Why do people that start these posts always assume that your hands must stay empty. There is nothing stopping people from using props (Ever notice how many props are available for the WiiMote) or even secondary controllers to make Natal feem more natural.

You certainly could grab a wheel (hell a plastic plate would work), a baseball bat, a golf club, a sword (toy would be best) and use it along side the Natal.

I think the only way I'd be interested in this is by using props as you describe.  I'd want props and/or a controller to use in conjunction with Natal.  Natal by itself looks stupid to me.

I assume you're referring to the Wii.  Another point I think people are missing with the Natal and PS3 motion sensing is that they are add-ons.  EVERY Wii owner has motion control.  Granted, Motion Plus is an additional purchase, but it will be optional for most games that use it.  Add-ons don't traditionally sell well and are poorly supported.  Especially expensive add-ons.

But that wasn't what you just said.  You said the novelty will wear off quickly.  Now you are saying it won't pick up steam because of lack of support and sales for an expensive add-on.

Ask MS as they're advertising it as hands-free.

OP: I showed my gf that Natal clip and she thinks its dumb that you dont have anything to hold. 

For unveiling the technology that is what they should do.  I dont recall Nintendo unveiling the WiiMote showing off all the foam props that have released to make the experience seem a touch more real.

I'm sure that MS are calling it 'hands-free' to clearly differentiate it from other systems, not a Wii-style controller. It's likely to prove that unlike the Wii system, this is something that actually tracks you (Wii tennis works if you stand stock still and flick your wrist around.)

There is nothing which would stop this system from using 'props', but they aren't going to be required.  I'd guess that the first wave of games will be 'full body, no props' and the next wave will *support* props of some kind, though not require them.  With the IR/3D camera, reflective tape would show up well, so DIYers wouldn't even need to actually purchase a prop, just put reflective tape around the top and bottom of a papertowel roll and bang, they have their samurai sword or light saber or whatever.

So would your gf think it's dumb to have a full-body dance game which doesn't require a controller?  ...sigh... merely because people are unable to envision new ideas, doesn't mean that those new ideas aren't possible.  Merely because one is used to having a controller in ones hand doesn't mean that there's no way a controller-less scheme could work and be fun.

But this is so reminiscent of the run-up to the Nintendo Revolution release.  "You can't get rid of all the extra triggers, bumpers and buttons... how do you control the game"  Any change is met with a group of people who say "it won't work" or "that's just stupid". 

I think some people are missing the fact that Natal is generating a fantastic amount of interest from game designers and developers.  It is the interest of these people which is the biggest herald of something cool to come.  If *they* see fun to be had, if they see ways to interact with games, we have some cool stuff coming our way.

And how exactly would movement in a tennis game work with Natal? You would need something like a full-sized tennis court to run around in, or pretending to run while standing still.

Once you add peripherals with buttons or sticks, most of Natal's appeal is lost. It gets kind of pointless to track your whole body when you're using a controller at the same time. I guess there would still be some interesting possibilities, but it doesn't look very promising.

Natal can detect an area of 15 X 20. So you could probably do a good mapping of a tennis court. Would not be 1:1 for size with a real tennis court but neither is the Wii tennis game.

And that would be a pretty good workout right there. Now you add online capabilities and you have a pretty neat little setup there. The only problem with this is that it takes a whole friggen room to play. But I would definitely want to give that a try. Could be used in physical therapy as well.

I will once again mention the Tron disc game from the movie would be an utterly amazing game to play on Natal. And it looks like it could be done rather simply.