Project Natal, aka Microsoft’s controller-less control system, has got to be one of the most impressive pieces of technology shown E3. It makes the Wii look like a Gamecube with a laser pointer. To be honest, though, two thoughts came into my mind immediately:

1) If Microsoft has this kind of technology, why to I still have to SCREAM voice-activated commands into the phone with tech support companies, only to be told “I’m sorry, we didn’t understand”? Seriously, people.

2) Am I the only one who things the little AI British Boy they demo’ed was creepy? I mean, I don’t want some kind of AI uprising. It was just a little too real for comfort. Maybe I’ve been watching too many sci-fi movies lately.

But I digress. Their demo really got me thinking about what could be next in gaming. To me, Project Natal looks a lot like those simulator virtual reality helmuts you see in movies. Or the Matrix. Something like that. This could be extremely cool, in the right hands. Here’s what I’d like to see done with Project Natal:

1. A Horror-Survival Game

If you think watching a happy little kid respond to you is creepy, try some kind of demon. Now that’s horror. Say they have an evil character that “learns” how to scare you more. It’s a completely unique gaming experience…and you might shit your pants.

I can just imagine how scare a game like Silent Hill would be with the use of this new technology.

2. Actual Sports Leagues

It’s the same idea as the ability to log on with your Rockband band now and compete. Imagine how cool it would be to get together, for example, a soccer team and compete with other soccer teams from around the world. It’s such a higher level experience than playing with a controller. Of course, you could actually join a community soccer team, but that’s besides the point. I mean, you don’t have to pay for uniforms, traveling, equipment…and for people who can’t join sports due to availbility issues, team cuts, etc., it’s a great way to improve skills.

3. Voice Reconition for Music Games

Right now, games like rockband track your pitch and rhythm, but you could literally sing “blah blah blah” into the mic and the game wouldn’t care. Trust me, I’ve done it. It would be nice to take these types of games to the next level, actually adding in lyric recognition. I guess it depends just how good this technology is.

Of course, this would significantly decrease the number of adult beverages I could drink and still play the game…

On second thought, fuck that.

4. Built-in Console Security Systems

Imagine if your console would be worthless unless you (or another pre-determined user) turned it on. It’s like a password, but better, since it would really limit how a stolen system could be used. Or, at least, it would prevent a younger sibling from playing you game while you’re at work or class. To go along with this, families could program the system to block out certain users from playing games with too high of a rating. Again, its like a password, but better.

Some More Project Natal Thoughts

A few words before I close: While Project Natal is damn impressive, I have concerns that it won’t work as well at the demo they showed, and moreover, I think that the novelty will wear off, just like it did (for most gamers) with the Wii’s technology. Sure, there will be some games where a controller-less system will be really cool, but in all, I’m not sure that enough developers will jump on board making really awesome games for it to warrant buying the camera and software. Of course, that depends on cost, but I can’t see something like this running for under $150.

Apparently, I’m not completely off base, because initial reports from those select individuals who got to see the private demo are mixed. I’ve heard that the actual demo they saw wasn’t nearly as impressive as what we saw at the key note, and that it compares to the Eye more than it looks like a giant leap forward in technology. I wouldn’t know, though; I wasn’t even at E3, let alone part of the select group allowed to play it.

So, I guess we’ll see.

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