Kinect Prefers a Tidy Room

[thenamelessloser]

Hmm... it seems a lot of people here are just focused on the thing about messy floors. I would be more concerned about the LIGHTING. I have an Eyetoy for the PS2, tried it multiple rooms in my house and it was so hard to make it accurate at all. It seems to me that the Kinect may have a similar problem.

Here from the article- "Kinect also won't work quite right if the lighting in a room is uneven, as moving from a bright spot to a darker spot can make you look slightly different to the device, making it harder for the cameras to follow you."

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

Why all the pessimism? Perhaps cleaning up around the house will be more fun than the nonexistent games[footnote]Nonexistent as in the vacuous excuses that Microsoft has been pushing to whatever target group it feels like appealing to today[/footnote] for Kinect?

Really though, such requirements do make sense given the nature of the device (and that its a Microsoft product...). Is it a tad inconvenient? Possibly. Is it a limitation? Sure. Is it really practical or worth it? In my opinion, no.

 

[VondeVon]

The more I hear about kinect, the more apparent it becomes that it simply won't work in my home.

...And the more unfeasible it becomes, the more I want it. Curse you, marketing department!

 

[fenderstrat]

another reason not to buy it. my rooms is never tidy!

 

[VanityGirl]

If your space in front of your TV is that messy and you don't want to clean it up, then by all offense, you're extremely lazy.
I live in a small apartment, but I always keep AT LEAST my living room (where my consoles are)clean in case of company.

More reason why the average videogame player should not buy the kinect.

Right, because the average gamer is a slob, right? I mean, we all just have pizza boxes and mountain dew cans strewn about our tiny apartments. But that's OK, since the average gamer never even talks to a woman, let alone has her over so it's not like anyone is seeing the mess.

Yeah. The average gamer is a slob. This is stupid.

Now that the sarcasm is out of my system: Everything here, as the article suggests, seems like a 'no brainer'. I'll only, really, have to move the coffee table from in front of my TV, but I'd have to do that with a Wii as well, so that's not alarming. My place isn't even that big, and I'll have room for this.

I plan on grabbing one for Christmas for my wife, who isn't much of a gamer. But she likes simple fun games, and so do our non-gamer friends! So this is a perfect way to get her into my world, as well as have some fun with those friends when they come over! I'm looking forward to it!

^Epic Thread Win.

Thank you BabyTea for actually giving a nonjump on the bandwagon response. I also had to move my coffee table for my Wii, but once I was done gaming, I would just slide it back into place. My apartment is very small too.

 

[Mcsteveh]

Even more proof that Kinect will not be successful.

Nobody is going to tidy their room in order to play a game O_O'

I second this.

 

[C117]

Well... I guess Kinect won't ever make it into my room.

 

[Iron Mal]

You need a tidy, equally lit room?
Another nail in the fail coffin

That's not actually an unreasonable request, I don't quite get what everyone's major issue with this is.

Surely you should want to keep your place tidy for your own sake? (unless you feel a wave of pride as you stroll through a carpet of coke cans on the floor)

Providing equal lighting isn't that hard either, a simple ceiling mounted light does this for my room (and if that fails, open the curtains and use natural sunlight).

The major opposition here strikes me as being a result of either:

a) Just how damn lazy and apathetic we all are as people (and this is coming from someone who is pretty bad in this regard).

or

b) Yet another feeble excuse for people to complain about the Kinect (ok, not everyone is going to like it, we heard you the first time).

 

[hmar9333]

I know guys, let's all exaggerate what they said to the point where it becomes obscene, then comment like that's exactly what was said. That's what all the cool kiddies are doing these days right?

It said large amounts of clutter can confuse the sensor, not a couch or chairs. It also said vastly differing levels of lighting. Which would be more like leaving the blinds on one window open during the day, so half the room is in daylight and other half is not.

You have not seen myapartment living room then. I have a large coffee table I'd be pushing to the side, and while I have a couch behind me, and two reclingin chairs to either side. if those are caught in the sensor, how will it distinguish "Large object on the floor space" and "Large pile of smaller things on the floorspace"

Again, in terms of noise, my TV's volume comes FROM the TV. If I set my center sensor on or below the TV, how will it affect gaming?

I'm not exagerating anything, it's the way my room is set up. But you know, thanks for not assuming

Well I played Kinect in a local mall the other day, and I don't know about clutter but sound is not an issue. The sensor was situated right in front of the TV speakers plus hundreds of shoppers and no problems.

