If a recent interview with Bill Gates is anything to go by, the PC may be getting support for the Xbox 360’s Project Natal at some point in the future.

While he didn’t actually confirm that the technology would be used for the PC he said that it is not just for game buts “media consumption as a whole”. Furthermore, he talked about the possibility of using Project Natal in the the office which adds kindle to the fire because (besides pro-gamers and others) who uses Xbox 360 for their work machine?

Anyways, Project Natal is still a ways off which means that a PC adaptation is probably even farther off.

Read (CNET)

Sure, the Playstation Motion Control that made its debut at E3 ‘09 was cool, but what if you didn’t have to use that funny looking controller? What if you could pick up any object and have it mapped directly into the game?

Sony is looking to do just that if a recent patent filing is anything to go by. According to said patent, players will be able to pick up objects like “coffee mugs, drinking glasses, books, bottles, etc.” and have them mapped directly into the game for use as a motion controller.

To map the objects, players will hold it up to a camera and rotate it so it can be fully mapped and saved for later use. But wait, I thought that’s what Project Natal did? Oh well, here’s to hoping this technology gets implemented sooner rather than later.

Sure, Sony gave us a pretty good glimpse of what to expect when the Playstation Motion Controller inevitably drops back at E3 but was it enough information? I didn’t think so.

Luckily, Sony has announced that they will again put the new motion controller on display neext month during the Develop Conference which runs from July 14-16 and takes place in Brighton, UK.

Don’t fret, we’ll keep you posted.

Read (Kotaku)

Earlier this month Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was caught stating that a new Xbox 360 console will be released in 2010 sporting a built-in camera and a new interface. Shortly after, Microsoft proceeded to say that the executive was mistaken and that there will be no new console in 2010.

Well, it looks like Ballmer is back this time apologizing for his “misleading” statement saying, “I confused the issue with my poorly chosen words. There is no news in my comments. Things are as reported after E3. Sorry”.

Natal hopefuls need not be discouraged as the motion-sensing camera is still (presumably) slated for a release sometime in 2010. As for a new Xbox console? Probably not.

Read (Joystiq)

What, you didn’t think Sony let Microsoft take all the glory at E3, did you? Ok good because Sony has just responded with some motion sensing of their own introducing Playstation Motion Control.

Think of this as somewhat of a middle ground between Project Natal and the Wii because what it basically is, is a wand attached to a glowing ball that is then picked up by the Playstation Eye and rendered on screen in real time.

Doesn’t make sense? Check the above video for the tech demo from E3.

When the Wii was first revealed the world was amazed by its intuitive motion sensing Wiimote but how about removing the controller and instead using your whole body? That’s exactly what Microsoft has introduced to the gaming world with Project Natal.

Unveiled yesterday during their E3 conference, Project Natal utilizes a 3D camera placed under your TV to let you use your entire body to play games like featured in the above debut trailer. But it doesn’t stop there, Project Natal also features facial regonition so when you put your face in front of the camera you’ll be automatically signed in.

Sounds cool? That’s because it is, Project Natal will introduce a whole new way to play games and effectively blow Nintendo out of the water. That is, if it is priced so consumers can actually afford it.

According to CNN it’s called the Xbox Fluid and it’s a camera that tracks the body movements of the user. This will of course lead to you and your friends flailing around like complete morons in front of your TV screens from time to time, since visual recognition software isn’t as advanced as some might hope.

There have been arcade games that combined camera technology with other controllers to create some rather interesting types of games though, so the potential for the controller can range a little beyond the expected casual games.

We last heard of Xbox 360 motion sensing hardware early this month but it only remained a rumor up until now. It seems the Wall Street Journal has stepped in to add some fuel to the fire stating that Microsoft will probably announce the project at this year’s E3.

The WSJ also says that the hardware will be a camera that senses body movements instead of a motion sensing remote a la the Wii.

While the Wall Street Journal is a credible source this still remains a rumor until we hear the official announcement, let’s see what happens at E3.

The title is planned as a first entry into a new permutation of the FPS genre as the press release calls HellRazer: Triple Helix the ‘debut title’. It’s a squad-based tactical FPS game, which on the surface doesn’t sound like anything impressive at all. Where the importance of the partnership comes in is the control scheme. Razer is developing a brand new peripheral dedicated specifically to this game and any developed after it. Ironically while many hardcore gamers are calling the Wii a gimmick, Razer’s new peripheral is going to be a motion sensing controller, which is currently under development in their Singapore labs and the company aims to make it the first true 1:1 motion sensing controller.

“Razer is extending its vision by partnering up with Valve on this exciting new collaborative project,” said Razer president Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff. “For the first time, PC gamers will be able to experience a more integrated, immersive gameplay in a first-person shooter game.”

Oh and by the way, April Fools. Check the website for the official press release, which is hilarious. It’s almost tragic that this is a joke, because there are certain features of the game that sound actually enjoyable, like multiplayer modes where certain events can cause players to change to a different team altogether.

10. Brand Loyalty.

When it comes to video game companies, Nintendo boasts an incredible amount of longevity. Their first console, the Nintendo Entertainment System almost singlehandedly made home gaming popular and they’ve been going strong ever since. People have been buying Nintendo products for years. Sony hasn’t been in the games industry for quite as long and Microsoft is a relative newcomer to the console game.

