Microsoft Xbox Project Natal – will UK homes be big enough?
Microsoft has apparently told a group of journalists that you're going to require a fair bit of space for its Project Natal to work properly.
To be specific, you're looking at needing an area of at least 4 metres (13 feet) between you and the TV for it all to work smoothly, which will be quite a large space for many homes.
Kotaku has noted that the space may be too big for many Japanese homes, but British gamers could well suffer from the same problem.
The Beeb found that the UK builds the smallest homes in Europe, with the average room just 15.8 square metres – which works out at less than 4m x 4m. And that's without furniture.
A good guesstimate as to whether you've got the space is whether you can take 4 strides between your sofa and your TV, where the Natal sensor will sit.
Will this give Sony's PS3 Move a bit of an edge over the full-body Natal gaming experience? We're chasing Microsoft for a comment on this, but let us know your thoughts below.
Comments
scottymac
1 year ago
The way I read it, was that the 4m was the maximum range of the sensor not the desired operating distance.
So any range from the tv to 4 mts would be fine.
I hope that is the caes for Microsoft otherwise it will only be Americans who will be able to use it!
steelneil81
1 year ago
@scottymac Read it again...
"... you're looking at needing an area of at LEAST 4 metres..."
The_Corporal
1 year ago
Turns out this was a load of nonsense:-
"Gaming blog Kotatu checked with Microsoft and was given this reassurance from the company: "The comments recently about the play space for Project Natal were misinterpreted. It is true that the Project Natal sensor reads the configuration of your room and adjusts play space, as appropriate.
"We know that living rooms come in all shapes and sizes, and have conducted numerous play tests to ensure everyone will be able to jump off the couch and into the fun when 'Project Natal' launches globally this holiday."
WeeWillieWispy
1 year ago
According to Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog on TechFlash, this was in fact a mistake made by numerous journalists (admittedly himself included) and that the '4 meter' quote was a recommended maximum distance.
I don't know about you guys but if the former post had been true I'd have needed binoculars to interact with Milo.
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/03/notes_on_project_natal.html