For consistency purposes I have changed over to a new account here on Gamespot. I know I haven't been active for awhile, but I am starting to again on the DS/PC forums and will start posting reviews and blogs on a consistant basis.

If you're interesting in following my new account you can do so athttp://www.gamespot.com/users/howlinglotus. I am attempting to re-following everyone I was previously on my new account.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, don't have internet access, or don't really care much for video game news it shouldn't come as a surprise that motion control was at the forefront at this years e3 convention. Nintendo had their Wii Motion Plus on display, Sony's had it's Magic Wand controller (or so I call it), and Microsoft put Project Natal on display. Project Natal was easily the biggest news of the three, if not one of the biggest announcements to come out of e3. As soon as Natal was announced I think it is safe to say the Internet exploded as gaming websites, forums, blogs, even twitter and facebook status all a like were recognizing this new (new take on the already existing motion control) and interesting piece of technology as something special.

As mentioned during the Natal presentation "No need for a controller, YOU are the controller."

At first glance Natal almost seems like a cash-in, designed in a sense to ride off the success (sales) Nintendo has produced since the Wii came out and took everyone by surprise with it's WiiMote technology. Many will say that Microsoft is a business and that one major focus (usually goal #1) is money, but I also can't help but feel they really could/want to do something with Natal. Not only can it capture motion to an accurate degree, it can also recognize sounds/voices and distinguish them from person to person. Of course, anybody that watched the Microsoft conference couldn't help but watch in amazement when the Milo demonstration began. In thedemonstration a lady was able to interact and speak in real time with a virtually created child, and the child could interact and speak in real time back. This presents many opportunities for use outside of video games and is what I want to focus on, now that I have given some background information, especially for anyone that doesn't quite know what Natal is.

Meet Milo, a boy made by Natal programming that could bring a whole new era of technology into existence

Think of the possibilities this could create outside of gaming, how this technology could be put to greater use in other industries. This next point isn't as important, but imagine the praise and recognition the gaming industry would receive if Natal branched out and either produced the appropriate models or allowed other development agencies to do so. For once we wouldn't be looked upon as evil or inhumane, which would be nice for a change. Getting back on topic, we live in a growing society than is always hungry for more and that includes a heavy focus on technology. We use and buy technology for a wide variety of things such as entertainment, appliances, phones, items around the office or work place, the list goes on. Rarely do we stop for a second and see how it changes the lives of others in unfortunate situations to how it contributes to something as small as a phone call. Without carrying on anymore, I present ways Natal could change things beyond gaming:

>> How we communicate with one another

Cell phones/Blackberries, MSN, AIM, Yahoo, E-mail, and Skype are some of the most popular forms of communicating these days as quite a few of them are free, as long as you have internet access. Do you also notice how many of those services require a microphone and a webcam or a webcam with a built in microphone? Not only would Natal be involved in playing your games in the living room, it could also function as a internet based telephone service that with some work, could easily compete with Skype and IM clients. Taking that idea a step further, it could change how landline phones are created and function.

>> Therapy/Recovery/Hospitals (Health Care Industry)

This is the one area where I could see Natal excel, as there are many people in every country that are in the recovery stage from an accident or surgery, are in extensive care, or spendexcessive amounts of time in Hospitals. It has already been researched that children who spend or live in Hospitals tend to be a lot happier/cope with their illness or problems when video games and other things are introduced to them. I believe there are even groups and charities that take any games and consoles people are willing to donate. Many children are made fun of for having imaginary friends, but for some of these kids that's all they know. Imagine the joy and happiness it would bring them having something like Milo/Natal to interact with, giving it to them knowing they always have someone to talk to when their family isn't around, and something to let them have fun.

As far as therapy/recovery goes, it becomes a little trickier. We're talking about people who have suffered brain injuries, people who have broken a leg or arm, someone who suffered a temporary illness that has left them with loss of motor skills, and generally anyone in a recovery facility/home. Programs could be made to test and keep detailed records of a patient attempting such things as focusing their mind on the task given to them, movement, awareness, and possibly even keep track of brain activity. There are already such technologies out there, but Natal and how it could be used to associate such tests with games, bright colours, and motion is something to consider. I'm saying this as I'm personally helping someone who's son suffered severe brain damage in a motor cycle accident, and being in the extended care unit makes me think about it and wonder how something as simple as Natal could make a difference here.

