160°

Editorial: Should Microsoft's Kinect Be Delayed? (Gameplaybook)

Gameplaybook explains why a delay of Microsoft's motion controller wouldn't be a bad thing...even though it wouldn't do it in a million years.

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gameplaybook.com
Wizziokid5721d ago

yes until they fix it's issues

ingiomar5720d ago

if they can fix more issues by a delay then yes it should be delayed

R2D25720d ago

Yes.

I tried it out at MACY'S and it crashed.

-Alpha5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

I'd think MS would be smart enough not to rush a product out after RRoD.

Thing is, MS isn't directly trying to compete with the Move. Despite promises of including the hardcore the product has thus far been advertised exclusively for the casual/light user. They can release whenever they want to, but it'd benefit if they took their time. I'm not sure that they are trying to compete with Sony, but rather, they seem to want to try pushing their brand past the audience they already have. Thus the Times Square broadcast, appearing on talk shows, etc. It's a product I can see Oprah giving out.

Assuming that the products demoed are the latest models then it seems that MS has some kinks to work out.

Lou-Cipher5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

"I'd think MS would be smart enough not to rush a product out after RRoD."

I dont think Microsoft launched the 360 before it was ready because they were unaware that it was a broken console, they launched it before it was ready because they dont care about their consumers. They wanted to beat Sony, so they were willing to sacrifice the most important thing. Quality

If you have followed Microsoft since the 70's or 80's you will realize that they truly dont care if their product works right, they only care about the money it can pull in.

They wont delay Kinect, because they simply dont care if it works or not, they know that they can spend money advertising it, and still make money. Who needs it to work properly when they can still make money on it?

kneon5720d ago

I don't think they can afford to delay, if they delay they miss the holiday sales season and without Kinect the PS3 will overtake the XBox pretty quickly. That just wouldn't look good for them, especially as the XBox had a 12-18 month launch lead in most territories.

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iPlayGamez5720d ago

im not really interested in kinect at all but i think they should wait for cost to go down and make it how NATAL was last year kinect has obvious issues, not to say natal wasnt laggy but wasnt natal more advance than kinect? i dont see why people want the simplified version.

mrv3215721d ago

I would say it should be dropped but too much money has been wasted now. C'mon look how much time, money and resources Natal has used. You have Microsoft studios making games, R&D and countless millions while Microsoft could do with a first party or two.

D4RkNIKON5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

It's true, they could use some more first party studios. They should at least delay Kinect to get all of the quirks worked out before it releases because it is just getting a lot of bad press with all of these fail videos on youtube.

Just goto youtube.com and search "Playstation Move Fail" and see what comes up, then try "Kinect Fail"

btk5720d ago

Would it help?
If they stay with the camera without wand / glove / controller it will most likely not matter if it is delayed.

Omega45720d ago

Why would they need to, the hardware is fine all they need to do is optimise the software and that can be done right up until launch and patched with an update.

You guys worry too much, if you think MS is willing to put out a product which is not ready after the whole RROD incident you are stupid. Just look at the quality of the 360S MS learnt and they know what they are doing.

mrv3215720d ago

Oh so it's all softwere then... lucky then. It's what like 4 months until Natal launches right, it's been in developement for 2 years now, maybe more. Microsoft licensed some stuff from Gyration way back in '08 and BTW, Gyration does gesture based stuff.... um you know like the stuff Natal does. If you don't believe me check here

' http://www.1up.com/news/rum... while the rumour varies some of the details match up like Rare's heavy involvement. A $199 arcade system... kinda Deja Vu like.

'You guys worry too much, if you think MS is willing to put out a product which is not ready after the whole RROD incident you are stupid. '

Vista was broken at launch, and Zune suffered some pretty big problems.

So will you buy Natal then on Launch Omega4, since your so confident it will have no problems... and they'll fix the LAG.

Bigpappy5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

There are some minor qurks with Natal software, but there are some who want to make a mountain out of a mole hill. You can go to youtube and search Kinect Demo, not Kinect fail. You will find that most of the demo's and hands-on's worked very well.
Yes, I believe Omega has stated many times that he will be buying kinect. I have already ordered 2 and would be highly upset if M$ delays due to minor qurks. We are not alone by the way. If you go to any major retailer, who offer Kinect and Move for pre-order, you would notic that Kinect is by far ahead of the Move in pre-orders. The Move is perfect and ready for primtime, yet the faulty Kinect which needs to be delayed, which will be released 2 months later and is way overpriced, is kicking some serious Move butt. This is the reason for all the histeria. They are many that are hoping and praying for the day M$ falls from grace. It is not just here on N4G, the hate has been there for many years. You may get that wish one day. But, it wouldn't be because Kinect fails. That I can assure you.

