Kinect Reportedly Costs "Almost As Much" as Xbox One

[Fanghawk]

Kinect Reportedly Costs "Almost As Much" as Xbox One

According to an anonymous "Ask Me Anything" Reddit session, Microsoft has several pragmatic reasons for including a Kinect with each new console.

It would be an understatement to say that the Xbox One had an especially rocky reveal. Between its initial, controversial policies <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/10445-A-Winner-Is-You>and eventual post-E3 backtrack, it's been very hard to get a clear idea of what Microsoft was trying to accomplish. <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125956-Xbox-One-Exec-Acknowledges-Failure-to-Communicate>Corporate Vice President Marc Whitten attributed much of the problem to a lack of communication, but now an anonymous Xbox One developer has stepped forward to address the issues. The unnamed individual started an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, promising a behind-the-scenes scoop on whatever wasn't restricted by a non-disclosure agreement. For example, the decision to make the Kinect a mandatory peripheral <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125523-Xbox-One-Designed-With-Advertising-in-Mind>wasn't solely about shoehorning in advertising; it's actually an integral part of the system that costs just as much to produce as a standalone console.

"The majority of the masses care only about the console, except that the success of the Kinect carries much more weight to us," the anonymous developer claimed. "The sensor costs almost as much as the console to make ... The goal with having a Kinect ship with every Xbox is to guarantee to game developers if they implement Kinect features into their games, everyone who has an Xbox will be able to experience it.

"I often see people dismiss the Kinect instantly because they haven't seen it work like I have," the developer continues. "It is an integral part of the Xbox One experience ... The number of features on the Xbox One that uses the Kinect is almost too many to count. I can't imagine using the console without it."

The conversation goes on to cover a variety of topics, including Microsoft's DRM policy, game sharing, and more. Assuming the answers are genuine, they point to a developer who stands behind the Xbox One's design choices, yet fully acknowledges that Microsoft did a "mess of a job" representing them. It also hints at a corporate culture more complex <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124268-Microsoft-Exec-If-Youre-Backwards-Compatible-Youre-Really-Backwards>than the straightforward comments of former president Don Mattrick.

"My purpose here is not to reveal technical information but to show you that us devs are consumers too," the writer continues. "Some of the policies we too only heard the day of the reveal or at E3. We too, ponder about their pros and cons. I can tell you we have heated discussions on our policies all the time internally. Engineering practices have taught us there are always trade offs. We lay out all the benefits of different policies and figure out what we have to give up in order to obtain those benefits.

"The positive comments we read make us happy. The negatives give us the impression that we are evil and the Xbox One might as well be the Troll box. I have confidence in our management that all their decisions are always well debated before they come to a plan of action."

Source: <a href=http://www.reddit.com/r/xboxone/comments/1i71s5/i_am_an_xbox_one_dev_ask_me_almost_anything/?sort=old>Reddit, via <a href=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-07-15-kinect-costs-almost-as-much-as-xbox-one-to-make-says-dev>Games Industry International

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[tippy2k2]

The Kinect failed miserably.

Like....really miserably.

We all saw and heard how "awesome" the thing was until we had to try to use it in an actual game. Then you needed to have at least 6 feet of space. Oh, also, there shouldn't be a lot of stuff behind you because it confuses the sensor. Oh, you also need to make sure your area is lit in a way that the Kinect deems acceptable or it's going to confuse the sensor. Oh, also the microphone will sometimes hear the game and confuses itself...

Frankly, you made all these promises once before. Maybe you're right and you've fixed all the problems that the sensor causes but I'm not exactly going to hold my breath...

 

[Dr.Awkward]

If you look around Microsoft, you'll find that the Kinect was mostly used for product and mechanical experimentation and as a "toy". It has a lot more application in non-gaming situations then gaming situations; perhaps you don't need to sell this as an entertainment-only device, but simply just as a interface device.

 

[1337mokro]

Whilst this is a smart strategy they have to also realize that they are basically including a piece of shitty hardware with a gaming system for no reason. Nobody WANTS a Kinect because it is IMPOSSIBLE to control a game fluently based on upper body position and movements.

Ask yourself when did you last play a good Kinect game that was not a bunch of minigames or a dancing game. We saw what happens when you attempt to push the Kinect to it's limits. You get Steel Battalion, an utter atrocity that has possibly buried the franchise for a second time.

It is a pipe dream Microsoft, wake the fuck up! The Kinect is to inaccurate to register detailed movements. It is to expensive to offer at a reasonable price. No games can be played with it that require any kind of movement. Even Steel Battalion had to rely on a controller for that.

Basically you tried to do what Nintendo did, only you went for the Sony PS2 route with a motion detection camera rather than a cheap gyroscope stick.

 

[mad825]

And here's where the Xbone developer fails to realise; unless you're a Dance Central fan, nobody gives a shit about the Kinect. They would rather do without if it meant that the Xbone was cheaper.

