The Project Natal. The Revolution has Come!

Posts Tagged ‘halo’

With Shadow Complex setting very specific week-one sales records on XBLA, Epic and Chair would be kind of nuts to not consider a sequel. One job listing out of a recent crop on Microsoft’s employment boards seems to out that likely scenario, implying that Shadow Complex is a bona fide franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and Epic. Said listing specifically calls for a Lead Producer to “lead the publishing side of games made by Epic: Gears of War and Shadow Complex.”

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be looking for more able bodies to join its growing pool of Project Natal and 343 Industries employees. Existing job listings call for everything from designers to engineers to even a few artists. Sadly, the company isn’t looking for MJOLNIR armor models yet, but just in case, Microsoft, you know how to reach us.

[Via Develop]

Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A variety of new job listings have emerged on a Microsoft employment site, including positions for Project Natal and — perhaps more interesting — positions for a new Halo game. These listings for Halo, likely for Halo: Reach, call for designers, AI developers and animators — even a multiplayer game design lead.

As for Project Natal, some listings point to “a large franchise,” whereas others quote “an excellent next-generation” project — which could be just about anything. We confirmed with Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb that the listings were legit, though he couldn’t provide us with any more info beyond that.

[Via HotBloodedGaming]

Microsoft hiring for Project Natal and Halo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If given the choice of becoming a (presumably) anthropomorphic vegetable, Phil Spencer would opt for an eggplant. Sure, we spoke to the confident head of Microsoft Game Studios about other things — Halo, Project Natal, Fable, Crackdown, the Xbox 360’s successor, blah blah blah — but with that profound scoop out of the way, there’s barely any reason to read this interview.

Mind you, the part where Spencer suggests that alternate forms of input (whether in addition to or in substitute of traditional controllers) might become a common expectation is pretty interesting. You should definitely read that.

Joystiq: We just came out of the Tokyo Game Show panel discussion for Project Natal …

Phil Spencer: The creators panel.

Yes, the creators panel. Hideo Kojima was there; they brainstormed about all these games. How much focus is Microsoft Game Studios placing on Natal development internally in comparison to other projects?

It’s a big focus for us in first party. As a first party, I think it’s our duty, it’s our responsibility to look at the new technologies that we bring to our platform. We did this with Live. We did at launch of 360. When we look at Project Natal as an opportunity for first party to truly innovate on our platform, creating new experiences, new intellectual property, we’re very focused. A large percentage of the studio right now is thinking about Natal as part of what they’re doing.

Continue reading Interview: Microsoft Game Studios’ Phil Spencer

Interview: Microsoft Game Studios’ Phil Spencer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Halo 3: ODST producer Alex Cutting said that the Halo series will only incorporate Microsoft’s motion-sensing Natal “when it makes sense.” Cutting noted, “We’re going to make the games we want to play,” adding that the company “will definitely investigate it,” though he didn’t elaborate on any plans Bungie might have.

Regarding the feasibility of Natal control for first-person shooter, Cutting says that many doubted console FPS play before the advent of dual analog sticks. In other words, there’s room to see controls evolve again. Cutting concluded that he wouldn’t “bet against” Natal, saying, “There is a lot that can be done with it.”

Joystiq readers will recall that Bungie boss Harold Ryon stated earlier this year that he “absolutely” thought Natal could work in Halo: Reach. Given Reach’s likely proximity to the Natal launch, and Halo’s massive following, we don’t think it’s reaching too far to assume it will incorporate the device in some way.

Halo will incorporate Natal ‘when it makes sense’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’d be lying if we didn’t say we’re a bit worried about the future of gaming controllers. Between the Nintendo’s MotionPlus, Microsoft’s Project Natal and Sony’s … erm … motion thing, our precious game pads get more and more antique looking every day. And according to a recent patent filed by Sony that Siliconera found, our precious controllers have one more thing to fear: everyday objects.

That’s right, friends — in the future, we could be using our real-life keys to open doors, our swords to slice up fools, and our guns (not outside of the US) to shoot up the screen “accidentally.” The patent shows off a PlayStation Eye-based system that can recognize 3D objects and use them in-game based on various actions taken by the player — something Microsoft claims it’s Natal is also capable of doing. Various household items will be affected in different ways, the example given being a U-shaped object that, when turned upwards, becomes a sword, versus a U-shaped block when facing downwards (think Halo’s Covenant Energy Sword). Apparently the system is able to scan a whole mess of objects and store them in a databank for future use. Like so much future tech we’ve seen recently, we’re taking this one with a full truckload of salt until we get some face time.

Sony patents more motion tech, uses everyday objects originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It appears that Halo: Reach may be a warm-up exercise for Natal sales. Bungie Studio President Harold Ryan tells the Seattle Times that he “absolutely” thinks that Reach could use Microsoft’s motion-sensing peripheral (provided both launched around the same time frame).

Let’s take a look at why Project Natal + Halo makes sense:

1. The Halo name has helped sell other iffy propositions like Halo Wars.
2. The game is already called Reach, come on.
3. This answers the question: “How is MS going to get core gamers to buy/upgrade to Natal?”

However, then we must ask: “Do core gamers want to actually exercise with their Halo?” This gamer’s biggie-sized core politely responds, “As long as it involves fries and a shake after.”

It’s no stretch that Halo: Reach could use Natal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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