Microsoft’s XBOX360 Project Natal Has A Secret: Lag

I’m starting to get the impression that 2010 will be a very strong for the Playstation brand in the home console arena. The reason I state this is because I don’t see Nintendo and Microsoft hitting the market with another console until 2011. Microsoft has an “Ace Card” they showed off at E3 for the XBOX360 called Natal, which many of you have probably seen before. It’s a very exciting prospect from an established giant in tech, and is basically a camera system that can read your movements and allows you to play games with those movements instead of using a controller. The videos were so exciting that many thought they were witnessing the second coming of a great evolution in gaming. What could go wrong?

Well, things can go wrong if Natal has lag – with one developer and now one of the largest technology blogs stating so. Gizmodo writes, “Jon Burton, director of Traveller’s Tales (makers of all those LEGO titles), has confirmed that “Lag on the input and lack of physical buttons is really going to restrict the kind of games that can be done [for Project Natal].” Gizmodo also went on to note that Natal was “accurate, but an ever-so-slight delay to the movement caused us to question whether it could be used for hardcore gaming apps.”

Both consoles are starting to stagnate a little bit. The Wii has filled its niche very nicely, but hardcore gamers overlook it quickly. With explosive success of Modern Warfare 2 – which made $550 million in its first five days of retail -  we are reminded you simply can’t miss out on immersive HD gaming. The XBOX360 is still very strong, has incredible online features and services but it does lack something these days in comparison to the PS3. You can tell its end of life, despite the fact that Microsoft has brilliantly extended the experience with a great software and social media experience.

Honestly, the PS3 feels like a canvas to me, as if there is still great growth within it. There are two huge things coming for the console in the next six months – a super accurate motion controller and the ability for any PS3 to play 3D games. How can you not be excited about that?

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21
Dec 2009
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Hardware, Playstation, PS3

DISCUSSION 21 Comments
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  • Serg

    So let me get this right, PS3 is better just because. You see a feature??? What feature, Sony processes has 4 or 5 built in cores, and the bad news is MW2 uses only one. Only Exclusive games are using the full power of PS3 and that’s if they can afford it cause it cost way too much money to make games for PS3 (too difficult). By the time the PS3 goes to effect (as in games using its full power), new systems will be release, and who knows, it might be twice as strong spec wise compare to super computer (PS3) and maybe even easier for companies to make games the new systems. Sony has lost its touch, I don’t believe anything until I see it. Your so called supper accurate motion magic stick doesn’t have a feature. No games have been announced for this new feature, no company is working on it yet. 3D games, that’s not gonna fly because you would need a whole new LCD TV for that. I purchased a Samsung already for $2400 why would I want to get another one? 3D is not now, but maybe 5 to 10 years down the line. Sony used PS3 to push Blue Ray out, that’s all and they won the HD war, but they are and will lose the gaming industry. If you wanna make speculations, make sure to back it up, instead of saying “I think”, tell me why??? Sony has been selling more then 360, but that’s because of its price cute. To top it off, if Sony does out sale Microsoft ever month, it will take about…..what 3-6 years to catch up??? MW2 sold almost 4 times more on Xbox 360 than compared to PS3. Here do the math Xbox sold 4.2 Million Copies, PS3 sold 1.87 Million (numbers from NPD)..the list goes on and on, im not saying Xbox 360 is the best and PS3 is not. I’m saying Xbox 360 is better for what I can do for you.

  • Mark

    The problem is, Microsoft and their army of Amerian bloggers, in addition to their own internal army of shills and paid off industry gaming sites, will still uptalk everything positive about the 360, bury anything bad, and ensure anything that Sony does with the PS3 will automatically be considered a failure.

    You only have to look at the PSP-Go, it's not selling, not because it's not very good, or even over-expensive, it's not selling because certain gaming blogs have brainwashed consumers into not liking it…

    If it were a Microsoft portable gaming device, with digital only distribution, it would be the best thing since sliced bread.

    The media has far too much power, and consumers are too stupid to see when they are being played (American consumers are the most gullible it seems)

  • alphaneuron1

    Right. But that doesn't mean it won't sell well. Mark got it right. Microsoft has an army of bloggers and “journalists” and “editors” at various websites who will create demand for Natal by playing up the good and playing down the bad. MS's advertising dollars will make sure people buy.

    MS has a lot of experience turning out huge sales and profits on bad products. Windows 98, ME, Vista are examples. The X360 has quality issues that simply don't get mentioned. MS's lack of worthwhile exclusives in 2009 is not news anywhere.

    The media will make sure you spend mega dollars on Natal, no matter what. After all, MS profits are the most important thing!

