Natal will require 4 metres of space

Example of 13 feet....

If the 4 metres of space is necessary to maximize Natal's field of view (which seems to be what the guy from MS is saying), you should be able to get away with being closer to the camera. If my math is correct, for singleplayer games the majority of people should be able to get away with ~2.5-2.7m if the game needs to see your entire body, and ~2m if the game only needs to see your upper-body (obviously you're going to want to be as close to the maximum as possible for multiplayer).

Not really all that surprising when you think about it -- it is just a camera, after all -- but what the **** was MS thinking with all those videos of people standing right in front of Natal?

That's actually quite a bit of space. I hope, if we don't have that much space and with stuff like tables in the way, that natal would still be accurate enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPIbGnBQcJY

^ not according to this video it isnt 4 meters... :lol:

I figured something like this would come up. I guess I'm not getting it. Not that I was really hyped for it anyways

Surely that article indicates that 4 metres is the are it will scan, not the distance away you actually need to stand?

1 metre is to much for me. i cant even stand up where my 360 is kept :P

well at least you are far away enough that if you have to stomp around for the game you are playing it wont scratch the 360 disc

Natal is made for rich people with big living rooms, like the CEOs of Microsoft.

4 meters is nothing... 4meters = 13feet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPIbGnBQcJY

^ not according to this video it isnt 4 meters... :lol:

Meowmixxvi

I want them to put peter in the game only to have his bottom kicked.

His voice is really annoying .

sorry off topic

Oh that sucks, guess I'm not buying it :(.

Until reading this, it hadn't even occurred to me that almost every one has a coffee table table in their living room, is that gonna be an issue?

To the people who can't interpret technical information, this is just suggestions. They are suggesting a 4 meter space. This is for freedom of movement reasons, and it is the extent of the camera. Clearing the entire vision area means maximum movement freedom. This is in no way a "requirement."

If the 4 metres of space is necessary to maximize Natal's field of view (which seems to be what the guy from MS is saying), you should be able to get away with being closer to the camera. If my math is correct, for singleplayer games the majority of people should be able to get away with ~2.5-2.7m if the game needs to see your entire body, and ~2m if the game only needs to see your upper-body (obviously you're going to want to be as close to the maximum as possible for multiplayer).

Not really all that surprising when you think about it -- it is just a camera, after all -- but what the **** was MS thinking with all those videos of people standing right in front of Natal?

PBSnipes

I don't know that you are necessarily accurate in your assumptions. I mean, if they do proper lensing, it should be just fine recognizing full body in the 1.5 meter range(which is probably closer to what was demoed). But, my guess is they cut off after a certain distance regardless of what the image is actually capturing for resolution(low relative capture detail would be lower further away which would make it more prone to inaccuracy and error. I mean, you wouldn't expect it to be trying to take an image of someone 50 feet away and then use that for motion detection) reasons rather than actual technical vision reasons.

Picture from Kotakus site:

I hope MS doesn't consider this the average american house.

My house is more like the shape of the Japanese house except with two floors.

I don't know that you are necessarily accurate in your assumptions. I mean, if they do proper lensing, it should be just fine recognizing full body in the 1.5 meter range(which is probably closer to what was demoed). But, my guess is they cut off after a certain distance regardless of what the image is actually capturing for resolution(low relative capture detail would be lower further away which would make it more prone to inaccuracy and error. I mean, you wouldn't expect it to be trying to take an image of someone 50 feet away and then use that for motion detection) reasons rather than actual technical vision reasons.

KingsMessenger

I just wanted a Q&D estimate (and frankly, it's been years since I did anything involving lenses), so I did my calculations as though Natal's field of view was pyramidal. Obviously unscientific, but at the very least it shows that even in a worst-case scenario many people should be fine.

Well Natal already flopped for me in terms of space.

No Natal for me (not that I was going to get it).

My room isn't that big, and there's a large coffee table in the middle of my living room. Not sure how it's going to work.

I hope nobody in a dorm wants to play. :P

I have no room unless all the furniture is tossed.

Picture from Kotakus site:

I hope MS doesn't consider this the average american house.

My house is more like the shape of the Japanese house except with two floors.

EmperorSupreme

I think it is being misinterpreted but its fun to watch people jump on it. I think you would need the same space you need with the Wii Fight and Balance board, and space differs depending on the game. I have enough space for both if this 4 metres is what you really need, but we shall see.

I will wait for further proof.

No, people, just no. You have no idea how this works. I don't care what kotaku or anyone else says. 4 meters is not required, just like it's not required to have 9 foot ceilings in order to play it. This is the MAXIMUM sensing distance for natal. It maps out a 3D image of everything within that space and judges the movement within it and translates that to the game. unless your couch is jumping up and down, it will not cause a problem. Neither will the back wall. This is just another dipstick misunderstanding what he is told and then blogging about it before he gets clarification.iamdanthaman

and you know this how? are you a lead developer of natal? or do you at least have a link to back up your claims?

[QUOTE="iamdanthaman"]No, people, just no. You have no idea how this works. I don't care what kotaku or anyone else says. 4 meters is not required, just like it's not required to have 9 foot ceilings in order to play it. This is the MAXIMUM sensing distance for natal. It maps out a 3D image of everything within that space and judges the movement within it and translates that to the game. unless your couch is jumping up and down, it will not cause a problem. Neither will the back wall. This is just another dipstick misunderstanding what he is told and then blogging about it before he gets clarification.BlancoBX

and you know this how? are you a lead developer of natal? or do you at least have a link to back up your claims?

Are you kidding? Im barely 1 meter from my tv

"Natal acquires a 3D image of the room and has a real-time understanding of the player's body within that room, the system actually turns the entire gaming environment (sound and all) into a control system." http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/106/1061205p1.html

A couple of other interesting articles that also deal with the technical specs of natal:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17258-innovation-behind-microsofts-fullbody-gaming-interface.html?full=true

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-01/exclusive-inside-microsofts-project-natal