Microsoft has revealed a new-sensitive controller for Xbox 360 in the form of a new camera that provides voice recognition capabilties.
The accessory is code named Project Natal and various mini games were showcased such as a tire changing game, martial arts fighting, skateboarding, and a city smashing missle bashing Godzilla-like activity.
Voice commands such as “Play movie” were demonstrated.
Famous director Steven Spielberg took the stage and stating “I felt like I was present for a historic moment” and talked about the accessory as “a new way of personalizing the gameplay experience.”
He stated that its not about reinventing the wheel at all but rather “it’s about no wheel at all.”
With no controller required players can “move around freely in 3D space,” demonstrated through “Ricochet”, a mini-game that had players move around back and forth, left and right, and kicking oncoming balls.
A painting activity was shown, with the player literally throwing paint on a canvas with one and two hands while choosing colors through voice commands – “white”, “blue”, “brown”, “dark brown”, and so forth.
A stencil filter was demonstated allowing for two players to form the shadow of an elephant and taking a picture via voice command.
Microsoft noted that Natal can track multiple people for multiplayer functionality.
No word as to when Natal will arrive, though dev kits are said to be going out today.
