170°

Microsoft's Penello on why Xbox One's Kinect will overcome its "perception problem"

Panello on the cons of accessories, "The con is, when developers can't rely on it, when they don't know it's there, they're never going to take full advantage of it. So, you get these inconsistent gaming experiences, you get inconsistent implementation, game developers had to choose to take CPU power away from the console to support the skeletons. And what we said was, for those of us that use it - like I don't play Pixar Rush, it's not my kind of game, but I use Kinect all the time for Xbox pause, Xbox play."

allformats4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

It's not a perception problem. It's a gimmick problem.

And gimmicks never last.

theWB274559d ago

Gimmick? Is it only a gimmick because Microsoft is the first to finally make this a mandatory thing?

Last I checked....Sony has made improvements to their motion gaming. They've also had it for how many generations now?

Wii sold how many systems with its primary controls being motion?

Original Kinect sold 26 million in a few years.

Seriously I can't understand why it's a gimmick if the big three all invest in the tech. It has to be the Micro hate and the fact they include it with every X1.

GarrusVakarian4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

"Seriously I can't understand why it's a gimmick if the big three all invest in the tech."

You have your answer right there, gimmicks sell. Hence why all 3 invest so heavily.

Gazondaily4559d ago

It's not a gimmick.

Many might abhor Microsoft's decision to make the Kinect mandatory but it really is the boldest move they've made.

They've made the difficult decision and are going against the tide of core gamer sentiment for now, but if the Kinect is an integral part of the console experience like MS say it is, and if Kinect really proves its worth (beyond mere motion control gaming) then we are in for a real treat.

It can be a game changer but ONLY if it works. The Kinect Sports Rivals hands-on of mine might reinforce those old perceptions but that shouldn't take away from the potential of Kinect to do the other things well.

I'm cautiously optimistic and that's the most positive you can reasonably be with the Kinect considering its past pedigree.

DARK WITNESS4559d ago

Maybe if MS invested more money into making sure their first party studios actually created hardcore games using it to it's full potential, instead of wasting money on timed DLC, maybe gamers would have a better view of it and 3rd party devs would see more value in trying to make use of it.

If more 3rd party dev's then started to use it in more creative ways gamers would have even less of a reason to view it as a gimmick.

Just because it comes in the box does not guarantee that it's going to be used in some compelling way.

Anyone remember that ps3 had motion control built into the controllers... EVERY CONTROLLER, yet how many devs actually did anything really compelling and useful with it?

this idea that just cos it's in the box it will be used better is bullcrap. it's still not been shown doing anything other then gimmicky voice commands.

MWong4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

I think my issue with the "perception" of the Kinect is that it's forced on the consumer. Previously, M$ announced it as being mandatory to use the XBone, fine, I need it. Now it's not, as a consumer I currently have no wants for a motion capture device. Consumers shouldn't be forced to purchase hardware that is not necessary. Then why am I being required to pay extra money for a console with one? The XBone probably only costs $350-$375 and the Kinect $125-$150.

It's not my/the consumers fault that M$ probably spent well over $100M in R&D to improve a device that only 25% of it's installment base wanted in this gen. The cost of the Kinect R&D needs to be recouped so we will probably not see a Kinect-less console anytime soon.

Cueil4559d ago

it's closer to 50/50 on cost of the system...

MWong4559d ago

50/50 no that's way too uneven. You're saying the XBone is $250 & the Kinect is $250.

SuperLupe4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

There is no doubt whatsoever that it will ovecome its "perception problem".

Just the fact that everybody that owns a Xbox One will also have Kinect makes it already a mass product to become.

On top of that Kinect 2.0 is hand down more promising and advanced than the first Kinect so people will enjoy the functions it adds.

A gimmick is omething like the PS Move ---> dropped like a dead horse as soon as Sony could. Nobody wanted it, not even Sony but they did it anyway because Ninty and MS were doing it too. There was never a long term plan for it, it was just there for the sake of it.

paul-p19884559d ago

I agree with the PS Move, i kept seeing games use it really well and thought i needed it, so i went and bought it... then only a few decent games came out and now mine just gathers dust...

