Microsoft Announces Complete Motion Sensor Device

Despite the fact that the Wii continues to release boring, cheesy titles that make it blatantly obvious that the Wii remote motion sensor is worth tossing in the garbage, it seems that the PS3 and Xbox 360 are now eager to jump on the motion sensor bandwagon. Microsoft has announced a new motion sensor device, the Natal, which operates cameras, and also a microphone attached to a wii-style sensor bar to identify the user.

Now, I don't know if you've ever been to an arcade where they have virtual fighter games set up to translate your kicks and punches into moves but in case you've never been to one before, I'll fill you in on the biggest flaw of that particular design: it looks and feels retarded. There's nothing more hilarious to watch then some idiot standing up in front of a crowd of people, randomly flailing about in the intricate combos necessary to make his character do a round-house kick up on the screen. As a more modern example, look at how ridiculous bowling appears for the Wii.

I don't know what the motivation is behind this motion sensor fad but if it's immerse gamers in the activity, then an obvious gimmick isn't going to cut it. There has not been a single game so far for the Wii that I've had to stop for a moment so I could look down at my Wii remote in awe and say: "Gosh, randomly flailing this stick about really makes me feel like I'm the action hero." Rather, I play when no one is watching so that when I make the inevitable hand-wanking gesture to swing around a sword when my arm gets tired from wagging back and forth, nobody laughs.

The Natal boasts the function to let you wave your hand around in mid-air to select a movie and then voice your command to play. This may be exciting at first but when it's two o'clock in the morning and I've collapsed on the couch while the rest of my family is fast asleep upstairs, I know which motion sensor device I won't be arsed to get up and use for playing a DVD.

The Natal comes with a lot of promises but it's a gimmick; nothing more and nothing less. It hasn't revolutionized the industry at all and it's not even a new concept (remember the EyeToy for the Playstation 2, anyone?). Sure, Microsoft might impress a few people when the Natal is released, but even hardcore fans of the company are bound to realize that having to stretch your limbs for five minutes before each play session gets tiring eventually.