90°

SlashGear: Hello Kinect, Hello Future

Slashgear says: We are in a transformative time. Old paradigms a breaking down to be replaced with new usage models and interface enhancements. Touchscreens show how the mouse might be effectively retired in the future and last week Microsoft showed, with the launch of Kinect, just how the venerable game controller and TV remote just might become obsolete in the near future as well.

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HighDefinition5727d ago (Edited 5727d ago )

Kinect could be a the future of gaming.

Dramscus5727d ago

no it's not. seriously it's the future of interface technology. In a few years everybody will be controlling their computers with their hands.
Gaming will require buttons until we can either broadcast our commands right out of our brains or beam the games inside them somehow.

I do fully look forward to watching movies and surfing the web with kinect when it works for win 7 down the road. Or linux. Whatever happens first.

ALFAxD_CENTAURO5726d ago (Edited 5726d ago )

Actually you can command the Computer (I don't think in advanced orders), but with some Freeware Programs, also using Webcams and using your face to log in instead of using Passwords and a lot more stuff.

Close_Second5726d ago

Cool. So, when do you think Forza will go fully casual and only support Kinect?

Anon19745726d ago

Let's at least try to be a little realistic here. It's a camera. There have been web came games for the last decade. I remember 13-14 years ago when I worked at Radio Shack demoing a version of breakout on an HP computer with a webcam where you hit a ball with your body up to break some blocks.

Now, I'm sure it was nowhere near as accurate as Kinect is but this isn't anything we haven't seen before. Microsoft has a neat product that will be sure to appeal to those looking for some family games that are fun and will keep their kids active.

Saying Kinect is the future is like saying the Clapper was going to revolutionize home lighting. It's neat that you can pause a movie by talking to your TV, but it's also just as easy to press the pause button and it doesn't cost you extra. If you can wave your hand at the screen to move through menus, you can do it with a button press as well.

This is a future that no one was asking for. I never once heard a gamer complain, or thought to myself "You know what's really hampering my ability to enjoy this game? Having to press buttons."

Kinect is a neat addon. Let's not go making it into something it's not.

EcliPS35726d ago (Edited 5726d ago )

@Darkride

"While Kinect’s game controls are impressive, I’m even more fascinated by how well Kinect enhances the experiences of other Xbox features. Want to do a video chat with another Xbox user or MSN Messenger PC client. Not a problem. Kinect’s ability to focus and frame the video properly make the experience more akin to a conversation, eyes are focued where they should be and the picture expands and contracts properly as people enter and leave the frame. Command and control have also vastly improved. Swiping, speaking and other natural gestures make media consumption easy and more importantly less complex than even the best remotes.

One can imagine a time when I turn on my TV and it not only knows who I am but what content it should present to me. Take it one step further and analytical content might not only tell you what shows I was watching but when I left the room or stopped paying attention to what was on screen"

This is what I'll be using it for. I actually didnt know about these options. Its more than just the interface, it's the implementation of how it's used. Laziness FTW

MNicholas5726d ago (Edited 5726d ago )

and many people, myself included, have set these up in our homes using standard webcams. My own set up, based on freeware, is a heck of a lot better than Kinect.

Eventually, motion/voice/face recognition will be our primary way of interfacing computers in certain applications where it makes sense (not a great way to write up your 400 page PhD thesis).

Kinect, however, is a very poor implementation of this kind of control.

It's not precise.

The generated 3D map of your body from the 640x480 CMOS sensors only captures major limbs (no control by finger, wrist, or foot movement), and even that, with quick movement, can cause the algorithm to fail as limb displacement, apparently, exceeds allowable variable ranges.

Seems they weakened the algorithm to reduce CPU load.

To much lag. It simply takes far too long to respond. Another victim of the small amount of CPU cycles allocated to Kinect/Natal processing.

An HD cam and more available processing power would solve the problems.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5726d ago
dizzleK5727d ago

i thought that the hyperbole would die after e3. guess not.

as it stands both kinect and move are absolutely useless. period.

WildArmed5727d ago (Edited 5727d ago )

I do kinda agree.

My gaming will go on with or without Natal and Move.

I personally would loathe the future where all games would be motion games.
When it's not broken, don't fix it.
The last seven generations of consoles have stuck to controllers and it's got it right.

I dont mind having a side-show for casual gamers, but it'd be cruel if the gaming industry abandons their hardcore fans for the casuals.

With that said, I dont resent motion gaming.
Like I said previously, i think it'd be refreshing to play SOCOM4/Sorcery with Move or Dance Central with Natal once in awhile.
But thats once a week, or once a month thing.

