Project Natal, price…games…fail or succeed?
Project Natal is slated to release this year and we’ve only seen a handful (if that) of games that are likely to debut with the motion sensing wonder. We’ve seen the ball tossing game, Burnout Paradise and the paint throwing game back during E3 2009. There are a few others out there but these three are what come to mind when thinking about Project Natal.
There are a few things that will determine whether or not this idea fails or succeeds this year. The two most important of course are its price and its game library. How much will they charge for this? Which games are they shipping with it? I anticipate Project Natal (if they stick with this name and they should) to ring in at a price just under one hundred bucks; $79.99 to be exact. What this will give you is the software/hardware and a game pack to get you started. I imagine they’ll even toss in a one month subscription to Xbox LIVE. I suppose if they’re truly daring they’ll go the route of PlayStation Move and hope people will spend $99 on it.
As far as the games go, I think you’ll see some surprises. One of the biggest players in Natal will be Electronic Arts and they’ll look to bring their EA Active line over to Project Natal. We won’t be able to escape the fitness games so just get ready for it. This year’s E3 2010 should paint a pretty clear picture of Natal’s game line-up but what I anticipate is that there will be no price announcement at the expo. Microsoft will opt to save that for a much more specific event…one that is exclusively about Project Natal. I expect Natal to not include the paint game that was shown during E3. Don’t ask me why but I have a feeling it just won’t make the cut on launch. I hope I’m wrong though because it’s the one game that made me interested in Natal (my daughter would love it).
I’ve talked to some people at Microsoft since the announcement of Project Natal and they’ve mentioned how it will be a full-on assault much like the launch of the Xbox 360. It will even out-hype Halo: Reach this year or at least that’s what marketing intends. The plan is to give Project Natal a grand introduction. Consoles will start being prepped for Natal’s arrival starting this Spring with an update. I wouldn’t be surprised if they choose to give customers various Natal bundles to choose from much like the different Sku option of the consoles.
Here’s one of the bundles I think we should expect…
Project Natal Bundle (basic)
$79.99
Natal software/hardware
Game pack (a few test games)
1-month Xbox LIVE Gold
What do you think about Project Natal? Will it prove a mistake in “never going full motion”? I imagine that a lot of you are interested in it so what games are you hoping will be Natal games? How much will you pay for it before you consider it too expensive?
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:00 pm
100 bucks is the limit in my opinion. If it goes over that, I will not be buying it. I don’t like the idea of motion controls at all, but I’ll try it, before I judge it, as long as the price isn’t crazy high.
I don’t expect them to have many good games either. So I’m not expecting too much.
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I think you’re probably right about the pricing model. The other thing I would add is that Natal will be bundled with the new slim Xbox 360. Probably at $499, but hopefully less. That bundle will include a “Elite” slim 360, Natal, the game pack, controller, and 1 month of Live. Maybe a headset, but I’m doubting it.
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I would NOT pay for it, but when it comes free with the redesigned 360 (Yeah I called it) at $199.99 (Calling it again) then I will get my 2nd 360 to put in my theater room.
I don’t want Natal (Hoping that’s not the name) for games, but I do want it for 360 utilization with things like Marketplace, voice recognition, & turning my 360 on/off without a controller. The ONLY game that could get me to seriously play using Natal would be Killer Instinct 3 by RARE.. Just as long as Natal was the only control option for that game.
Other than that, I hope Natal fails, but I know better..SO! I still hope for the best! = Natal failing! :p
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
so you think the Slim is a green light Gemini? i have my doubts but stranger things have happened for sure.
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I’m no Gemini… I am constant, strait to the point, & all about common sense = Too bad that’s not so common huh Deac? lol
Anyways, Virgo here telling you like it is, & yes Microsoft would be stupid to not do a SLIM 360 after seeing what it has done for the Ps3 this past year.
Deac, you had your doubts about the SLM Ps3, the Elite 360, & HDMI as well. Hell, even certain price drops that I won the bet on… Remember? lol
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:59 pm
i never had doubts on any of those things lol. the only thing i can remember doubting was the 250 gig thing. but a Slim 360? i don’t doubt it’ll happen just doubt the decision to even do it at this point. especially considering what they’d have to do with it design wise and performance wise..it’s not like the PS3 transition at all….it would be much more of a design risk.
but oh well…i’m sure it’ll happen and be bundled with Natal like you guys are thinking..perhaps along the lines of the Natal bundles i think will happen.
March 22nd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Oh yes you did… I was there in the XBOX.COM forums when you closed threads & kept insisting the Elite/HDMi thing was all a RUMOR. = BooYahhh!!!
Now about a Natal 360 Bundle = Think of the words… A WHOLE NEW 360 SYSTEM LAUNCH!
Then you say, “i’m sure it’ll happen and be bundled with Natal like you guys are thinking”…”You guys”? – Deac, I was the ONLY one talking about a Slim 360. :p
March 22nd, 2010 at 3:23 pm
no i didn’t. i may have been on orders to close ‘em but i never said personally that i doubted it or that it wouldn’t happen lol….sure i might of said it’s just a rumor because it was just a rumor then lol
and Gemini Ace just mentioned a Slim 360 so you weren’t the only one.
March 22nd, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Ohh Deac… You are funny. I KNOW for a FACT that you denounced the Elite 360 & HDMI. = I have a very good memory. :p
Oh he may have said it here, but I’ve been saying it for a very long time & you know it Deac…. I was even the first to talk about it at Xbox.com & here. BooYahhh!!!
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:20 pm
pics are it didn’t happen Mike lol
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Wrong Deac, just wrong! = I know you feel bad. lol
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:07 pm
bah humbug…x-mas release to push holiday sales is the only predictable bet…
March 22nd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Well we already knew that one Pilex… Microsoft already announced the FALL release date for Natal. :p
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:58 pm
i can’t wait to try this since seeing it on video of last years E3.
I hope microsoft stays at the $80 price point because i have $60 credit at amazon.
I can’t wait to use the voice recon to turn on my 360.
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:05 am
I’m guessing no more than $100.00 for this Natal. Its all about the games Microsoft puts out if this thing will sell. A Madden game on Natal would be a major workout!
May 26th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
[...] is nearly double what I had anticipated Project Natal would cost. If the pricing holds true, are you going to get your motion on with Project Natal for [...]
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:04 am
The Xbox Kinect is more than just a family games console, I meanyou can do a lot more stuff that you can’t do with the Wii. The graphics are better & Wii fanboy or not, you can’t denythe Hard Drive storage on the new Xbox is far superior to the Wii. There is no need for controllers which meansless battery and recharging cost. If you have a young family like me , you don’t have to worry about the kids misusing the controllers or dropping them in there juice. Kinect does have voice recognition so if the kids are getting out of order and reality wrestling rather than virtual wrestling you can just yell pause and Kinect will pause. Shamethis doesn’t generally work with the kids, well not in my house anyway. There is no doubt your friends and family will have a lot of fun with the Kinect and it is taking interactive gaming to another level. To be fair , Microsoft were falling behind a bit recently in the games console world and it’s about time they stepped up to the plate and with Xbox Kinect, they have done exactly that in my opinion. Whether it has bugs or little minor problems remains to be seen and as with all these things, the proof is in the ongoing sales rather than the initial sales onslaught of inquisitive techno-holics who buy any new gadget released.