I know it probably isn't the done thing in gaming circles nowadays to be slagging off new tech before it even hits the shelves, but I have a problem with Microsoft's new Project Natal technology. I mean it does have the potential to open up new ways of interacting with software, possibly even having an effect on your granny who, after dusting her off and filling her with a gallon of tea, may well get her replacement hips put out of place with a game of whatever takes her fancy.

This doesn't sit well with me. I have no problems with everyone getting into video games, I mean we wouldn't have an industry if that wasn't the case, would we? The niggling thought that plagues my enjoyment of this hardware is something that everyone over the age of 25 will have had etched into their brains from an early age; and that is complete control of your actions.

Control pads, whether they be wireless or not, have always been a part of our lives, from the numerous games of Pong back in the 70's to the glitching and cheating know-it--alls who have to dope theirs up like an Olympic 100m runner to win at Modern Warfare 2. The precision that they give you is as close as you can get to your exact movements, but Natal is something that I just can't see replicating it while you wave your arms around like you're a member of a reality TV show audience.

I mean, what if you sneeze? Maybe you have an itch that you really need to get some attention on. A lot of unknown factors just simply can't be ignored. With a controller, if any of these things happen you can pause it by pressing a button. Do you have to scream the word to stop the action with Natal and have the neighbours thinking you're going a bit crazy?

It is all a bit of an unknown, but then we were all like this when the Wii was mentioned, so maybe it's a concern over nothing, but at least you have a control interface in your hand.... I just don't think we're ready for Natal yet.