I still use Vista. I am using it right now. It runs smooth and quickly with my dual core AMD processor, with 3Gig of RAM.

acky15720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

Why have you ordered not one, but two broken devices? Seems like you have more money than sense. I don't understand why you'd do that? If you're buying it for someone else let them buy it. Why not get one then see if it was worth the money then if you want, buy another. Sheesh. One for the xbox in the living room and one for the xbox in the bathroom? Seriously, i just don't understand?

I hate idiotic consumerism...it just breeds products of lower quality.

Bigpappy5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

You obviously have no children. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford to buy what the heck I want. You are acting like I am spending MY money on YOUR mother. I do not come to N4G looking for advice on how to spend my money or get your advice on what you or anyone else here think I should like. I am a grown man who walks and talks and does WTF I please. Now, as you were.

Dude I think the IPAD is a piece of useless junk. I think Iphone and the orinal PS3 were way over priced. The PS3 had software issue that made most of its early game run like clunkers and 30FPS. Yet you can not like in my history and see any comments from me calling people names and trying to black list those products. I know what I like but I am not stupid enough to think that everyone else has to have my point of view. I am even Man enough to say, if I had a PS3 I would buy the Move and give it a wirl with Socom or Kill Zone. I still don't think it has anything right now that would make casuals concider it over Kinect or the Wii.

acky15720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

Am I worth less than you because I dont have kids and don't have a full time job? Still seems I have more appreciation of money than you. Im sure you weren't born on this earth with wife and kids and a full time wage packet. You obviously worked hard for it so have the right to spend it on anything you want.

My comment seemed reasonable considering you wont fully know what the product is like until you've had it for a couple of months. Surely you can see the benefit of waiting 'till you buy another?

Patrick5720d ago

lol.. its not the software thats the problem.. Its kinect... it just doesnt work yet, not like its supposed to. And I believe if people actually see how it works, they will not buy it. The problem here is that as MS has already proven, they will have ads that make it look like it works PERFECTLY.. When it doesnt.. and I hope people turn around and take it back the store when they see it doesnt. Its time we teach MS that we dont buy junk. Unfortunately some people will buy anything their fav company makes, no matter how shabby. As for me and mine, We buy the best.... and its called the MOVE.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5720d ago
Hallmark Moment5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

True.

I think this question comes from angry and paranoid PS3 campers. Nice homemade site/blog

Desperate...

It should be delayed because that comforts PS3 fanboys knowing Microsoft won't blow Sony out in sales and popular opinion before they can condition the tone and opinions of these products in the masses minds. PS3 fanboys trying to pin performance of the hardware and system software based on the launch game code of launch titles lol. Like claiming PS3 performance before launch based on its launch tile game code lol.

Biggest5720d ago

Ps3 has buttons and movement controls. It's not so hard to imagine that games can be made to do what games do. It is very hard to imagine moving around in a 3D plane while performing intricate actions, which is a lot of what gaming is today, while using the Kinect. I am so very angry that the Kinect is what what we thought it was. I would have been happy if it was actually good.

punisher995720d ago

@Omega4: Yeah they eliminated the RROD and replaced it with the "RDOD" Red Dot Of Death. :) But anyway. I think they should delay it until they can come up with some Core games that uses Kinect and only Kinect. I dont see the point in using both Kinect and a controller. You might as well just use the controller.

IdleLeeSiuLung5720d ago

I don't see any reason why they should delay it. When I tried it, it worked really well. You just build an experience that is suitable to the hardware, not the other way around. Unfortunately, that is a luxury that doesn't exist in the real world.

If it is a success, more money will come in to continue research it until it gets better.

By the way, I had no issue with Vista like the myriad of complainers do. Vista's problem wasn't the OS, but the press!

Now I would like to hear what problems everyone is talking about with Kinect? The few corner cases and glitches it has every now and then? Mind you it is motion capture with no additional equipoment and no green screen for $150!

Agent-865720d ago

Sorry, but Vista was a joke and a complete processes hog. There are 50+ processes going on before you even get to installing programs. Oh, and installing and using programs was such a joy with all those annoying permissions that have to be given.

jneul5720d ago

IF YOU USED XP BEFORE IT, YOU WOULD HAVE GONE BACK TO XP BECAUSE VISTA WAS REALLY BAD, OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOFTWARE...

moparful995720d ago

Honestly, you think that microsoft can make a true motion capture device that utilizes nothing in the way of sensors on the body or reflective lights for $150 and have it displayed in real time in the game? Come on use some common sense. I'm not doubting that kinect can do motion cap but most of the "magic" microsoft wants you to buy into is gesture based gaming. Look at that hurddles game, if you watch closely you will notice that the character doesnt match the player. Its all pre-canned animations that are triggered by certain gestures by the player. Kinect in its current state is nothing but a hands free variation of the games we've all seen on the wii so far.. Thats it.

