Xbox One No Longer Requires Kinect to Function

[PatrickXD]

Now literally the only swaying point for me to get the Xbone is gone, mandatory Kinect functionality meant that game developers could potentially be free to design games using the Kinect, safe in the knowledge that they would be reaching out to a massive audience. Ah well. Guess I'll stick just to PC gaming then.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

It'll be interesting to see if the people of Escapist will find something negative to say about this as well

EDIT. Nvm. People totally did.

Hey that's Negative Brand Awareness for you.

Brand rejection/negative associations. If someone associates your brand with something negative, they will purposely avoid your product. This can happen easily today with just one bad review, social media post, or due to true product defects, accidents and other issues that can turn public opinion against you. It's critical to fess up and move on immediately. Launch a campaign to communicate any issues, work with your partners to inform and communicate the right message, launch a campaign to sway the public and get your word out.

And lets face it, between Adam Orth and John Merrick MS couldn't have had a more disastrous Xbone launch even if they tried and that stench is going to linger for awhile.

All these one-eighty's should have occurred or at very least openly and cleanly commented upon without the smug spin-doctoring back at E3.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

As I said in another thread:

As far as recent events go the reversal on DRM and online policies for the Xbox One are a good start, but it'll take the removal of the mandatory Kinect to make me buy one, and even then the addition of 360 backwards compatibility to make me buy one soon, 'cause if I can't play my existing library on my new console I'll have to wait a couple of years before the Xbox One's library fills out enough to make it worth the switch.

And I meant it. This news has now moved the Nextbox into the 'will be getting' category for me. Yeah, ok, it'll still cost more than the PS4, but with the Kinect unit no longer being mandatory it can be traded in for a partial refund. And yeah, I'll still be waiting for a year or so in order to give the Nextbox release catalogue time to beef itself up, but Microsoft have done what I wanted them to do and I'm not going to stand around demanding change and then ignore it when it happens.

Thanks Microsoft, you've just sold me on your console.

 

[rob_simple]

So now they're cowards instead of dicks, (only joking, they're still a bunch of anti-consumer dicks).

I almost feel sorry for MS now, being in this damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario, but then I remember they've brought it all on themselves so screw 'em.

I'm still not 100% on board with the PS4, and the WiiU is seeming more appealing by the day, but Microsoft have absolutely killed what little faith I ever had in them a long time ago, so this is just a big comedy skit to me, at this point.

 

[SeventhSigil]

As I said in another thread:

As far as recent events go the reversal on DRM and online policies for the Xbox One are a good start, but it'll take the removal of the mandatory Kinect to make me buy one, and even then the addition of 360 backwards compatibility to make me buy one soon, 'cause if I can't play my existing library on my new console I'll have to wait a couple of years before the Xbox One's library fills out enough to make it worth the switch.

And I meant it. This news has now moved the Nextbox into the 'will be getting' category for me. Yeah, ok, it'll still cost more than the PS4, but with the Kinect unit no longer being mandatory it can be traded in for a partial refund. And yeah, I'll still be waiting for a year or so in order to give the Nextbox release catalogue time to beef itself up, but Microsoft have done what I wanted them to do and I'm not going to stand around demanding change and then ignore it when it happens.

Thanks Microsoft, you've just sold me on your console.

While it's indeed great that you're getting it now, I do feel compelled to point out that you might not have much luck getting a partial refund. o.o If you intend to sell it to a used game store, in all likelihood the demand for the device would be virtually nonexistent, so if they even want to buy it from you, you're probably looking at bargain basement offer, If they offer you anything for it at all, As the only reason someone would want to purchase one would probably be if their own unit broke, and their warranty expired, or they didn't want to wait to mail in a replacement. This is going to be especially poignant if large numbers of people have the same idea you do, as supply is rapidly going to outstrip demand, which would only further drive down the trade in price.

And partial refund from the company itself is considerably less likely, since accepting a Refund for the Kinect alone would really not be much different than just not packaging every box with one. If they indeed decided to continue packaging one in every single box, I don't think that they're going to be accepting partial refunds.

Not to say it's impossible, but if you're placing much intent on trading it in, I would recommend making absolutely sure such options are viable first. :3

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

>snip<

While it's indeed great that you're getting it now, I do feel compelled to point out that you might not have much luck getting a partial refund. o.o If you intend to sell it to a used game store, in all likelihood the demand for the device would be virtually nonexistent, so if they even want to buy it from you, you're probably looking at bargain basement offer, If they offer you anything for it at all, As the only reason someone would want to purchase one would probably be if their own unit broke, and their warranty expired, or they didn't want to wait to mail in a replacement. This is going to be especially poignant if large numbers of people have the same idea you do, as supply is rapidly going to outstrip demand, which would only further drive down the trade in price.

