Project Natal in DETAIL

So Microsoft brought us a good in-depth video of Natal. In case you haven't heard, Natal is Microsoft's new motion-sensing camera without the need of a motion-controller. At first I wasn't too sure of the idea or how it would work out, but I was quickly convinced after seeing it in use.

The first thing I noticed was the Nintendo feel to the commercial/video. It was a family of 4 all sitting on the couch playing a game together. We used to picture Microsoft by seeing someone sitting in their basement alone having a blast playing Halo 3. But not anymore.

I was extremely surprised that it is completely controller free. Just turn on the XBOX 360, use a pushing/pressing motion to choose the game, or simply wave your hand to scroll through your options. It almost reminded me of a touch screen TV, but you never have to leave your couch.

First we see a kung-fu master on screen, watching the pacing boy who he refers to as Ian in the living room. The master moves his head and eyes to watch him as he paces back and forth. Next, they fight. Standing in front of the TV without pushing a single button, they get right down to some kung-fu. The gamer easily wins with a nice round-house to his master's face. So stressing the family fun of it, we typically don't see a family having fun kicking old samurai masters, but this looks oh-so cool.

Now we have more of a team involved, as the sister of the boy we saw previously gets right into a racing game. She begins to fall behind the others while steering her imaginary wheel from the couch, so she pulls in for a pit-stop. The dad hops off the couch, changes a tire, and the daughter is ready to roll (literally :D)

Now probably the coolest aspect is the direct scan and capture aspect of the camera. Ian is sitting on the couch, obviously ready to play some type of skateboarding game, as he has a skateboard in his hand. But why does he have a real board if he's playing a video game? He holds the board up in front of him on each side, as the camera scans the board. He then goes back to the game, to select the board he wants to play with. And there it is on screen - Ian's skateboard.

Now we still may want more. I don't know how, but that doesn't impress ALL of us. So we then see the girl again standing in front of the TV. The camera begins scanning her face, and puts an animated image of her on screen. Pretty cool. Now her friend appears on screen, and her friend begins talking to her about some new dress she found that would look great on her. So her friend on screen starts scrolling through, until the image of the dress she found shows.

Finally, we see the two parents at night sitting on the couch together, all comfortable and cozy. The mother starts waving her hand to scroll through a selection of movies. She makes her pick, and they watch the whole movie together. At the end of the credits, she says "Good night," And the XBOX shuts off not at the push of a button, but at a movement of the mouth.

Overall, I am very impressed. This could become big, and possibly even put Nintendo in jeapordy. Nintendo does have plans for a camera, but it will be hard to create one as well made as Microsoft's. And Sony at this time, has just started planning a motion-sensing controller.