Microsoft Will Only Use Natal in Halo 'When it Makes Sense'

Natal augers a lot of interesting potential for Xbox 360 games, but that doesn't mean every 360 game in the future will use it by default. Speaking to VideoGamer (via Joystiq), Halo 3: ODST producer Alex Cutting said they don't intend to ever force Natal motion controls into the Halo series, but only use it if it's both fun and a good fit.

"A lot of people are interested in what Natal's presence in Halo's going to be," Cutting said. "We are committing to only doing it when it makes sense. We are not going to produce a gimmicky feature that just takes advantage of motion controls when it doesn't feel right." 

That should pacify hardcore shooter fans who feared their favorite series would turn into an arm-flailing fest, but what exactly would feel right in terms of Natal controls for Halo? "We're going to make the games we want to play," Cutting explained. "We're not going to make a feature that's not fun. If there's an opportunity to do it, we will definitely investigate it. If it's fun we will leave it in the game. But further than that, I can't tell you any specific plans."

But that good fit could be sooner that you'd think -- recall that back in June, Bungie president Harold Ryan expressed his enthusiasm for Natal, saying that "I absolutely think [Halo: Reach] could be enabled with it."

Both Reach and Natal probably won't launch until late next year, though, so Bungie has plenty of time to experiment and investigate.