Molyneux: Natal ‘can be a bigger change’ than the mouse

Molyneux: Natal ‘can be a bigger change’ than the mouse
James Orry Updated on by

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Peter Molyneux, head of Lionhead and European creative director for Microsoft Game Studios, believes upcoming motion controller Natal could bring about a bigger change than that seen with the introduction of the PC mouse.

“I’m enthusiastic about the change that Natal gives,” Molyneux told Gamereactor.

“If you’re thinking that Natal is going to give you another version of an FPS, you’re just not thinking broadly enough. After all, it was the invention of the mouse that gave us computing as it is today – not the invention of the microprocessor.

“That’s how we ended up controlling our PCs.”

Molyneux added: “The mouse was the real revolution of the PC – not the Intel processor. And who’s to say Natal couldn’t end up creating something you and I can’t even imagine now. It forces us to approach technology in a completely different way. Before the mouse, we only had the keyboard.”

“That one 9.95 device changed everything about computing. And things like Natal can be a bigger change, but it’s hard to imagine.”

The Fable creator also warned that it may take the industry some time to get to grips with the new technology, likening Natal to the launch of a new console.

“The first wave of titles that come out will be really good and really polished and great, but they’ll be kind of the obvious stuff,” he explained. “Even when a new console comes out it takes us a while to get used to it and get our heads around it. I think when something like Natal comes out it really takes a while.”

Natal is scheduled for release this autumn.