Director Ashley Cheng says 'Natal wasted on games'

Natal will be wasted on games and should be opened up to wider usage and the possibility of independent 'Natal apps'.

That's the opinion of Bethesda Game Studio's director Ashley Cheng, who posted on his blog, "It seems wasted on games, really. Microsoft should open the NATAL API up like Apple does with the iphone/ipad."

"Let anyone make a NATAL 'app.' I bet someone makes a killer app that has nothing to do with gaming."

Ubisoft have recently called Natal revolutionary, along with the PlayStation Move.

Could opening up the peripherals to hobbyists take things to a new level?

[ Source: Ashley Cheng blog ] and Source

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This sounds like a great idea and Microsoft has probably already considered. If done right it could be big.

Isn't this what Indie games are? I'm sure there will be indie games for natal...

ummm MS already have an open development system, the tools and SDK are even free for anyone to use.

I'm pretty sure it's coming out for PC also correct? If that's the case then we'll see more app type things for Natal.

STFU Bethesda and go back to the cutting room and make me an Elder Sandwish.

XNA really isn't conducive to any applications other than games.  The only network APIs available in XNA are GamerServices.  Opening up XNA with open HTTP access would be amazing with Natal.

Natal will come to PCs, can't wait!

Natal + bing maps = robust data acquisition. Just strap it on a backpack, let it capture 3D street level data and you can probably do really cool stuff with it.

See TED presentation: http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera.html

While I doubt it's significance to gaming I do believe it has revolutionary prospects when it comes to other possible uses.

When it comes to games then anyone is able to make whatever they want for it, naturally Microsoft has to approve it before it gets put in XBOX Live. And outside of gaming Natal isn't ready yet, I bet Natal on xbox is just a test to see how the technology handles before they make it smaller and build it into tv and computer screens. It does say something about how much Microsoft values the xbox though....

What this Bethsoft guy is saying will happen when the technology is ready which it isn't right now.