Kinect

[Fenrisulfr]

I, like many others, am an owner of a Kinect. I was excited when I first heard about it under the code name "Project Natal". Now, I am somewhat disappointed. I have a few games for it, but I've only played them once. They're just a bit too casual for me. They're the launch games that came with one of the bundles. What makes me feel worse is that I've just been Nintendo'd again. Meaning, I was excited about something by a major company, bought it, and it only has the unspectacular launch titles and no good games in sight. Even with what I've heard was announced at E3 (thanks to The Escapist), I'm just not that excited.

So, I wonder how you feel about the future of Kinect like devices. I'm hoping that maybe we'll be able to use Kinect for a lot more than games and the very few other options that Microsoft gave us. Seriously, games and menu selection; that's about it. Oh, and video chat. Motion controls look like they're out for the most part right now; I just hope that Kinect doesn't go down with the rest since it is, if you think about it, quite unique.

 

[Thespian]

Child of eden should be awesome for kinect. I think it will be more useful to have to make a few games better (Like ME3) and occasionally have a game fully designed for it (Fable:The Journey, etc.,)

 

[Smooth Operator]

The future is casual games, as it was always planned, I really can't see how you got that wrong...

 

[Jordi]

I think that the Kinect is a technological miracle. Many people don't realize this, but 3D reconstruction that the Kinect does is actually a very difficult problem and the Kinect does it pretty well for what, $100?

However, as a gaming device I don't really see it working that well. Without the in-game items and space to walk around in, I think it's always going to be a bit weird. Although technologically the Kinect is far more impressive, I feel that the Wii and Move actually have an advantage here, because you still have controllers of a sort (I don't really know if the Move has any buttons though). On the Wii at least they decreased the problem by giving you the nunchuck to move around and cheap peripherals to transform the Wiimote into a gun, or tennis racket, or guitar, ...

 

[Cridhe]

Give it time. Like the Dreamcast, this technology is just too far ahead of it's time and I'm sure a lot of the game developers really have no idea what the hell to do with it.

 

[Omechron]

I was excited about Natal back when it was at E3 and they were showing us milo and how it could react to very small movements and facial expressions. THAT'S what I want it to do. I want it to be able to see and hear how I talk and react to me like Milo appeared to be doing.

That's what I want. Small gestures and talking. I want a game that simulates a person I can have conversations with and get to know. Not jumping and flailing and screaming. If I want to act like Jim Carrey I have the Wii for that.

 

[Pingieking]

I, like many others, am an owner of a Kinect. I was excited when I first heard about it under the code name "Project Natal". Now, I am somewhat disappointed.

Sucks to be you, doesn't it

Kinect. Impressive technology. Crappy for video games.

That was essentially my reaction when they announced it. Hell, I had a similar reaction for the Wii (and Move, since that was the same damn thing), except that Wii's tech was much less impressive.

The problem I have with motion controls in general (and this is a problem that touch screens don't have) is that it vastly reduces the amount of input the gamer has. The current tech can't read complex body movements so any game that uses it has to limit itself to a small number of very obvious gestures, and this shortcoming is probably best demonstrated by the massive amounts of fail seen in the Ghost Recon Future Soldier demo.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

Kinect. Impressive technology. Crappy for video games.

When I play a game, I want it to be done entirely with traditional buttons. Call me old fashoined, fine, but I don't want anything to do with this newfangled motion/voice junk that doesn't have very many good games at all.

Touch screens on the DS, and the Cafe (I refuse to say "WiiU"), don't bother me as much because they can have simple and practical gameplay applications that don't make you feel weird or act like a retard by waving your hand or shouting at the screen.

Also, does anyone remember the Halo with Kinect video on IGN? It might have been Natal. Anyway, it was a joke video about how multiplayer Halo would be done with Kinect, and it was quite funny - and a good example of why I don't want anything to do with Kinect.

Funny, I've actually been in the mood for some really old stuff. Atari old...

 

[Avaholic03]

I, like many others, am an owner of a Kinect. I was excited when I first heard about it under the code name "Project Natal". Now, I am somewhat disappointed. I have a few games for it, but I've only played them once. They're just a bit too casual for me. They're the launch games that came with one of the bundles. What makes me feel worse is that I've just been Nintendo'd again. Meaning, I was excited about something by a major company, bought it, and it only has the unspectacular launch titles and no good games in sight. Even with what I've heard was announced at E3 (thanks to The Escapist), I'm just not that excited.