Boody-Bandit4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

"Just the fact that everybody that owns a Xbox One will also have Kinect makes it already a mass product to become."

Just the fact that MS is including it into the box, which raises the price of ownership $100 more than it's competitor, when most of your core audience has next to no interest in it, is going to cost you sales out of the gate. It is one of the reasons I am holding off on getting an X1. Seriously, no fanboy speak here. MS needs to either get behind this peripheral 110% or offer a Kinect-less SKU.

As of now I have not seen ONE game that proves this perp will appeal to anyone but casuals. Most of it's implementation into core games will be something that would be better served with traditional controls and a microphone.

MS either needs to get off the duff and go all in with Kinect or offer multiple skus like they did with the 360 and leave it up to the consumer. If anything I think we have seen what happens when you try to push an unpopular vision off on consumers. That is why MS has rescinded some of those less than popular restrictions / features. They have also made Kinect "non" mandatory now. So how can that be viewed as a positive and where are the games that make the core gamer say, "wow, now that is really cool and original. I am more of a traditional controller gamer BUT I would like to give that game a try." So far I have yet to see one.

4559d ago
Belking4559d ago

A gimmick that sony is desperate to copy..lol

paul-p19884559d ago

Actually the Eyetoy came out first, so if anyone is copying it would Microsoft...

stuna14559d ago

Just on the assumption of one company copying from another, I've always had the understanding it's not who does it first, it's who does it better! Nintendo has a solid stable of core as well as casual game that uses motion controls, especially after adding motion plus.

Sony has a much smaller stable of games utilizing motion gaming, but it's also a mixed bag of core as well as casual games! Mind you Killzone 3 is a shining example of motion controls being utilized effectively in a core FPS.

Microsoft also has a stable of games using hands free motion controls, the difference is the majority are casual titles, with a few core sprinkled in for good measure, but how many core motion control titles performed as good or better than the competition core titles? None.

ExDexteraDomini4559d ago

If it were a gimmick, it wouldn't work, it wouldn't be useful, and it wouldn't be used by third party developers.

It works, it will be useful and enjoyable in a large number of games, and it is being used by third party devs.

XB1_PS44559d ago

It is a perception problem, it's perceived as a gimmick.. lol

Kuse4559d ago

Just like that Cell technology that PS3 had right? lol

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4559d ago
MrSwankSinatra4559d ago

Why should gamers have to pay premium for this kinect crap if they know they aren't gonna use it.

B-radical4559d ago

im getting x1 at launch and i agree aha since i have to pay for it though i will hook it up

MrSwankSinatra4559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

If Microsoft quit being stubborn an just made kinectless Xbox one SKU. Guarantee it would make xbox one more enticing to consumers.

SuperLupe4559d ago

Well MS think that they see the potential that you dont. Give them a year and if it doesnt add anything to the Xbox One experience then yes you can call it useless.

I for one dont mind it at all, on the contrary looks pretty slick to me.

RytGear4559d ago

Yeah, that "Fighter Within" demo looked SO slick. /s

biRdy4559d ago

Microsoft is taking a huge gamble here with making the kinect mandatory, this will hurt them for the first few years but will insure every xbone owner has a kinect. This means developers no longer have to worry about making a game for kinect when only about 40% of owners will be able to use it.

Cueil4559d ago

those stupid gimmicky analog sticks turned out to be pretty useful when Sony made them mandatory on every system

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4559d ago
come_bom4559d ago

In all honesty, i think forcing Kinect on every console might cost Microsoft the next gen console war.

4559d ago Replies(1)
famoussasjohn4559d ago

Forced? It's included without the requirement of it being plugged in. If you want to use Kinect features, obviously it has to be plugged in.

paul-p19884559d ago (Edited 4559d ago )

I agree, there are a large amount of hardcore fans who want nothing to do with Kinect, and historically it is the hardcore who will get the console at launch. If they don't want the Kinect they may just jump ship to Sony/Nintendo to avoid it.

