Microsoft Takes Aim at Wii with 3-D Camera

Published on June 2nd, 2009

Microsoft, in a bid to court Nintendo Wii users while pushing the edge of gaming and entertainment, unveiled a new 3-D motion-capture camera Monday that encourages full-body interaction.

Code-named Project Natal, the camera is able to accurately transform 3-D body movements into onscreen play, one-upping the Nintendo Wii’s handheld motion controllers.

The 3-D camera also comes equipped with facial-and-speech recognition capabilities that allow for more personalized and interactive engagement with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console.

22 users responded in " Microsoft Takes Aim at Wii with 3-D Camera "

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# 1 bobbo said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Hopper/anyone==can you confirm this has nothing to do with the camera and is all about the software?

If not, what is different about these cameras? What does it have besides a lens and photon receptors?

# 2 bobbo said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 pm

ummm–just occured to me==maybe two lens or a red + green filter or some such thing in order to get two images for the depth perception? Hard to do with one central aperture.

# 3 SterlingMX said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 pm

I already read the Ulanoff column on this on PCMag. It would appear as yet another attempt on this field, much like the PS Eye. But according to Ulanoff, this is the next big thing, even without a live demonstration of the technology. I seriously think that Ulanoff is a PR for Micro$oft and PC Magazine is PR for Apple and Micro$oft.

# 4 Fat_Anarchy said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm

Seems like one of thise things where if they do it well, then it might be really cool. However, if they do it wrongly, or make it buggy or limited, then it will suck ass.

A thing I don’t like about the wii, is the controller limits the type of games, and range of controls it can have, eg, sucks at FPS. I hope Microsoft doesnt fall into the same thing. If it has a legitimate benefit, then its cool. If its just a gimmick, with no real practical benefit over the current controls, then, it might not be for the best, and can be stored away next to my speech-to-text software, lol.

# 5 hhopper said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm

3-D cameras generally have two lenses to record two viewpoints as our eyes do. The photos of this camera do not show two lenses.

More information here.

# 6 chuck said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:25 pm

#5 – for accurate, real pictures of the actual camera, try RTFA.

[I RTFA... I just missed the tiny photos that were there. - ed.]

# 7 pedro said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm

#4 Wii sucks at FPS? Have you even used the thing with a gun adapter?

# 8 Jägermeister said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm

#1 bobbo, #5 hhopper

Here’s more info.

# 9 Fat_Anarchy said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm

[Duplicate comment deleted. Please don't double post! - ed.]

# 10 Fat_Anarchy said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm

#7 No, LOL.

I’ve only played a few games on it, and wasn’t able to get used to it. I’m sure there probabaly are some things its good at though, and it might be cool once you do get used to it.

Given my lack of experience with it though, I probabaly shouldn’t be making such comments. It was just a personal observation. I’ll keep an eye out for the gun adapter though. Maybe It will change my mind. I don’t really play games that often though.

# 11 bobbo said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm

#8–Jag==thats it. Thanks.

# 12 Ghost said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 pm

The camera that they showed off at E3 yesterday has two lens’s as well as another thing, possibly IR. The entire unit appears to be as wide as the 360 is tall. And the whole thing is a gray-black color, unlike the rest of the 360 peripherals.

# 13 Hugh Ripper said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Who the hell wants an always on internet camera pointed at them in their lounge room. Is 1984 still required reading in schools?

# 14 Randomized said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm

That guy kind of looks like Mr. Cooper.

# 15 brm said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm

#12:

“Who the hell wants an always on internet camera pointed at them in their lounge room.”

I keep getting emails from hot chicks who like this.

# 16 R.O.P. said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 4:46 pm

#12, the FBI, the CIA, your local police and the Office of Homeland Security would love to have an internet camera pointed at you. On the plus side, it would encourage people to clean their living/game/basement rooms on a regular basis.

# 17 MikeN said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm

This is just a terrible project, Microsoft trying to copy the Wii. They should just declare bankruptcy.

# 18 pedro said, on June 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 pm

So, like the playstation, has face recognition so the system can tell if you’re making a moron face when you play, just like the guy on the pic. Good feature! Maybe they should upload the most moronic & stupi ones on x-box live or even bing, that’ll get them some traffic there.

#17 The wii controller and the playstation eye. Like mac on everything else, MS is just trying to catch up

# 19 Uncle Patso said, on June 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 am

…the camera is able to accurately transform 3-D body movements into onscreen play…

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Pinky?”

# 20 Jason said, on June 3rd, 2009 at 3:14 am

Well, as I see it, the last time Nintendo had the competition on the ropes, everyone and their dog was coming out with every kind of gimic to take on Nintendo. Well, now Sega makes games FOR Nintendo and Atari and everyone else gave up.

The arrogance of Nintendo afterwards is being replayed by Sony in a big way and Microsoft STILL cannot seem to understand that they are only a success in the USA/Canada.

These gadgets are just more money sunk into sinking ships/loss leaders that are all loss and no lead.

# 21 amodedoma said, on June 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 am

Yeah right, all of the sudden M$ is an expert in hardware development. Har, har… While the concept is fascinating, the practical developing of a functioning system is far from imminent. I’ve done some 3d recognition with robots and doing it for navigating is hard as hell and processor intensive. To do 3d motion capture in real time goes way beyond hard as hell and is even more processor intensive. Add to that the challenges of different and changing lighting, and the incredible varieties of shape and style in the human presentation and movement I can come to but one conclusion. This is a gimmick, and it’s highly unlikely it’ll ever be popular, but what the hell, it might help xbox sales.

# 22 jcj7161 said, on June 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm

Ulanoff =douche=ms hack=FUD

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