Kinect (previously Natal)

[Brats]

That's a ridiculous price. I was looking forward to Natal (one of the few it seems) but at that price even I would think again. Even if it came with some amazing software, my concern would be a lack of demand would then fuel a lack of support.

I hope this isn't the case as otherwise it has 'New Coke' written all over it.

I'm no expert on this stuff, but is there really £100 worth of hardware in the thing?

[JP]

Not really sure how much I believed that price when I posted earlier in the month but this seems a little more credible to me.

I think the previously estimated £50 would give it more of a chance with me as long as Microsoft showed some interesting software with it but they're going to have a hell of a hard time selling it to me at £100 irrelevant of what software is available.

Maybe the £100 will include a couple of games to make it a little better? How much were things like Rock Band with a guitar when first released? I don't think they were far away from this price were they.

One of the things that makes me suspicious of that price is that Robbie Bach was claiming only this week that...

For me it’s a jump-start catalyst. It’s a mid-life kicker for the 360, and it’s an opportunity to really drive that business in a dramatic way.

...which don't sound like the comments of a man who knew it would this sort of price.

I'm still not going to rule out Project Natal until I've got the full details though. Apparently Microsoft will be announcing the final name for Project Natal at E3 too.

[gunrock]

What's also rubbish about this pricepoint is that they've taken the expensive and cool bespoke hardware out of the Natal for a more software-based solution. State of the art hardware for me is perhaps worth a 100 quid premium, but not a bloody webcam.

[saturn-gamer]

Also here,

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/39166/Natal-to-cost-149-change-name

If you go by the pricing of MS' HDD's, BT headsets etc, it sounds very plausible.

[Tig]

To be fair, Edge's statement that Natal is more pricey than Move isn't a fair comparison. Natal is a single unit - a one-off purchase which gives you all the features plus multiplayer support out of the box.
A move + EyeToy setup still requires you to buy three extra controllers (and possibly subcontrollers) to get full multiplayer, and that'll sure as hell cost more than £100.



Still. They'll certainly have a job on their hands with that pricepoint.

No doubt this will need a killer bundle of 360 console + Natal + Natal game, Wii-style if they want to shift it.

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

For £100 (as opposed to the previous price tag of £35-£50) i'm out too unless you get at least 2 decent games with it.

[saturn-gamer]

Possibly, but its the same story as the Ps3 actually being not more expensive at 600,- back in 2006 because of the free online, Blu Ray etc. Its not going to move units.

[EvilBoris]

Info about Natal's Tech has been kept rather quiet,here is a video demoing how the 3D part of it works.


It is a similar 'time of flight' method that Natal uses to capture 3D


Primesense who MShave licensed tech from uses another method to capture depth information, so I presume Natal uses a combination of their tech plus the new hardware MS have developed to make an affordable Time of Flight camera.

That video + head tracking would make for awesome video chat.

[ChrisF]

Unless I see some spectacular demo of this at E3, then £100 is too much for me to consider this. I will, no doubt, be bored of having to move my body to play a game after about 5 minutes, so needed the entry price to be a lower, more disposable, one. Still, I remain open minded with E3 around the corner and won't dismiss it just yet.

[Brad]

Remember, for Microsoft add-on hardware = make a killing. Every add-on they make is proprietary and insanely priced. I expected this to be as well. Can't wait to see what they demo at E3.

[Brats]

I can understand from a business perspective why they charge a big mark up for hard drives and controllers, but for Natal it makes no sense. You'd have thought it would be be priced as a loss leader like the console itself.

[Brad]

Good point. A loss leader would be a good idea IF there were loads of great Natal games lined up ready to make them their money back. Makes you wonder if maybe Natal is a turkey and MS know it already.

[nonny]

This has to be a loss leading exercise same as selling the actual console itself. It's not like it's an optional peripheral moving forwards that you might be interested in, MS is aiming to make this something that will be bundled with the console moving forwards and wants as many existing customers to invest in it as possible.

I'm definitely interested in one at the right price.

[sj33]

Bearing in mind the audience they are targeting with Natal, it does seem a little bit hopeful of them. They're not going to be able to ride on the buzz like Nintendo could with the Wii, it's a little late for that. I would say that it is critical that Microsoft make Natal a part of the default package, priced at £150 for a console plus Natal and couple with it a fresh ad campaign. Their target audience with this thing probably won't have a 360 yet, after all.

[Family Fry]

Honestly the ?100 is already in my wallet for Natal and a spare ?100 for all the Move gear, just need the gaming incentive to part with it. If not it will go on some games, simples. I was expecting around ?70 for Natal if I am honest.
Seeing Criterion tweet about Natal today, has me hopeful.
"Saw amazing Natal stuff today. Just sensational. (ran out of 80's film references today)"