Microsoft opens E3 with a definite bang

by Stevie Smith - Jun 2 2009, 15:00

Nintendo may well have broken through demographic barriers with its motion-sensing Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Balance Board systems, but Microsoft is looking to smash the barrier into smithereens by completely removing controllers from the interactive videogame experience.

Moreover, in a lively E3 Expo keynote address that saw Microsoft impress with major announcements and a wealth of exclusive content for its Xbox 360 console, the Redmond-based software giant offered up a glimpse at the future of gaming with Project Natal, a 3D motion capture system that processes and translates human movement directly into game control mechanics.

Complete with face and voice recognition, the Project Natal sensor bar functions in a similar way to Nintendo’s home console but, while Wii players must still rely on physical control systems to transfer their gestures, Natal is capable of scanning and tracking the player’s full body so that controllers of any kind become redundant during gameplay.

Beyond Microsoft’s obvious pride regarding Natal, which even coaxed the usually hard-to-please E3 Expo crowd into regular appreciative applause, the potentially revolutionary videogame technology was endorsed on stage by none other than movie director Steven Spielberg.

According to Spielberg, himself a creative force behind critically acclaimed videogame Boom Blox, the integration of Natal will see prospective gamers generally perturbed by complex physical control pads granted instant access to “a whole new world” and all manner of fun and exciting software they would otherwise shy away from.  

“We’re leaping forward [with Project Natal],” trumpeted Xbox senior vice president Don Mattrick in a BBC interview. “We’re creating something that no one has ever created before.”

Not just limited to the promise and ‘wow factor’ of Natal, Microsoft also opened E3 with a definite bang in terms of strengthening both its software portfolio and the functionality of its Xbox Live entertainment service.

Specifically, exclusive titles such as Splinter Cell: Conviction, Alan Wake, and Halo: ODST were presented through live gameplay demonstrations, while similarly notable exclusives Halo: Reach, Left 4 Dead 2, Crackdown 2 and Forza 3 were all unveiled with impressive trailer sequences.

Also, after last year swiping PlayStation exclusivity from Sony by securing an Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII – also shown via a brief English language gameplay demo – Microsoft once again dented the software armour of its main rival by revealing that Sony’s flagship Metal Gear Solid series is also making the leap to Xbox 360.

Adding to the customer draw and appeal of its Xbox Live service, Microsoft revealed the introduction of instant movie content playback in full 1080p resolution (no downloading required), Gold account access to Last.fm for no additional charge, a content deal with Sky TV covering the UK and Ireland, and enhanced social interaction through partnerships with leading online networks Facebook and Twitter.

The E3 Expo keynote stage now awaits Sony and Nintendo, both of which will roll out their respective wares knowing that Microsoft broke with form and did anything but disappoint.

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