Molyneux On Move: “I Think It’s Quite Precise”

But Natal is better?

Published 12/03/2010 at 12:30.
By Lewis G [Gastos84].

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Peter Molyneux has been talking to Eurogamer and has said that the new PlayStation Move controller is “quite precise”. He was talking on various subjects such as Fable III and Natal but he also ventured into offering his opinions on Natal’s competition.

Whilst he appears to be becoming confused with all the new motion-sensing technology being announced, he did say that Sony’s technology would appeal more to the core market:

This is purely me talking personally, but I think maybe it’s slightly more a device for the core than it is for the casual market, because I think it’s quite precise.

He also took the opportunity to praise Sony for a big step forward whilst at the same time saying that Natal took an even bigger step.

Having been asked whether Natal was better than Move, Molyneux diplomatically responded by saying that it’s all down to what developers can do with it.

I don’t think the first wave of these motion control titles will be what you expect. Just as with every hardware chain, it’s the second wave where they usually come up with stuff that’s interesting. So the second wave could be really cool.

With Natal and Move out later in the year, opinions, hype and perhaps even put-downs are going to become quite frequent.

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Chimpanzee | 12/03/2010 12:34
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I think he may get a little slap on the wrist from MS for that comment. Aren’t they trying to sell Natal as being for the Core as well as the casual.
- Apnomis | 12/03/2010 12:54
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  I was thinking that – Molyneux is normally a complete cock about things like this but it was almost as if he was saying he preferred Move through gritted teeth!
  .
  By saying Move is a motion device for the core market because it’s “quite precise” it’s almost as if he is saying in a backhanded way that Natal is not precise and no good for the core market. It’s not like his usual bullish Natal responses that it’s the best thing since sliced bread!
  .
  It’s also interesting how he avoided the question about whether Natal was better than Move, and also how he wanted people to focus on the next wave of games. My initial reaction was ‘what is wrong with the first wave or Natal games?’! Is he saying that Natal is not as easy to develop for and so may take a while to fulfil it’s potential?
  .
  Of course I’m probably reading WAY too much into his comments! But it is interesting how Sony are going for the 360 approach to their motion control (cheaper to produce, modular/upgradeable design, potentially cheaper sell price, potentially out first, potentially easier to develop for, potentially more likely to hit the ground running) and Microsoft have gone for the PS3 approach to theirs (more expensive and unproven hardware, one box solution so all or nothing, potentially the most expensive solution, potentially may take a while for devs to get their head around it for best results, different development method than the other solutions etc).
  - Paranoimia | 12/03/2010 13:03
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    That’s probably exactly what he’s saying. Natal’s 4cm boxes are no comparison to Move’s precision, and they’ll need to work on the evident lag if it’s to be suitable for anything other than EyeToy style games.
    
    Even MS appear to be back-tracking on their Natal claims, and now pretty much admitting it’s a device for the ‘casuals’ only.
  - bajere | 12/03/2010 14:13
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    @Paranoimia – Id agree with that mate. his comments seem to be giving us an indication of Natal’s intent – Wii killing i think…
  - Pete_UK | 12/03/2010 14:20
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    Fable 3 Collectors edition, w/collapsable white screen and additional 50-page manual explaining the Natal features written by Molyneux personally. Limited SE editions also contain a note of apology from Molyneux, written with ink made from the tears of the devs that tried to make Natal work.
    
    On another note; I feel compelled to buy him a copy of Eyepet.
  - bajere | 12/03/2010 14:26
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    hahaha
  - hazelam | 12/03/2010 17:12
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    surely if it’s written by molyneux it’s be at least 300 pages.
justinjh | 12/03/2010 12:41
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I’ll be quite interested in reading the first hands-on independant comparison between Natal, Move and existing Wii remote…
SIR-DARK-HAZE | 12/03/2010 12:43
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- Mr_writer | 12/03/2010 13:50
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  Apprently that fighter game is only 20% complete, you would think thatb lag would be down to framerate then Move itself. If games have a rock solid framerate then you will get true 1:1. However if developers are lazy then you will notice the difference.
  
  But thats the same for all games, it will come down to how well the game is made.
  - SIR-DARK-HAZE | 12/03/2010 17:23
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Erroneus | 12/03/2010 12:45
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Oooooooooh buuuuuuurn Natal!

I don’t think Natal is going to be such a big success as MS was hoping for. It’s not for the core audience and the casual audience is long gone with Wii.

