Was Electronic Arts Talent Bleed Project Natal's Life Force?
Good decision or bad call by Riccitiello?
Earlier this week, EA CEO, John Riccitiello stated, "We're very pleased, frankly, that it showed up at Microsoft, because I'd rather them pay for that. They can leverage it better, and we can build software. But I felt the market wanted that technology and I'm glad it's coming."
Riccitiello had pointed out that EA had been considering the project. This triggered a few memories and a time-line of possibly utterly co-incidental events surrounding Microsoft, EA, and Riccitiello. We're following these along. In the forthcoming months or years prior to Natal's retail appearance, it's going to be fascinating to see whether turning down Natal turns out to be a great decision or one lacking in insight:
The Possibly Coincidental Timeline
February 2007: John Riccitiello returns to EA.
July 2007: Don Mattrick resigns as president of EA Worldwide as Senior VP at the Microsoft's Interactive Business unit having been an advisor with Microsoft since February.
August 2007: John Schappert, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Worldwide Studios at Electronic Arts moves to Microsoft as Corporate Vice President of LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business.
November 6th 2007: EA Chicago shuts. Studio head, Kudo Tsunoda looks at his options. (Interestingly as a side point, back in 2006, he did point out to Shacknews that, "The Wii is a great system, and if you think about everything we like doing here with gestural control, well that system's all about the gestural control. We're going to work on anything that can give us the opportunity to be creative.")
November 14th 2007: Microsoft files Natal-esque patent.
January 2008: Kudo Tsunoda joins Microsoft to work on Gears of War 2.
June 1st 2009: John Schappert is pleased to welcome... Kudo Tsunoda to demonstrate Project Natal at E3.
As a sideline on the motion control issue, it's also interesting to note that Robomodo is working on Tony Hawk Ride, the peripheral-based Hawk game. Robomodo was formed from former EA Chicago staff.
Riccitiello had pointed out that EA had been considering the project. This triggered a few memories and a time-line of possibly utterly co-incidental events surrounding Microsoft, EA, and Riccitiello. We're following these along. In the forthcoming months or years prior to Natal's retail appearance, it's going to be fascinating to see whether turning down Natal turns out to be a great decision or one lacking in insight:
The Possibly Coincidental Timeline
February 2007: John Riccitiello returns to EA.
July 2007: Don Mattrick resigns as president of EA Worldwide as Senior VP at the Microsoft's Interactive Business unit having been an advisor with Microsoft since February.
August 2007: John Schappert, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Worldwide Studios at Electronic Arts moves to Microsoft as Corporate Vice President of LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business.
November 6th 2007: EA Chicago shuts. Studio head, Kudo Tsunoda looks at his options. (Interestingly as a side point, back in 2006, he did point out to Shacknews that, "The Wii is a great system, and if you think about everything we like doing here with gestural control, well that system's all about the gestural control. We're going to work on anything that can give us the opportunity to be creative.")
November 14th 2007: Microsoft files Natal-esque patent.
January 2008: Kudo Tsunoda joins Microsoft to work on Gears of War 2.
June 1st 2009: John Schappert is pleased to welcome... Kudo Tsunoda to demonstrate Project Natal at E3.
As a sideline on the motion control issue, it's also interesting to note that Robomodo is working on Tony Hawk Ride, the peripheral-based Hawk game. Robomodo was formed from former EA Chicago staff.
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Comments
Ta 12 Jun 2009 02:23
1/1
Funny, the Eye-Toy, whatever happened to that and why is not Sony doing it. Whatever happened to the other motion controllers that we could have had for a few years. that might have caused Nintendo to upgrade to new hardware? Still, having something in my hands, rather than a potential spy camera, can be more fun, and should not be left off the table. They could have always started with a radio tracking one and finished with the video.