Natal Launch Will Be As Big As 360's

By Stephen Totilo

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On that day in the future when Microsoft launches its E3-darling Project Natal no-touch control system, it will feel like a console launch, a company exec told Kotaku.

Forget the launch of previous gaming cameras and mics like the PlayStation Eye or the Xbox Live Vision Camera when you try to imagine the impact Microsoft's Project Natal will have on billboards, TV channels and other places where ads run.

The birth of Natal will feel grander than that.

"Conceptually, the launch of Natal will be like the launch of Xbox 360," Microsoft's head of long-term Xbox 360 strategy, Shane Kim, told Kotaku during an interview at E3. "It's going to be that big. We're not just going to ship it when the hardware and software are ready. We have to make sure that there are enough content experiences that are really good. That's similar to how you would think of the launch of a new console. It's got to have a great launch line-up. That's the same thing here."

In a note to investors earlier this week, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicted that the Natal launch would require the support of approximately 30 third-party games.

As for who Microsoft hopes to catch with the Natal net, Kim said, "We're not focused on this generation's casual gamers or even PS2 people who haven't upgraded. This is about the 60% of households were a video game console doesn't exist… the problem is that the controller is a barrier for some people and now with Project Natal we completely eliminate that."

Whether you're a fan of Natal's potential or not, the idea of a console-sized launch for a gaming peripheral is impressive and hints at the potential for the device to find its audience.

If only [insert your favorite gaming peripheral] had that kind of support.

[PIC]

That actually wouldn't be all to impressive at all.

360 sold 352,952 in its first week.

The New New Xbox Experience?

The Xbox 360. A console so nice, we launched it thrice.

Xbox 10 year plan confirmed?

lol! There is going to be another dashboard update soon.

That phrase....why do I get the feeling that somebody is already making a committment to trying to get those customers...? That company...just on the tip of my tongue...

I really don't believe this at all.

It is going to help the Xbox 360, but there will probably be more titles for the PS3 motion tech already, and there will certaintly be more Wii motion tech titles available.

They should be positioning the 360 Natal pairing as cheap, uber-easy to use HD motion tech gaming. But its not going to be the equivalent of a new launch.

MS wants some of that nintendo money.

ok. good for us gamers.

i just pray it's not rushed like the 360 was. :S i don't want to fear another RRoD outbreak