Biggest5720d ago

Vista's problem was the press? Oh sweet Jesus! You really ARE in love with Microsoft.

Patrick5720d ago (Edited 5720d ago )

Huge Lag issues
Extremely casual game issues with very little interaction
NO precision whatsoever
High price for what it does
MULTIPLE issues with its ability to track which causes glitches.
Every game so far which requires forward or reverse movement.. is on rails (which isnt 3D)
No rumble feedback.
Nothing to actually hold in your hands which is in fact (despite what yall say) natural. (most every weapon or item in real life, has a handle)
Issues with MS trying to falsify how it works or in this case.. DOESNT.
Only works with 2 people.

Geez I could go on and on.. but I have to eat.

I wish it worked... but as is.. it doesnt and I have issues with that.

IdleLeeSiuLung5720d ago

@agent-86
The permission issue, which is designed to prevent people from spawning new processes without your knowledge is actually a pretty useful feature. The number of permission questions is few and far between and in fact is very quick to just click by.

@jneul
If you upgraded to XP back in 2001, it ran dog slow as well. Hardware had to catch up to the software, but people got used to XP for so many years the gap just seems bigger now. It really wasn't!

@moparful99

It is definitely not a high end mocap device. I mean do you expect one for $150? It certainly is able to capture your motion and do it well. Lag is noticeable, but not as bad as some would like to have everyone believe.

@biggest

I'm still currently on Vista even though Windows 7 is availble.

Can anyone actually cite what the problems are with Vista? Other than it runs slow (get a faster machine) and those annoying permission pop ups (not recommended, but you can disable those)?

Almost everything in Vista is an improvement over XP....

@patrick

"Huge Lag issues" -> Yes it is there, but not huge.

"Extremely casual game issues with very little interaction" -> nothing wrong with casual games, but I would hardly say it is "little" interaction. If anything it has huge amount of human interaction i.e. your whole body. Wii is little interaction with a waggle.

"NO precision whatsoever" -> yes, for some experiences it would not be suitable. For others, nobody can replicate what Kinect can!

"High price for what it does " -> I wish it was cheaper too, but nobody has given us a $150 mo-cap device that can track 2 people.

"MULTIPLE issues with its ability to track which causes glitches." -> High end mocap devices that cost 100k has issues as well, even when you use a green screens. In fact, often times they go in an manually change stuff afterwards. This isn't possible with Kinect for obvious reason, but tells you how advance this stuff is.

"Every game so far which requires forward or reverse movement.. is on rails (which isnt 3D) No rumble feedback. " -> see above, but yes it is not suitable for all types of games.

That is like complaining about how the original NES controller doesn't have 2 analog sticks to help you move around in 3D when it was conceived. Give it time and people will figure out what to do with this device.

"No rumble feedback.
Nothing to actually hold in your hands which is in fact (despite what yall say) natural. (most every weapon or item in real life, has a handle) " -> No, it is controller FREE gaming. That is not an issue, but the advantage. However, if you must I'm sure somebody will release a vest you can wear that rumbles or give you vibrations when you get shot!

"Issues with MS trying to falsify how it works or in this case.. DOESNT." -> You can try it yourself all over the US. Nobody is hiding anything. I can't say the same about the competition except for the Wii.

"Only works with 2 people." -> That is better than one, and most games don't have four people on screen at the same time. That said, it is capable of tracking up to six people at once with 2 active players.

The only real issue is lag, which hopefully is being reduced, but even then it doesn't detract from casual friendly games being fun. For hardcore games, there are tracking modes that doesn't use as much processing power.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5720d ago
btk5719d ago

Omega Omega Omega...
Try and work for a massive corporation. You will realize that the momentum inside a corporate and all the politics make them do crazy things. Like forcing a product out when it is not ready - because the pressure is on and the thing must hit the market - and going to the big man's office and telling him that you are not ready to meet your arch enemy armed with nothing more than a malfunctioning water pistol just does not impress them. They will throw money at it - and if the corporation believes they are invincible - then so much more the pressure. Logic tells any one in tech that Kinect is ill-advised. Corporate pressure means that a year after this fiasco people will look back and wonder just how the hell did MS think they could fool everyone with this joke. Because this one is going to tank big time.