Hardcore gaming with controllers and BUTTONS is where I want to be.
Nothing too fancy ya know?

Colonel-Killzone5727d ago (Edited 5727d ago )

Kinect will not be my future. Before that I will stop gaming all together or switch to PC. No way am I getting into this motion control nonsense. Always optional never mandatory. If it does become standard good bye consoles hello PC gaming.

StarScream4Ever5727d ago

When it recognizes that I was aiming down the sight and pulling the invisible trigger. Or revving up a chainsaw and teabagging a noob.

When that happen, that's the future.

elpresador5727d ago

.....with the likes of the eye toy, power glove, activator, u-force, etc......it may work better now but lets be real here, like with 3D, it is nothing more than a gimmick to eat into nintendos share of the casual market meaning its all about the Benjamins baby.

I just wish MS and SOny were smartenoguh to realize that most casuals that wanted motion gaming will most likely not purchase these things since they already have a wii

At the end of the day, I blame nintendo though, if it was not for them and the wii we wouldnt have this motion controlling nonsense crap.

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20°

Joy Ride Turbo - The Beginning of the End for Xbox Kinect

Joy Ride Turbo launched 10 years ago today. The first title was Xbox Kinect exclusive, yet this sequel failed to support the device at all.

300°

10 of the Biggest Video Game Hardware Failures Ever

Cultured Vultures: "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal, and no matter how much developers might try, some gaming hardware just fails to hit the mark. We’ve compiled a list of 10 gaming hardware fails, and boy did some fail hard."

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Knightofelemia1497d ago

I would label the Power Glove, Kinect, and that Tony Hawk skateboard more as hardware addons hardware failure would be like the Virtual Boy and one day Stadia.

Magog1496d ago

Kinect was bundled with every Xbox One and inflated the price on an already underpowered and low RAM machine so for the One it wasn't an accessory as much as a white elephant.

CaptainHenry9161496d ago (Edited 1496d ago )

Definitely the RROD but that power glove had a lot of issues as well. The Kinect just didn't work

1496d ago
CrimsonWing691496d ago

Hardware add-ons are more like RAM or a video card, basically components that enhance capabilities or performance of the computer.

If you really want to get technical the Kinect is more of a peripheral device, kind of like a keyboard or mouse to a computer.

ThatsGaming1496d ago

The person in this article obviously is not up on their gaming history....

Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Coleco Gemini, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga, Atari 5200, Atari 7800 were all massive failures and in most cases cost their companies participating in future gaming generations.

Gamer791496d ago

Sega saturn (successful in Japan) and dreamcast were not failures.
Seems like you're not up on you're gaming history

septemberindecember1496d ago

@Gamer79

How in the world are the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast not seen as failures? They both sold around 8M each, which is much lower than the ~30M that the Genesis had sold before it, and even the Master System before that. They were both the worst selling consoles in their respective generation (PS1, N64 outsold Saturn, PS2, GC, and Xbox outsold Dreamcast). Both of the consoles were incredibly short lived. The Saturn was discontinued in every territory but Japan after just three years. In Japan the console was discontinued after six years. Meanwhile the Dreamcast was discontinued worldwide in 2001 after launching in most territories in 1999 and in Japan in 1998. The failure of the Saturn and Dreamcast lead to Sega pulling out of the hardware market. Which, by the way, all of this occurred when Sega was massively dropping the price of their consoles quickly to compete. Sega was hemorrhaging money at this point.

None of this indicates a successful console. Saying the Saturn was a success because it did better in Japan is like saying the Vita is a success (they both sold around the same amount of units in Japan). Even the Wii U outsold these consoles worldwide.

Magog1496d ago

The picture should be the 360 RROD. When I think of gaming hardware failures that's what springs to mind. Kinect and it's bundled price tag definitely hobbled the already underpowered Xbox One though for sure so I would give it a close second place.

porkChop1496d ago (Edited 1496d ago )

That's not what the author means by failures. It's about hardware that failed in terms of sales (Wii U) or just failed to deliver on its promise (Kinect).

Magog1496d ago (Edited 1496d ago )

Given that the 360 had a year head start, much easier hardware to develop for, was cheaper, and still ended up in third place I think it qualifies especially when you factor in the frustration and huge losses incurred by RROD.

porkChop1496d ago

Selling over 80 million consoles isn't a sales flop. We get it, you don't like Xbox, but that doesn't mean the 360 is suddenly a failure.

