What Is Microsoft Up To With Natal? 14 Comments

Games E3 MicrosoftSteven Spielberg introduced it. It has its own YouTube page. And yes, it even made it onto Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. So what exactly is Microsoft’s “go to market” strategy with Project Natal? It’s a question worth considering, since I’ve never seen such a large consumer media push for a tech demo with no firm release date, price or even a final name. If my sources are to be believed, the hardware behind Natal isn’t even final, and a release probably won’t happen until late 2010 at the earliest. Or will it come sooner?

There are certainly elements to Natal that don’t add up for me. Why would Xbox aggressively build equity in the “Project Natal” name unless it plans to actually use it at launch? There’s also the photo of the Natal sensor. In its final form it will supposedly be all black, which definitely clashes with the 360’s white color scheme for Arcade and Pro units (the target market for Natal). In addition, why would Xbox spend so much time talking about a “controller free gaming platform,” only to say you first need to buy an Xbox with a controller and then purchase Natal on top of it? That’s not the way to court the Wii consumer. (And let’s face it — Natal is a directly response to the Wii).

Here’s one theory: In 2010 Xbox will launch a “new” re-branded console at $199 that includes the Natal sensor in the box, a new and simplier Xbox dashboard interface, and is aimed at directly competing with the Wii. Perhaps the rumored “Xbox Fluid” code-name will be used, and “Fluid” will be a slimmed down Xbox 360 arcade unit with Natal packed into the box. (The big question: Will it include a controller in the box or not?) Of course Microsoft will still make the Natal camera available for existing 360s, but the consumer push will be focused on converting the Wii audience to this “new” console.

At least I hope that’s Microsoft’s strategy. Convincing new consumers to buy a 360 and then purchase Natal on top of it is a messy and complicated proposition — especially for Xbox, which has never quite nailed the platform marketing. The fact that Xbox is still using a “code name” for the platform makes me think they haven’t yet decided on a go to market strategy.

Meantime, what does Xbox do for the next 18 months to compete with the Wii? The E3 briefing lacked any new mainstream games like You’re In The Movies, Scene-It or even a new Viva Pinata, which makes me wonder what Xbox’s strategy is to court mainstream consumers through the holidays.

Latest Comment
  • Hello, can you please post some more information on this topic? I would like to read more. More»
add a comment
June 11th, 2009 by Geoff Keighley

Extended Cut from E3: Reggie and Nintendo 2 Comments

Here’s an extended version of my GTTV interview with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime from E3 2009. Enjoy.

Latest Comment
  • wow...that's just rude man...suffer like the rest of us hitting refresh 459083458 times... Thanks for the video Geoff. I like Reggie...I ... More»
add a comment
June 10th, 2009 by Geoff Keighley

The Origins of Molyneux’s Milo 11 Comments

molyneuxMost of the world met Milo for the first time last Monday at E3. I first encountered him about five years ago at GDC. That’s when Peter Molyneux introduced me to Dimitri, a young boy who was furiously working on his math homework in Peter’s hotel room. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” the young lad said before turning his eyes back to a ruled notebook.

Little did I know that half a decade later I’d meet Dimitri again — albeit this time in virtual form.

Molyneux is a big idea guy. And Milo (renamed from Dimitri for legal reasons) is his most ambitious and riskiest concept to date. It’s a natural outgrowth of the artificial intelligence-driven creatures in Black & White and the dog in Fable II. But those AIs were supporting characters in a larger game world. Milo (or Milly if you select a female) is the game.

What inspired Molyneux to build Milo? Dimitri, who’s now in college, sees Peter as a role-model. Over the years, as Peter spent more and more time with Dimitri, he began to reflect on his own childhood and the choices he made growing up. How would Peter’s life have changed if he made different choices? It’s a question we all ponder at some point.

Milo, I expect, will give us a chance to re-examine our own choices by guiding a young avatar through life. He will ask questions, seek advice, and, if the technology works, form a bond with the user.  And when I refer to the technology, I’m talking about the AI – not the Natal camera.  Milo has been in development for years and the camera support was only just added in the past 5 months.

Here’s what makes me the most curious about Milo: What limits will Peter place on the game’s choices and the character’s actions? It’s one thing to slap around a creature in Black & White to condition him, but what will the tolerance be for such extremes in a game like Milo? Peter has already said there will be limits.  But could your Milo end up being a criminal?  Could he mistakenly drown in that beautiful fish pond?  Or, will Milo go off and meet a girl (or boy) at school, live happily ever after, and forget to come back and visit you?

Latest Comment
  • Five years of development can be a short time, which everybody who works on a complex project knows. My PhD ... More»
add a comment
June 10th, 2009 by Geoff Keighley

Watch GTTV’s E3 Episode Now No Comments

This week at E3 we filmed a special GTTV episode, featuring interviews with Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime, Microsoft’s John Schappert, and Sony’s Jack Tretton. Plus: In his only TV interview, Avatar director James Cameron fills us in on the new game. The good news is that you can now embed the show for viewing on other webpages, so check it out below:

Latest Comment
No comment so far
add a comment
June 6th, 2009 by Geoff Keighley

Bonus Round E3 Recap 3 Comments

On the last day of E3 we filmed a special Bonus Round episode to recap the presentations from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Guests were Michael Pachter from Wedbush Morgan Securities and Dan Shoe from BitMob. You can watch part 1 below, and stay tuned for the other parts to go online this weekend.

