Kinect isnt really geared towards the hardcore, and I dont think everyone gets that. You and I do (and some others in this thread do as well), but there seems to be some confusion about that.
Which it will never do.
Microsoft has stated I don't know how many times that there will be 'core' games that work with Kinect and a controller. It's not clear how yet but it could be anything from head tracking to voice commands.
They've got a bunch of Japanese devs coming out 'core' games for Kinect next year including a new Steel Batallion (remember the Original Xbox game with the massive controller).
As warcrow's piece above mentioned, for now Kinect is about expanding the number and types of gamers for Xbox 360 more than trying to appeal to 'hardcore' gamers.
I don't get how a game that was awesome because it had a FUCKAWESOME giant controller will be better without a controller.
Microsoft changed up how Kinect reads the body (moved the focal point from the base of the spine to the base of the neck) so that it will work when seated. However, most of the launch games weren't designed with sitting in mind. (The exception being the exercise games)
not according to the engadget review.
they couldn't get it to follow hand movements in the kinect menu which is not a game.
<shrug> I don't know. I remember reading a preview saying they got it to work fine. I'll have to try it when I get home tonight.
Problems using hand-getures with menus seems to be a common theme though.
watch the video on engadget towards the end.
it may have had something to do with his white shirt and his white wall, or too much lighting.
dunno, seems like the requirements for the system to work perfectly are very restrictive (space, lightning, colored clothing?).
I can understand the space requirements. Kinect requires you to use your body more than either the Wii of Playstation Move. You're going to want room to move. Especially with any of the two player games.
I'll also get to chance to see if Kinect is 'racist' as has been constantly blaring through my Google email alerts today.
what u mean racist? it don't play well with black folk?
Really? Like that? There are so many Kinect deals going on right now you should try to save some money and get in on one of those deals.Best Buy by my office had a ton of them when I went up for lunch...so I picked up one. They had some weird issue with their Dance Central where it was ringing up at 999.97, so I went over to Gamestop and picked that up.
Going to throw it in a closet for now, it'll make a good XMas gift for the kids.
They've got a bunch of Japanese devs coming out 'core' games for Kinect next year including a new Steel Batallion (remember the Original Xbox game with the massive controller).
might be cool if kinect could detect head movements for look around, like over the shoulder or camera control, and then use regular controller for weapons etc.
did they think of that already ?
Giant Bomb is running live Kinect demo coverage all day.
http://www.giantbomb.com/chat/
Voice detection seems fairly horrible from what I have seen, and Kinect Sports looks pretty crappy, they're going to be checking out Kinectables next.
If I play Kinect naked will it think I have three legs?
Ok, I've played with it today and here are my quick impressions.
Is it racist? No. My wife is black and kids are mixed (or "mocha latte" as she says) and it had no problems detecting them. My wife set up her Kinect ID where it uses facial recognition and it recognized her just fine.
Does it work sitting down? Yes. I sat down on my couch and was able to use the menus fine. The only time it didn't work was if if leaned back in the couch and slouched.
While voice commands work, they aren't an ideal navigation feature. From the dashboard you have to say "Xbox" to activate it. Then you have to say "Kinect". Say "ESPN" to check out ESPN. Once in ESPN, you then have to say "Xbox" again to activate voice chat. Once you exit ESPN you then have to say "Xbox" yet again to use voice chat. While I had no problems using the voice chat those extra 'steps' were annoying.
I've only got Kinect Adventures and Kinectimals (remember I've got a little girl) right now but my immediate reaction is that all the problems and most of the lag we experienced with the Macy's demo is gone. I'd actually have to say they've done a great job of improving it since then.
The three demos included with Kinect Adventures do a good job of giving you a taste of other games that are out there. I had my wife dying laughing when I did Dance Central. I think they should have kept Joyride a freemium game though. I get the sense that it was thrown into Kinect just so they'd have an extra game to show demonstrate Kinect's capabilities.
I'm actually surprised that I haven't run into all the problems that some of the other game sites have mentioned. I was expecting problems. All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable first night with Kinect. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when I told the kids that they had to stop playing and go to bed. However, when my daughter started to leave she told me that I couldn't take Kinectimals out.