Tag: xbox 360

Scary, But In a Good Way-Project Natal

Okay, I’m blown away.  When I first heard about Project Natal from Microsoft, I thought, “C’mon, how good can this be?”  Then I kept getting more info about it, and I saw the concept video (below).  Then I though, “C’mon, how real can that be?”  Then I started getting reports from press members out of E3 where it was announced about how real this really was.  Then my thoughts turned to, “When can I get it?  Can I beta test?”

If you haven’t heard, Project Natal is a development project in Microsoft’s gaming division (with research support, I’m sure, from Microsoft Research) that looks like it should be something coming out of academia and 10 years or more from the marketplace.  It’s the interface that machines have always needed, or rather, that we have always needed to interact with them, but have dismissed as impossible, or too far out there, or too sci-fi, or just too scary.  I’m talking about the next big leap in user experience (the term used to describe the experience that humans have interacting with machines).  Not just with gaming, either.

Think about Tom Cruise’s interaction with the machines in the movie Minority Report…then take it further.  It’s here, and it’s real.  We just can’t quite get it yet.

Project Natal was introduced to the world at E3 which is just finishing up.  It is not ready for market yet, and there is no release date announced, but it is unlikely to be in 2009.  2010 is a possibility, though…and I’m telling you, the waiting is going to be hard.  After the reports from the press who got to actually use the system, it seems to be working quite well already.

What is it?: Project Natal a gaming and social interface that doesn’t have a physical controller.  You become the controller.  Using a system of a couple of cameras+microphone array and some software/hardware magic, it can recognize individuals and even small movements from fists, arms, legs, faces, etc.  It recognizes depth, and voice input, and gestures that allow you to interact with the system with no wires, no controllers, no buttons…just you.  You can control media, social interactions with other gamers and friends, gaming input itself, and the possibilities go on and on.  I know…I’m a skeptic by nature, and this sounds too good to be true…but I’m hoping, and first reports are very, very promising.

Here are some of the reports: 

“Believe the Hype”—Stuff.tv

 “Microsoft’s Project Natal for the Xbox 360 has changed gaming for ever.”—T3

“The hands-on demos worked great”—Wired Magazine

Here is the official video to demonstrate the vision of the product that apparently really works today.

Xbox 360 – Project Natal

Here is another video from a Microsoft Game Studios subsidiary, Lionhead Studios, who have created a concept that will really get your mind racing.

This is not just for gaming, folks, but it’s probably appropriate that that is where it’s starting.  Think.  Within 18 months, I believe we’ll be tasting the future of machine interaction.  Scary?  A little. Amazing? Unquestionably.  “Open the pod bay doors, HAL”, Natal is coming.

Xbox 360 Gets a Facelift

xboxLogo

As E3 continues, we got some updates yesterday from Microsoft on the future of the Xbox 360.  It turns out the with the Fall release, a lot of changes are coming.  First, for the first time in history (according to the release), a major consumer device will get a complete makeover for free through the power of software.  Essentially, every Xbox 360 that’s out in the wild right now will get a free upgrade this fall that will essentially change the experience without having to buy a new console.  This is the beauty of software. 

Over the last several years, Microsoft has released new versions of the console, integrating new hardware such as larger disk drives and HDMI connectivity, all the while, the underlying platform has stayed the same.  This fall, Microsoft will release a free software update that is in some ways akin to releasing a new console…but nobody will have to purchase anything new.  The update is not just glitz and frosting, either, as far as I can tell right now.  One of the things that will change is the culmination of an exclusive partnership just announced at E3 between Xbox and Netflix, wherein if you are an Xbox Live subscriber (who isn’t…I’ll get to that in a second) and a Netflix subscriber, you will have an online queue in Netflix that you can add movies and TV shows to.  Then, from a TV connected to an Xbox 360, you can choose to watch these movies, and they will begin to stream…starting in as little as 30 seconds.  This isn’t a new idea…I know.  Heck, even Microsoft has been enabling this scenario through Media Center for years, but this partnership and integrated experience, along with a lot of new content available through the Live Marketplace, is a giant step toward true Living Room Integration (LRI) and Home Theater Integration (HTI).  Alright…I just made those terms up…but it works, right?

