Games By Matthew Humphries Jun. 9, 2014 2:32 pm
Microsoft has just finished an E3 media briefing*that was entirely dedicated to games. Keeping an eye on Twitter, the general consensus seems to be that Microsoft performed well enough, but one thing is clear: Kinect really is dead as a peripheral.
The motion controller was originally presented as an integral part of the Xbox One experience and therefore it was included in the box, forcing gamers to pay an extra $100 to own Microsoft’s next-gen console. But at launch the games that required its use just weren’t there, or simply weren’t ready at least.
We’re now seven months into the life cycle of the new machine, and E3 was the place to present at least one or two of those must-have Kinect titles. Instead, we got Dance Central, a game that only appeals to a niche market, not core gamers. Sure, other games including Forza Horizon 2, Sunset Overdrive, Phantom Dust, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection will have some form of support for Kinect, but it won’t be a core feature. In fact, it can’t be anymore now that not every Xbox One will ship with the motion controller in the box.
So where does this leave Kinect? It’s a peripheral for those who want voice controls, those who appreciate the additional functionality it adds to a game and to the Xbox One as a multimedia hub. But it is certainly not worth spending an extra $100 on to have sitting next to your TV. In fact, the $199 Windows version of Kinect may be the one to buy if you want to experiment.
By announcing Xbox One without Kinect Microsoft did the right thing because it’s clearly what the market was demanding. But it’s also clear from their E3 presentation that they no longer feel the need to push Kinect hard. Maybe they just realized they can’t because it will never be a core part of the gaming experience. Motion control isn’t suited to being the primary form of input for 99 percent of games and will, at least this generation of hardware, once again be just an optional peripheral.
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The motion controller was originally presented as an integral part of the Xbox One experience and therefore it was included in the box, forcing gamers to pay an extra $100 to own Microsoft’s next-gen console. But at launch the games that required its use just weren’t there, or simply weren’t ready at least.
We’re now seven months into the life cycle of the new machine, and E3 was the place to present at least one or two of those must-have Kinect titles. Instead, we got Dance Central, a game that only appeals to a niche market, not core gamers. Sure, other games including Forza Horizon 2, Sunset Overdrive, Phantom Dust, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection will have some form of support for Kinect, but it won’t be a core feature. In fact, it can’t be anymore now that not every Xbox One will ship with the motion controller in the box.
So where does this leave Kinect? It’s a peripheral for those who want voice controls, those who appreciate the additional functionality it adds to a game and to the Xbox One as a multimedia hub. But it is certainly not worth spending an extra $100 on to have sitting next to your TV. In fact, the $199 Windows version of Kinect may be the one to buy if you want to experiment.
By announcing Xbox One without Kinect Microsoft did the right thing because it’s clearly what the market was demanding. But it’s also clear from their E3 presentation that they no longer feel the need to push Kinect hard. Maybe they just realized they can’t because it will never be a core part of the gaming experience. Motion control isn’t suited to being the primary form of input for 99 percent of games and will, at least this generation of hardware, once again be just an optional peripheral.
More...