Rhythmattic1495d ago

Porky....
You know how many people I know bought a 2nd or third 360 due to RROD? Even when MS had to confront the issue with replacement systems, my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in, and waiting for a replacement.,,..,..
If that's how you consider it a win... OK.. but so is having 5 , of which 3 don't function.... Its a win win....mwhahahahaha

porkChop1495d ago

"my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in"

You're acting like it would take months. When I sent my 360 in I got a new one literally 5 days later. As soon as MS had tracking confirmation that you sent yours, they'd send a new one to you the same day. No one is going to spend hundreds to buy a new console instead of waiting a week. I swear you guys pull some of the dumbest shit out of nowhere and think people will actually believe it.

Regardless, none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about.

Rhythmattic1494d ago (Edited 1494d ago )

Porky
"You're acting like it would take months"
Sometimes it could.. FFS.. 'Strya here...
Best turnaround I reckon was 2-3 weeks.....
Either way, My mates experiences still exist.. So Sorry, no point trying to earn Xbox Achievements when it doesn't feature in what was a situation you never dealt with,,,,
3 of my friends would disagree (overall, 10 extra Xboxes purchased)
Regardless.. MS sold a lot of 360's that was due to this reason.. That is sales. Fact

"none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about."
Headline says HELLO !
Oh and "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal," that's enough to pass this on without taking your article bias into consideration.....
As for the rest.... Ok.. But you've actually gone out of your way to give MS a Pass... Fap on.

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Aloymetal1496d ago (Edited 1496d ago )

Yup, and because of that big fiasco MS had to fork out 1 billion but knowing them I think they're very proud of the 360, it's the only time a MS console reached 80mil+ sales, RROD played a big part of that and a record they will never break again.

Rhythmattic1495d ago (Edited 1495d ago )

So true.. Even when MS accepted they where caught out in the biggest lie of any generation, The wait for a replacement was outweighed by just buying another, and having one be returned as a backup, which, btw, generally failed on first swap.
I own honestly can't believe MS tards are just supporting , or arguing why and what MS did by just dismissing it....

lonewolf101496d ago

Lol I had the Atari Jaguar, surprised its "competition" the 3DO isn't on the list too, both as "popular" as each other.

SullysCigar1496d ago

Lol same. Played the crap out of Aliens Vs Predator and Tempest 2000 .... aaand that's about it really!!

lonewolf101496d ago

Sad but true that was pretty much it.

Kurt Russell1496d ago

Agreed, I never actually saw a 3DO make it to retailers in the UK. At least the Atari Jaguar was sold for around 6 months.

lonewolf101496d ago

It made it to some my brother got one, fared just as well as the Jaguar so most probably hard to find in general.

darthv721496d ago

3do had way better games. Jaguar not so much. Neo Geo sold less than both and yet isnt considered a failure. Go figure.

LWOGaming1496d ago

Stadia is a weird one. It hasn’t sold at all well but in terms of how it works it’s still miles ahead of Xcloud in terms of stability and performance. Xcloud is still a way behind and that needs sorting but it will be in time. Stadia for me is one of those things that will go down as a what could have been moments. With better marketing it could have been a roaring success. I still play it and it remains the best place in my opinion to play CyberPunk 2077. Only platform I have played it on without having any issues at all. The tech is great. The concept is fine. Marketing terrible. Shame really.

Magog1496d ago

The sales model was awful. They should have teamed with an existing player to allow for local and cloud access to games or a gaming subscription service.

LWOGaming1496d ago

It was a strange mess from such a huge company, as I said, as a system it works really well but without gamers it’s nothing. Such a waste,

LWOGaming1496d ago

The Xbox One was Microsoft’s Nintendo Wii U. Undercooked, undersold and just an unholy mess. The thing is with any of these failures is to learn from them and thankfully both Nintendo and Xbox did just that to the benefit of gamers everywhere.

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120°

Pivotal Decisions in Gaming History - Xbox Goes All-In on Kinect

Xbox 360's Kinect had flopped yet Microsoft insisted on mandatory Kinect for Xbox One, driving the price up and alienating their potential customers.

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techstomper.com
darthv721673d ago

the tech was pretty damn good but their focus on making it the centerpiece was not. Had they opted to keep it as a secondary or even tertiary device, it may have found new use for AR/VR.