And partial refund from the company itself is considerably less likely, since accepting a Refund for the Kinect alone would really not be much different than just not packaging every box with one. If they indeed decided to continue packaging one in every single box, I don't think that they're going to be accepting partial refunds.

Not to say it's impossible, but if you're placing much intent on trading it in, I would recommend making absolutely sure such options are viable first. :3

True enough, but the trade-in doesn't have to be at a high street retailer. I just need to keep my unwanted Kinect in pristine condition in a cupboard somewhere and then when a friend or a friend of a friend breaks their Kinect I just offer £10 under whatever Microsoft want for a replacement. Or who knows, maybe after a few years (after the shovelware has died away) there might be a few titles that make me feel like plugging the bloody thing in.

I think the important thing is that Microsoft have given the choice back to me. I don't have to use Kinect. I can now choose for myself whether or not to use Kinect, and psychologically that's a big difference.

 

[w9496]

At this point they'd have to drop the price lower than the $100 difference because the fact is, one of the consoles has pulled all manner of fuckery in it's setup and the other hasn't.

Yay?

I never understood the gripe about the Kinect(other than the spying stuff. I do understand that). Do people fear standing up when they play games?

10 bucks says that 90% of games with Kinect are just going to use it for voice commands mid-combat. I don't think you'll be forced to dodge incoming attacks with tactical rolls or anything.

So you understand tin-foil-hat theories about "letting the big gov spy bots into our homes maaaan!", but you don't understand why people don't want either their immersion thrown out the window or having to deal with subpar software to do something/not do something in game?

Or more likely both since the original kinect was shit at it's job?

How is it immersion breaking? Making callouts and saying orders would probably make people more immersed since they're controlling the game with their voice.

Since this is going to be a new console generation, I'd assume that they have improved upon the way the Kinect functions. But if I'm wrong and they haven't by the time the console ships, then you got me on that one.

 

[SeventhSigil]

>snip<

While it's indeed great that you're getting it now, I do feel compelled to point out that you might not have much luck getting a partial refund. o.o If you intend to sell it to a used game store, in all likelihood the demand for the device would be virtually nonexistent, so if they even want to buy it from you, you're probably looking at bargain basement offer, If they offer you anything for it at all, As the only reason someone would want to purchase one would probably be if their own unit broke, and their warranty expired, or they didn't want to wait to mail in a replacement. This is going to be especially poignant if large numbers of people have the same idea you do, as supply is rapidly going to outstrip demand, which would only further drive down the trade in price.

And partial refund from the company itself is considerably less likely, since accepting a Refund for the Kinect alone would really not be much different than just not packaging every box with one. If they indeed decided to continue packaging one in every single box, I don't think that they're going to be accepting partial refunds.

Not to say it's impossible, but if you're placing much intent on trading it in, I would recommend making absolutely sure such options are viable first. :3

True enough, but the trade-in doesn't have to be at a high street retailer. I just need to keep my unwanted Kinect in pristine condition in a cupboard somewhere and then when a friend or a friend of a friend breaks their Kinect I just offer £10 under whatever Microsoft want for a replacement. Or who knows, maybe after a few years (after the shovelware has died away) there might be a few titles that make me feel like plugging the bloody thing in.

I think the important thing is that Microsoft have given the choice back to me. I don't have to use Kinect. I can now choose for myself whether or not to use Kinect, and psychologically that's a big difference.

Absolutely. I figured as much was the case, but thought I would point it out anyway, just in case. ^^;

 

[runic knight]

You know, this could be a trick to get you to buy the console and then they will make most of the games require the Kinnect after. Don't be fooled.

i was thinking that but im going to be doing the very sensible practice of waiting atleast 1 year after launch to buy so i can see what games it has

You know, I did that same thing last generation. Moved to pc.

Seriously, the last generation of console lost me between price, lack of soul or just gimmick overload that after that first year, not a one of the competitors looked appealing enough to purchase even at the reduced price. And that was before I even found out about steam and the wonders of pc gaming. Til then, I was more content to stick with the backlog of games for the ps2, recently found gamecube and other older systems. Afterwards, finding out I could still play most of the cool new titles, in better graphics and often more comfortable controls, well, it was just a no brainer really.


