Live Blogging E3: Project Natal – Microsoft’s Shining Star

The most exciting offering of E3 and by Microsoft is PROJECT NATAL!

No word yet on when Project Natal will be released. All we know is not in 2009.

Here’s all the details about the coolest new innovation in gaming.

This is the latest innovation in gameplay. Imagine Game Play with no controller required. That’s what Project Natal is boasting and the demos of it look very promising.

This is so big even Stephen Spielberg, a self-proclaimed gamer, is endorsing Project Natal.

In this environment, you become the controller. With full body motion capture, Project Natal blows Wii and its motion sensitive controller out of the water!

You play the game as the objects within the game. Use your hands in a wheel turning motion to drive a car. Use your hands as a controller to play family friendly jeopardy, and ‘ding’ in first before other family members can answer. Stomp and pound your fists to play as a Godzilla type of Lizard. As exciting as this looks, it kind of scares this gamer in a wheelchair!

You can use your own gear in the game. Scan your skateboard than use it as you mimic the skating motion on screen. Full body capture comes into play full force here.

Voice recognition makes Jeopardy fun. Once you use your hands to show you know the answer, say the answer out loud and voice recognition will pick up your answer with ease.

Facial recognition is new. It will recognize you by your face and log you in to Xbox Live automatically. Forget passwords and parental controls! Your avatar mimics your movement!

You can connect and share with friends. See them on camera as you talk and share Xbox Live activities.

Project Natal will works with EVERY Xbox 360 – those created before it is released and those that are available after.

Chose between parts of the menu by using your hand.

Project Natal demoed the game “Ricochet.” This is a full body athletic activity. You destroy bricks by hitting a ball into them with your body. This involves constant moving and great physical activity.

They also identified the new Paint feature where paint becomes interactive!

Lionshead Studios announced something they are developing for Project Natal.

The most amazing creation is Milo.

Milo is a boy who recognizes you. He recognizes your voice and your face. He greets you. He has emotions. You learn from Milo and he learns from you.

Milo is a character that can have live interactions with humans. You can interact with Milo’s world and he can interact with yours.

Milo can interact with our world in a remarkable way. The demo-er Claire wrote on a piece of paper and Milo recognized it.

You can meet the real characters, share with them, grow attached to them, and interact with them. This is a landmark in Video Game interactivity.

Personally, I think hospitals should use Milo to work with children and adults with social disabilities. What a great way to teach them interpersonal skills. I wonder if Microsoft knows the potential beyond gaming that they have with Milo?

Technorati Tags: Project Natal, Milo, Microsoft, E3, Conference, Video Game, Announcements, Xbox Live, Video Game Interactivity

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick is in his late 20s. Having been born in the 80s gave him a unique advantage to experience the development of gaming into the massive industry it has become today. From the days of Atari to the purchase of his very first NES (before his 10th birthday), Dominick has been involved in gaming. Initially, a huge fan of Nintendo, he's delved more into the exciting world of Xbox 360, and everything Microsoft in recent years. His favorite games are Action/Adventure, Shooters (especially WWII or Historical based games) and racing games. Of course, some days he enjoys playing an old fashioned game featuring his original gaming heroes, Mario and Zelda. In a wheelchair since age 16, Dominick has the unique perspective of gaming with limited mobility. When not gaming, he is a human rights activist, a creative mind, and he enjoys spending time with his family.