Ubisoft: Natal Is a "Paradigm Shift"

[Greg Tito]

Ubisoft: Natal Is a "Paradigm Shift"

An Ubisoft executive has claimed that Microsoft's motion control system will change the way we play videogames from now on.

Rob Cooper, managing director at Ubisoft UK, is excited about the possibilities of Project Natal. Cooper sees the introduction of motion control like Natal and Sony's "Arc" as potentially game-changing. Like any games executive worth his salt, Cooper does remark that it will take a big leap for gamers to completely abandon the traditional controller but, if they do, it will be a huge "paradigm shift" in the industry. For now, Ubisoft is hedging its bets and he confirms that Ubisoft is working on over ten titles which will feature the motion control scheme.

"Perhaps the most crucial factor to a paradigm shift in new motion control schemes are whether all audiences accept it to ensure profitability," Cooper said. He went on:

The game controller has been and is still the accepted input amongst core gaming audiences, so we need to ensure they accept these new forms of input, too. Microsoft has iterated on Nintendo's offering with Project Natal in introducing a paradigm shift, and Ubisoft is supporting Natal with over 10 products in development.

Cooper isn't the only industry pundit to sound off on how motion control will soon take over the games industry. Steve Bailey, an analyst with Screen Digest, likens the new technology to a certain device known to frustrate many a middle-aged man when they were first introduced.

"Anyone who gripes about this being 'a bit like the Matrix' will seem as fusty and unwilling as any parent who ever failed to get to grips with a TV remote," Bailey said. "Ten years ago, of course, the idea of us being able to publish and broadcast virtually every element of lives, via a real-time spree of multimedia content and ambient intimacy on increasingly flexible social networks, must've seemed like a bit of a queasy pipe dream to some."

The invention that Bailey is talking about is, of course, the series of carrier pigeons I have trained to bring messages to my friends.

Source: CVG [http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/gaming-in-2020-what-the-next-decade-holds-667099?src=rss&attr=all&artc_pg=2]

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[Pendragon9]

You can try to claim that this will change gaming all you want, Ubisoft.

But I've heard about a thousand other claims saying this same thing. So good luck trying to follow through with it.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

My paradigm felt like it needed shifting but I leaned back a little in my seat and now I feel comfortable again. Unfortunately, I now have an unpleasant feeling in my zeitgeist.

 

[Premonition]

Yeah, I dunno, most gamers, including myself, like this big, vibrating controller in our hands (wait ...) I'm severely doubting that Natal will be anything more than a novelty, like the Wiimote.

 

[Swaki]

oh dear god let him be wrong, i fell really scared now, like when my uncle told me scary stories when i was a child.

mommy please say that Rob Cooper was just making it all up.

oh and Mr. Baily, its not that it feels a little bit "matrix-y", i would store all my memories onto a computer and live forever as an android if i could, its that its not fun to flail your arms around, and thats one of the cheapest tricks in the book comparing people who dont like motion control to those who never learned how to use a remote, next thing we know hes gonna remind us all the the Nazis where against motion control, are you a Nazi?, if not then you better go out and buy yourself and your dog a Natal.

 

[LunarCircle]

It's an interesting bit of technology, but for most gamers, games are a way to relax. I don't think that most people want to have to perform any unnecessary movements when they're trying to have some downtime.

You can try to claim that this will change gaming all you want, Ubisoft.

But I've heard about a thousand other claims saying this same thing. So good luck trying to follow through with it.

Didn't people say the same thing about virtual reality?

 

[thiosk]

If this is the case, I would argue that the Wii motion control was the paradigm shift, and all Natal has done is move the motion sensor to atop the TV.

 

[uppitycracker]

Sounds familiar.... kinda like what Nintendo said when they announced the Wii.... the only difference I see is this being a much useless gimmick than the wii was.

 

[Rayjay06]

I don't understand the backlash Natal is getting from the gaming community. It will be a voluntary aspect of 360-gaming that Microsoft itself has said would only apply to appropriate titles (specifically calling Halo: Reach the type of game that would not work well with Natal). Though the idea of "flailing about" during gaming does not sound like particular fun, I'm sure most of the games will apply the technology in a smart and relevant way; and if they don't, just don't buy those games lol. However, I think the biggest contribution Natal will provide is a technology that can be applied to new forms of security and as a building block for virtual reality, if that is in the cards.

 

[whycantibelinus]

The same was said about the Wii. Look how well that turned out!!!

 

[ImprovizoR]

Microsoft should really have an advert like this: "Project Natal, where users are tools."
I don't know, I'm a PC gamer, but there are some games I play with a controller. Now, what sort of video game could be played with your bare hands? Isn't that what real life is for?

 

[Vigilantis]

Doubtful, everyone always claims that their new state of the art blah blah blah awesome control system will pave the way for the new generation but usually fall flat on their faces and go back to using the physical buttons and joysticks. I will be angry if it does happen though, if I wanted to exercise while playing games I'd get a Wii, but I along with many others want to sit in a partially broken couch eating doritos and pizza with some beer and Dr. Pepper (or Mountain Dew you fanboys).

 

[Eliam_Dar]

didn't the PS2 had a similar concept some time ago....and it failed.

 

[DubMan]

Not really. The rumble pack had more impact upon gaming than motion controls do. Maybe from a market perspective you could potentially argue the future profitability of it, but as far as the medium concerned it doesn't mean much.

 

[DaxStrife]

Speaking as a gamer, motion control doesn't hold much appeal to me. I prefer the static but complex controls offered by the keyboard/mouse combo (or a gamepad, if you will) over the waving of the Wiimote. Waving and flailing in front of my tv holds about as much appeal as shaking a polaroid picture to make it develop faster (which it doesn't, fyi). Controllers are preferred because they give control, and wiggling my hands to manipulate something in a game just makes me feel like a puppeteer.

 

[Jared]

You can try to claim that this will change gaming all you want, Ubisoft.

But I've heard about a thousand other claims saying this same thing. So good luck trying to follow through with it.

I heard similar things with suck gimmicks as the eye toy...

It wont change much

 

[Digikid]

My paradigm felt like it needed shifting but I leaned back a little in my seat and now I feel comfortable again. Unfortunately, I now have an unpleasant feeling in my zeitgeist.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Personally I hope that it DOES change gaming forever. Gamers are thought to be lazy people who never do anything but sit on our rear ends and push buttons. Fat and slobs. Not true.

However for the few that ARE like that this will get them off of their butts and prove otherwise. Plus I can see this as a HUGE help for people with disabilities as well.

 

[Georgeman]

Paradigm shift... Riiiiiiiight...

Also, Microsoft totally DOESN'T hype Natal at all. And their OS. And their con- Ah.... Who the hell am I kidding? You can't type Microsoft without hype. Hypesoft, more like.

 

[MR T3D]

yeah, and your new DRM policy will be the one thing that will truly defeat pirates.
....