We can't give you a launch date or a price for Microsoft's Project Natal motion-sensing gaming controller, but we can show you a picture of one of the prototypes. According to the Seattle Times, this Gorillapod-mounted contraption is the prototype Natal hardware that Microsoft gave out to game developers.
The Nintendo Wii certainly changed the perceptions of a game console for many people. The Wii focused more on the controls and game play than on fancy graphics and found great success. The motion controls of the Wii also sent Microsoft and Sony looking for similar tech.
![Natal launch confirmed for Holiday 2010, Xbox Game Room [Video]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/project-natal-for-xbox-360.jpg)
We’ve just come off Microsoft’s CES keynote featuring CEO Steve Ballmer and Entertainment Division President Robbie Bach, who’ve just spent nearly two hours explaining and showing the world the latest innovations in computer technology and consumer electronics. Accidentally released earlier today and now confirmed by Bach in the keynote is the launch date of Microsoft’s motion-sensing Natal interface for the Xbox 360 – coming to stores this 2010 holiday season.
Most Xbox 360 fans out there already know about Project Natal that debuted at E3 this year. The tech will deliver motion control to the Xbox 360 that requires no controller to operate.
Microsoft has confirmed that it’s unlikely existing games will be compatible with their upcoming Project Natal motion-controller for the Xbox 360, suggesting that developers would in effect need to push out fully reworked versions of titles rather than merely issue a compatibility patch. The news came courtesy of Microsoft Games’ Kudo Tsunoda, speaking at the Tokyo Game Show, who confirmed that the company had been forced to significantly alter code in the games they used to demonstrate Project Natal.
A launch in the second half of 2010 for Microsoft’s Project Natal looks even more likely, as THQ CEO Brian Farrell inadvertently confirmed the launch schedule during his company’s recent earnings call. Asked about market changes in the upcoming cycle, Farrell told investors “With respect to the cycle itself, if you look at what’s happening in the industry, the fact that we have for example, Natal from Microsoft, a platform addition coming late next year.”
According to the latest rumors coming out of Taiwan, Aptina have won the contract to supply the CMOS image sensors for Microsoft's upcoming Project Natal motion-control gaming system. The company will exclusively provide 1.3-megapixel CIS for Project Natal, which DigiTimes claims will begin shipping in the second half of 2010.
Microsoft aren’t just aiming for your games room with Project Natal, but your living room and even your office. That’s the latest from Bill Gates, who confirmed that both the Xbox and Windows teams have “latched onto” the motion-tracking camera system and each plan to develop applications that will range from gaming through controlling an HTPC, to increasing interaction in meetings.
![Microsoft Project Natal motion-controller for Xbox 360 [Video]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/microsoft_project_natal.jpg)
In addition to the Xbox LIVE updates, Microsoft also announced their much-rumored motion controller at E3. Named the Microsoft Xbox 360 Project Natal - pronounced "nuh-tall" - it combines an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor all in one compact bar, which can track gamers' movements in 3D space as well as respond to verbal commands.
Update: Video after the cut
