Kinect (previously Natal)

[Adam Stone]

I have to admit Natal, sorry Kinect, got a better reaction then i thought it would - which i'm pleased to see

It's funny to read the problem with your tall friend ezee, that's certainly something that's been causing a lot of headache.

And Brats, here's hoping you are right mate :-)

[Neon Ignition]

The whole sitting down debate is one that shouldn't exist hence it's different from the usual in development concerns like AI and framerates. As a control device for use within the confines of the users living space it should have been designed with the most common stance in mind first and foremost. That stance is seated and for MS to be unable to say out the gate that it's 100% usable sat down shows short sightedness and poor design choice from the off.

The tech of the camera unit itself is impressive but with launch now only a few months away, to not have the basic points of cost, accessibility and practicality nailed has got to be a red flag.

[Brats]

Well no, the sitting down issue is a software thing so it's directly comparable with frame rate or AI. The hardware just sees 'stuff' in 3D space but it requires the software to tell it what that stuff actually is. It makes perfect sense for demo purposes to sort out the standing up bit of the software first.

Thing is, there is so much negativity posted towards Kinect that a lot of it feels over the top. Before E3 we had loads of reports about the unit being himped with a missing processor and that it would only be good for basic games (despite the fact that the rumours were never confirmed). Yet now we hear of jounalists having played the Forza tech demo at 60 frames per second we would seem to suggest the unit isn't gimped at all, yet nowhere I've seen hae anyone put that as a positive.

It seems that at the moment, any potential issue with Kinect is amplified and then believed by the people who want it to fail. It may turn out ****e, but I'm not going to give such reports much creedence until we see the final product.

[baad bwoy]

Think I would like ot get one of these...new xbox slim and kinect - quite an attractive proposition!

[Wil]

As far as the sitting down thing goes, it depends on the game/experience. Obviously jumping up and down games require you to be standing but I use the dash/interface sitting down and it works.

[El Leone]

Looks like it only has enough power to detect two people at a time.

[Neon Ignition]

Well no, the sitting down issue is a software thing so it's directly comparable with frame rate or AI. The hardware just sees 'stuff' in 3D space but it requires the software to tell it what that stuff actually is. It makes perfect sense for demo purposes to sort out the standing up bit of the software first.

Thing is, there is so much negativity posted towards Kinect that a lot of it feels over the top. Before E3 we had loads of reports about the unit being himped with a missing processor and that it would only be good for basic games (despite the fact that the rumours were never confirmed). Yet now we hear of jounalists having played the Forza tech demo at 60 frames per second we would seem to suggest the unit isn't gimped at all, yet nowhere I've seen hae anyone put that as a positive.

It seems that at the moment, any potential issue with Kinect is amplified and then believed by the people who want it to fail. It may turn out ****e, but I'm not going to give such reports much creedence until we see the final product.

Even as a software issue the same concerns arise when launch is this close, it's the inability to allay concerns. I feel the negativity is less directed at Kinect and more to MS's direction as beyond some questionable demo's there's little to suggest that MS hasn't taken a great idea and then rushed it out before it's ready. What MS has to do is show that Kinect can enhance titles that are more advanced than Wii-Shovelware. How will Kinect run against a cluttered up close background? What if someone walks past it mid game? How about in dim lighting?

Don't get me wrong, the high price of the controllers and relative low quality of the PS Eye camera have me concerned about Move as well. My point mainly is that MS and Sony still seem to have unfinished tech going to market with sub-Wii software and controls and I already leave that system to collect dust most the year. The market they're chasing either already owns a Wii or if they don't certainly won't pick the 2 circa £300 alternatives.

[averybluemonkey]

I believe Kinect is still 5 months away, that's not close to launch at all. Allowing one month for final certification and manufacturing, that's 4 months of constant improvements and fixes being applied.

[eastyy]

how would you pause the game ?

[toythatkills]

I believe Kinect is still 5 months away, that's not close to launch at all. Allowing one month for final certification and manufacturing, that's 4 months of constant improvements and fixes being applied.

Yeah, but they've already been at it for two years or more and haven't come up with a solution, expecting them to solve it in four months is asking a lot.

[Jebus]

There is no way this will be released without you being able to use it sitting down.

Disabled users say "hi"...

[averybluemonkey]

how would you pause the game ?

I'd imagine by voice control, like just saying "Xbox Pause"

[Brats]

Yeah, but they've already been at it for two years or more and haven't come up with a solution, expecting them to solve it in four months is asking a lot.

You don't know that they haven't come up with a solution. The solution might be there, but might be going through fine tuning. Wil (on this forum) says it works sitting down. The XBox guy says to Kotaku that they still need to program distance and angle for people sitting (which sounds like they have thought carefully about the potential issues).

Maybe the sitting down bit is in there but is a bit janky so they decided not to show it rather than people come away with the wrong impression. Maybe it isn't in the E3 demo code which was locked down months ago (which seems often to be the case).

This just sounds like one of those things that gets a lot of press in previews but at release becomes a complete non-issue.

[MJ]

[EvilBoris]

There is no way this will be released without you being able to use it sitting down.

Disabled users say "hi"...

Some MS dude said that kinect works sitting down , but some games require you to stand up as part of their control scheme