E3 2009: Microsoft finally unveils motion-sensing device, Project Natal

Xbox 360 at E3 2009 - Image 1This one certainly got some serious air time in the rumorama, but now that Microsoft has finally made the announcement, the Xbox 360 motion-sensor levels up from rumor to legit, with a video to boot. Here it is, after weeks of brewing speculation, Microsoft’s Project Natal.

This one certainly got some serious air time in the rumorama, but now that Microsoft has finally made the announcement, the Xbox 360 motion-sensor levels up from rumor to legit, with a video to boot. Here it is, after weeks of brewing speculation, Microsoft’s Project Natal.

Strange name, yes? And by the way, you don’t pronounce it like natal, like you’re referring to childbirth. It’s Natal like Rafael Nadal only with a T. Say it with me – Natal. So anyway, you’re probably as curious as I was about the name, so here’s how they explain it:

Alex Kipman, who incubated the project and is from Brazil, chose Natal, a city along the northeastern coast of Brazil, as a tribute to his country. In addition, he knew that Natal also means “to be born” in Latin. Given the new audiences “Project Natal” will bring to Xbox 360, this felt right.

Like the rumored specs have told us, Project Natal won’t have you holding any controller, so the magic wand controller rumors are still drawing blanks, and might be released eventually as an accessory for the accessory. Come to think of it, having a second motion-sensor for a motion-sensor might actually feel magic-wandy, or too redundant to make you buy both.

As it is, Project Natal’s spec sheet tells us that it’s got an RGB sensor, a depth sensor, a multiarray microphone and a special processor.

So there it is – say it again, Natal, with cool Brazilian origin too! Sure is an impressive sight to behold, but let’s reserve judgment until we actually play with the super EyeToy.


Rumor review for Project Natal:

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