Microsoft’s Kinect motion-control accessory for Xbox 360 is finally here and brings with it a promise to revolution gaming with hands-free controls and voice-activated commands.
With last night’s midnight launch came an end to Microsoft’s press review coverage on Kinect. We weren’t fortunate enough to acquire Kinect prior to launch; however, other outlets were and their impressions reveal some shortcomings those rushing to acquire the hot piece of hardware might want to keep in mind.
Back when Kinect was still Project Natal I took to our Forums and made the following statement, “Natal with a wand with gameplay buttons like Wii has is what I’d want.” Not the most eloquent choice of words but the point is simple: I’ve always liked the idea of Kinect but have felt it will be limited by the absence of tangible buttons and a control device.
Ben Kuchera over at ars technica felt the same way after putting Kinect through the paces for a solid week. He caps his experience and review with a bold prediction, “Microsoft is going to release a Move-style controller for the Kinect within a year or so.” He goes on to say that Kinect can’t handle much beyond party, fitness, dance and sports games in its current configuration. While there are flashes of greatness, it should be skipped… for now.
Ars writes to a technologically savvy audience so let’s take a look at a mainstream outlet, CNN. “But games that would be better enhanced with a physical device in hand feel flat reviewer Larry Frum wrote. “On Kinect, they’re just not up to the demands that players make from those types of games. You will probably not enjoy racing games and first-person shooter games as much with Kinect that you do with regular controllers.”
Our final Kinect review stop is at Joystiq, a strictly gaming outlet that gamers are more than familiar with. Joystiq’s beef with Kinect is more in line witih it operating correctly. “For all the talk of revolutionizing the Xbox 360 experience and making gaming more natural/ accessible, it’s bordering on absurd how broken Kinect is when it comes to something as simple as working in your home,” wrote Randy Nelson. “If Kinect does work for you, congratulations: you have what amounts — for now — to a novelty peripheral that is in no way geared towards the day-one buyer or “core” gamer.”
All these reviews, and more, are drawing similar conclusions. Kinect is a fun and novel accessory for a limited type of gaming experience as evidenced by the redundant collection of launch titles. It is not a must-have piece of hardware and its limitations by dropping a controller altogether – the crux of gaming for decades – will impede its ability to evolve. I’ve been saying this for well over a year and wonder how long it will take Microsoft to realize something important is missing in the Kinect equation and provide it to consumers.
What do you all think? Do you have Kinect for Xbox 360 already and, if so, what’s your reaction to what it can and cannot do?