  • Sorgus

    Serg got it right. Besides, who is going to believe anything about Microsoft's project Natal that is posted on Sony insider? You'd have to be a fool anyhow to try to predict the lag of a device that is almost a year away from market release. The PS3 is a fine machine. I like my 360 too, better in fact. As for Natal, I'll reserve judgment until it is released. Thank you very much.

  • bamb00zl3r

    PSP-Go didn't sell because it was a pointless product. It offered no new features, aside from a smaller frame, and actually removed old ones. it didn't even bother up grading its wireless device which is essential for it's use. You talk about stupidity of american consumers, which I slightly agree on, but even most of them understood that paying more for less is not a good idea.

  • Doe

    The xbox is at the end of its life??? What planet are you on? It lacks what ? Are you seeing what you want see?

    As for Natal. There is lag. Not really too surprising given the technology.I don't think it is really aimed at hardcore ??? games. The aim I think is to open up the xbox to alternative audiences, casual, family etc… It will be cheap, the xbox is being sold at a slim profit etc…

    As for 3D games, I guess you mean the glasses or the new tvs. I think we can safely say, they won't become significant until the next generation of consoles.

  • willhe

    That headline is dumb. Where's the secret about the lag. It's been lagging since day one and I can guarantee that ps3 controller lags as well. It's the inherent nature of motion control. if you wave that wand fast do you thing it will be accurate? sony will fair better since the relative x y and z motions are tracked in the controller with only depth actually tracked by the sphere. to say that buttons restrict games is totally inaccurate. the only need for buttons are a more tactile trigger and yes i cant wrap my head on a none quirky was of walking and running on natal. but the creative things you can do without is limitless. i'm not a fan boy and plan on getting both. natal gives you more of the wow factor while ps3 just out wii the wii graphically. the biggest problem i have seen with natal and some of the control issues are user error. burnout is a good example of this. instead of turning their hands people turn their bodies. no programmer can anticipate that,

  • Mike

    The difference is that Microsoft didn't develop a UMD for the portable device, only to completely drop support on the failed media form on the new platform. If MSFT released a digital distribution only device, they would be starting on a clean slate, so no one would feel like they were railed by the fact that they spent 100's of dollars on a now useless media format. I work for a major retailer and I saw firsthand how many potential PSP-go owners passed on the idea solely because of the lack of the UMD support/willingness by Sony to offer their titles as a download onto the go. The way they saw it was, I paid for this game already, so why should I need to pay for it again?

  • who is Christopher MacManus

    Just how do you support your quote? ” You can tell its end of life, despite the fact that Microsoft has brilliantly extended the experience with a great software and social media experience.”

    Well here is a break down of the end of its life till Nov.2009

    Xbox 360 outsells ps3 every year.
    xbox 360 has sold more titles than the ps3 and Wii every year.
    xbox 360 revenue is more that ps3 every year.
    xbox 360 MAKES money on every 360 but ps3 doesn't
    Xbo 360 makes over 100 million on LIVE
    xbox 360 has an attach rate of 8.2 games a system the ps3 has 4.1

    Come on we need more that that. Look at the November numbers sales/growth/revenue for all three systems, where on the list is PS3 placed?

  • Tomi

    Xbox outsells PS3 Thats's not going to happen this year PS3 destroyed it and made up for lost sales in units for previous year except the whole year xbox had ahead of PS3

  • glen

    Serg, Serg, Serg, Please for the love of God get your worldwide figures straight. First off,the 360 had what? Like, a full year head start. If you look at current global sales the 360 has sold around 5 million (35million 360 vs 30million PS3) more than the PS3. I'm willing to bet that at least half of that 5mil was from people with the RRoD. Now I will give you that in the states the 360 is king when combined with software sales. As we both know the Nintendo is spanking everyone in console sales.
    Also, look at the PlayStation as a brand which includes the every still selling PS2 and PSP/PSPGo. Microsoft sells one console not three. Oh, and if MW2 for PS3 only uses one of the many Processors (not processes) and still looks as good as MW2 on the 360 then good for Infinity Ward. As far as for it being “too difficult” how but I see it as Developers just being lazy. 1st Party PS3 titles far and away outshine anything on the 360. Sony is not just re-hashing previous titiles like the 360 does (Halo, and Halo, oh and Halo). It is producing new IP's like Resistance, Uncharted, Heavy Rain, Infamous, Demon Souls, Flower, Little Big Planet, and MAG. Wow, that being original instead of spitting out cookie cutter BS. Oh, Microsoft is just doing what it does with it's Operating Systems like Windows and Office.

    Please read some damn Gaming articles or websites before you post ingnorance. Ubisoft has stated that is has 5 titles in production for the PS3 motion controller, and not to mention the 1st Party devs all have somehting in production. I'm also glad to hear that the PS3's price it cute. I think you mean cut. Also didn't Microsoft cut the 360's price in 2008 to $199.00? Maybe, that's why it has only sold 5million more consoles worldwide.

