Kinect-ing SEO, Web Design and Programming With Games?
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Ryan
2 years ago -
4450
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Now this may be a blog focused on SEO, web design and all the rest of it but as you may have seen from some of my previous posts I also get pretty excited when it comes to gaming as well. So when I am not working and jumping around the office gaining top positions in Google and I have a bit of spare time I like to load the Xbox, PS3 or Wii up and have a bit of a blast.
There have been a fair number of decent games either announced or already released across the three platforms this year and some shockingly bad hardware as well like Playstation Move (better known as the Playstation Wii Remote). I have not really seen the Wii Motion Plus attachment do anything other than prove to be an annoyance when I try and play.
Kinect Time
Kinect is on the way next week (already out in the US) and although I am worried this is going to be yet another piece of hardware that will crash and burn, the reviews are out in the USA and so far it’s all looking good. This is certainly a relief and makes my £130 investment in the hardware along with the couple of hundred more I have put in the games seem to be worthwhile after all!
So what the hell is Kinect? Well if you don’t know already I am not going to tell you! Instead, look at this typically cheesy American TV Ad that will reveal all!
Even though the Microsoft haters are out there in force this week it would seem there have been a lot more positive vibes than negative ones. Microsoft is rumoured to have upped sales expectations that were originally supposed to be three million to a rocket-powered 5 million units before the end of the year.
What Can You Do?
Not only do you get to play your games without the need for a controller but this time the hardware recognises each and every movement you make. So when you get up to play Dance Central for example you cannot simply wiggle around like you can in most Wii games. You really do have to make the effort and attempt all of the moves in the correct way.
On top of the games you will find you can now navigate the 360 dashboard with your hands and the Xbox 360 can now recognise voice and you will be able to tell your Xbox to do a variety of things. The Kinect Sensor also enables you to have video chat and will move to track you if you are walking around the room.
Another bonus is that as soon as you walk in front of your Xbox Kinect will be able to recognise you and will sign you in immediately.
If you are still worried that this is not going to kick some serious ass then take a look at some of the IGN reviews given for the games. (have also included videos)
Dance Central- 8/10 – Impressive
Kinect Sports 8/10 – Impressive
Sonic Free Riders- 7.5 – Good
Kinectimals – 7.0 – Decent
As for my view, well when I receive the hardware next week (or over the coming weeks if Santa is kind) I shall let you know. So far, it seems to be missing a killer game to really push it out there. Could Star Wars Kinect change that next year?
25 comments so far to - Kinect-ing SEO, Web Design and Programming With Games? -
Great post and a good read Ryan!
From what I’ve seen of Kinect, which is admittedly very little, it looks like a much more intuitive, involving experience than either the Wii or the PS Move, but I’m yet to be blown away by any of the launch titles.
Being a ‘serious gamer’ I’ve always seen motion capture games on the Wii as having fleeting appeal. The novelty of waving around a plastic wand around while a badly animated on-screen character hacked away at the air with a golf club only constituted fun for about 3 minutes for me.
This is why I’m less than inspired by games called Kinectimals and Dance Central, generally if games don’t involve fast cars or guns I’m not interested. If developers can work the Kinect technology into a quality FPS title (either new or existing) I’ll be sold.
@JoeJohnson
I have to say Joe that I am a bit wary about buying this product as Microsoft have shown us some fantastic games so far this generation. The launch titles do not look fantastic but I will give you my thoughts as soon as I have played them.
For me at the moment it is all about the Xbox being able to recognise you and your voice, the great games will come early 2011.
I’m interested as to why you think the Playstation move is “bad hardware” given that by all reports I’ve read it’s significantly more accurate and detailed in its movement than the Wii, even with motion plus. Also by the same argument, you could pretty much call the Kinect the “Microsoft Eyetoy”.
I expect both of them to sell pretty well. I’ve tried out Kinect (not move yet) and it tracked me fairly well AND the game was actually fun. Not to mention the market is huge, given how much the Wii has sold so far.
Iain-
I would certainly agree with you in saying that Move is better than the Wii but I would also say that it is not exactly the hardest of things to beat.