On the topic of the xbone's latest 180, good. With that, it seems the last of the horrible changes from the 360 are now gone. There is still the issues that started with the 360 though, namely advertisement bullshit on the dashboard and encouraged "pay to fee" mentality, but hey, they seem to be moving in the right direction. I change my hopes for microsoft from "they need to be the gaming equivalent of the titanic for what they tried to pull" to "I hope they limp along til the next generation in hopes they learned something then."

 

[Creator002]

I'm most likely going to buy it now. If there's a Kinect free version, definitely, but I might get it even with the Kinect.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Still not interested, and I incredibly find that its actually IS possible for me to have less respect for M$.

I appreciate a stubborn fool slightly more than a fool that buckles under scrutiny and caves in for the nth time. Kinect has potential in a variety of applications, just not gaming. The requirements for "optimal" performance, and the very method of interaction preclude large portions of the world that doesn't happen to have a small courtyard in their house devoid of furniture and nothing on their perfect matte white walls to confuse the sensor.

Plus gamers in general enjoy TIGHT, responsive, and tactile controls, not ambiguous movements that aren't always spot on with the preprogrammed "correct" ones. I have many years experience with buttons, and use a keyboard everyday. I don't just type in the air in front of a web cam and trust that I'm getting anything done. We like FEEDBACK, and some like rumble controls. Plus gamers in general view their hobby as relaxing or one that immerses them in the action so that they can perform many actions that they CAN'T really do in RL with minor finger motions, and it provides a totally different appeal and set of skills from actual exercise.

When I want to get up and move around I prefer to go hiking or lift weights or swim etc, not be chained in front of my TV making very specific controlled motions in response to what are so far really boring looking games with zero depth that sell (poorly) on novelty.

If I want to dance I'd rather hop around like an idiot on my own, not get scored on it. Thats not my idea of fun.

I mean its good on them to not require the Kinect, but dumb to still package it in every box of an inferior machine for the highest price point.

Back in the day you got an NES, 2 games, and a light gun for like less than half what this thing is asking for. Yet Nintendo didn't base their whole console around the lightgun. Other than Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley I can't even name any other games that use it. That light bazooka thing only had like 6 games designed for it too.

But those games WORKED, and they were pretty fun.

So I'll get a Kinect when it works better than my crappy lil light gun from the 1980s that shot ducks perfectly.

 

[w9496]

Or more likely both since the original kinect was shit at it's job?

How is it immersion breaking? Making callouts and saying orders would probably make people more immersed since they're controlling the game with their voice.

Since this is going to be a new console generation, I'd assume that they have improved upon the way the Kinect functions. But if I'm wrong and they haven't by the time the console ships, then you got me on that one.

Have you ever used the voice controls before?

"Do you fancy a tea?"

"Yeah sweet"

Reloading

"No stop that"

Flanking

"Wait dont!"

Retreating

"Stop I say"

*dead*

Voice controls are ass.

As for immersion, I'll be sure to throw my arms around like a ninny or stand up the next time I want to do something in game rather than, as Croshaw puts it, move my finger a quarter of an inch.

Motion controls are shit. You're more than welcome to have found something you liked or maybe you got a good one, who knows, but you seem confused that most people aren't on board. That's because they barely work, add nothing and you clearly got lucky with one if you've got voice command stuff that doesn't need you to slowly repeat yourself(but not too slowly) in order to get it to work.

Methink you're having me on here tbh. You're the first person I've ever encountered who seems willing to defend this stuff.[/quote]

Hey, I'm not going to tell you how to play your games. Motion controls can be pretty cool if they're done well, but if you would rather play with just the controller then more power to you. That's one reason I like that Kinect is no longer mandatory, because as nice as I think motion controls are, it's nice to relax and just play every now and then.

I don't think we should call the motion controls shit just yet. It seems like Microsoft is really pushing to sell the Kinect so I wouldn't be shocked if they've improved this time around. If the Xbox One does roll around and the Kinect turns out to be the worst thing that's happened to anybody ever then I will stand corrected.

I wouldn't say I'm wholeheartedly "defending" it either. I'm just willing to wait until the damn thing is actually launched to start bashing it. I'm actually quite on the fence about the Kinect since I don't know how developers are going to incorporate it yet.

EDIT: Apparently I butchered the hell out this quote, but I'm sure you won't have trouble.

 

[TomWiley]

Still not interested, and I incredibly find that its actually IS possible for me to have less respect for M$.

I appreciate a stubborn fool slightly more than a fool that buckles under scrutiny and caves in for the nth time. Kinect has potential in a variety of applications, just not gaming..

