310°

Hacking Microsoft's Kinect: Two Weeks In, Six Amazing Projects

Microsoft's Kinect is amazing. The first time you try the "crank that" Soulja Boy dance on Dance Central, or slam a ping-pong ball in Kinect Sports using only your awkward, flailing arms--those are moments of sheer futuristic glee. The Kinect, as we noted in our review, is definitely lacking in must-have games, but the potential of Kinect is way bigger than merely video games. Luckily, hackers have almost immediately stepped up to free it from the shackles of the Xbox. Here are six of the hacks we've seen already.

CountDracula5579d ago ShowReplies(4)
PeeWizzle5579d ago (Edited 5579d ago )

Amazing things are already being done with Move.

ArmrdChaos5579d ago

Please show me the video where Move allowed the reconstruction of an environment by providing realtime 3d data of said environment...show me the Eye toy videos of it as well.

N4Great5579d ago

You are the clown, like the other one disagreeing with fact.

move is better for games and gamers (more accurate and way more usefull), it's a fact, and it's all thjat matter here, when we talk with xfanboyz like you.

by the way since more than 10 years you can see people painting on paper things that become 3D objects in game, voice recognition, "you are the controler" (it's a huge lie to sell that like a revolution, when sony made it 10 years before)

Anon19745578d ago (Edited 5578d ago )

This has already been done with just a regular, PC webcam. What did you think they used to do 3D mapping with before? Giant laser filled rooms? Not really practical for the average user who needs to do 3d mapping now, is it?

http://www.physorg.com/news...

I submitted this article to N4G because I thought it was cool, but none of these things shown are anything that haven't been duplicated somewhere before with other camera equipment and the right software. It's not like we're being shown anything new, it's just new that they're now doing these things with Kinect.

ConanOBrien5578d ago (Edited 5578d ago )

Lolz, jealousy is so epidemic among Movers

They simply can't stand the button-less Kinect. In fact, what the Movers can only do is bashing the Disagree button below :>

Chimerhazzard5579d ago

Dude, seriously...

We all know Move is great and all, but as far as I know, people still haven't managed to make it work on a PC.

Then again, I do still think that Kinect has too many problems and that it won't be able to provide games terribly different than those for eyetoy, but I can't deny that these people are doing pretty cool stuff with it which shows that technology wise, Kinect is proving to be more interesting than I expected.

Sure it's ok to bash Kinect when it deserves it (which it does in many aspects). But then again, we should also praise it for it's achievements.

R2D25578d ago

Shakes head at MODS

We know N4G is pro Sony but you can at least make an effort to keep 360 fans on here.

Some one bring up MOve in a Kinect article is clearly trolling,

Pehdahosman5579d ago (Edited 5579d ago )

there's a reason you only have one bubble

KotC5578d ago

What I don't get is why PeeWizzle commnt wasn't removed right next jlg112592's.

N4G mods = PS fanboys

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5578d ago
eferreira5579d ago

just like the wii head tracking video, sadly none of this will be used

ct035579d ago

Unlike Nintendo, Microsoft is a huge player in the PC market. Microsoft themselves have hinted at using Kinect-like technology in Windows 8.

And judging by the rapid 3rd party development of Kinect, we'll probably see usable applications way before Windows 8.

gamingdroid5579d ago

I believe this is a testament to the potential for video games. Among the coolest things so far are Minority Report like User Interface and 3D virtual reconstruction of the physical world.

I'm looking forward to see what else will come.

testerg355579d ago

The puppet one is cool. I thought it couldn't do fingers. The puppet one can be done on other webcam types, but not sure can do the fingers.

karl5579d ago

if u can concentrate all those dots we saw in previews videos in a small area.. it shouldnt have problems seeing fingers or anything else....

yet the problem is that u wont be doing hole body tracking

Bigpappy5579d ago (Edited 5579d ago )

Kinect can hadle fingers just fine. As Karl said, it is about reading points, no neccessarily limbs. If you are close enough and the 40 points are are focused on your hands, the fingures can be tracked. If you go to Primsense's web site they already demonstrated this.

@Elven: the chip set is the same minus the processor. M$ is tracking fewer point and using the xbox processor to reduce lag. M$ can unlock any of the original features with software. There is no need for a plus version of Kinect until the next Xbox is released, and that will be part of the xbox design.

karl5579d ago

actually kinect has a normal camera aswell

so it could try to track fingers with it..

there wont be any deep sensing but maybe with a combination of the two..

thats how the pseye does it i think..

im just assuming though..

Elven65579d ago

I think it can do fingers to a certain extent but not like the original model.

A theory that I have is that assuming the change was software related the current Kinect simply locks high res functionality. Once Microsoft has the software side down an update can enable it. But I'm sure this can be easily proved/disproved by stuff like this, hardware hacks, etc.

The other is that if they do get the issues fixed the only way to "make it compatible" is by buying a "Kinect Plus" type device.

The Great Melon5579d ago (Edited 5579d ago )

As others have said it is possible to track fingers. It just depends on how close you are to the Kinect. In my opinion the Kinect shines the best when you are only a few feet from it, because then it can track all the subtle motions the figures. Ironically, all the cool stuff that Kinect is capable of requires you not to be roundhouse kicking your lamp.

Just wondering do people know if the dots the Kinect projects are fixed at those angles? I was wondering if they could be more localized through some sort of lens in the Kinect.

ChickeyCantor5579d ago (Edited 5579d ago )

Whats up with the reflection?

edit:
NVM projection xD

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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."

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
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.

Magog1497d 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.

CaptainHenry9161497d ago (Edited 1497d ago )

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

1497d ago
CrimsonWing691497d 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.

ThatsGaming1497d 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.

Gamer791497d 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.

Magog1497d 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.

porkChop1497d ago (Edited 1497d 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).

Magog1497d ago (Edited 1497d 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.

porkChop1497d 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.

Rhythmattic1496d 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

porkChop1496d 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.

Rhythmattic1495d ago (Edited 1495d 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.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1495d ago
Aloymetal1497d ago (Edited 1497d 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.

Rhythmattic1496d ago (Edited 1496d 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....

lonewolf101497d ago

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

SullysCigar1497d ago

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

lonewolf101497d ago

Sad but true that was pretty much it.

Kurt Russell1497d 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.

lonewolf101497d 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.

darthv721497d ago

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

LWOGaming1497d 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.

Magog1497d 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.

LWOGaming1497d 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,

LWOGaming1497d 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.

Read Full Story >>
techstomper.com
darthv721674d 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.

PrimeVinister1674d ago

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

1674d ago Replies(2)
Godmars2901674d 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_finch1674d 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.

PrimeVinister1674d ago

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

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1674d ago
TheEnigma3131674d ago

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

PrimeVinister1674d ago (Edited 1674d 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_finch1674d 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.

kayoss1674d 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.

PrimeVinister1674d 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.

Thundercat771674d ago

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

PrimeVinister1674d 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.

kayoss1673d ago

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

Godmars2901673d 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.

brewin1673d 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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