Kinect (previously Natal)

[JP]

What will be more interesting is the actual press conference tonight, when the Kinect could come out okay, or could be finally consigned to the failed hardware bin.

I'm still fairly optimistic about the other games at this years show.

With Move/Natal I've not dismissed either and I've been open minded about both of them. I'm still not particularly interested in either at the moment and I won't be until software is shown using the hardware that I want to use.

I think the technology in Natal is fantastic but I'm still a touch concerned as to how that technology will fit into the gaming space. The fact that I have concerns about it is irrelevant though as I'm sure that if does what Microsoft claims it can do then there will be developers which can create something pretty special with it.

I know I've said it before but I really don't see Natal's strength being motion control, it's the recognition facilities that excite me about this.

With Move it's much more of a known entity because if what we're lead to believe is true then it's merely an improved version of what the Wii offers.

Having recently re-bought a Wii and using Wii Motion+ for the first time it does seem to offer far more than the old motion controller and that's apparent as soon as you use it.

If Move does the same as Wii Motion+ but as is suggested, does it better then it could be a very positive thing. The same as with Natal though, until software is shown using Move which I think is something I want to use I've got no reason to want the hardware.

Even if the Microsoft/Nintendo conferences over the next couple of days show absolutely nothing using these systems that I'm interested in, there is still going to be the usual amount of "standard" games for both consoles to keep me happy so I won't have lost out in any way and will have probably had a few laughs on the way.

I'm very cautious about both pieces of hardware but I am surprised by the apparent belief that everything has been ruined by them which a small minority appear to have. If people have got no interest in the products then it's probably best not to read threads with have titles such as this one.

[Brats]

I know I've said it before but I really don't see Natal's strength being motion control, it's the recognition facilities that excite me about this.

I agree, and at this point at E3 we were never going to have seen the more complex stuff that might be possible with more traditional games. It was always going to be the stuff that is easy to sell to a more mainstream audience like dancing and river rafting.

You don't pay loads of dosh to Cirque de Soleil and then get them to demo head tracking for Forza or L4D that watches the player's movements. Of course at the end of E3 it may be clear that none of that stuff exists and Kinect is nothing but party games.

[Charlie]

I get the feeling Microsoft were trying to impress people with the lavish show as much as the Kinect hardware 'demonstration' (I use the word loosely ) and believe if something is genuinely good it doesn't need making a song and dance about. Indeed the more a company focuses on such an over-the-top event with dancers, crazy props, celebs and all that nonsense, the less faith I have in their product and believe the less faith they have in their own product.

[Team Andromeda]

I get the feeling Microsoft were trying to impress people with the lavish show as much as the Kinect hardware 'demonstration' (I use the word loosely ) and believe if something is genuinely good it doesn't need making a song and dance about. Indeed the more a company focuses on such an over-the-top event with dancers, crazy props, celebs and all that nonsense, the less faith I have in their product and believe the less faith they have in their own product.

Agreed . I lavish show is part of the course these days , but then let your product do the talking, and well Kinect has spectacularly failed to impress on that front . Its just a piss poor Eye Toy at the moment.

[Number45]

Nah, it's not that exciting.

Not Sony Cambridge then?

[Brad]

like dancing and river rafting.

If they had Riverdance Rafting I'd buy it.

[fishbowlhead]

By the time it comes out though, you will be able to pick a wii with games up for the same price. Who in the general public is going to bother with it, honestly? and for your information MS, i quite like buttons thanks, they have served there purpose for gaming for the last 30 years and don't really need to change to be honest.

[dvdmike]

I thought Eye toy antigrav looked great untill I played it for 10 mins

[Flabio]

Not Sony Cambridge then?

It'll raise a few eyebrows I suspect, but no, nothing spectacular.

[EvilBoris]

The wii is still £129-£179 + the £80 for the obligitory balance board all women have and the £40 for the 2nd controller . I can't see that hammering down in price between now and November!

I'm highly doubtful many people will go for this over the Wii but if MS can get each bloke to buy one for his family/partner instead of spending £400 for all the wii gumph, then MS will of acheived what they want to do.

Don't get me wrong, I'm colossally disapointed by what's been shown do far, Kinect has the potential for so much more

[Tig]

It'll raise a few eyebrows I suspect, but no, nothing spectacular.

Ninja Theory

[abigsmurf]

Lionhead have bought the Bullfrog trademark and IPs back from EA and Molyneux will be overseeing Dungeon Keeper 3!!!!

[Brats]

I get the feeling Microsoft were trying to impress people with the lavish show as much as the Kinect hardware 'demonstration' (I use the word loosely ) and believe if something is genuinely good it doesn't need making a song and dance about. Indeed the more a company focuses on such an over-the-top event with dancers, crazy props, celebs and all that nonsense, the less faith I have in their product and believe the less faith they have in their own product.

In these days of spin I can see why you would think that, but in my experience the marketing departments and the teams who actually make stuff are quite distinct. If Kinect turns out half decent, it won't be the first good product to recieve a showy but poorly received event (the bloody goat orgy for the launch of God of War 2 springs to mind, or the marketing of the Dreamcast).

I would imagine that the marketing department at MS were given a budget of X and decided to blow it on a big event like this. I can even imagine part of the tech team thinking it was a bad idea and being against having fake demonstrations.

[abigsmurf]

It wasn't a good move by MS. They were already called out on the 'man-behind-the-curtain' Milo demos. They needed to show that this tech is as capable as they say it is.

Still, 2 hours till we properly get to see it shown off with real people.

[Team Andromeda]

It'll raise a few eyebrows I suspect, but no, nothing spectacular.

Is it Chris Ofili??. He's use to making stuff out of **** .