Natal could change the way we play console RTS

So sayeth Endwar dev boss

Ubisoft boss and development head for Endwar, Michael De Plater has been extolling the virtues of Project Natal in potentially breathing new life into the console RTS.

Speaking to VG247 at Develop earlier today, De Plater said, "Youd absolutely have that Minority Report-type feeling."

"Natal doesn't only have the camera, but the microphone as well," he stated. "The combination of voice and gesture could be really powerful and immersive.

"You could definitely drag selection boxes, and you could definitely point with enough precision to tell people where to go."

He also went on to credit Microsoft's touch-screen Surface table RTS title RUSE as an example of how Natal might have an impact on the future of console strategy games.

"One of the coolest things I saw at E3 this year was RUSE being played on a Surface table," he said.

"If the technology works so you could translate the interface theyve already got working really well on RUSE into Natal, it could work very, very well."

Exciting stuff.

Project Natal is rumoured to launch before Christmas, although Microsoft has yet to announce an official date.

By Richard Walker