Kinect really is going to be just another eyetoy at THREE times the price. blah

If you actually think that you are very misinformed.

They can tidy the space just in front of their TV...

Or just shove all of their crap to one side.

I live in a garbage can and don't have any powerpoints to kinect my Xbox 360, Microsoft has obviously screwed me over by not telling me it needs electricity. As I live in a trashcan I bet the Kinect will give me problems for mess as well, so Microsoft is totally to blame for everything.

Sorry, couldn't resist over-exagerating like everyone else on here. I'm with you, it's obvious that for motion gaming you need space for 'motion'. And there's nothing wrong with being tidy. What I don't agree with is the fact that they're marketing it without being specific about the type of space and rooms necessary to run it well. I'm very uncertain whether my small room with little floor space will be any good for it. I can see this being a problem for many others as well. They market it towards us anyway though, that's my beef.

What he said.

Seriously people, if you really are all fat lazy slobs who cbf clearing the 5 feet in front of their TV then I guess it's your loss. Stop complaining.

If you're one of the people that just hate on Microsoft because they are Microsoft, I don't wanna hear it, and other people interested in Kinect probably don't either.

If you can't regulate light in the room you plan to play Kinect in, how? Shut a blind! Turn a light on! Whatever works!

If your living room is awkwardly shaped and not suited for a Kinect, that's unfortunate but it's not Microsoft's fault (not your fault either, but that's the way it goes)

 

[Kraiiit]

....Anyone actually looking forward to the Kinect? No, I don't hate it, but I'm finding it hard to imagine people getting excited over the entire wave-arms-to-play system.

 

[hmar9333]

....Anyone actually looking forward to the Kinect?

Me! I'm getting one ASAP.

 

[Kraiiit]

....Anyone actually looking forward to the Kinect?

Me! I'm getting one ASAP.

Any particular game your looking forward to? Just curious.

 

[mekashiyu]

I feel compelled to measure the distance between my TV and my futon now. Actually, this is the precise reason I got a futon - more floor space in my room. Not necessarily for the Kinect, but for whatever may require floor space. And also so I could sit on something that was actually couch-like when playing games, not just stick pillows behind my back and lean against the wall. Just eyeballing it, I think I should have enough room, if not then the living room would be fine. I don't see why everyone's getting so worked up about this. At least one room with a TV in it is going to be big enough and clean enough for the Kinect to work in, no?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well this was all pretty clear from the start.
If you ever used any sort of sound or optic recognition system, the best environment is a sterile one, that's why these systems are never used for more then a simple gimmick, or in a completely secluded and controlled environments(testing chambers).

That's why this can't be an accurate system in a living room where you got all sorts of people and animals jumping around the TV.
I'm predicting 98% of people will never be using the voice control, and the actual game control will mostly resemble the Wii in accuracy(which is really poor), and we may see a spike in domestic violence when people walking around the room will be messing up your game.

 

[hmar9333]

....Anyone actually looking forward to the Kinect?

Me! I'm getting one ASAP.

Any particular game your looking forward to? Just curious.

I am particularly intrigued by Kinect Joy Ride and Child of Eden.

I would also be very interested in World of Goo, if it existed.

Well this was all pretty clear from the start.
If you ever used any sort of sound or optic recognition system, the best environment is a sterile one, that's why these systems are never used for more then a simple gimmick, or in a completely secluded and controlled environments(testing chambers).

That's why this can't be an accurate system in a living room where you got all sorts of people and animals jumping around the TV.
I'm predicting 98% of people will never be using the voice control, and the actual game control will mostly resemble the Wii in accuracy(which is really poor), and we may see a spike in domestic violence when people walking around the room will be messing up your game.

I disagree, having used one in a busy area where people were constantly walking behind me and standing next to me to watch I think that accuracy and the Kinect distinguishing who is actually trying to control the unit won't be much of a problem (unless people are intentionally trying to screw you over)

 

[Jeronus]

Wow look, an article that gives more people reasons to bash Microsoft. Especially since it doesn't take much for people to already dislike anything that comes out for 360 it seems, here's another reason to go ahead and say just why you weren't going to buy it anyway.
I really don't think Kinect is initially intended for most of us hardcore gamers anyway so why is this such a big deal to most of you? why take this as another opportunity to bash a piece of hardware you don't even want? How does it affect you if you're not going to buy it?
At any rate, I'm pretty sure Kinect is also intended to have a lot of space to be used, such as in a living room setting. I also think its perfectly reasonable given the limits of a new technology such as this that having your room squared away isn't such a big deal. Seriously if you're complaining about having to clean up after yourself to play with your kinect, then you're really perpetuating the "dirty" gamer stereotype that most people hate on or hate being called...

