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Expect Project Natal to launch pricey, like a console

Posted Oct 6, 2009 at 4:06PM EST by Mabie A.

Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Microsoft, Robbie Bach, xbox 360 titles

We still don't know when Project Natal will be coming out, but we do know that developers are going all ecstatic and gung-ho about it. Because of this reception, it cannot be helped that people begin to ride the hype and expect Natal to be something great, indeed. But as with any "great", new technology, there's also the price to consider. So how much is Natal gonna cost?

Microsoft cannot say for now the exact price, but Robbie Bach did say that it will be following a price curve "like anything else". And as we've seen from the past couple of months, "like everything else" would point to a high launch price, followed by much complaints and petitions to lower it down, rumors of price drops, denials of such price drops, and then the eventual confirmation of the said price drops.

Some are hinging it at US$ 150 at launch. I wouldn't be surprised if they go a bit steeper, but definitely nothing above US$ 200. What about you guys?

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That sounds about right for a technology like Natal. Honestly though using your whole body is a turn off to most people. This will get people to think whether they want this or another system.

Remember that even though devs love the idea they'll only make games that will sell. Not everyone is into Natal so the likelihood of devs making games for it is low. Implementing the tech to their games is costly too. Unlike regular motion control such as the Wiimote or "Sphere", implementing Natal might not be possible unless the game is completely made for the tech(my opinion).

# umm — narutosaiyan 2009-10-06 19:18

u can get a wii for that price. m$ are idiots

# i know... — rollypoly 2009-10-06 19:39

i have a wii...

but controlling the dash on the wii is still point and click. i'd much rather use gesture controls.

# Hmm — Master Chef 2009-10-06 19:42

Maybe $200 is "about right" for something like Natal, but that doesn't mean people will buy it. Natal will fail at $150-200, that's just too much. I'd never pay more than $100 for it, and even that's pushing it

# nah — rollypoly 2009-10-06 19:47

the only real increase would be figuring out how to best control the game with gestures.

complexity really shouldn't be an issue, the one thing microsoft is known for (dev wise) is the quality of the SDK. so i don't imagine it takes much more than dropping a class/whatever into the project.

# lol — balkanboy 2009-10-06 19:51

will suck for games but i am interested in natal tech for PC to control apps TV or mp3

# WOW for that price you can get a brand new 360 arcade. — YAMI ANUBIS X 2009-10-06 21:16

I mean wow MS is really smart.

NOT!

God they price everything so HIGH, 120 gig HDD for 150 dollars, Wireless adapter for 100 dollars, what else?

Why would they think some of this junk to be successful for so much money.

This is one reason why MS is gonna lose to Sony and I liked there console for a little while but its like worse than upgrading a computer.

Xbox 360, the way to upgrade a computer.

Buy an Xbox 360 elite for 300 dollars, buy a wireless adapter for 100 more, which equals 400 and last but not least, this thing, if it costs 200 dollars, it will equal 600 dollars and for 200 more you could get a computer thats more powerful than an Xbox 360.

I am for real, PC atleast has more stuff, modding games and adding new stuff to them. PS3 is 300, which has WIFI built in, and 120 gig HDD built in aswell and something tells me Sonys Sphere will be around 50-100 dollars.

XBOX 360, THE WAY A PC SHOULD BE!

# ! — HIDEO KOJIMA 2009-10-07 00:23

Natal is interesting, but not $150 interesting. For a $100, I'd have to think hard about. I just don't see myself using any of those features. I'd buy it for the kids though.

# $100-$150 — Jez 2009-10-07 03:53

As estimated from the time Natal was first announced.

Anyway, EyeToy clone? Well by that logic, isn't 'Sphere' just a Wiimote clone? Only more so! ;)

I feel Natal will be more successful than Sphere, even though Sphere should be cheaper (well, maybe not for four players, depends on how much each wand will cost).

# .. — unggoy 2009-10-07 05:28

accessories such as HDDs, wifi adapter, etc., games on demand titles, useless items for your avatars -- all overpriced.. natal will too..

# Yes you'll buy it — jomacho0 2009-10-07 06:49

Trust me, even at $200 people will buy it, because it's new and people just love to show off. If people can afford to pay $85 for wiifit which is only useful on 1 single game (2nd almost out), then having natal for $200 doesn't seem too much expensive.

# ... $150 or more? WHAt? — hush404 2009-10-07 10:33

Who is gonna fork over the cash for a 360 ($300) and then another $150+ for a simple camera system for Natal? Not me, that's who.

I've already got the PSeye (which is a mere $20-$30 anyways)... so I have half of what I need for Sony's go at motion controller idea. The "wiimote-esc" controllers ... I don't see topping $50 (think price of a controller) and Sony gets yelled at for "over-charging" ?