9. Huge game library.

The Wii has a whole lot of games available with a wide array of appeals and budget ranges. For the cash-heavy there’s all the newest titles with all the bells and whistles. If you’re broke you can pick up bargain basement prices on Gamecube discs that’ll still play perfectly on the Wii or buy some Virtual Console titles. The hardcore gamer has challenging titles like Mario Galaxy, Red Steel and others, with even more on the way. Casual gamers have titles like Mario Party, Wii Sports and others to entertain them. Fans of retro gaming can download classic NES and Sega Genesis titles.\

8. Hype & Word of Mouth

Whether you like it or not, you’ve heard more talk about the Wii than pretty much any other console that’s hit the market. It had the power of much discussion behind it. I’ve spoken to many people; gamers and non-gamers alike that all wanted to try it. The idea of a motion-controlled gaming system was appealing in its simplicity.

7. Intuitive Controls

Everyone remembers the first time a friend, parent or family member sat down to try out this ‘video game thing’. Many of us cut our teeth on the original Nintendo and watched a complete novice run Mario right into a bottomless pit as they frantically flapped the controller up and down, occasionally berating the pixellated plumber for not jumping. Nintendo looked at the growingly complex controllers with more buttons, analog sticks and the like and said “there must be a different way to do all this”. After a time they gave us the Wiimote. Swing it and your character swings their sword/bat/tennis racket. Simple enough for even Grandma to use.

6. Great First-Party Games

Nintendo has always relied very heavily on their stable of existing characters for success. This has been especially evident with the Wii. Seeing Mario, Link or any of the other official Nintendo characters has always been a guarantee of quality development. When the Wii launched there was a lot of griping over the poor quality of most of the titles available, but the first quality titles were all top-notch and drove the initial success of the Wii. While people were shelling out top dollar for Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii and other games, developers were taking not and beginning to turn their eyes towards the console.

5. Family-Friendly Gameplay

Nintendo has generally bucked the modern trend with games. Most of the time there’s a direct correlation between the age of a game’s target audience and the overall quality of its gameplay. Adult-focused games are given much more time and polish, while games for kids are often slapped together rather hastily. With Nintendo it’s rare that you get truly adult content. There’s a certain degree of violence in some series, like the Metroid games and the Legend of Zelda games, but even then it’s usually against space aliens, creepy giant monsters or other assorted beasties. Parents are always happy to give their kids games that they’re not worried about the negative effects of.

4. Good Press

While Microsoft struggles to extricate themselves from the RROD fiasco and Sony keeps beating consumers over the head with arrogant claims of superiority despite evidence to the contrary the folks at Nintendo are keeping things pretty clean. Sure, it’s easier to be polite when you’re thumping your competition as soundly as Nintendo is, but there are probably a lot of companies who wouldn’t be able to resist some trash talking now and then. Stories cropping up about nursing homes buying Wiis for their residents and the Queen of England playing Wii tennis certainly help the console’s publicity. Ironically though, even if Nintendo executives started laying a verbal beat down on Sony and Microsoft every time someone spoke to them it might not affect them too much, since the casual gamers that are buying a lot of Wiis aren’t the type to be browsing gaming news websites.

3. Rise in Casual Gaming

Before the Wii launched casual gaming was already starting to get huge. Companies like Popcap games had been fueling the fire for quite a while with free online games, but the Wii has both influenced and benefited from the casual gaming explosion. The Wii offered up the sort of simple gameplay that casual gamers want with the huge benefit of a more social structure; playing with four people takes away the stigma of gaming being an antisocial, individualistic pass-time.

2. Wii Sports

Many hardcore gamers dropped Wii Sports quite quickly and hunted for more complicated fare, but the inclusion of this well-crafted experience was a linchpin of the success. Nintendo has known for a long time that giving people a game to play along with their console is much appreciated, especially when it’s as well executed as Wii Sports. The gameplay, although not terrible complex, was perfectly crafted and polished, simple to understand yet extremely fun. It was also a great marketing tool; I’d wager that a whole lot of people had never heard of the Wii before they went to a friends house and played a few rounds of tennis or golf, then went out and picked up their own console soon after.

1. Price

It packs less computer power than the Xbox 360 or PS3. It can’t even play regular DVDs much less fancy Blu-ray discs. The graphics of most games aren’t much better than its predecessor, the Gamecube. On paper it’s a pretty unimpressive system, with only the gimmick of motion sensing controls to give it real interest. Yet its low power and lack of bells and whistles has turned out to be one of its greatest strengths. The economics of video game consoles for a long time has been based on a model where companies sell the systems at a loss, making their profits from games and peripherals, but Nintendo went against that idea with the Wii. By keeping things simple Nintendo made the Wii incredibly profitable. The retail price is lower than both the other current-gen consoles and in spite of its bargain-basement price Nintendo actually makes a profit from each console they sell.

That price tag has been a huge seller for the holiday seasons. When parents are out shopping for their kids for birthdays and holidays, price is a HUGE factor, especially with the financial crunch people have been experiencing of late. If Jane Doe is walking through her local Best Buy looking for little Timmy’s Christmas present, she’s going to pass the Xbox 360 and PS3 aisles, noting the big price tag on the systems. Next she sees the array of games- violent looking things like Assassin’s Creed and Gears of War; so many games with gun-toting, aggressive looking characters. Then Mrs. Doe sees the Wii, with its low price and array of games featuring harmless-looking cartoon characters on the cover. I think you can guess which system little Timmy’s going to be unwrapping Christmas morning.

As you probably know, this isn’t the first time news of a motion controller for the Xbox has popped up. It is however the first time we’ve had substantial evidence of a first party controller. One question that remains unanswered by this however. Would the motion controller be a late attempt to match up the Xbox 360 and PS3 for features, or is this motion sensor intended for the next generation Xbox. Is motion sensor functionality a good move for Microsoft? leave a comment to tell us what you think.