I agree with you. I think all this hate comes from a fear that if the Kinect and Move are successful then motion controls will become a standard and stick around, possibly replacing the standard controller. Therefore, they all feel the need to get together and bash it. Creating an inner circle of people who can reinforce the idea that a device which hasn't been released is already a failure and by announcing they aren't going to buy it themselves somehow feel as though that one lost sale will mean something. The fact that casual gamers alone can make Kinect and Move a success scares the hell out of them so they get together and bash it, pretending it is already a failure.

 

[Distorted Stu]

My friend is on about getting himself a Kinect. Hes fucked because his room is tiny and cluttered with crap and one huge bed that fills it. I think the only reason he wants it so he can shout stop at his TV during movies.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

I know guys, let's all exaggerate what they said to the point where it becomes obscene, then comment like that's exactly what was said. That's what all the cool kiddies are doing these days right?

It said large amounts of clutter can confuse the sensor, not a couch or chairs. It also said vastly differing levels of lighting. Which would be more like leaving the blinds on one window open during the day, so half the room is in daylight and other half is not.

You have not seen myapartment living room then. I have a large coffee table I'd be pushing to the side, and while I have a couch behind me, and two reclingin chairs to either side. if those are caught in the sensor, how will it distinguish "Large object on the floor space" and "Large pile of smaller things on the floorspace"

Again, in terms of noise, my TV's volume comes FROM the TV. If I set my center sensor on or below the TV, how will it affect gaming?

I'm not exagerating anything, it's the way my room is set up. But you know, thanks for not assuming

Well I played Kinect in a local mall the other day, and I don't know about clutter but sound is not an issue. The sensor was situated right in front of the TV speakers plus hundreds of shoppers and no problems.

Kinect really is going to be just another eyetoy at THREE times the price. blah

If you actually think that you are very misinformed.

They can tidy the space just in front of their TV...

Or just shove all of their crap to one side.

I live in a garbage can and don't have any powerpoints to kinect my Xbox 360, Microsoft has obviously screwed me over by not telling me it needs electricity. As I live in a trashcan I bet the Kinect will give me problems for mess as well, so Microsoft is totally to blame for everything.

Sorry, couldn't resist over-exagerating like everyone else on here. I'm with you, it's obvious that for motion gaming you need space for 'motion'. And there's nothing wrong with being tidy. What I don't agree with is the fact that they're marketing it without being specific about the type of space and rooms necessary to run it well. I'm very uncertain whether my small room with little floor space will be any good for it. I can see this being a problem for many others as well. They market it towards us anyway though, that's my beef.

What he said.

Seriously people, if you really are all fat lazy slobs who cbf clearing the 5 feet in front of their TV then I guess it's your loss. Stop complaining.

If you're one of the people that just hate on Microsoft because they are Microsoft, I don't wanna hear it, and other people interested in Kinect probably don't either.

If you can't regulate light in the room you plan to play Kinect in, how? Shut a blind! Turn a light on! Whatever works!

If your living room is awkwardly shaped and not suited for a Kinect, that's unfortunate but it's not Microsoft's fault (not your fault either, but that's the way it goes)

Well to be honest The sound was something that kinect pointed out. If it works in a mall I'm glad that works for them. I'll bring up the point of ENN's room to grow once more and go ocver the calculations.

They say you should be 6 feet from the TV
Lets say about 3 feet behind you for moving room TOPS
You need anoter 2-3 feet for your TV behind the kinect
3-4 feet behind you for your couch
We're talking total room size

Your room should be 14-16 feet long. (you need about 8 feet to move around, and the rest is for your couch and TV, and I'll be fucked if I'm gonna push my couch out of the room reach time I play a video game)

Now if you want to play multiplayer, it tells you to stand 8 feet away, making the required length of your room 16-18 feet. Kinect is made to play with 4 people, so... lets assume another 4 feet to stand far enough away... 20-24 foot living room... In my apartment

Now I can stand 5 feet away from my TV before running into the back of my couch, so no back room to move. And you can call me a fat lazy slob all you want. I'm not pushing my couch out of the room every time I want to play a game