Yeah, that's hilarious.

First, we were screaming our lungs out about how fucked up their supposed "DRM" was.
Microsoft gets rid of said DRM.
Now we are hating on them for buckling under scrutiny and listening to us.

Yeah that makes perfect since.

 

[Nazulu]

You know, this could be a trick to get you to buy the console and then they will make most of the games require the Kinnect after. Don't be fooled.

i was thinking that but im going to be doing the very sensible practice of waiting atleast 1 year after launch to buy so i can see what games it has.

I don't know what you think I meant, but what you just said is pretty much what I meant.

I'm not the type to hold a grudge. I like to reward people for doing the right thing. However, this is a very different case, a very strange case I just can't wrap my head around. So I reckon it's best to wait and see how the console performs. I'd actually wait 2 years just to make sure most games released on it don't require a certain thing.

 

[fix-the-spade]

This is the precursor to a Kinect free version of the hardware selling for $400 or $350. Microsoft are reportedly getting hammered by the pre-order numbers for Xbone (lack there of) and they're making moves to salvage the situation.
.
That's what I expect to happen anyway.

 

[Vault Citizen]

I'd be more interested if there was a cheaper Kinect free version that I could buy. This is admittedly only a minor complaint but I also wish that you didn't have to buy replacement batteries for it.

 

[Zeren]

It still costs too much. Both the xbone and ps4 do. Why would I ever want to shell out $400 or $500 when I could just use that money to buy a much needed upgrade for my PC that will last me another 6 or so years?

 

[Genocidicles]

How is it immersion breaking? Making callouts and saying orders would probably make people more immersed since they're controlling the game with their voice.

But surely that could be done with a microphone instead of a $100 peripheral?

 

[tippy2k2]

They need to either embrace the stupid thing fully or they need to cut the loss and abandon it.

Why? How is it any different from any other gaming peripheral? Making it so that the x-bone can function without it will only put more consoles in more people's houses, and that opens up more possibilities for people to buy the Kinect. It's rather hard for the Kinect to be successful when people are so turned off by the thing they're avoiding the console altogether. But if they can get more Kinects in more homes, and if they offer competitive pricing for the x-bone/Kinect combo pack (make it only like $20 more than a PS4 rather than $100 more), then they'll only win over more.

In theory making it to where you must by the Kinect with the x-bone was clever marketing--that way every home has a Kinect and it makes a good investment for devs and publishers. But, people were so turned off by the idea of not being able to turn it off or put it away that it was completely blinding them from any other benefit. The requirement wasn't helpful or beneficial, it was sabotaging their marketing. In theory this works, and it might have if they hadn't given people so many reasons to see their console as Big Brother rather than a machine built for fun and user-friendliness.

This isn't a failure of technology, or even of the idea. This is a failure of marketing. This generation, Microsoft has been totally deaf and blind to how their changes and decisions were received by the public, and that is what's let them down. And it's really quite incredible really, with all the tools they had at their disposal for testing this thing and all the professionals they could have consulted about how these decisions would be received.

That's why I like that they make it non-mandatory but feel like it still should come with the system

Microsoft doesn't want the Kinect to be a peripheral, they want it to become a system. Peripheral's always have a shelf life; they survive as long as the first game that created them is popular and then it falls off the map, never to be seen again.

The "Track and Field" mat for the NES; the Bazooka for the SNES; the light gun from Time Crisis for the PS1; Rock Band equipment for this generation; hell, if I was a snarky person, one could argue the Wii

That's not what Microsoft wants. While I have a bigger and better sounding argument in my brain, CrystalShadow [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.825143-Xbox-One-No-Longer-Requires-Kinect-to-Function?page=2#20010945] already nailed down my full argument while I was sleeping.

Now to be clear, I 100% agree that this is a total failure of marketing by Microsoft. I own a Kinect and when the little bastard works, it's kind of cool and I can see potential games in my minds eye that would be bad-ass (am I the only one who would LOVE a NFL First Person Quarterback game?) but Microsoft failed miserably to convince people it was worth it. By forcing it into your system, they're skipping the marketing middle-man and praying that developers will latch onto it if they know everyone has it.

It's a gamble but I honestly believe that they need to choose to embrace it or ditch it. If they create a Kinect-free version, they might as well put a bullet in the Kinect now and save us having to watch the poor thing die a slow and drawn-out death.

 

[Evonisia]

I wonder how it will function now, but yes, the Kinect was pretty much the last major thing keeping me from showing some form of kindness to the Xbox One because really, who liked the Kinect when it was on the 360?