Natal, Move to revolutionise fitness games’

It may be the core consumers that are currently championing the potential of Microsoft’s Project Natal and Sony’s PlayStation Move – but it could be non-gamers that benefit the most from the new hardware.

Publishers and developers that specialise in fitness titles and other non-games software have said that their chosen genres could be key to the success of the forthcoming motion controllers.

The non-games sector will benefit more than any other sector from Natal and PlayStation Move,” said Simon Prytherch, managing director of NewU Fitness First developer Lightning Fish Games.

These devices are suited to non-core audiences. A key feature of these devices is the ability to accurately monitor user performance.

We will see new ways of interacting and new genres emerging as creative minds get to grips with the technology.”

Avanquest sales director Steve Powell added: The launch of new hardware will open up the more hardcore gaming platforms to family-based games, and I’m sure we’ll see self-improvement titles amongst these.

There will be plenty of buzz around the new hardware releases, which may also encourage hardcore gamers to try something different.”

Firms are already looking to tap into the Wii Fit market on other platforms.

EA is developing the next EA Sports Active title for PS3 and iPhone, while Rare is rumoured to be working on a Natal-based fitness game.