Reggie doesn’t think Project Natal is a Wii killer
June 18th, 2009 Posted in News, Posted by Valay, WiiShortly after Microsoft’s Project Natal was announced, Times Magazine said in article that the technology might not only be better than the Wii, but it also “may just kill the Wii.” Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO of Nintendo of America, was asked about the magazine’s words and commented about Natal in general. You can check out what he said below.
“Obviously we don’t [think Natal is a Wii killer]. You know, if you look at the Wii business so far through April looking at NPD data, our business is up 11% in dollars year over year.
It’s not stopped right now…You know, we love competition. We think competition makes us better. And in the end, we’ve stepped up in a huge way over the last four years driving the industry…You know, I haven’t seen it…You know me well enough that I don’t tremble easily. But what I can tell you is that we’ve been in this gaming industry for over 25 years. We’ve looked at a range of technology, we think we have the best understanding of interface and feedback for the consumer that drives immersion into gaming…We’ve done facial recognition, we’ve done cameras, we have a really good sense of this techonology.”
- Iwata: Nintendo thought about Natal-like camera, rejected the idea Published on: June 11, 2009
- Reggie on Wii Music, motion competition, DSi Virtual Console Published on:
- Reggie comments on Natal Published on: June 2, 2009
- Reggie explains why MotionPlus wasn’t a built-in Wiimote function Published on: October 6, 2008
- Reggie: Bundles are evil Published on: December 19, 2007
14 Responses to “Reggie doesn’t think Project Natal is a Wii killer”
By Mjw on Jun 20, 2009
I agree with Reggie. While MS is trying to pull a Wii in order to snatch some of Nintendos market they lack one thing. The Nintendo logo.
By vigeoman on Jun 20, 2009
honestly this wont be a wii killer
microsoft is forgeting so many things with this.
the price, i will be guessing 100-200 dollars cause this is very expensive technology
there probably wont be many 3rd party publishers on it because to make it require the natal project it will cost 100-200 dollars + a extra 60 dollars for the game
unlike the wii motion plus which is only 25 dollars its not a lot
my other resson is that you look very weird playing it
now you look pretty funny when your playing your wii waving around your arms but if you seen the trailer when the kid is playing as the dinosour and destroying the buildings now that is just weird
By LogicalTech on Jun 20, 2009
Natal is old tech that the PS2 camera was mostly capable of.
The PS3 Motion Controller is the only thing that stands a chance against the large casual “army” that is the wii fanbase. In fact, the PS3 motion technology spans way back to the 90s when the eyetoy started it’s early stages. That’s a lot of years of refinement.
By ahab on Jun 20, 2009
Ps3 isn’t the real competitor, because it won’t beat the wii, it will become the wii. It’s the same idea for technology. Natal on the other hand, can beat them both, because it’s a CONTROLLER LESS way to play games. And that appeals to a bigger audience.
By Johnno on Jun 20, 2009
It’s surprising seeing how the media’s attention is caught up in the Natal hype given that even the PS2′s Eyetoy was capable of many of the things Microsoft proudly boasts about Natal… Oddly enough, it’s Sony who has the best of both worlds. Sony can deliver close to the same controller-free experiences Natal can using the PSEye, and provide the same 1:1 degrees of accuracy that the Wii can with M+. The PS3 with the Eye and their two wands can offer the best of both worlds.
By Javed on Jun 20, 2009
“By ahab on Jun 20, 2009
Ps3 isn’t the real competitor, because it won’t beat the wii, it will become the wii. It’s the same idea for technology. Natal on the other hand, can beat them both, because it’s a CONTROLLER LESS way to play games. And that appeals to a bigger audience.”
I agree with this guy.
By Yami on Jun 20, 2009
Nintendo really has nothing to worry about against Microsoft. Its been in the gaming market forever and still improving. People forget Nintendo usually brings out the tech for gaming..so while Sony and Microsoft working on their “motion control”…Nintendo might bring something new to the gaming world…bringing the gaming world into the next gen of playing games.
By teets on Jun 20, 2009
Project Natal as a game controller doesn’t seem very appealing. I think what the Wii has proven is that people don’t mind holding onto something. Project Natal seems more interesting as a voice controller or as an interface to navigate through the NXE.
By name on Jun 20, 2009
do me a favour and kill all 3.
the last thing i want is for ps3 and 360 games to turn out like wii game.
forcing you to wave your arms arround like a retard.
games were created for relaxation and recreation not exercise.
By blah on Jun 21, 2009
and i bet ur fat too! i think nintendo is going to hit a gold mine w the M+, it is very accurate and it moves where u move. the 360 has nothing on that how can u swing a sword w “no sword” in other words
By dmilitarymindb on Jun 21, 2009
pls. stop comparing the xbox 360 to the wii co’z the wii can’t even match the half of good experience given by the xbox 360,the wii can’t even compete to the graphics and features of the xbox 360.let the children play the wii ok.
By Andrew on Jun 21, 2009
I’ll try and lend this comment section another sane voice instead of whining fanboys:
The most interesting quote from Reggie is this – “We’ve looked at a range of technology, we think we have the best understanding of interface and feedback for the consumer that drives immersion into gaming” – and the reason I find it interesting is that, while Nintendo have managed to interest ‘casual’ gamers with motion technology, they have not completely dropped the controller. Used correctly (Metroid for example), motion control becomes an integral part of the game. But you still have a controller in your hand, because, while it may be nice to aim Samus’ handcannon with the wiimote, can you imagine the sheer energy needed to imitate her running and jumping? I remember trying a new arcade game (I think it was hooked up to Tekken 4 maybe) where light was bounced off two walls, and it picked up your movements. After four rounds of jumping, punching and kicking air, I was knackered.
I don’t see Natal as a Wii-killer (for one, its about three years too late), but rather, a last gasp attempt to interest consumers in its current technology before MS come up with a new one.
As for the PS3 controller, I think it is very smart that they have chosen a similar model to the Wii (after the disasterous six-axis). However, my limited understanding is that it is at least a year away from being launched, so again, will it kill the Wii? No, but it will allow Sony to develop and integrate the technology for the PS4 from day one. But by then, Nintendo may surprise us with something else. At the end of the day, that’s why I own a Wii. For all the moaning about casual gamers and the Wii’s graphic inferiority, it has expanded the market through innovation and gameplay.