>> Education

It seems that having a laptop or desktop in college or university is almost a requirement these days, and can be found more commonly in high school. I would imagine it's going to get to the point where every desk has a computer build into it, but that seems ridiculous (although not unbelievable). I could see Natal being used especially in home schooling, as it could easily double as a board, a source for research and referencing, and to simply teach the student. In a regular school it would be more ideal with younger children, as it could help teach about shapes, colours, animals, the alphabet and numbers, heck anything it was programmed to and I would imagine it would encourage kids to get more involved. Of course I'm not saying it should be used for every aspect of teaching, but it has the potential.

>> Driver's Ed

Use Natal technology to offer crash courses on driving for people who can't afford driving lessons. It would be very limited, but it could provide pointers and tips on how to properly operate thevehicle and possibly an interactive menu where students could learn about each part of a typical car and what everything does. It might notnecessarily be real experience, but it would be considered better help than reading a book about it and than get thrown into the real thing.

That is all I could really think about right now that seemed useful, but I know there are countlessopportunities I missed. With that said I would like to hear from anyone reading this what their take on Natal and Motion Sensing in video games is, as well as what they think Natal could be used for in some shape/form. I hope you enjoyed reading this and gives many of you something to think about.

Seeing as one of my roommates had her computer reformatted and the tons of viruses and other potential threats deleted, I have access to a computer on somewhat of a regular basis now. I still won't be as active as I want to be, and probably won't be until the first quarter of next year. This is due to helping buy my girlfriend a laptop, and saving up for a gaming computer 8).

Otherwise I will probably only be on once or twice a week, due to working five to six days a week and my roommates computer in her room (meaning limited access). With that said, hopefully I can still get a review written here and there and post on the forums.

I also have a lot of updating to do, as I deleted my games list to make a more updated and accurate list in the near future. Also all my profile information, as I am looking into making a movietome and mp3.com profile.

As always, hope everyone enjoys themselves and I am looking forward to being on the site again.

For the few people who follow my contributions, or on the promise of future contributions which I still haven't had the time for, I will be gone for an undisclosed period of time. To make a long story short I have moved away due to family misunderstandings which were not caused by myself, yet I have to take the worse part. In other words, moving from Ontario to British Columbia. Although it really is a blessing in the end, as I get to move in with my girlfriend and save money and be happier than I have in a long time.

This simply means I have no computer now, but once I do I will be back to usual contributions (well, depending on what my girlfriend says :D). Hope the wait isn't too long, as I still have many great ideas and plans to contribute to gamespot and the people I have had the chance to meet on here.

In minor news:

- The new layout for gamespot is pretty sweet. Makes it look nicer and easier to use, while helping it distinguish itself from other game websites.

- I need to clean up my game list, so remind me if you see this as I'm forgetful =(

- I know I made spelling mistakes, but oh well. I'm on a slow computer and I type too fast. Deal with it :D.

I will be pretty honest and straightforward with the following, but it isn't anything crude or embarassing.

I signed up for Gamespot back on August 27th of last year (2007) and only recently started to use GS to its fullest extent. I simply was busy with other pastimes I have since moved on from, and the increased number of hours at work also played into the free time I had on a daily basis. My hours have gone back to normal since than, and the summer is also coming up. Since I started routinely using Gamespot, I have had tons of ideas for Editorials that I haven't had the time to research for and write up. That would attribute to the twenty or so pieces of folded up paper on my bedside desk, notes scribbled all over them.

Instead, I am writing this, my first Gamespot blog. Everybody has to start somewhere, and I will use this to encourage my number of blogs to increase, with content I have been waiting to share for weeks and months even. I love to share my opinions much like anyone else who gets involved with debates and discussions, and I still enjoy taking part even when people disagree. I'm not going to toot my own horn here, and I will admit I am somethings wrong, but will atleast admit it. Of course, there is a difference between being wrong through having misinformed data or articles, and someone accusing you of being wrong because they see differently. That is why I am looking forward to having the time to write up some editorials, and hopefully get a few published in the Soapbox for debate and discussion. I know I'm not the only one on the site who enjoys discussion and debate, so I can only hope for the best in the future for anything I write and other peoples hard work as well.

I haven't really focused on gaming or games in the past with my writing, but here are a few glimpses of past writing of mine (Not my best, but it's something):

(I have each article linked, and than what it is talking about in the brackets.)

Link 1 (Morale Issues), Link 2 (Meaning/Worth), Link 3 (Racism), Link 4 (Humour), Link 5 (Morale Justifications), Link 6 (Racism), Link 7 (Encouraging), Link 8 (Morales), Link 9 (Humour), Link 10 (Racism)

If you have taken the time to view a few of the links I posted, you will see I enjoy writing. I hope to transfer this to Gamespot, and write some interesting Editorials and blogs in the future.