PrimeVinister1673d ago

Maybe. But they were two early for VR and too late for motion control

1673d ago Replies(2)
Godmars2901673d ago

Their focus was marketing metrics. Information gathering for targeted advertising. Also "event curating" or head counting for special TV events. If MS had had their way with always online and mandatory Kinect pre COVID, as and during it they'd likely be turning into dominant presence in many Western homes. Be getting subsidized by Disney and other streamers as well as the NFL.

Thing was, Kinect as an actual game system, its games, just weren't ready. MS moved on it too soon. Thankfully.

Atticus_finch1673d ago

Sorry but it was incredibly bad for gaming. The thing barely worked as intended and the games were broken shovelware. And let's not forget all the lies from Xbox to try and sell it. What happened to Milo?
It's like Xbox it's a perpetual lying machine.

PrimeVinister1673d ago

I had almost forgotten about Milo. It looks so unbelievable in retrospect. How did anyone believe it?!

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TheEnigma3131673d ago

Kinect requirement, TV focused, DRM, and $100 buried Xbone before it even stared.

PrimeVinister1673d ago (Edited 1673d ago )

I think Kinect was the worst of the bunch. They reversed DRM overnight and try to play down the TV stuff when they realised it made them look disinterested in gaming.

Kinect stuck around for six months, preventing sales and making more and more people upset when they dropped the Kinect and the price.

Atticus_finch1673d ago

Don't forget the inferior hardware which affects their game development to this day.
And the constant boasting and lying that hasn't change very much to this day.

kayoss1673d ago

I was kind of excited for the kinect. It had potential. That was until i tried it at one of their Microsoft store. The thing was so laggy and worker who was there, had no clue what he was doing. It kind of made rethink about buying an Xbox One with Kinect.

PrimeVinister1673d ago

I had already been turned off of the idea by Kinect for 360. Even when it worked, the games were bad and showed no potential.

Wii made you understand what they were going to do with it within about 10 seconds of Wii Sports. It went on to become a bit of a joke but at least it worked and had a purpose.

Thundercat771673d ago

The damage to the Xbox brand was so hard that til this day they are just the last place brand in the market.

PrimeVinister1673d ago

Totally. They haven't been really all that relevant since.

Godmars2901673d ago

That has to do with repeatedly failing, having to reaffirm only to again fail at creating a competent flow of decent games.

@PrimeVinister:
Until Game Pass and BC are mentioned. Only for the point to be missed.

kayoss1672d ago

thats because they dont know what they want to be. A gaming console, Television, or a gaming service?

Godmars2901672d ago

@kayoss:
They wanted, expected, to be Steam. To have everyone coming to them and paying for the privilege. That's the exact mentality on display when they tried to push always online.

brewin1672d ago

Its sad because the Xbox one version of Kinect was actually pretty solid. Not for motion games, I couldnt care less about those, but for the other features that are now commonplace in the gaming ecosystem. Things like voice control and optional motion features in games. Stuff that Sony did with the PS camera was pretty sweet and they could have done some of that stuff with Kinect.

The tech was pretty sweet when implemented right though. Who remembers the implementation in Dead Rising 3?! You could lure zombies away by saying stuff into the kinect, it was a bit hokey at first, but it actually enhanced the game significantly once you learned all the different voice commands. There was and still is nothing else like that!

The focus on TV seemed to be an issue for people, but the TV pass through had some real potential. They could have had cable companies giving the XBone out instead of cable boxes! I understood what they were trying to do, but they needed to show the games too, and thats where they lost the core gamers. Being able to jump right to a sports event or TV show with out leaving the console was actually a pretty cool thing. I spent many nights switching between NHL games or TV shows and jumping right back into my games seamlessly, just by telling Kinect to do so. It was better than people care to admit, but I loved it!

People say XBone had no games, but on launch I got Dead Rising 3, AC Black Flag, Watch Dogs, Killer Instinct, Battlefield 4, Forza 5, and Ryse. That was actually a pretty solid lineup in hindsight! Then later on it got gems like Quantum Break, Dead Rising 4, Sunset Overdrive, Gears 4 and 5, the Ori games, Rare Replay, Forza Horizon 3/4, State of Decay 2, ReCore (SUPER UNDERRATED GEM), Halo 5, Halo Wars 2, and all the great 3rd party stuff as well! I dare anyone who sat on the Xbox One to go back and give it a shot now.

It was actually a pretty great console all things considered. Yes the PS4 had better 1st party stuff, stuff that MS just couldnt top or even compete with, but there are some really great games that a lot of people missed out on that they would probably really enjoy if they actually played them. Thats why I recommend a Series S and Gamepass to a lot of people, as its a great way to get an awesome lineup pf games for super cheap!

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