The hardware is cool - but not suitable for the market they want to take on. And it a wee bit - well OK - it is damn well so far overpriced that it is going to be a hard sell to begin with. Oh a million or so people will be fooled into buying it - but the backlash from this is going to take MS out of this gen.

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130°

Metacritic's 2026 Game Publisher Rankings

Jason Dietz: "We reveal the past year's best and worst video game publishers (based on their 2025 releases) in the 16th edition of our annual Game Publisher Rankings."

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metacritic.com
Christopher10d ago

Take note, Sony, you're falling behind by a lot.

-Foxtrot10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I was just going to say this, their biggest and top rated game here is TLOU2 for PC….it’s embarrassing.

Even Ubisoft and EA are ahead

Kind of surprised Nintendo is pretty low aswell, their biggest game is also a rerelease with the Switch 2 version of TotK.

StoneColdCrazy10d ago

That’s what happens when you start shutting down your own studios and forget what actually made you matter in the industry in the first place. Sony used to set the standard — now it feels like they’ve lost that identity. And if they decide to walk away from the PC market too, that’s going to be another huge mistake — that platform is only growing, and ignoring it now would just put them even further behind.

1Victor10d ago

@christopher:” Take note, Sony, you're falling behind by a lot.”
.
Why single out Sony? Microsoft didn’t do any better than the year before 5th same as Sony 9th and they have acquired activision and other mayor titles that have boosted their score massively from a 9th and Sony a 4th the year before the acquisitions.
Sony does need to do better without a doubt and I do hope they do take note but not the note of buying publishers is the way to succeed.

Christopher10d ago

1. Microsoft didn't get worse.
2. Sony got way worse.
3. Because Sony needs the criticism the most considering their publishing output this generation has been propped up by last gen ports and third-party developers for the most part.

10d ago
thesoftware73010d ago

1Victor,

I don't wanna speak for Christopher, but like most of us we recognize that Sony's output this Gen has been way below their own standards.

Also Sony did buy a fair amount of Devs, I know you will say they were not publishers, and don't compare in size, but they had their fair share of Aquisitions, including the very well established Bungie.

The overall point is with their stellar first party track record of the past, they should not be going down, they are singled out because they are some of the best videogame devs/publisher on the planet...no matter what reasons we attribute to the situation, they are moving in the wrong direction... period.

10d ago
KyRo9d ago

Its widely accept that Sony this generation has been underwhelming. We've had more peripheral releases, controller variants, PS5 accessories than games it feels like. The exclusives were also PS4 and what little output they have put exclusively on PS5 is nowhere near as memorable as what came in every generation before that.

This isn't a Sony hate post but anyone who's older and has been around for a long time gaming will agree that PS5 is by far Sony's worst generation. As much as Xbox is in the gutter, I pray the do bounce back in the hope we get Sony to wake up again.

darthv729d ago (Edited 9d ago )

If you want to critique MS... you are doing so towards their management. The games output and their hardware have been much better than PS this gen. Sadly... people still hold a grudge against XB because of MS. Thankfully i am not that petty... I've been enjoying their games output in the drought of PS. And add in some NS1/2 games as well to balance things out. Things will change for me once Wolverine hits, and I start using my 5 more. That one I'm looking forward to. And the Marvel fighter... I'm not a GTA player so that has no bearing on my view of things.

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Profchaos10d ago

Big part of that has been the live service push resulting in cancellation or flop after flop but when they put out the games their fans want we get amazing stuff like astro bot

Leadership really screwed the pooch trend chasing

1Victor10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

https://www.metacritic.com/...

https://www.metacritic.com/...
Well I apologize I was wrong about not doing worse but my statement of Microsoft getting a boost still stand 🤷🏿

10d ago
1Victor10d ago

Well OBSCURED unlike you I’m honorable enough to recognize when I’m wrong and apologize.
.
@ The software you know there’s no comparison between what Microsoft acquired and what Sony acquired that’s why you tried to get ahead of the conversation, yes we all know Sony can do better than what they have done this gen but they inhaled the poison GAS they thought would bring money for years but we make sure they got the message and quite a few games got cancelled you know as well a hit like that take years to be corrected and by now they hopefully will have taken steps away from the GAS and slowed their approach to them.

bsingle409d ago

You will say anything when you are in denial that your hardware is dead and nobody wants your platform. Good luck with Helix because nobody will buy it.

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SimulationDaily10d ago

But... but... the garbage-mongers always tell us that Square Enix is in trouble! 😂

Christopher10d ago

Square doesn't help that it fear mongers itself with ridiculous 'goals' that they can't reach and then they proclaim failure if they don't reach it. They're quite freaking profitable and people act like they're dying.

