Kinect (previously Natal)

[Flabio]

If you turn off your 360 using the power button or using the pad, the fans will actually stay powered and spin until the temp drops below a certain level.

If you're turning it off at the mains, then there's not much it can do.

At least, it does with my Jasper, might be something they added in later.

[charlesr]

Quite off topic, but this mod has nothing to do with fans. It just improves the airflow so that the fans can remove heat from the box efficiently - the standard airflow is rubbish. Thus the chips should run cooler and not matter how you turn it off. I've made the article - best continue questions in there if necessary.

[Matt]

I thought the problem with the 360 cooling was that it was done passively once the machine was off. Do these fans stay on when the machine is switched off?

I have a eBay Hong Kong battery on my pad that lasts about 1 second, so I have to have the USB constantly plugged in. If I don't turn off the 360 at the mains, the fans keep going forever.

[Pavey]

If you turn off your 360 using the power button or using the pad, the fans will actually stay powered and spin until the temp drops below a certain level.

If you're turning it off at the mains, then there's not much it can do.

At least, it does with my Jasper, might be something they added in later.

No they don't, hence why I recommend leaving it idling on the dash for a good ten minutes after a session, until the air out of the back has considerably cooled.

[Pavey]

I have a eBay Hong Kong battery on my pad that lasts about 1 second, so I have to have the USB constantly plugged in. If I don't turn off the 360 at the mains, the fans keep going forever.

Unplug the USB and they'll stop.

[dataDave]

I was force-fed a Kinect with my console (no choice here).

When I try setting it up it can only show my dick, because our room is too small. On top of that it says the room is too noisy. What a complete waste of plastic.

[FelixofMars]

Mine still spins for between 30 seconds to a good few minutes depending on what mood its in. So I assume there is some sort of temp control on shutdown. That or mine is faulty and not for the first time :P

No they don't, hence why I recommend leaving it idling on the dash for a good ten minutes after a session, until the air out of the back has considerably cooled.

[Matt]

Unplug the USB and they'll stop.

I know mate, but I find that design decision quite surprising. USB is 5v I believe, so running the fans throughout is a strange piece of firmware

[Adam Stone]

Ive had it since launch (was a gift) and Ive never really been a fan, not really. If you want motion controls buy a wii with the motion plus and balance board. Simple. The Kinect is great for MS to broaden their market, but, meh, its all a bit restrictive and mostly, well, pants - apart from dance central - which ironically is TOO precise for the little ones.

but anyhoo... That has all changed for me. Child of Eden has completely and utterly shattered my opinion of Kinect - and now im absolutely desperate to play more titles that make a game feel so different, so fresh without a control. It is cheesy, but with Child of Eden, it isnt just a game with Kinect it is a complete experience - truly impressed.

If we can get more inspired titles like that on this device then wonderful. I do fear tho that most devs will destroy the Kinect by being lazy.

[averybluemonkey]

You simply can't do something like Your Shape on the Wii though. Exercise games on the Wii always feel half baked whereas Your Shape really works you.

[Adam Stone]

Hmmm....

It depends what you want to get out of it I suppose. The balance board is a lot more accurate and precise, so, for those deep core workouts and exercises like Yoga etc, the balance board is better in my opinion (many core exercises rely on getting the right balance, simply deciding a limb's position in 3D space doesn’t do that). But for sheer calorie burning the Kinect is great for getting the whole body moving.

[k0pp0]

Kinect on the way for my birthday

[briareos_kerensky]

Impulse Technology have sued MicroSoft and eight game developers (including EA, Sega and Konami) over seven patents about “System and method for tracking and assessing movement skills in multidimensional space” and “Education system challenging a subject’s physiologic and kinesthetic systems to synergistically enhance cognitive function". The patents date back to the early 2000s and 2008, so it might not be the usual case of patent trolling; Impulse is stating that informed MicroSoft about the patents before actually opening the suit and they are seeking to stop sales of games making use of such technologies.
It's unlikely that this will happen and MS tend to settle suits with large sums of money and license patents. I wonder how the game developers will react to this suit.

[Flabio]

You are (not) the controller?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-19-lightsaber-spotted-for-star-wars-kinect

[Daragon]

I'm sure you can play without it. It might even appeal to the fat, 30 something, parent basement inhabiting virgins out there who secretly dream of being transformed into an Obi Wan or a Darth Vader.