 

[KOMega]

"I often see people dismiss the Kinect instantly because they haven't seen it work like I have," the developer continues. "It is an integral part of the Xbox One experience ... The number of features on the Xbox One that uses the Kinect is almost too many to count. I can't imagine using the console without it."

Maybe a few examples of the uses of the Kinect would be nice. For gaming I mean.
There are too many to count,right? So I'm sure this wouldn't be a difficult thing to list off.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

"The sensor costs almost as much as the console to make ... The goal with having a Kinect ship with every Xbox is to guarantee to game developers if they implement Kinect features into their games, everyone who has an Xbox will be able to experience it."

This is stupid as fuck. Your main consumer base plays games that flat-out cannot be controlled by a Kinect. Shoehorning it in for no goddamn reason will hurt you more then if you just removed it and lowered the price.

"I have confidence in our management"

Evidently, that's a bad choice.

 

[circularlogic88]

So, what I deciphered from this article is that Microsoft COULD have sold XBOX One at half the price of $500 if they didn't bundle it with the Kinect 2.0 AND make the device an integral part of the system.

 

[Vaccine]

"The majority of the masses care only about the console, except that the success of the Kinect carries much more weight to us," the anonymous developer claimed. "The sensor costs almost as much as the console to make ... The goal with having a Kinect ship with every Xbox is to guarantee to game developers if they implement Kinect features into their games, everyone who has an Xbox will be able to experience it.

Cool br0, how does that work for multiplat titles where the sensor is basically useless because no content was designed with it in mind?

 

[Arawn]

Anonymous Xbox One developer. Those words alone give me doubts. The person wants to stay hidden, but they're supposed to be doing something good/productive for Xbox/MS. So why the secrecy? If I tell you something good about the product my company produced I could lose my job. What? It's not like he's being a whistle blower and telling secrets of it's development or how much they spent. No, it's good press. Talking about how/why their system was designed to support Kinect 2.0. I'm not buying it. Just like the "Sad developer" over the loss of Family sharing. Speaking out as a mystery man is easy. When hidden under anonymity one can say whatever they want, but doesn't make it more true. If MS wants to put out some good press go through the official channels, none of this "I work for them, but I can't tell you that I like our product and it's really great." stuff.

 

[Narcogen]

"For example, the decision to make the Kinect a mandatory peripheral wasn't solely about shoehorning in advertising; it's actually an integral part of the system that costs just as much to produce as a standalone console."

This is a false dichotomy.

Kinect is an integral part of the system that costs as much as the console BECAUSE of what it can do with regards to advertising: eye tracking, identifying individuals, etc.

 

[Denamic]

The problem is that none of the types of games I enjoy have any benefit from a kinect. I don't want to move around when I play games. Nor do I want voice recognition. I'm not interested in paying $100 extra for features I neither need nor want, no matter how much the thing is actually worth.

 

[LT Cannibal 68]

The Kinect failed miserably.

Like....really miserably.

We all saw and heard how "awesome" the thing was until we had to try to use it in an actual game. Then you needed to have at least 6 feet of space. Oh, also, there shouldn't be a lot of stuff behind you because it confuses the sensor. Oh, you also need to make sure your area is lit in a way that the Kinect deems acceptable or it's going to confuse the sensor. Oh, also the microphone will sometimes hear the game and confuses itself...

Frankly, you made all these promises once before. Maybe you're right and you've fixed all the problems that the sensor causes but I'm not exactly going to hold my breath...

you should probably look at some articles with video links that show the press taking it for a spin themselves and being impressed with the new sensor.

 

[circularlogic88]

The Kinect failed miserably.

Like....really miserably.

We all saw and heard how "awesome" the thing was until we had to try to use it in an actual game. Then you needed to have at least 6 feet of space. Oh, also, there shouldn't be a lot of stuff behind you because it confuses the sensor. Oh, you also need to make sure your area is lit in a way that the Kinect deems acceptable or it's going to confuse the sensor. Oh, also the microphone will sometimes hear the game and confuses itself...

Frankly, you made all these promises once before. Maybe you're right and you've fixed all the problems that the sensor causes but I'm not exactly going to hold my breath...

you should probably look at some articles with video links that show the press taking it for a spin themselves and being impressed with the new sensor.

Because media outlets could never be bought off by Microsoft to endorse their products. That could never happen...

 

[LT Cannibal 68]

Whilst this is a smart strategy they have to also realize that they are basically including a piece of shitty hardware with a gaming system for no reason. Nobody WANTS a Kinect because it is IMPOSSIBLE to control a game fluently based on upper body position and movements.

Ask yourself when did you last play a good Kinect game that was not a bunch of minigames or a dancing game. We saw what happens when you attempt to push the Kinect to it's limits. You get Steel Battalion, an utter atrocity that has possibly buried the franchise for a second time.

