Hyper Japanese Reporter Takes on Project Natal

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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Hyper Japanese Reporter Takes on Project Natal

Microsoft's Xbox 360 may be lagging behind in Japan, but that doesn't mean the company isn't going to try to promote Natal - as seen on this clip from a local Japanese news program with an energetic reporter trying her shot at Ricochet.


From the above video, we can learn several things: One, Natal may very well have the potential to replace Wii Sports and Rock Band as the ultimate way to make an idiot out of oneself in a social setting. Two, energetic young Japanese reporters tend to way oversteer in Burnout: Paradise. Three, Microsoft director Kudo Tsunoda isn't as good at Ricochet as the aforementioned oversteering reporter.

It's an interesting idea: Can Microsoft break into the elusive Japanese market with Natal, or should it just stop trying? Natal has the potential to breach the Japanese gaming scene like, say, Halo wouldn't - but on the other hand, with the Wii and Sony's own motion control on the horizon, will it really stand out? Maybe there should be a Natal app that appeals to the JRPG crowd - stand around, do a dramatic pose, summon a giant elemental monster, that sort of thing.

For the record, though, we agree with GameSetWatch [http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/09/japan_tries_out_project_natal.php]: The best single part of the video starts around 3:35, with Tsunoda's hilariously non-heartfelt congratulation, complete with thumbs-up to the camera. I guess sarcasm doesn't bridge the language gap well.

Also for the record, I love Japanese television. It's just so... energetic.

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Korten12

Now I want ma...!
Aug 26, 2009
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intresting tho if I had to ever play a guitar hero or rockband without a guitar controller, I couldnt do it... then again im not good at either guitar hero or rockband.
 

GamingAwesome1

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May 22, 2009
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The Xbox just really is not that popular in Japan. Probably because it's the only system to not be made in that country.

MS should give up trying to appeal to the Japanese audience, it's very clearly not working.
 

syndicated44

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Apr 25, 2009
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My only question is if that is where they report the news in the brightly colored room with little plushes and all sorts of happy. How do they possibly report a crisis or a tragedy and hope to be taken seriously. Also did Japan get turned into a fish tank because there was a fish swimming outside their window.

On Natal I prefer a little controller in my hands that does not involve me holding my arms in the air looking like an idiot trying desperately to drive a car.
 

ChromeAlchemist

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Aug 21, 2008
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It's an interesting effort, if a last ditch one. However I think this has a good chance of succeeding, and if they get sales in Japan then they'll actually get some more momentum, otherwise they'll start hitting market saturation sooner than they should.

If they do break Japan, it's about time.
 

ChromeAlchemist

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Aug 21, 2008
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Hardcore_gamer said:
wolfy098 said:
Microsoft the japs arn't casual gamers stay with the USA
What the hell? The Japanese aren't casual gamers?

Do you know how many copy's if the Nintendo Wii and the DS have been sold in Japan?
Those are not for casual gaming, that's for gaming. The bloody emperor of Square Enix plays like five hours a day of Dragon Quest, and the leading man behind Monster Hunter 3 clocked 40 plus hours with his work colleagues after about a month.
 

Abedeus

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Sep 14, 2008
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ae86gamer said:
Natal looks like it'll be fun.

[sup]I want one... >_>[/sup]
Yeah, everyone likes to relax by dancing in front of a TV trying to hit a virtual ball.

Wait, that's not right. Wasn't Eye Toy like this, only without the 3D and could be used on a PC with any camera?
 

j0z

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Apr 23, 2009
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Was this not already tried by the eyetoy, and that thing fell off the face of the earth.
I totally dig the news room, and japanese tv in general, they at least look like they are having fun, and they do have a lot of energy.
 

megs1120

Wing Commander
Jul 27, 2009
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Subzerowings said:
I think it'll be forgotten in about a year. Just like the eye toy.
That's my guess as well. You can't really expect the 360 or PS3 motion control projects to do nearly as well as the Wii, if only due to the price and the availability of controllers. There's very little reason to get a 360 or PS3 for motion control games when EVERY game on the Wii is motion controlled and comes in at half to a third of the cost of a fully-outfitted 360 or PS3.
 

daz_O_O

Click me I'm here!
Aug 27, 2008
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"Yes very good for you... I'm so happy..."
That made me laugh. =D

This could definitely boost sales in Japan, they love all this gimmicky stuff, and I admit I do still like the look of natal. But it needs at least a couple of killer apps to justify the price point. Then again look how well GH/RB have sold even with the £150+ bundles (more than an Xbox 360 arcade).

I guess only time will tell whether natal will be Microsoft's Wii, it's Eyetoy, or it's Virtual Boy.
 

AvsJoe

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May 28, 2009
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Oh man there is no way I'm going to purchase that if I'm going to look as ridiculous as she did in this video. Funny stuff though. Loved her way-over-the-top excitement throughout (is it just me or is she just incredibly kawaii in this video?).
 

Macar

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Jun 16, 2009
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The latency actually looks pretty high on that video, I hope it's going to be better by the time they release it or it's going to make a lot of games very difficult.