From what I have seen Kinect is nothing like the Eyetoy as it tracks the entire skeletal structure. Something worth noting also is it’s ability to recognise players and their voices.
I am confident in saying it is a lot more than a glorified Eyetoy whereas I would not be as confident in saying Move is a lot more than a glorified Wii remote.
Am I quaintly nostalgic or simply a Luddite in that I miss playing games with normal controllers (Playstation controllers, that is)? I’m having trouble dealing with just wireless ones, to be fair…
Console wars aside, I get the feeling that the ongoing gimmickyness of these, while undeniably fun, probably won’t displace the old fashioned peripherals any time soon.
I most certainly see your point here and I have to admit I would rather be sat down (Xbox/Playsation or Gamecube) controller in hand playing a really engaging game than waving my limbs about failing to do much else other than make a fool of myself.
I still have faith that Kinect has got elements in it that will be carried forward to the next generation :).
On that note what is your estimate on the arrival of (more or less) fully immersive VR?
What a question!!! I would say the generation after next at the very earliest, so hmmm 10-15 years
I agree with you Ryan re: the Wii motion plus being a cumbersome attachment. I think that Kinect does have great potential but agree that the technology needs a killer game to back it up. If it simply focuses on the casual gamer market then the novelty will wear off all too quickly.
This shouldn’t occur though. From what I have seen of Kinect has great potential and Microsoft aren’t the type to ignore new avenues.
Great post Ryan :-)
The ultimate applicationof this would be some layer over real-time TV so we can kick and punch irritating “celebs” to our heart’s content.
Like so many other inovative platforms it’s what you can play on it rather than how you play that will determine success. Like Zhou Enlai said when asked about the impact of the French revolution of 1789 “it’s too soon to say”.
The motion capture dash navigation is damn cool, but hasn’t voice recognition been done before as early as the PS2 era in SOCOM? I think there’s also a 360 game with this feature…
I’d be very weary about buying Kinect at the moment considering most of the games seem to involve petting fluffy animals but the upcoming Forza Kinect looks promising, I just prey its not going be an arcady racer.
it certainly seems to be what everyone (including myself) is agreeing on at the moment; there is just no killer game out with the launch of this hardware…. :(
Should be fun diving around the living room to Black Ops, I bet my misses will love clearing up the mess!
Do any of the motion capture platforms have, or purport to have a ‘killer app’ (see Gran Tursimo/MSG for the Playsation, Halo for the Xbox)? Are they more just about a selection of short-lived multiplayer ‘party’ games that are returned to sporadically?
I’d say this is probably the case for the Wii, playing Wii Sports for example is totally different experience to sitting down and immersing yourself in Halo for example, which is more like an interactive film.
If this is true shouldn’t the games be priced accordingly? If I’m right in thinking that most Kinect games at least will retail for the standard ~ £40 then surely this is an oversight when Kinectimals will be competing with the likes of COD?
I certainly agree with you about the prices of the Kinect games Joe, most of them coming in at £39.99 it is a pretty hefty investment.
If given the choice between a title like Halo or Kinect Sports what are they likely to choose? If the Kinect games were half that price then perhaps we would see even more sales involved.
nice post, not sure If I am going to buy kinect or not yet
Don’t forget about the awesome feature that you can see when wearing night vision goggles: http://bit.ly/b1OD63
Cool story bro :)
Alright, after saying I wouldn’t I’ve now decided it’s time to bring up the console wars again.
Playstation Move vs the Kinect.
Who wins?
We need to get one for the new office!!
Bought a Kinect, sold it soon afterwards, it’s overhyped crap.
It’s really laggy in use and rarely recognises what you do. Someone walks into view, it gets REALLY confused.
I also don’t like the privacy concerns that Microsoft will use it to target marketing at you, based on what it sees.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/microsoft-exec-caught-in-privacy-snafu-says-kinect-might-tailor/
I also have a Playstation Move, and that is really good, it’s pixel accurate and great fun, with a MUCH better selection of games in a wide genre of game types.
Interesting read thank you.