4 ms·

No, there is absolutely no way to integrate the Kinect into games in a meaningful way. Name just one example where it was done so that you would think "wow this

No, there is absolutely no way to integrate the Kinect into games in a meaningful way. Name just one example where it was done so that you would think "wow this has potential". Throwing grenades by gesture in call of duty? Biggest LOL ever. When I'm playing a competitive multiplayer title, I want precise, quick controls, and not let go of my controller to gesture around like a brain-damaged monkey. With Kinect, you had to make a game that was entirely designed around it, and not have some random mix where you play with the controller and occasionally use gestures. And there really only are so many types of games you can come up with where it doesn't feel like you made something for the Kinect just for the sake of it.. I think the market tried quite a few things with Kinect on the 360, and the most convincing game to me was dance central, because it didn't entirely feel like a casual game with a bit of tech-demo scent, where you'd lose interest after a week and then maybe only ever pull it out again when you have friends over.

jrnichols 3y ago
microsoft had the potential with Kinect to tie it into xbox live or something + Skype. In my opinion, they had an epic opportunity to have a great video call solution and they blew it.
VyseofArcadia 3y ago
We'll never know because it was never really tried. With novel tech, there needs to be plenty of experimentation. The market did not try quite a few things with Kinect. Most publishers put out a game, one single game, presumably subsidized by MS, and then went back to making games for the base console because there was not a Kinect install base.
- iforgotpassword 3y ago
  > We'll never know because it was never really tried. With novel tech, there needs to be plenty of experimentation. I call bs, the original Kinect was a commercial success and around for long enough. The tech was there, casual gamers were there, anyone could've picked it up and release an awesome AAA game with kinect to conquer the existing gaming audience. The price of the Kinect quickly dropped to 100$ after the initial price of 150$, which any serious gamer would've spent without hesitation. How is it Microsoft's fault that nobody did create such a killer app? Again, give me an example of anything that had at least potential. Or if you're that convinced it would've worked, you must have come up with your own ideas over the years, right? > The market did not try quite a few things with Kinect. Hit me.
- flohofwoe 3y ago
  It's the same vicious cycle as with the VR hype. In the end companies have to face the harsh reality that nobody really cares about their hyped up product and cut their losses. Microsoft actually did try really hard with the Kinect (already in the Xbox 360 generation) but it just didn't work out. I wonder how much money they lost on that whole experiment (or maybe they actually made money, apparently they sold 35 million overall which isn't too shabby actually).
musicale 3y ago
> Name just one example where it was done so that you would think "wow this has potential" Dance Central 3 and Just Dance 2015 (?) were terrific. Kinect was great for music/rhythm/dance games in general. Now I want to go back and try Fruit Ninja, Kinect Adventures, and the Gunstringer.
- iforgotpassword 3y ago
  I actually listed dance central in my comment! But I'd still consider that a casual game and nothing most hardcore gamers would be interested in. The thing it had going for it was that it kept you motivated for way longer than most other titles. Kinect adventures got boring quite fast, and like most other titles turned into that fun game for small casual evenings with a couple friends over. Force-bundling it with the Xbox one enraged the (hard)core gamers as they had to pay for an addon that the last few years showed they have no need for, and for the casual gamer, it was too expensive. It had success with casual gamers on the 360 because that console was already relatively old and thus affordable when the Kinect appeared.

jrnichols 3y ago

microsoft had the potential with Kinect to tie it into xbox live or something + Skype. In my opinion, they had an epic opportunity to have a great video call solution and they blew it.

VyseofArcadia 3y ago

We'll never know because it was never really tried. With novel tech, there needs to be plenty of experimentation. The market did not try quite a few things with Kinect. Most publishers put out a game, one single game, presumably subsidized by MS, and then went back to making games for the base console because there was not a Kinect install base.

iforgotpassword 3y ago
> We'll never know because it was never really tried. With novel tech, there needs to be plenty of experimentation. I call bs, the original Kinect was a commercial success and around for long enough. The tech was there, casual gamers were there, anyone could've picked it up and release an awesome AAA game with kinect to conquer the existing gaming audience. The price of the Kinect quickly dropped to 100$ after the initial price of 150$, which any serious gamer would've spent without hesitation. How is it Microsoft's fault that nobody did create such a killer app? Again, give me an example of anything that had at least potential. Or if you're that convinced it would've worked, you must have come up with your own ideas over the years, right? > The market did not try quite a few things with Kinect. Hit me.
flohofwoe 3y ago
It's the same vicious cycle as with the VR hype. In the end companies have to face the harsh reality that nobody really cares about their hyped up product and cut their losses. Microsoft actually did try really hard with the Kinect (already in the Xbox 360 generation) but it just didn't work out. I wonder how much money they lost on that whole experiment (or maybe they actually made money, apparently they sold 35 million overall which isn't too shabby actually).

musicale 3y ago

> Name just one example where it was done so that you would think "wow this has potential" Dance Central 3 and Just Dance 2015 (?) were terrific. Kinect was great for music/rhythm/dance games in general. Now I want to go back and try Fruit Ninja, Kinect Adventures, and the Gunstringer.

iforgotpassword 3y ago
I actually listed dance central in my comment! But I'd still consider that a casual game and nothing most hardcore gamers would be interested in. The thing it had going for it was that it kept you motivated for way longer than most other titles. Kinect adventures got boring quite fast, and like most other titles turned into that fun game for small casual evenings with a couple friends over. Force-bundling it with the Xbox one enraged the (hard)core gamers as they had to pay for an addon that the last few years showed they have no need for, and for the casual gamer, it was too expensive. It had success with casual gamers on the 360 because that console was already relatively old and thus affordable when the Kinect appeared.