    Serg, Do one more thing for me. When you get up in the morning look out a window and see that there is an entire world besides the one you live in.

  • Guest

    Fanboy article, no wonder it is caller SONY insider, you can't help but be biased
    Also your 'super accurate motion controller is an eye toy tracking a purple dot, make sure not to cover it with your hand or rotate it, and it is a camera so it will lag the same,
    problem with natal is it will cost more than the console with that technology, a trump card has to be affordable too

  • Riseer

    You sir are stupid,the 360 sells more in ''America'' worldwide sony is beating the breaks off of microsoft.Last time i checked, the 360 had around 5 million units sold more then the ps3 which launch a year late.Software wise sony has the games.God of war 3 will be out by march we have Mag this month.GT5 out sometime this year.Ps3 is here to stay so shut your xbot mouth.

  • riseer

    Has nothing to do with biased. was a dev who said natal lags.

  • riseer

    Ya serg is in denial few years ago people like him said the ps3 will fail.Whats happening tho,sony said F it this is a videogame console.They have the games now and will only get better in time.I just hope sony can give these devs better dev tools to these third party devs.

  • brandoooo

    im confused. does the project natal have to plug into the xbox 360. for example, would i have to buy a xbox 360 and project natal for me to be able to use it? PLEASE TELL ME!!

  • Dennis

    Wow rofl. your trolling impresses me. First off even IF your numbers of MW2 sold on both consoles would have been correct (which they are not) it's not even 3 times more sold, so YOU LEARN to do math. 1.87 X 4=7.48 so…. and even IF you wanted to say it was “almost” 3 times more, that number would come out to 5.61 mil, so you are off. Now world wide PS3 has sold approximately 5.88 million copies of MW2 http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=28847. The 360 has sold more at approximately at 8.10 million copies of MW2 http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=7316. All based off of several sources they use such as massive retailers from across the globe ALONG WITH NPD data. and even here it's not even times 2 based off world wide numbers. Remember America is not the world and NPD's focus is America (US to be exact). Also NPD vaguely calculates trends from Walmart since they don't get direct numbers from that retailer. Anyways nice attempt at trolling, but again please learn some math before you come in trolling and making yourself look…..not too bright. The price of the Slim is still in line with the 360 Elite (Elite is cheaper in many parts too) so PS3 has not had any price advantage ever, not to mention M$ has been pushing their arcade model which has been at $199 and even lower if you count Walmart deals among others, yet world wide PS3 has been outselling the 360 ever since the Slim, hitting nearly 2 million in 2 holiday weeks while the 360 barely hit around 1.1-1.3 million if that. It's no secret that the US market belongs to the 360 and that over 1 year advantage has helped the 360 but yearly it is being outsold worldwide by the PS3, not to mention PS3 overtook 360 in Others (europe, etc). In japan the ratio I believe is roughly 4:1 (approx 1.2 million 360's vs approx 4.6+ million PS3's).
    Now is the PS3 wand going to be a hit with the casual market? That has yet to be seen. If they can achieve near total accuracy surpassing the Wii, it may be possible, but again that remains on speculation. Natal carries potential, but games developed for it are also scarce and I would go as far as saying it's a bit early in the game but who knows. PS3 motion control has the potential simply because it has been established by the Wii, so improving upon that is more feasible. Anyways happy trolling, and I suggest using a calculator next time.

  • i own xbox and ps3

    1. yeah, if you count every xbox that gets sent to microsoft due to the rrod every person has to pay for
    2. yeah thats cause xbox uses crappy cds, that as soon as a scratch is made fail to work, causing people to have to purchase the game again
    3.thats cause xbox charges for everything that comes standard in a ps3 ($100 extra for a wifi adapter, and the stupid monthly charge)
    4.once again, rrod repair charges
    5. which is stupid, online play isnt better than ps3, and the live community seems to be full of little 8 year olds who seem to whine and cry when they lose, i dont like to pay to hear toddlers bitch and cry
    6.only cause of the bandwagon effect

  • i own xbox and ps3

    1. yeah, if you count every xbox that gets sent to microsoft due to the rrod every person has to pay for
    2. yeah thats cause xbox uses crappy cds, that as soon as a scratch is made fail to work, causing people to have to purchase the game again
    3.thats cause xbox charges for everything that comes standard in a ps3 ($100 extra for a wifi adapter, and the stupid monthly charge)
    4.once again, rrod repair charges
    5. which is stupid, online play isnt better than ps3, and the live community seems to be full of little 8 year olds who seem to whine and cry when they lose, i dont like to pay to hear toddlers bitch and cry
    6.only cause of the bandwagon effect

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