SimulationDaily10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Keep in mind that these "proclamations" are usually third-hand bad translations from somedude who was at the investor conference, posted on Twitter, and picked up by press and youtubers like they were gold, and then when the official translation comes out, they're much softer statements, but at that point, the damage is done.

gold_drake10d ago

to be very fair

being number one on these things does not indicate how "well" their games do selling wise.

10d ago
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70°

Two more senior Xbox leaders exit Microsoft

Microsoft has lost another two long-serving members of its senior team: corporate VP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, Lori Wright, and general manager of gaming AI at Xbox, Haiyan Zhang. Both announced their departures on LinkedIn.

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eurogamer.net
Paik14d ago

Who?

Also an AI person leaving is a good thing

SimulationDaily13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

People in this industry move around. People's reaction to this kind of (usually irrelevant) article is always hilarious.

Of course, it's a weekend, so you can't expect the "contributors" at Eurogamer to contribute anything relevant. Finding real gaming news is hard for some 😂

VenomUK13d ago

Xbox influencer Colt Eastwood made a complete fool of himself, again. He posted his assumption that Asha Sharma fired the staff, but when Haitian Zhang politely refuted his claim he deleted his tweet!

https://x.com/jamiesact/sta...

peppeaccardo13d ago

Abandon ship ... Abandon ship ....

darthv7213d ago

Its the ones who were part of the team that decided on taking XB games 3rd party.... no real loss.

fr0sty13d ago

Microsoft's shareholders and CEO made that call, not Xbox.

gold_drake13d ago

they've definitely worked there for too long. their responses are "me me me me" shit.

no sane person talks like that.

1Victor13d ago

You know what the sailors say about sinking ships

13d ago Replies(6)
1Victor12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@Maximus:” @elda - why bother replying to that delusional clown?”
.
The worse part is the wasted time replying and then getting erased when his account get banned

12d ago
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40°

Indie studio Speculative Agency returns Microsoft Xbox funding and urges others to boycott

Indie studio Speculative Agency - which is currently making "a narrative courtroom deck-builder about ordinary people who make the powerful pay for destroying our future", called All Will Rise (quote from Kickstarter) - has made the brave decision to return funding given by Xbox and Microsoft to join the No Games For Genocide boycott.

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eurogamer.net
StarcrossedBits22d ago

Oh good lord. Could Eurogamer wear their politics more overtly on their sleeve? While I disagree with Speculative Agency's decision the article by Eurogamer is painful. It's not a news article, its a propaganda opinion piece. Consider the language used:
*"Brave decision to return funding" -- A proper article would have said 'made the decision' or 'made the difficult decision'. Saying 'brave' editorializes in a way that isn't appropriate for news article.
*"All Will Rise narrative director Meghna Jayanth - renowned for her work on Inkle's 80 Days and, more recently, the genre-mash-up skateboarding dating game Thirsty Suitors" -- The writer is significantly exaggerating the relevance of this person. They are not renowned. I'm a former game journalist who is obsessed with game development and indie games and I vaguely remember those games as minor blips and nothing of real note. The narrative director is definitely not a well known name (something required to be 'renowned').
*The article provides no critical thought or counterpoint, nothing to to push back the idea that Microsoft is contributing to genocide. In fact the opposite, it accepts the statement as truth and then links to a video to educate their uninformed viewers about the evil of Microsoft. (Of course, Eurogamer has accepted significant funds from Microsoft)

TheGamersDojo22d ago

Yep, I stopped reading relatively quickly when I learned what it was about. They, like many other sites, have gone from one of the greats to unfortunate political propaganda site in recent years.

1nsomniac22d ago

… so no one cares about your opinion either. You’re a no one. What does it matter.

Huey_My_D_Long21d ago

Over 35 States enact laws on restricting BDS to protect Israel, but yeah this one piece is propaganda and needs to do both sides? Because it needs to offer counter points that MS is not contributing to a Genocide? Despite the business dealings they have with Israel like "Microsoft's cloud computing and AI services have been used by the Israeli military to facilitate its operations in Gaza and for mass surveillance of Palestinians"
.
I mean if you dont think there is a Genocide...how about you just say so? Or that MS services are not helping Israel in their efforts. Seems like propaganda already got to you
I see why you are a former journalist

Christopher21d ago

I mean, everything Microsoft (and Sony and Nintendo and Valve) puts out is also propaganda for their company. Are we criticizing every bit of propaganda or just Eurogamer?

I get your point, but it seems to be from an echo room and not as the industry as a whole.

Personally, I'm fine with people having their own opinions. Doesn't change mine.

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