Also, if the hardcore don't buy the console, then their non-hardcore friends may not buy the console as they cannot play with them.

It may not sound like much, and we all know MS are pushing Kinect like crazy, but with a few lost sales at the start because of the inclusion of Kinect could potentially spiral into a large loss of sales in the future.

Obviously this could be applied to every console (Wii U is a current example, not many people own them, so no-one wants to get one as their friends don't have them) and history certainly has a habit of repeating itself...

come_bom4559d ago

I agree. Microsoft losing those hardcore gamers at the beginning of the consoles "life cycle" is not good for present and future sales. It's the hardcore gamers that buy the most games.

One other thing is that a lot of people buy a console to play multi-platform titles like Battlefield or Call of Duty, and they will buy the cheapest console to play those games. Microsoft fails to understand that they sold a lot of consoles last gen simply because they had the cheapest HD console.

gaelic_laoch4559d ago

Kinect needs to overcome its depth perception problem first and actually deliver on what it says it does!

paul-p19884559d ago

Yup, my wife's cousin has one and we played it on his birthday (i'm the only other gamer in the family lol). He has a large, by UK standards, living room but we had to move everything out of the way and had roughly 3-4m square of free space and it still said we needed to move away from the camera....

We played Kinect sports football and i had to jump for it to realise where my legs were....

gaelic_laoch4559d ago

Yeap UK and Ireland are not known for large houses and living rooms. I had to pack up my Kinect as someone was going to get injured!

MWong4559d ago

Yea, you need a new vid. That's 10 minutes long lol.

KonsoruMasuta4559d ago

It's just the same thing looped over and over again. You don't have to watch the whole thing to get the message.

Show all comments (56)
60°

What an Xbox founder thinks of the new Xbox CEO | Seamus Blackley interview

Gamesbeat caught up with Blackley to extract some wisdom about Microsoft’s journey in games, what he thinks Sharma should do, and where gaming can go next. Part of his message is hopeful, but Blackley sees a lot of peril on the road that Microsoft is following. And it makes him worry about the future of gaming.

Read Full Story >>
gamesbeat.com
3d ago
piroh2d ago

"I expect that the new CEO, Asha Sharma, her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night."

LOL

Anyway, let's wait and see maybe Mia Khalifa will surprise us.

rlow12d ago

I’m on the fence about her. I’ll give her chance, but if she is there to finish things off. Well what can you do.

Abnor_Mal1d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

After seeing the article of the possible sunsetting of Xbox as said by Seamus Blackley I believe, I went onto X because of a post I saw. It was a gif of Vegeta powering up, the poster commented as Vegeta yelling “Don’t take my fiercest competitor away from me.” Standing there in his blue Sayian/Freiza corps outfit. So it got me to thinking, so let me ask a question to N4G.

If Vegeta is PlayStation, who would Xbox and Nintendo be in the Dragon Ball universe?

Who would be Master Roshi?

I have my own opinion of course, I just want to see what others think.

90°

That’s It, I’m Calling It, Xbox Is Dead, Time Of Death February 20

If you read Kotaku even semi-regularly, you already know that Xbox has been in a weird spot for some time now. And with today’s news that both Xbox boss Phil Spencer and President Sarah Bond are leaving and the new head of the brand will be a former Meta exec who previously lead Microsoft’s AI division, I think it’s time to call it. Xbox is dead. Time of death: February 20, 2026

beerhound5d ago

"The report of my death was an exaggeration." = Mark Twain

derek4d ago

"You would have to be alive first before dying" =
Me

Cacabunga4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

This brand died in the last 2 years of 360 since Kinect announcement.. downfall started all of a sudden until reaching the point of no return with xbox 1 DRM disasters

beerhound5d ago

"The report of my death was an exaggeration." - Mark Twain

BehindTheRows4d ago

So ready to defend that you posted it twice.

In any event, I have a more accurate quote: "It's dead, Jim".

S2Killinit4d ago

Also Mark Twain:
I have never wished death on anyone but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.

Zerobalance5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

God! Xbox dead again! Boring! Boring. Heard it all before.

