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Molyneux: Natal As Revolutionary As The Mouse

Gavin Ogden's picture

By Gavin Ogden

February 8, 2010

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Peter Molyneux has said that the PC mouse revolutionised home computing but Natal "could end up [with developers] creating something we can't even imagine now".

The Lionhead boss warned though that day one Natal titles would be "the obvious stuff" rather than groundbreaking new directions in gameplay.

He told Gamereactor: "[A hardcore gamer's] brain can decipher the emotions through the controller, but for most other people who aren't used to the controller or find them frustrating, they don't even begin to get the same emotion.

"Maybe Natal is in a way more for them. But I'd say this: If you're thinking Natal is going to give you another version of an FPS, you're just not thinking broadly enough. After all, it was the invention of the mouse that gave us computing as it is today - not the invention of the microprocessor. That's how we ended up controlling our PCs.

"The mouse was the real revolution of the PC - not the Intel processor. And who's to say Natal [couldn't] end up creating something you and I can't even imagine now. It forces us to approach technology in a completely different way. Before the mouse, we only had the keyboard... That one little £9.95 device changed everything about computing. And things like Natal can be a bigger change."

Molyneux added: "My personal opinion is that the first wave of titles [for Natal] that come out will be polished and really good, but they'll be the obvious stuff. Even when a new console comes out it takes [developers] a while to get our heads round it."

Thanks CVG.

StealthBadger's picture
On February 9th StealthBadger said:

But.. The screen keeps scrolling up and down while I'm watching Pr0n!

Bloody Natal.

Jason_Wells's picture
On February 9th Jason_Wells said:

This must mean its going to be for all platforms, including PS3, Wii, PC, Mac and Linux. I can see it now, in a couple of years I'll be dancing about in front of my computer at work to draw the plans for the latest architectural project... or even... to fill in that excel spreadsheet I've been putting off doing for ages. At last, something that's going to bring the "fun" back into work! Throw your mouses into the bins next to you now!! Revolt!!!

Alex Walker's picture
On February 9th Alex Walker said:

As revolutionary as the mouse you say Peter. Sounds exciting. As if it's never been done before. Can't wait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyeToy

Frogman1975's picture
On February 8th Frogman1975 said:

What was that last piece of technology that was going to "change the world"?
Oh yeah!
The Segway.
And that dude was right. It totally revolutionized transportation. I can hardly make it to work in the morning in my old-fashioned automobile for all the Segways zipping about you know.
I've no doubt that Natal will be JUST as revolutionary when it enables early adopters to finally buy ports of all those formerly Wii exclusives for the 360.

HornDoggler's picture
On February 8th HornDoggler said:

Dear Peter,

Shut Up and think. If the mouse had used %10 of the computers processing power It would have not been succesful much less cause a revolution, put the processor back in and make this thing with the expense.

ArronC07's picture
On February 8th ArronC07 said:

Not ANOTHER natal is the best thing ever story. YES WE F***ING GET IT; NATAL WILL REVOLUTIONISE EVERYTHING EVER.

I feel like buying the bastard thing just to shut the PR bollocks coming out of MS every other fucking day.

Also Molyneux saying something is awesome really isn't that much of a vote of confidence btw, the guy eats hyperbole for breakfast.

xstavrosx83's picture
On February 8th xstavrosx83 said:

and i used to like that guy...

toadwarrior's picture
On February 8th toadwarrior said:

Natal is the only controller to allow him to properly envision the world's ultimate pedo sim. It's got to get bonus points for that.

Duncan_Stewart's picture
On February 8th Duncan_Stewart said:

Thats just wrong on so many levels, and yet I thought it too. What the hell is wrong with the world!

DubsTF's picture
On February 8th DubsTF said:

Holy hyperbole, Batman! The vapor's getting thick in here.

Fortunately there seem to be few who still take this buffoon's bold predictions seriously: when I type his name into the Google search box the first auto-complete suggestion is 'Peter Molyneux lies.'

Ivor_Biguns's picture
On February 8th Ivor_Biguns said:

Ha ha!! Yeah I got that too. Hilarious!

scorpion_mai's picture
On February 8th scorpion_mai said:

Lmao!

I'm sure there's a virtual Peter Molyneux somewhere within EA's Dantes Inferno, in the Malebolge, with the eternal punishment for deceiving, which Dante delightfully suggests as forever in flame so as to appear a flaming tongue.

That said, EA's take on the Eighth Circle will probably be a seventy foot tall Hitler wearing lingerie and firing a rocket launcher while Satan claps in the background.

nolim's picture
On February 8th nolim said:

I tend never to believe a word Peter Molyneux says, so while i do think Natal has bags of potential, and while i know he's just repeating the company line, just the fact that it's him saying it somehow makes me think there must be something wrong with Natal.

4thVariety's picture
On February 8th 4thVariety said:

For a second, I ask you to imagine a top down view of a floor filled with cubicles. In each of these cubicles is one person flinging their limbs around in a desperate attempt to communicate something to the computer.

My job is to supervise these people. Whenever they have a problem, they call me. I ask them what they did and they fling their hands around. I tell them they should have done this and show them how to correctly fling their arms like a mental patient. The computer hums and accepts my gesture, the new hire is still a bit imprecise in her movements. I will have to sign her up for corporate Yoga/Pilates to improve her body control up to the specifications of the job's requirements.

If that is the future, then shoot me now. Peter! What have you done now?

VIB's picture
On February 8th VIB said:

i've never played a game by this guy (except fable, but i didn't really like it). he seems to get hyped up a lot (or hypes himself up).

Duncan_Stewart's picture
On February 8th Duncan_Stewart said:

Stop just spouting vitriol from the company line. As revolutionary as the mouse my arse. Plus, that child you've created in Milo & Kate just looks creepy, who the hell wants to buy a game like that?

xstavrosx83's picture
On February 8th xstavrosx83 said:

Exactly my thought...it is very creepy...but you never know after the wii fit success everything can happen..

Ben_Lathwell's picture
On February 8th Ben_Lathwell said:

Jesus christ, thats one messed up kid. Uncanny Valley at its worst!

I think i will take literally everything Molyneux says with a pinch of salt judging by his track record.

However i do think the real long term future, if any, for Natal, is to implement it as a mouse type device, dont be shocked if Windows 7 was developed with it in mind.
As a gaming tool I feel it may get pretty old pretty fast, imagine the Wii without Nintendo games........ yeah exactly!

Duncan_Stewart's picture
On February 8th Duncan_Stewart said:

Hell, Just Dance on the Wii outsold Modern Warfare 2 just to prove everything can happen. Who the hell is buying that anyway?!