and it's definitely Natal," added CVG's source. "What we witnessed at E3 was smaller and the facial [reading] stuff had improved, but it's the same technology. We remain unconvinced Natal will deliver on the more sophisticated elements of what Microsoft is promising at the price they're aiming for." Microsoft will no doubt internally disagree with the claims. MS has dubbed Natal a'new console' in itself. The hardware is set to launch late this year, with an expected price point of around £50. Iwata's alleged belief that the device would be too expensive fits with recent reports that Microsoft removed a chip from Natal to save on R&D costs, whilst some prominent development figures have also questioned whether Natal will have potential latency issues. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has previously admitted: "This type of motion-sensing camera technology has been around for quite a while. [We've] ultimately made the decision not to take advantage of what they can do." Unsurprisingly, both Nintendo UK and Microsoft would not offer us a comment on the "speculation". (Trust us, it ain't).
Retro_Link Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 Couldn't sell it at a Nintendo price point?... Nintendo hardly sell their stuff cheaply! Nintendo could be right with Natal sales potential, but it wouldn't hurt them to spend some of their money once in a while!
david.dakota Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 I think if any games company were first to be pitched on the idea of Natal, it would have been Nintendo - and lets face it they were first with with a camera way back on the Gameboy... and more recently showed interest with in game control with DSi. However, i remain really sceptical of Natal. The promise is definately there, but if the latency issue is not 100% resolved, Natal will become a massive fail - not just flawed, but uber fail.
D_prOdigy Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 Maybe he was far too awfully polite to just say he thought it would be shit.
Daft Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 I'm (not) surprised. Seems like a dumb move tbh.
Retro_Link Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 I'm (not) surprised. Seems like a dumb move tbh.hmm yeah, Nintendo could have used Natal as the perfect way to upgrade the console... along with HD visuals, Hard Drive, better online service etc... but then as we're constantly reminded... that's not the Nintendo way is it!
Dante Posted January 26, 2010 Author Posted January 26, 2010 Even Microsoft agrees with the prices of this tech because of removing a chip from Natal to save on R&D costs but wont removing a chip of Natal cause problems?
Daft Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 If it caused considerable problems do you really think they'd do it?
tapedeck Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 (edited) End of 2007...kinda silly time to show Ninty this tech. The motion of Wii was in full swing *snigger* and so this 'eye-toy+' wasn't needed. Perhaps if they had shown Nintendo this tech at the beginning of 2006 we could be playing an altogether different system. Nintendo are all about costs. Motion Plus was all about cost...we could go on and on. Battery Save/Super FX/Rumble Pak/Memory cards... Kudos to Nintendo, they only ever release a tech if the pricing is realistic. If Natal bombs, MS could be burned thus leaving them licking their wounds after the 360 - potentially ensuring they don't engage in innovative tech and just battle on with software innovation instead. Edited January 26, 2010 by tapedeck
Nolan Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 If it caused considerable problems do you really think they'd do it? Yes. RRoD remember.
Daft Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 There's a difference between limiting capabilities and building an overheating piece of crap.
Nolan Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 It was a conscious decision on both counts though.
flameboy Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 Even Microsoft agrees with the prices of this tech because of removing a chip from Natal to save on R&D costs but wont removing a chip of Natal cause problems? If it caused considerable problems do you really think they'd do it? There's a difference between limiting capabilities and building an overheating piece of crap. I don't remember which podcast I was listening to but the mentioned that for full processing of natals features it would use a whole core of the xbox 360. meaning you would struggle to have a full blown game with todays graphics using motion control throughout, but they did agrue that say if a game like gears of war used natal for cover mechanics or something then other areas could dip to accomodate it. So in my opinion taking from this clever use of smaller environments less enemies on screen during natal time could elevate strain on the processor. I guess Nintendo couldn't see it in its then form with a processor being a viable product and with the wii not being anywhere near as powerful as the 360 so likely couldn't take the processor strain.
Wesley Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 Sounds like Nintendo made the right move considering they've made a fuckton of money with their cheaper device. Also, if Microsoft bought this company a year later... then you have to think about why it didn't just pop-up a year later than Nintendo's own device... Nintendo were ready to pounce and this thing might have just slowed them down. Also, we can't really judge Nintendo much because Natal might (and I'm guessing probably will) be a bit shit. Also, since when were CVG trustworthy?
Daft Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 It was a conscious decision on both counts though. Let me amend this; There's a difference between limiting capabilities and building a piece of hardware that doesn't compromise in anything but build quality.
Ren of Heavens Posted January 26, 2010 Posted January 26, 2010 The tech sounds expensive, so MS will have to sell it at loss to compete. A Natal pack for £50 with a few mini-games thrown in sounds about right. Also I think it will be included in a new Arcade SKU at £180.
Shino Posted January 27, 2010 Posted January 27, 2010 Its quite obvious by the specs of the Wii that Nintendo wasn't going to risk on something that wasn't cost effective. Even the Wiimote was sold without M+ because they wouldn't bear part of the costs and the consumer wouldn't accept it at full price.
Daft Posted January 27, 2010 Posted January 27, 2010 (edited) Yeah, but not to see the potential in conjunction with the Wii mote? I don't think this would have effected the Wii launch but I think cameras will come as standard on next gen consoles. I guess we'll see what happens soon enough. Edited January 27, 2010 by Daft
Zechs Merquise Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 The fact that Natal's tech looks a little ropey now and there are so many question marks over it's capabilities, why would Nintendo have invested in it back then when surely it was even less refined? Microsoft have also taken one chip out of this to keep costs down and to try and make it attractive to the masses. Also, the average XBOX gamer is not exactly the target audience for Natal and I've hardly seen people going nuts about how great it will be.
Emasher Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Also, the average XBOX gamer is not exactly the target audience for Natal and I've hardly seen people going nuts about how great it will be. Its quite funny actually. Back at E3 09 when it was first revealed, I was sitting in a class (In a computer lab) full of what one might call "Xbots" (They were seriously almost bad enough that you might consider calling them that), when one of them started watching the Natal reveal video, and the rest began crowding in behind him. The reaction they showed was EXACTLY the same as that of us back at TGS 2005. Their minds were full of possibilities (none of which would ever happen knowing some of the limits of this technology). We can't really say anything from this, but I almost laughed out loud at their reactions based on the similarity.
The Lillster Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Its quite funny actually. Back at E3 09 when it was first revealed, I was sitting in a class (In a computer lab) full of what one might call "Xbots" (They were seriously almost bad enough that you might consider calling them that), when one of them started watching the Natal reveal video, and the rest began crowding in behind him. The reaction they showed was EXACTLY the same as that of us back at TGS 2005. Their minds were full of possibilities (none of which would ever happen knowing some of the limits of this technology). We can't really say anything from this, but I almost laughed out loud at their reactions based on the similarity. You should have gone in there Rambo style and slaughtered them all. Eliminate the competition.
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