Kinect Discussion

[GamerMan316]

Did you just basically say the PS2 wasnt a good console

Yep, just never liked the console, despite all the praise heaped upon it, it was only marginally more powerful than the infintely better Sega Dreamcast, and once the superior Xbox was released that was it, didn't touch the PS2 until Metal Gear 3 came out, once that was done, I sold it.

[TaraJayne]

I had problems selling mine last year to be honest. So many good games. I preferred the Dreamcast but after that failed I got well into the PS2. I didn't play the Xbox much just San Andreas and Shenmue 2 but I had those on other consoles. Oh and I loved Halo and Sniper scope. I thought the Xbox was the worst out of them all though. I still have a soft spot for the Saturn too.
The PS2 was a huge success. I did prefer my Dreamcast though

[GamerMan316]

The PS2 still is a huge success, it still outsells everything in Japan bar the Wii & DS, even selling more than the PS3, but for me I just never really liked it, I guess it's just me, I think the original xbox was superior in every way, except for needing a tow truck to move it of course.

[TaraJayne]

I dont see it at all.

[GamerMan316]

I dont see it at all.

What don't you see?

[TaraJayne]

I just cant believe you seriously thing the PS2 wasnt a decent console. We should agree to disagree

[GamerMan316]

I just cant believe you seriously thing the PS2 wasnt a decent console. We should agree to disagree

right, sorry, i was thinking you were questioning how the xbox could be superior, my bad!!!

I originally said that the PS2 wasn't a good console, which for me it wasn't, i'm in the minority but then I always am, decent console? yeah it probably was but I much preferred the xbox.

[NeuroticSarge]

I loved my ps2and never played the original xbox at all.Only got a 360 coz it was cheaper! Made the right decision though.

[Failed]

I picked up a cheap xbox just to play Halo with my mate in coop. I picked up a 360 for the same reason, Halo 3.

I had a PS2 for Final Fantasy

The PS2 was better because it had more games and they weren't all shooter

[GamerMan316]

I knew i'd be in the minority 

[GamerMan316]

Is Natal being Over Hyped?

This has nothing to do with me thinking it will flop or just plain suck, it's an article from Kokugamer.com



Ever since Project Natal was first introduced at E3 2009, many industry watchers started to anticipate the peripheral.  Big networks likes NBC and Fox even showed the device off.  The Jimmy Fallon show had Kudo from Microsoft even demonstrate the hardware working with Burnout Paradise; it looked very solid and ready to be used for a wide audience.  The technology was convincing and even made some of us that didn't believe the technology would work change our minds about the device.  NBC featuring such a device surely helped the hype as millions (probably more like thousands since it's Jimmy Fallon) saw Natal in use.  Does it seem that Microsoft is doing too much too early?

If you don't think they've been doing enough hyping, have you seen the recently released videos of people playing Geometry Wars 2 or Half-Life 2 on Natal?  Yes, now all these videos are surfacing, showing people playing Half-Life 2.  Is it real, or is this a stunt by MS to get more attention?  Who knows but there are a few reasons to make you wonder about the latest videos that show people playing Natal.  For example as you'll see in the video below.  It appears a man is playing Half Life 2 on the Xbox 360 using Project Natal.  One apparent thing about the video that makes it seem fake is the lack of the sensor in front of the person.  You have to have the device be in front of you, just as you have the Wii sensor when you play Wii games.  I've looked hard and even paused the video and cannot locate this sensor device, by any means if someone does please e-mail me and I'll gladly point it out in my article, but still wont change my opinion about the videos being only a hype train (yes, I think it's fake).

Another thing that makes the video less believable is how the user flawlessly plays the game, making it seems like there is no hassle to it.  We all know a project is never that perfect in it's early stages, especially not with a first person shooter like Half-Life 2.  Sure moving side to side or looking up and down may seem fine, but shooting around and reloading, just doesn't seem real.  It's too hard to determine what movements do what.  The player is just swinging his hands up and down for the most part.  Either they only recorded the movement because the rest wasn't going as planned, or they just wanted to show the obvious, we'll never know.

Lastly, I can understand MS showing of Natal with Burnout Paradise, since it's one of the newer games in the last two years, but to have Natal run with Half-Life 2, well that just wouldn't make sense.  Why would they use a game that's been out nearly half a decade instead of something new like Halo 3 or Gears of War 2?  Don't get me wrong, Half-Life 2 is an amazing game and who wouldn't want to use a gravity gun with Natal motion sensing, but it just doesn't make sense to use an older game that wouldn't make any sales since it's been over played by many gamers.  I could be wrong about all these though, maybe MS wanted to use a random FPS to test their motion controls with the genre and picked a great title to do it on.  Geometry Wars 2 was also featured earlier showing the guy playing it using Project Natal, while this game could be more convincing to flawlessly work with Natal, it still lacked the sensor that Half-Life 2 video did.

Whether it's real or fake, we'll never know.  Don't think for a second that Microsoft will either confirm or deny such videos for hype reasons obviously.  While I think it's fine to use TV network stations to advertise such a great device to come in the future of gaming, going as far as using older games and rehashing them for hype is a bit low.  Now I understand that MS most likely has nothing to do with the videos, but even issuing a statement about them would make them look good.  Too many gamers are exciting about the device and to see it falsely used could make a few angry and switch sides.

What do you guys think, are the videos of Project Natal being used with Half Life 2 real or fake?  Is this all being done for Microsoft to hype the latest in their hardware?

[GamerMan316]

Major Nelson: Natal won't replace the Xbox 360 controller

Project Natal is getting a lot of attention lately. Especially with the rise of the two videos that supposedly showing Geometry Wars and Half Life 2 being played using Microsoft upcoming controller free peripheral. But what the truth about those videos? Can we play FPS games using Natal? It seems that Xbox Live's director of programming has the answers to these questions.



Speaking to Kotaku radio, one of the callers asked Major Nelson if Project Natal has the potential to translate the experience of playing FPS games solely using the device. He answered:


" ......I love Xbox 360 controller, It's one of the finest controllers that ever made for a console. Now when we look at something like FPS, I think you and I can both agree that if we were playing Call of Duty or any type of FPS, you don't really want to run around to the back of your couch for cover. That isn't fun. You may haven't a couch to do it, or you may haven't room to do it. With Natal, we want to bring new gaming experiences to the living room. So, we already got the first person Shooters in the way to play those pretty well. Is Natal going to add something to that? Possibly. But, I don't, we get a situation where the Natal will replace the entire thing."

When the host of Kotaku radio asked him if he has seen the two videos that supposedly showing the games being played using Natal, he answered " No. I haven't seen them". Then he asked him if we will be playing Geometry Wars using Natal? He answered " I don't know".

So you have it now. Project Natal is all about new gaming experiences, and it won't replace the Xbox 360 controller. What do you think?



Simply put, if MS replaced the 360 Controller with Natal, i'd sell my 360.  They obviously won't as they'd piss off a whole bunch of users, probably more than half of the 35 million user base, would be funny watching the outcry if they did though 

[xnightcrawlerxx]

I knew i'd be in the minority 

ps2 sucked. 

[nCogNeato]

I knew i'd be in the minority 

ps2 sucked. 

I agree.  My PS2 broke after 2 years (and Sony didn't replace it).

My original Xbox was a tank.  I'd still be using it as a Media Center if I hadn't traded it in.

[GamerMan316]

Microsoft says Project Natal coming 'holiday season 2010'