# Simple camera system? — Jez 2009-10-07 10:54

Well, I would expect you to say that, but I'm sure there are others who will, especially if the price is nearer the estimate of $100. :)

Besides, Natal is hardly what I'd call a simple camera system, especially as it consists of 2 cameras (one normal, the other infrared to measure distance) and a built-in processor for all the image processing (instead of using the console's CPU as with other systems).

As for over-charging, well for the motion controllers, no-one can yell at either Sony or Microsoft until we know the price of both systems. And the price will vary for Sony's solution (PSEye + upto 4 wands) compared to one price for Natal (supporting upto 4 players).

Hence Sony's solution may actually turn out to be a similar price to Natal for anyone wanting 2 or more wands. We'll have to wait and see.

# Probably obvious but - — Jez 2009-10-07 10:58

- that first sentence should have been;

"Well, I would expect you to say that, but I'm sure there are many who will fork out a 'high' price for Natal, especially if the price is nearer the estimate of $100. :)"

# I say *****em — BryanNitro 2009-10-07 11:18

I already have a PlayStation eye and a controller cant cost that much so PS3 motion system is key, also I have spent enough on Microsoft.

# ! — HIDEO KOJIMA 2009-10-07 12:13

Even though I don't plan on buying Natal for $150, you gotta look at it while comparing it with Sony's. Natal is $150 with no other accessories needed. PS3 Eye which will obviously be packaged with 1 DlLDO errr Sphere will probably be priced at $100. Of course no one is just gonna own 1 Sphere. How much do you think each addition Sphere will cost? 40-50? So with the usual maximum number of players being four, you are looking at spending $250 for the PS3 Eye and 4 controllers.

# .... — Silver-Tiger 2009-10-07 14:29

No, Natal is a DIRECT Clone, nothing more. It may be more accurate, but it's still *****, just like Eyetoy was back then.

Where as Sphere is actually a new thing. full 3D

Motion Control has never been done before.

The Wiimote only recognizes two axes: an X and an Y axis. You can only go left, right and up, down.

The "Sphere" has 3 axes: X,Y and Z.

You can go left, right, up, down, forward backward, pretty much in every direction. This is how the Wiimote should have been from the beginning.

# Labie A. is such a Sony fanboi — Nineball 2009-10-07 14:48

First, his little fanboi spoogefest over the PS3 Slim sales disguised as news article and now trying to put a negative spin on Natal. Sounds like he's trying to get hired by Kotaku.

# i would just get a ps3.... or two — shveet 2009-10-07 18:36

seriously if you paying 600$+ for the "newest" things from MS.... id rather go to a ps3.... better, free online (sure its crap connection but it works). or even get a cheap laptop... pc modding is just too much fun

oh also, what do you mean by:

"

XBOX 360, THE WAY A PC SHOULD BE!"

# why buy 4? — shveet 2009-10-07 18:41

when you only need 2?

# LOL! Who are you trying to kid Sliver? — Jez 2009-10-08 04:14

Come on, to say Natal is a direct clone or Eyetoy is simply ridiculous.

Natal uses TWO cameras, a webcam and an InfraRed cam. Natal flashes a pulse of IR light (invisible to our eyes) and measures the time it takes for the light to reflect back from the objects in the environment, and this is how it builds a 3D map of the area. So for every point on the screen, Natal knows the distance, and therefore is able to detect motion in 3D.

Eyetoy/PSEye ONLY have a webcam, and therefore can only detect 2D movement whilst inferring 3D (i.e. infer Z axis). So if an object gets bigger or smaller, it can infer from that that the object moved closer or further away. Another simple 'trick' is height, which Eyepet uses, where the lower something is on the screen, the nearer it is to the camera.

So to say Natal is a direct clone of Eyetoy is laughable.

As for the Sphere and Wiimote, sorry, but you are completely clueless. The Wiimote detects movement in 3D, not 2D only, hence X, Y and Z axis. Without that, it couldn't work as well as it does. It's main issue was accuracy, which has been greatly improved by the Wii motion plus.

The fact is, BOTH the Sphere and Wiimote work by using a combination of webcam and lights. On the Wiimote, the lights are 10 IR LEDs in the sensor bar near the TV, and the webcam is on the end of each Wiimote (not many gamers realise that). For the Sphere it's the other way around, with the webcam near the TV and the lights at the end of each wand.

Hence Sphere is closer to the Wiimote than Natal is to Eyetoy. It's also interesting that you say Natal is just more accurate than EyeToy (as if that's nothing special) and yet ignore the fact that Sphere is just more accurate than the Wiimote.

For me, I'm excited by both Natal and Sphere, since each are taking previous motion sensing technology and moving it forward (i.e. it's called progress). I just find it amusing that fanboys on both sides claim the 'other' is just a copy but 'theirs' is new and innovative.

# Excuse the typos please — Jez 2009-10-08 04:19

'Sliver' instead of 'Silver', 'or' instead of 'of' and so on. :)

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Expect Project Natal to launch pricey, like a console

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