InUrFoxHole5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

While I normally agree... The future of xbox is on shaky ground. Well, xbox as we know it. Im not sure what they are shooting for but who they put in charge mixed with Phil retiring and bond just flat out leaving. It's not looking good.

REDDURT4d ago

Im with you but in western countries I have noticed a trend to put women in control to prevent any kind of critics.

F0XH0UND9224d ago

Does this coping mechanism normally work for you?

bsingle404d ago

Get ready to hear it a lot more as the final nail goes home.

derek4d ago

Copilot is running the xbox division now, its first official act was fire Spencer and Bond then sell Xbox for scraps.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Levii_925d ago

Oh come on, Xbox has been dead for at least 10 years now. I think what’s more important right now is Playstation’s death that is very slowly but surely happening through mismanagement and greed.

InUrFoxHole5d ago

Some what agree. Sony is in a better position to unf#$k themselves. Xbox isn't.

Levii_924d ago

True i agree with that, xbox's got nothing

ocelot075d ago

I actually agree sooner Hust is gone the better.

Levii_924d ago

He's being clowned on by the entire internet but i have been clowning on him way before he became CEO. I hate modern PS so much man. To this day i have no idea how Astro Bot happend in this terrible PS era but that was clearly a miracle.

Grilla5d ago

Delusional take, why do xbots always project Xbox’s problems onto PlayStation?

BehindTheRows4d ago

Every. Time! They compare the closing of a studio (one I liked, mind you, but they know their business better than internet dwellers) to the departure of not one but TWO major figureheads at Xbox. On top of Xbox's other problems, they are also now selling their games everywhere (not just PC).

Sorry diehard Xbox fanatics, we've been down this road before. PlayStation has closed studios. It happens. Maybe they weren't pulling their weight. Maybe they have a restructure in place. What ever the case, it won't come any close to tanking their brand. Xbox isn't in that boat. As a piece of hardware, it is all but irrelevant (hanging on only because of Game Pass at this point). It serves no other purpose because you don't even need that console to play its games. If it was just Xbox/PC, that would be different, but here we are.

So, this isn't the SonyToo that y'all love to hang on. Things are not good for Xbox hardware. At all. It is about time to start accepting that.

0hMyGandhi4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Respectfully, This is probably one of my least favorite tactics in making an argument.
I'll give you an example: If I like the color red, it doesn't mean I hate the color blue.

People lamenting the (potential) demise of the xbox brand has nothing to do with sony or playstation. It has everything to do with xbox. Now, for the sake of argument, you could say that Sony and Microsoft are two peas in a pod, and that they've both made absolutely baffling and worryingly stupid decisions in the recent past. But I truly believe that Xbox would be shooting itself in the foot regardless of Sony's presence (I look at you, Xbox One reveal with always online DRM and the inability to share games).

Sony, on the other hand, is making stupid decisions to stay competitive with the market, and like Microsoft, is seemingly forcing by proverbial gunpoint talented developers to try to make the next GAAS experience and never learning their lesson. I believe that Microsoft squandering RARE is the equivalent of Sony squandering Naughty Dog. Neither platform really knows what they want to be, BUT Sony is alot further along in figuring it out before Microsoft pulls out another revolver and takes aim at another of it's own toes.

Agent754d ago

Xbox died after the Xbox 360. The Xbox One was mediocre, the Series X was game shy. I'm glad Phil is retiring.

S2Killinit4d ago

Exaggerated projection of xbox problems onto Sony. This is what gave xbox the extra slack all these generations to eventually run themselves into the ground.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
The_Blue5d ago

This is why the views and comments are low, with lame articles that use divide-and-conquer pretensions.

ApexLanding234d ago

To be fair "divide and conquer pretensions" have been present in the comment section of this website for years regardless of the articles title, composition or intent. It's therefore unlikely that's what's playing a part in low viewership and commenting.

Show all comments (41)
40°

Microsoft has revoked the DMCA takedown that forced an indie Minecraft-like off Steam

Microsoft claimed the indie game uses "Minecraft content."