Xbox to Get Motion Control

A prototype control system for the Xbox 360 uses a camera and motion sensors to let players control games with body movements rather than with a traditional hardware controller. Demonstrated at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June 2009 and code-named Project Natal, the system will not be available until 2010 or later, but an SDK is already available for game developers. Also at E3, Microsoft announced several improvements to Xbox Live, particularly related to video.

Taking on Nintendo

Project Natal is meant to close a gap with Nintendo’s Wii, which has consistently outsold the Xbox 360 worldwide. As of June 2009, VGChartz estimates that Nintendo has sold more than 50 million Wiis, compared with more than 30 million Xbox 360s, even though the 360 has been available for one year longer. Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3), released the same time as the Wii, trails in third place with about 22.5 million units sold.

The Wii has thrived thanks to lower-priced hardware and its unique motion-sensitive Wii Remote game controller, which allows users to control games with broad movements, enabling them to play games like golf and bowling with arm motions that are very similar to those used in the real sports. Microsoft began to address the Wii’s price advantage in Nov. 2007 with the Xbox 360 Arcade, which lacks a hard drive and costs about US$200—that’s US$50 less than the Wii. However, the company has not offered an equivalent to the Wii Remote.