Kinect (previously Natal)

[Ghost]

Way too late to a game that Nintendo already won about 2 years ago.

Consumers will ask 'what can I do with this that I can't on Wii?'. Sports games, singing and dancing games and exercise stuff are available in abundance on the Wii right now and for much less than the cost of a 360+kinect. Who here intends buying it?

I was actually considering it for a little while, Rare Wii Sports looks like a lot of fun and Kinect Adventures might be good if the lag isnt as bad as it was in the E3 demonstration. Also Im sure there will be some 3rd party devs who will release patches for existing games to use the tech in some way (head tracking perhaps). But I was never going to get it at launch, maybe a year down the line once we have a clear idea of support for the system and if its successful. No way am I shelling out ?129 for it though lol, I would rather buy a Wii.

[MJ]

It's over ?100, so I'm out.

It's a shame, because I think it's got some great potential, but if it doesn't sell well, then developers aren't going to bother investing the time or money to push the technology.

[Matt]

It's over ?100, so I'm out.

It's a shame, because I think it's got some great potential, but if it doesn't sell well, then developers aren't going to bother investing the time or money to push the technology.

You know, I don't think "pushing the tech" from a financial point of view matters right now. No doubt this tech will be standard on the neXtBox. I'm seeing this as proof of concept.

Also, TBH, I don't see how a developer can push it. Maybe I'm too short sighted. But without being able to, say, shoot a gun in a FPS without some grand gesture, where's the appeal? I'd not be surprised in the slightest if they release peripherals in the future, like a gun you hold with a button or two on it so you can use it in a FPS title. That may be interesting, as you have the full body motion but the practically of Wii/Move with a button.

There may be a frighteningly amazing new genre just waiting to be discovered that Natal is perfect for though

[ChrisF]

£120 on zavvi... tenner off I guess!

[SUMIRE]

They need a system seller game for this, as it is pretty expensive. Its almost like selling a new console, and need the killer must have game. I dont really see one at the moment :P

[Ghost]

They need a system seller game for this, as it is pretty expensive. Its almost like selling a new console, and need the killer must have game. I dont really see one at the moment :P

Dance Central

[Matt]

Dance Central

Just what the FPS-centric 360 fanbase want.....

[Ghost]

Just what the FPS-centric 360 fanbase want.....

Kinect isnt aimed at the 360 fanbase though, its aimed for the casual market who dont already have a 360. Dance Central is the closest thing to a system seller that MS has at the moment (and maybe Rare's Wii Sports) but they have just priced themselves out of the competition. Why pay all that money when you could buy a Wii with Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort and Just Dance 2 plus have change to spare?

[Matt]

Didn't MS say the the early Natal adopters would be their hardcore, tech loving 360 owners? Lots of mixed messages. They're saying now the hardcore natal games will appear next year or something like that?

The £250 bundle does open up other markets though, as the buy in over a standard 360 isn't that much more.

[nonny]

I wish they'd let you pick the game you can choose bundled with it. I like that project of eden title...

[hudson]

What are the chances that Dance Central will be bundled with Kinect? £170-ish sounds ugly to me. I want them.

[EvilBoris]

"xbox Off!"

[Flabio]

Can't imagine anything third party is going to be in an official bundle at launch. Some of the retailers might choose to do bundles with things though.

[Dezm0nd]

Didn't MS say the the early Natal adopters would be their hardcore, tech loving 360 owners? Lots of mixed messages. They're saying now the hardcore natal games will appear next year or something like that?

The ?250 bundle does open up other markets though, as the buy in over a standard 360 isn't that much more.

Basically they're relying on us being idiots and buying it for the time the real games come out. Until then we can pretend to enjoy Rare Wii Sports and Xbox Nintendogs and try to justify our purchase!*

*not mine, **** it in the bin.

[Charlie]

They need a system seller game for this, as it is pretty expensive. Its almost like selling a new console, and need the killer must have game. I dont really see one at the moment :P

Indeed. Rez's spiritual successor, Child of Eden, is the only Natal-compatible game I've seen that looks half-decent (indeed it looks incredible) but, joy of joys, non-Kinect owners can play it using a regular controller too.