Latest Comment
  • I almost watch every video in GT!.. More»
add a comment
June 6th, 2009 by Geoff Keighley

Spike Announces E3 First Look Special 1 Comment

Next week we’re putting together a huge party on Spike to celebrate the kick-off of E3.  Today we released the first details on the show and there’s much more to come.  Read below and stay tuned!

SPIKE TV BLOWS THE DOORS OPEN ON E3 2009 WITH HOUR-LONG VGA FIRST-LOOK SPECIAL

“GTTV’s” Geoff Keighley, Rose McGowan And Tricia Helfer Unveil More Than 15 Blockbuster World Premieres And Breaking News In HD

Spike And Gametrailers.com Kick Off The Best And Most Extensive E3 Video Game Coverage

Major Games Set To World Premiere Include MASS EFFECT 2; RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME; The Playable Joker In BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM; DJ HERO; SPLIT/SECOND; ALIENS VS. PREDATOR And More Than 10 Others

“’GameTrailers TV’ Presents: The 2009 VGAs-E3 First Look Special” Premieres Thursday, May 28 At 11:00 PM ET/PT On Spike TV

NEW YORK, May 21, 2009 –  Spike TV and GameTrailers.com,  the leading on-air and online destinations for year-round video game programming, announced today the most comprehensive video game coverage plan in the network’s history. Spike’s unparalleled multi-platform coverage will kick-off the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The network will debut “GameTrailers TV Presents: The 2009 VGAs-E3 First Look Special,” a blow-out hour-long preview special that teams up with leading game publishers to unveil the most anticipated games of E3 before the game industry’s biggest trade show even opens.  The special marks the kick off to the “2009 Video Game Awards” which will air LIVE in December from Los Angeles.  In addition, GameTrailers.com will provide wall-to-wall, 24-hour coverage including high-definition gameplay videos, interviews and live, commercial-free streams of the five major press conferences from Xbox, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sony and Nintendo.

“Every day of the year Spike is the #1 place guys go for gaming info across our hit brands like GameTrailers TV, “The Video Game Awards,” GameTrailers.com and video game launch specials,” said Kevin Kay, president, Spike TV.  “No other network comes close to our reach or impact and our plans for E3 2009 prove why Spike is the undisputed leader in the space.”

The E3 invasion begins on Thursday May 28 at 11:00 PM ET/PT, when Spike TV premieres “GameTrailers TV Presents: The 2009 VGAs-E3 First Look Special” from the Los Angeles Convention Center, the site of E3 2009.  Hosts Geoff Keighley and actress Rose McGowan (TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE VIDEOGAME) are joined by actress Tricia Helfer,

GameTrailers.com’s Amanda MacKay and Daniel Kayser, rabid video game fans, special celebrity guests and big-name game developers for world premieres of more than 15 of the most anticipated E3 games.  In addition, Spike will reveal the first details about their “2009 Video Game Awards,” the biggest celebration of gaming on the planet.

Titles set to world premiere new content include: BioWare’s epic sci-fi role playing game MASS EFFECT 2; the worldwide debut of RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME; the playable Joker in BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM; new footage from BRUTAL LEGEND starring Jack Black; the first look at DJ HERO; the debut of JUST CAUSE 2; first-person fighting in NHL 10; the realistic racing of NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT; brand new characters revealed in MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2; a blockbuster MADDEN NFL 10 announcement; an exclusive new look at UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES; a preview of the E3 trailer for DANTE’S INFERNO; the first gameplay from the action-racer SPLIT/SECOND; the dark heroic fantasy of BioWare’s DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS; the premiere of new level from LOST PLANET 2; the first-ever footage of ALIENS VS. PREDATOR; the gameplay premiere of the racing game BLUR from Bizarre Creations; plus new details on MODERN WARFARE 2 from Infinity Ward and more surprise reveals still to be announced.

“We’re grateful that so many publishers have chosen to share sneak previews of their biggest E3 titles first with Spike and GameTrailers,” said Geoff Keighley, executive in charge of publisher relations, Spike.  “Spike is supporting the industry’s biggest tradeshow with our largest on-air commitment yet, and this is just the start of an amazing back-half of the year for video game programming on Spike.”

During E3, the action continues at GameTrailers.com, the internet’s leading destination for game media.  Last year the site garnered an industry-leading 58 million views of E3-related content.  At GameTrailers, viewers can watch E3 the way they want to, on-demand, with 24-hours of continuous HD coverage including developer walkthroughs, gameplay videos, interviews, live streams of the five major press conferences and a special episode of the roundtable talk show “The Bonus Round.”

“E3 is the biggest week of the year for GameTrailers.com and this year we are going to offer the best coverage of E3 by combining on-air and online resources to deliver a one-stop shop for gamers,” said Jon Slusser, senior vice president of digital and video games, Spike, and executive producer, GTTV.

On Thursday, June 4th, Spike TV gives E3 a send-off with a special wrap-up episode of  “Game Trailers TV With Geoff Keighley” at 12:30 AM ET/PT.  Shot on location during E3, GTTV grills the top executives from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft to get the real story on the future of each gaming console. In addition, viewers will see world premieres not shown at E3, including FIFA 2010 from EA Sports.

Latest Comment
  • Will the hour long preview special be available on GameTrailers.com after it airs like the other episodes? I'd really like ... More»
add a comment
May 21st, 2009 by Geoff Keighley
 Page 4 of 9  « First  ... « 2  3  4  5  6 » ...  Last »