So…first a quick note about Xbox Live.  Also announced at E3 was that Xbox Live Membership has doubled both of the last two years.  Last year from 3 Million to 6 Million, and this year again to 12 Million.  It’s becoming sort of the de facto TV/gaming-based community…and even now encompasses PC gamers (released last year).  I think with the momentum behind Live, great things are to come.  Now, back to this upgrade.

Also, as part of the upgrade, the whole 360 interface will change from the innovative, but aging crisscross interface to something more carousel-like.  This type of interface is something that Microsoft has been working on for years an years…I remember seeing prototypes of carousel interfaces aimed at Windows (way before Vista) over 5 or 6 years ago.  It looks like an incarnation of that has made it to the Xbox in what looks to be a pretty effective and cool looking UI.

Microsoft is calling this the “New Xbox Experience”, and you can read about what has been announced so far here.  But the highlights are:

  • Tons of new games, including some sequels to established or up-and coming franchises, including
    • Rock Band 2
    • Guitar Hero World Tour
    • Gears of War 2
    • Fable II
    • Resident Evil 5
    • A new Scene It
    • etc.
  • A new “interactive game show” system through Xbox Live produced by the makers of “Deal or No Deal”
  • Live Parties
  • Create customized avatars (a la the Nintendo Wii, but better looking)
  • Tons of new media content (TV shows and Movies) through both Netflix and the Live Marketplace
  • Of course, the new User Interface

Here is a video showing a trailer for the update…

Video: Xbox 360 New Experience Trailer XboxFront

Forza2 to Release in May

So, the best auto sim on a gaming platform, IMHO, is going to be released in May.  Since they missed the Holiday ’06 target, I’ve been waiting on pins and needles.  I’m not much of a hardcore gamer, but this is a cool game!  Here is the info.

Forza2SS

From ForzaMotorSport.NET, where the release info was posted.



Help for new Xbox 360 owners

 

I’ve got a couple of friends who are new 360 owners after the holidays, and I’ve realized that there may be some confusion on the best way to set this up, compatibility, etc.  For that reason, I’m gathering some info here.  There are probably quite a few new owners that I know now that we are past the holiday season.

First and foremost, while the 360 is generally compatible with original Xbox games, there are some that won’t work on the 360.  Xbox.com has a comprehensive list here.  Moreover, to get any of them to work, you must download some updates from Xbox Live.  Also, because many 360 games get updates, and because there is a lot of downloadable content (free and for fee) from Xbox Live, it is very important to hook the box up to the Internet. Note: the compatibility layer for older Xbox games is updated on an ongoing basis as new old games (get that) are made compatible.  As you can see, it is best to make sure the Xbox is always connected to the Internet, even if you only have a Silver Xbox 360 Live Account.

To alleviate confusion or concerns, there are two types of Xbox Live subscriptions; silver and gold.  The silver subscription is free, and entitles the subscriber to download free and for fee content, game updates, Xbox game compatibility updates, etc.  If nothing else, get this one.  The Gold Subscription, generally $50 per year, allows online gaming in addition to all of the other features.  Either way, be prepared to have a Microsoft Live ID for your email address (www.passport.net) or to sign up for one during Xbox Live registration right from the Xbox 360.  Also, you will be choosing a unique gamertag when you register for either level of subscription; this is how you will be known in the Xbox Live world.

But, before I get to far ahead of myself, let’s talk about networking the Xbox 360.  I’ll start by saying this; if you can, hard wire your Xbox 360 using and Ethernet connection.  If not, wireless it is.  Alleviate possible headaches by using an approved wireless home router that is listed on this page.  You’ll then want to get the Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.  This should work fine.

The 360 is turning into quite a media hub for gaming, movies, TV, Media Center, DVD’s, HD-DVDs, etc.  IPTV on the 360 was also just announced by Bill Gates at CES this week.  You might as well kick off Xbox ownership with a bang, and make sure it is well connected, updated, and groovin’ in High Definition.

That leads me to my one last tip; make sure, if you are using an HDTV to monitor your 360 that you do two very important things.  First, use the correct connection to get HD (either component or VGA HD connections, both analog).  Second, make sure, if using the more common component HD connection, that you have set the physical switch on the connector to the HD setting (it comes from the factory set to SD, I believe).

This should be a good start.  Happy gaming/viewing/communicating.

 

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