Rare will admit that the Xbox 360 hasn't been the kindest platform to the developer's success, but the company's design director, George Andreas, reckons that Natal is going to change all that.

He noted to The Guardian that Rare has been tasked "to create experiences that nobody else can create" - your Kameo, Viva Pinata and Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts - but that "obviously the hardware is aimed at a different demographic, and so we've always battled against that."

The battle is soon to end, however. "Whereas now with Natal", Andreas went on, "it looks like the roads are on the same path. It's a union of the two philosophies of the different companies, I guess. Natal is supposed to reach out to a broader audience and a broader consumer, and Rare's products are always aiming in that direction as well. So from that perspective the future looks incredibly bright for us really. It's definitely something everyone's enthused about and energised about."

Anyone for a bit of motion-controlled Banjo?