Xbox 360's Project Natal Coming to PC

Even before Project Natal is officially released, Microsoft is already dreaming big with its hands-free motion controller. As it turns out, the Xbox 360 multi-functional camera will also head to the PC market sometime in the future.

Project Natal was first revealed in June of this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. For years, Microsoft has been planning to counter the huge success of the Nintendo Wii. Although rumors were rampant that they were ready to show off their secret accessory during last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft decided to hold back until a year later.

The Wii Remote of the Nintendo Wii is largely credited with bringing non-traditional gamers into the home console market. Instead of dealing with numerous controller inputs that can be complicated to learn, the Wii Remote sports a simple point-and-click interface in addition to motion sensing to read the player's gestures.

Because of the revolutionary new controller interface, the Nintendo Wii became the fastest-selling video game system ever. Furthermore, it quickly blew past the Xbox 360 in hardware sales despite being released a year later. While Microsoft is doing great in the hardcore market so far with the Xbox 360, they are struggling in the casual department.

Thus, they decided to develop Project Natal in order to counter the Nintendo Wii. The special camera accessory can read the player's body movement. Furthermore, it can also scan your face in addition to using voice-recognition input. Thus, non-traditional gamers wouldn't need to worry about any complicated controller input. Instead, they can rely on natural instincts to play a game or navigate the menus on the Xbox 360.

Microsoft plans to launch Project Natal next spring. However, there are speculations that it may be delayed until the fall of 2010 if the initial games aren't ready by the initial launch date. Furthermore, Project Natal may also signal a re-launch of the Xbox 360.

Already causing a stir in the mass media outlets, Project Natal will now go beyond gaming. Microsoft is planning to bring the special Xbox 360 camera into the PC space. It is a rather precarious move, because, unlike game controllers, the mouse and keyboard are universally accepted as the default input methods for PC. The only audience that Project Natal could cater too are the older demographic who hasn't been exposed to a computer.

Bringing Project Natal to PC will certainly be a risk for Microsoft. At the same time, it will open up many new possibilities for users to interact with the PC. Project Natal for the PC will most likely be released after the Xbox 360 version.