Off course a massive PR campaign from MS with some incorrect facts is going to move some units, but still they will properly be forced to lower price quite fast or make a new model with it included.
- Aitrus | 12/03/2010 12:53
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  ‘Off course a massive PR campaign from MS with some incorrect facts is going to move some units…’ Interesting you wrote that. I just read an interview abou the Move on IGN where Shuhei Yoshida said this: ‘I really ask anyone to try our games. Don’t just watch. It doesn’t tell what’s really happening. The player is the only person who knows how well your moves are translated into the game. We as game developers are very, very good at cheating and making systems so that you think you are doing something [laughs]‘
  .
  So the add’s will be decieving. And by saying this in an interview I think he shows a big confidence in the product’s ability to sell itself on merit. the interview is here: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/107/1076722p1.html
  - Apnomis | 12/03/2010 13:02
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    I think it’s become a new Sport amongst Sony higher-ups to see how many swipes they can take at Natal without it appearing to be a swipe at Natal!!!
    .
    It’s a much more entertaining and clever way of ‘dissing’ the competition than Greenburg popping up on any site that will let him shouting “360 is da bomb, yo! Natal is the shit – you can control the universe with that mutha when it launches! Sony can suck my balls, Move is fail – Natal FTW!” (I’ve no idea why I decided Greenburg speaks like that, but it sort of suits how I feel about him!).
  - Aitrus | 12/03/2010 14:39
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    You’re right. And I kind of like the approach when a company say ‘don’t trust the comercials – try the product’.
Jas-n | 12/03/2010 12:58
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I was watching the Natal trailer on th xbox site a while ago, and it showed a family on an F1 game (which is strange in itself). As expected they were using their hands to imitate steering, fair enough… but how were they braking and accelerating? The 2 cameras are for a more 3D view of the player, not b-directional (one at torso, other elsewhere).
- Kovacs | 12/03/2010 13:16
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  From the Burnout NATAL demo you accelerate by putting one of your legs forward. I know. I can’t see this being fun either.
  - Foxhound_Solid | 12/03/2010 13:27
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    WHAT? thats pantalons mon ami…
    
    With games you need something to have a physical connection with for precise movements, like the amount of pressure put on the analog sticks when braking/accelerating and turning. Shooting on Killzone 0 you need a trigger of sorts at least.
    
    Natal for me has so many trip hazrds along the way.
    
    What happens if a cat/dog/relative walks past the background?
    
    How does it function in the dark?
    
    Feedback – you need feedback. I wasnt sold on either a 1st, now Sony have almost got me as the amount of thought they have put into this is staggeringly good esp the Rumble Move idea….
    
    Metal Gear Solid: Move – announce it and I am in day one……
  - glennpfc | 12/03/2010 13:34
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    It works in the dark and it can tell who you are and how your body connects, so it isnt confused by a cat or someone walking past
eirekun | 12/03/2010 13:35
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I guess with the removal of the chip from the Natal & the “it’s a complement to the 360″ comment – MS do seem to be lowering the expectations for Natal. Or it’s the best feint ever & making Peter the mouthpiece is a masterstroke of distraction. But that all sounds way too complicated, I’m in the ‘MS are a little worried that the Move is really rather good’ camp.
SIR-DARK-HAZE | 12/03/2010 13:36
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- cheekyMcB | 12/03/2010 14:20
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  Well then you’ll be vastly more entertained by your dog than Natal ;-)
  - Pete_UK | 12/03/2010 14:41
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    +1 ^^
  - Tuffcub | 12/03/2010 14:51
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    Post of the day!
  - Apnomis | 12/03/2010 14:54
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    LOL :D
glennpfc | 12/03/2010 13:37
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Seems to me like for all intents and purposes Natal and Move are pretty much identical…Move will work without the controller..as its just an eyetoy…and Natal will work with a controller. Natal is a slightly better camera but I think games will work on both in a pretty similar way.

Precission is a red herring…Im not sure I really care that I can precisely swing my sword at someones right nipple hair….
- eirekun | 12/03/2010 13:56
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  You’ve confused me, should I swap Natal & Move around in the above? Or am I missing something else?
ThatMattKid | 12/03/2010 15:58
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Funniest thing I’ve read for a while regarding natal

“Dear Microsoft:

Natal looks great and everything, but I was just wondering if it is true that you have made a controller that WONT LET ME SCRATCH MY NOSE while playing Burnout.

From Itchy-Nosed potential customer”
- TSBonyman | 12/03/2010 21:25
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  :D
yogh_wayne | 12/03/2010 18:19
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So Molyneux is working on a title for the first wave of Natal games and thinks the interesting stuff will come later with the second wave? :P