At this year’s E3, Microsoft managed to amaze everyone with its new concept add-on for Xbox – the Kinect. By using cameras, voice and motion capturing it would enable players to experience games without the need of a gamepad. It is scheduled to arrive sometime in November. However, a few issues have already surfaced.
Winning new fronts or losing old ones
It is clear that by putting such a device on the market, Microsoft aims to gain a new audience for its Xbox. The expected gamers that would be won over would come for sports, dance or just general entertainment. However, what would happen to games like Halo or Call of Duty, which would definitely require some sort of controller in order to be played? Would the Kinect accessory also require the purchase of steering wheels and guns?
Unfortunately, Microsoft has never stated anywhere that it intends to manufacture a gamepad for the Kinect, much to the disappointment of many hardcore gamers (most who are more accustomed to holding a controller in their hands). That would mean that the older Xbox classics would become incompatible with the new device. Worse – many manufacturers would begin to put “Kinect compatible” labels on their games, just to sell more copies.
Possible rocks in the wheel of success
Other concerns regarding the Kinect accessory include the capturing of voice and movement. If the cameras do not work correctly or have smaller capabilities, enjoying a cool game with four players right in your living room would be next to impossible.
The more you have to stand, the harder Kinect will fall
This brings the next possible problem in the absence of a gamepad – playing a game, while comfortably stretched in your favorite armchair or sofa. If Kinect requires the player to be standing up indefinitely for it to capture movements, then the pleasure would automatically turn into a discomfort and sign the death verdict of the device.
What if you’ve got an accent?
If, however, the player remains determined to use Kinect, he or she would have to resolve to voice control. Here the possibility of failure is also present. The console should also be able to recognize accents; otherwise, voice command control could be impaired, which without the aid of a gamepad could turn into a disaster.
Add to everything mentioned above the fact that Kinect’s price is still unknown and you get the impression that instead of a great success in the world of gaming technology, Microsoft’s newest project could become their newest failure. Still, it is rumored that it would be sold at around $150, which is less than the price of a Sony system. Going under $100 would be even more appealing. All that remains now is to wait and see if Microsoft will manage to avoid these several concerns and make out Kinect as cool as it sounded at the E3.
