Poll: My Experiences with Microsoft Kinect

[mrpmpfan]

I am what most would consider a giant video game geek, but more likely they would describe me as a huge Microsoft nut.

I have loved the idea of Kinect ever since Nintendo first tried to pull off the idea poorly. For those of you who don't know what Kinect is, its basically motion based gameplay where is you don't have to use two white sticks with predetermined motions to preform gameplay. Instead you use your whole body to interact with the games.

Well I drove 4 hrs yesterday with my Wife to Mall of America because I come to find out they had a Kinect booth set up and I had to try it before I bought it.

I will sum this up and then explain myself: Kinect was mind blowing, fun and a fucking work out!

So what did I actually play for Kinect?
Ratchet Ball game (the first demo shown for Project Natal)
obstacle course game (which wore me out)
Bowling
Joy Ride
Kinectimals

The Ratchet Ball Game demo was very interesting because it was the first time I got to see how responsive it was, and I wasn't disappointed. I was able to move around quite a bit and do different weird gestures and see them replicated by my on-screen avatar. However the game was too easy becasue my Wife and I both played there wasn't much room for error.

The Obstacle Course game (from Kinect Adventures) was a ton more fun, we were competing against each other and that got both our hearts pumping. You had to jump in place when you wanted your cart to move faster, duck and jump over arm posts, and grab for tokens. At the end of that demo I was worn out and had to get something to eat.

We came back and I played bowling which was scary accurate on how you could put a spin on your ball and even dance when you were waiting, lol.

Joy Ride, this demo was acting up quite a bit but I got to play if for about a couple of mins and get the idea of it. It was the most stale idea on the floor but I played a very small piece who knows the full game might be fun.

Kinectimals...if you loved Viva Pinata you will love this game. It was the most advanced game there. I could see my fingers moving on screen as I scratched a Cheetah. Called out its name and it responded like a real pet. Teaching it moves was funny and I could see my Wife loving this game.

Overall I am totally 1000% grabbing my Kinect once it comes out but I urge any skeptics to find out where the closest demo is to you and to go try it.

 

[Darzen]

i liked the name Project Natal better.but i'd rather sit down and relax with a good game controller.

 

[lee1287]

NO. Waste of money.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I choose Hell No, but with indifference/Abhorrence to other systems.

I also can't help but chuckle how the peripheral cost as much as the Wii console.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Needs an option "No, I'd rather stick to controllers"

OT: I'm interested in the concept of the 'Kinect' and I can afford it, however I just don't have the right mindset for that sorta thing let alone the space to even use it properly.

 

[mrpmpfan]

NO. Waste of money.

Aren't all video games waste of money? But I bet you have a $150 Rock Band kit collecting dust somewhere in your apartment.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

I can say 95% chance that I won't. But there is the possibility that they do something so mind blowingly amazing that I'll give it a shot. Safe bet is that it won't, though.

 

[jamez525]

I don't even need to try it to know that I'll hate it.

Because of one thing: Depth.

I like my games deep. In fact, the deeper the better. And one thing I've noticed about motion controls is, their games are rarely ever deep. The Wii managed a few, but I think that was because it had buttons.

Kinect is a different beast. Unless played in tandem with a 360 controller, there's literally nothing you can do with pure motion controls with todays hardware than minigames.

Sure, minigames are fun, especially at parties, but you can't lose yourself in them. There's no suspension of disbelief, you're still very much aware that you are a person, standing in front of a screen. Same thing happened with Eyetoy, but that was never meant to be anything other than a gimmick.

If you like minigames, I suppose you should get it, but I don't think that a few minutes of fun is worth dropping nearly 130 quid on.

I will try it at some point, but I'm not expecting much.

I am sure Kinect will be used in tandem with a 360 controller, I remember hearing something about head tracking to look around a car in Forza motorsport but I am fairly sure you will still be using controllers/steering wheels.

 

[darthzew]

It depends. I imagine it's a great deal of fun, in fact, I haven't heard anything totally negative from anyone actually willing to give the damn thing a chance.

I won't buy it on day one, but if something to my liking comes out, yeah, I'll give it a chance. I'm interested to see what Fable 3 will do with it...

 

[frago roc]

Poll is bad, no general hatred for motion sensors option.

 

[dlawnro]

I'm not sure, but I'll probably only get it if there's a severe price drop and it's required for an actual developed game (not a party gimmick) that I think actually looks good. Otherwise, it would just end up like my Wii, which now is basically just a stand I use to display a rather interesting collection of dust.

 

[manythings]

Why couldn't there be a "No, motion controls are retarded" option?

Motion controls ruin immersion. The end. No immersion I'm not interested in that game. I don't want to have a work out, I don't want to flail like an idiot and I like sitting when I play games. Kinect is the exact oppostie of improving on gaming, it is actively taking you OUT of the game.

 

[Wolfram23]

This proves it's a pure casual gimmick. Games are going to be Wii Xbox Sports Resort and such.

I mean, ok, I'd buy it for my kid if he's into gaming so that he can at least get his ass off the couch sometimes.

But as far as the gaming experience it delivers, I don't like what it offers.

I voted Hell No but not because I like Wii or PS Move. I don't like any of those. I like PS3 SixAxis and I like my mouse and keyboard and my force feedback racing wheel.

 

[Macflash]

I love the idea of motion based controls, but I think that the kinect/wii/move all fall short of being truly engrossing.

The games they get released with tend to be very good. Easy to learn, fun to play, and they get you very familiar with the controls. Then when you want to get an actual game, they all suck. The games tend to only use a few motions that could easily be replaced by buttons, or they use the controller to aim, which is terrible because it becomes useless if you're not pointing exactly at the screen.

If they could combine the motion sensing of kinect with 3D (and preferably some type of controller) you could make some really awesome games. 3D can really pull you into an experience and it also really helps to have depth perception in a motion based game. This could make a really awesome FPS, or a sweet RTS where you're looking down at your troops.

But without buttons or a consistent UI, it's really hard to make games that go beyond casual mini games. Until then... I'll pass on the kinect.

 

[Cody211282]

Not going to buy it, it looks boring as hell and I hate motion controls. I also refuse to buy a Wii or Playstation Lolipop.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Why couldn't there be a "No, motion controls are retarded" option?

Motion controls ruin immersion. The end. No immersion I'm not interested in that game. I don't want to have a work out, I don't want to flail like an idiot and I like sitting when I play games. Kinect is the exact oppostie of improving on gaming, it is actively taking you OUT of the game.

This this this!
This is why I despise the Wii, I have used one on several occasions and it is terrible. I can only imagine the Kinect being worse.
I said before that I was interested in the concept since motion sensing tech is a pretty funky deal but when it comes to gaming you need to abandon yourself as much as possible, not flail like a lunatic.

Microsoft need to invent the neural interface pc soon or I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[Dana22]

I played it at friends house, and it was quite fun actually, more fun then waving the wiimote.

I dont know where he got it from thou, didn't wanted to tell