Poll: Will Sony or Microsoft abandon gimmicks first?

[Terramax]

Sure, the Kinect was a disaster, but at least 99% of games for the system didn't rely on you to own one. You could still play the majority of the games you played the way you wanted to without it.

Yeah, but how long will that last into next-gen when every Xbox comes with a Kinect?

Considering the Kinect was an absolute failure, it's unlikely it will be anything more than an additional feature. Who knows, it might be significantly improved.

You must have a very different view of "Absolute Failure" then either myself or Microsoft. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect] Now I agree that Kinect isn't meant for me, but it is meant for someone, and it is selling spectacularly to someone. So odds are the Nextbox is gonna have Kinect with it (I don't think Built in, but you never know).

I'm not particularly sure how linking a wikipedia page, without even explaining what you point is, somehow supports the idea that the Kinect was not a failure.

If you're trying to say that the item sold well, then I think you're not taking other factors into consideration.

Such as how many people whom have actually enjoyed the kinect and felt it a worthwhile investment. And to the significant number of people who don't feel like they've had a long term benefit from buying, how their opinion and trust of Microsoft has changed as a result (i.e. for the worse).

Secondly, the small number of games, and less that even use the Kinect as even an additional extra, has cased many people to demean the Kinect as a failure.

Then, think about other regions other than your own. Here in Japan, the Kinect was quoted as 'a joke that no one could be bothered to even laugh at'. The 360's rep in this country is bad enough as it is, but releasing this product in a country where households are so small, it wasn't even worth selling the product in the first place, meant that Microsoft's rep with Japanese audiences diminished even further.

Not only that, but the small number of games that are on the system, have generally received awful reviews. Star Wars Kinect, Steel Battalion, Sonic Riders, etc, have literally caused other buyers to avoid, and likely other devs to make for also.

So, yes, you could argue that the console has made lots of money, but not necessarily build Microsoft's reputation, and consumer confidence in the long term.

 

[someonehairy-ish]

You people are fools!! Motion control, touchpads, and ball trackers- snip

Ball trackers?

Not sure I like the idea of being tracked at all, but having Sony track my balls would definitely have me worried.

...

OT: I don't think either of them are likely to do something like that. Nintendo are raking in too much cash off these things Sony or Microsoft to just drop it.

 

[purf]

All sorts of motion input devices are popping up left and right everywhere, and that's regardless of gaming. You and we all better get used to the fact that this will be (part of?) the future.

 

[Tom_green_day]

Does the PS vita count as a gimmick? Because Sony lost my faith in the PS4 announcement with their obsession over that and social gaming. I've never bought a Microsoft console before but if they put a good pitch when they release it I will seriously consider it. Good pitch = no gimmicks like a stupid controller with move built in... I mean, SERIOUSLY? And no wonderbooks either, no matter how famous a person you get to back it.

 

[Vault Citizen]

I don't see anything wrong with stuff like the move thingy built in. It isn't going to be the focus of the console, good games are still going to be made on the system and anyone who wants to experiment with different approaches can do so. I see no reason why traditional approaches and different approaches can't co exist.