This is where cynicism starts. Most people aren't naturally cynical, they've just been burned too many times to be optimistic anymore. In the current market, I'm surprised anyone can still be as blissfully obvlivious as you seem to be. I'm almost jealous.

So, I wonder how you feel about the future of Kinect like devices. I'm hoping that maybe we'll be able to use Kinect for a lot more than games and the very few other options that Microsoft gave us. Seriously, games and menu selection; that's about it. Oh, and video chat. Motion controls look like they're out for the most part right now; I just hope that Kinect doesn't go down with the rest since it is, if you think about it, quite unique.

Kind of depends on how you define "Kinect like devices".
If you mean motion controls, then I would have to say I don't see a very bright future. I think most people who thought it would be a good idea were disappointed by the execution, or just got bored with it quickly.
But if you mean gimmicks in general, I don't expect they'll go away ever. There's always money to be made on stuff like that. I was surprised how many Kinects and Moves were sold this long after the Wii had already run its course. It's all about marketing I guess.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

[quote="Pingieking" post="9.290373.11517773"The problem I have with motion controls in general (and this is a problem that touch screens don't have) is that it vastly reduces the amount of input the gamer has. The current tech can't read complex body movements so any game that uses it has to limit itself to a small number of very obvious gestures, and this shortcoming is probably best demonstrated by the massive amounts of fail seen in the Ghost Recon Future Soldier demo.[/quote]

They want to get to the point that motion controls will be able to read those complex body movements though. So basically, we're still in the motion controls beta test, and we may have to put up with a few more of these things until they make what we want: virtual reality.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

Wow. I fail at quoting. lol

 

[Fenrisulfr]

I, like many others, am an owner of a Kinect. I was excited when I first heard about it under the code name "Project Natal". Now, I am somewhat disappointed. I have a few games for it, but I've only played them once. They're just a bit too casual for me. They're the launch games that came with one of the bundles. What makes me feel worse is that I've just been Nintendo'd again. Meaning, I was excited about something by a major company, bought it, and it only has the unspectacular launch titles and no good games in sight. Even with what I've heard was announced at E3 (thanks to The Escapist), I'm just not that excited.

This is where cynicism starts. Most people aren't naturally cynical, they've just been burned too many times to be optimistic anymore. In the current market, I'm surprised anyone can still be as blissfully obvlivious as you seem to be. I'm almost jealous.

So, I wonder how you feel about the future of Kinect like devices. I'm hoping that maybe we'll be able to use Kinect for a lot more than games and the very few other options that Microsoft gave us. Seriously, games and menu selection; that's about it. Oh, and video chat. Motion controls look like they're out for the most part right now; I just hope that Kinect doesn't go down with the rest since it is, if you think about it, quite unique.

Kind of depends on how you define "Kinect like devices".
If you mean motion controls, then I would have to say I don't see a very bright future. I think most people who thought it would be a good idea were disappointed by the execution, or just got bored with it quickly.
But if you mean gimmicks in general, I don't expect they'll go away ever. There's always money to be made on stuff like that. I was surprised how many Kinects and Moves were sold this long after the Wii had already run its course. It's all about marketing I guess.

I can be quite cynical, it's just that I like Microsoft enough to give them the benefit of the doubt. Don't think I will fork over any of my money to Nintendo anytime soon. They had their chance. I don't really care about Sony anymore, and their motion control doesn't look like it's for VIDEO games... Yesw, I meant motion controls. I was in a bit of a rush when I posted this. Heh.

 

[Wuggy]

Kinect is an amazing piece of technology, but barely usable for gaming. That is, unless you're fond of patry-casual games. I'm not too greatly keen motion controls overall but I see the PS3 Move as an way better 'alternative controller' as it were.

 

[Zaik]

It's neat for all sorts of things that have absolutely nothing to do with video games, but I'd never buy one for video games, which I guess was the initial point of it.

 

[teebeeohh]

like a laser cannon attached to my monitor that's zaps me every time i get shoot Kinect is impressive technology but does not translate well to actual games.problem is with the sales this thing had up to last christmas it probably made money for Microsoft already.