It is a pipe dream Microsoft, wake the fuck up! The Kinect is to inaccurate to register detailed movements. It is to expensive to offer at a reasonable price. No games can be played with it that require any kind of movement. Even Steel Battalion had to rely on a controller for that.

Basically you tried to do what Nintendo did, only you went for the Sony PS2 route with a motion detection camera rather than a cheap gyroscope stick.

I know i'm gonna get flamed and get called a fanboy for this but fuck it.
have you even SEEN the video demonstrations done by the press?
every reporter that has tried it loved it!
how about you Look up some info before you make baseless assumptions on a product you haven't even tried or seen in action?
Also bashing something based on the hardware that came before it is downright stupid in my opinion.
and as per your first point a LOT of people do want kinect, they're children and casual players and parents (including myself, my kids love playing with kinect and my wife likes that nike trainer game.) that want to play with they're kids, you know the other 2/3ds of the fanbase?
"hardcore gamers" need to stop being so selfish and self centered and accept that we're a small part of a larger ecosystem of consumers.

 

[LT Cannibal 68]

The Kinect failed miserably.

Like....really miserably.

We all saw and heard how "awesome" the thing was until we had to try to use it in an actual game. Then you needed to have at least 6 feet of space. Oh, also, there shouldn't be a lot of stuff behind you because it confuses the sensor. Oh, you also need to make sure your area is lit in a way that the Kinect deems acceptable or it's going to confuse the sensor. Oh, also the microphone will sometimes hear the game and confuses itself...

Frankly, you made all these promises once before. Maybe you're right and you've fixed all the problems that the sensor causes but I'm not exactly going to hold my breath...

you should probably look at some articles with video links that show the press taking it for a spin themselves and being impressed with the new sensor.

Because media outlets could never be bought off by Microsoft to endorse their products. That could never happen...

or you could look at the footage and see that the sensor DOES work and MAYBE not be so cynical?

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

I will admit that I like the idea of the Kinect. It's a great concept, the ability to control games with your movements. However, I don't think gaming has gotten to that point yet. At this current junction, I would rather play next-gen games with a Oculus Rift than a Kinect, because the former increases immersion without any loss of accuracy or requirements for room size, lighting, etc. People still want to play games sitting down with a controller, because we don't yet have the ability to provide an adequate gameplay experience anywhere else. Some day, I believe motion controls will be useful. But until they can register individual finger movement, I don't think it's worth it. Especially when supporting something like the Kinect costs an extra hundred dollars over the competitor.

 

[theuprising]

The Kinect failed miserably.

Like....really miserably.

We all saw and heard how "awesome" the thing was until we had to try to use it in an actual game. Then you needed to have at least 6 feet of space. Oh, also, there shouldn't be a lot of stuff behind you because it confuses the sensor. Oh, you also need to make sure your area is lit in a way that the Kinect deems acceptable or it's going to confuse the sensor. Oh, also the microphone will sometimes hear the game and confuses itself...

Frankly, you made all these promises once before. Maybe you're right and you've fixed all the problems that the sensor causes but I'm not exactly going to hold my breath...

Good thing this Kinect is made not to fail b/c its several times as precise and is bundled into every console so devs know the userbase for it is large enough to develop for it. Durr

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Whilst this is a smart strategy they have to also realize that they are basically including a piece of shitty hardware with a gaming system for no reason. Nobody WANTS a Kinect because it is IMPOSSIBLE to control a game fluently based on upper body position and movements.

Ask yourself when did you last play a good Kinect game that was not a bunch of minigames or a dancing game. We saw what happens when you attempt to push the Kinect to it's limits. You get Steel Battalion, an utter atrocity that has possibly buried the franchise for a second time.

It is a pipe dream Microsoft, wake the fuck up! The Kinect is to inaccurate to register detailed movements. It is to expensive to offer at a reasonable price. No games can be played with it that require any kind of movement. Even Steel Battalion had to rely on a controller for that.

Basically you tried to do what Nintendo did, only you went for the Sony PS2 route with a motion detection camera rather than a cheap gyroscope stick.

I know i'm gonna get flamed and get called a fanboy for this but fuck it.
have you even SEEN the video demonstrations done by the press?
every reporter that has tried it loved it!
how about you Look up some info before you make baseless assumptions on a product you haven't even tried or seen in action?
Also bashing something based on the hardware that came before it is downright stupid in my opinion.
and as per your first point a LOT of people do want kinect, they're children and casual players and parents (including myself, my kids love playing with kinect and my wife likes that nike trainer game.) that want to play with they're kids, you know the other 2/3ds of the fanbase?
"hardcore gamers" need to stop being so selfish and self centered and accept that we're a small part of a larger ecosystem of consumers.

Question?

Are those casual consumers willing to shell out $500 dollars plus for it?

Its one thing for reporters and kids to like a product, its getting them to throw down a rather hefty sum to buy it.