What do we think of the Xbox One Kinect?

[compl3x]

No one has really talked about what they expect or would like to see from the new Kinect. Personally, the first Kinect was a bit of a bore to me. I am not really aware of any good games for it. I know some people used it for voice commands/gestures.

 

Anyway, this is the hardware from Wiki:

 

 

Xbox One consoles will ship with an updated version of Kinect; the new Kinect uses a 1080p wide-angle time-of-flight camera (in comparison to the VGA resolution of the previous version), and processes 2 gigabits of data per second to read its environment. The new Kinect has greater accuracy with three times the fidelity over its predecessor and even the ability to see in the dark thanks to its new active IR sensor.

 

It has an up to 60% wider field of vision that can detect a user up to 3 feet from the sensor (compared to six feet for the original Kinect) and will be able to track up to 6 skeletons at once. It can also detect a player's heart rate, facial expression, 25 individual joints (even thumbs) and the precise rotation of such joints, the weight put on each limb, and the speed of your movements, and track gestures performed with a standard controller.

 

The Kinect microphone will remain active at all times so it is always ready to receive voice commands from the user when needed, even when the console is in sleep mode?where the Xbox One will be able to wake back up in response to a command.^[123][124]

 

Unlike Kinect on the Xbox 360 (which is an optional accessory), the Xbox One console will not function unless the Kinect sensor is plugged in.^[125] However, users retain the software capability to turn off all Kinect functions while the sensor remains connected to the console.^[126]

 

The higher fidelity might actually make some of the games, which under the last Kinect struggled, work better. Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor comes to mind.

 

Try to keep this on topic. This is about the next Kinect and what we think it is capable of. If you have no interest in this topic, please don't post. :)

[GotBored]

I saw that the Kinect recognized facial expressions and could identify them, if they implement this into games for example npc's interact with you based on your facial expression that would be awesome I think.

 

One of the features that is not mentioned above is that the new kinect would be able to track up to 6 players, this might be a bit of an overkill for most games but it better to have that option of more rather than only being limited to say 2 or 4. It would be useful for maybe quiz games or such.

 

One of the issues with the original kinect was the response time for me, so I hope that this new kinect is quicker at detecting your movements and relaying them to the screen.

 

Being a permanently connected accessory which comes with the console I can see more game publishers utilizing it with games now, so hopefully games become more interactive now and controller-free gestures could see more potential.

[MikeInBA]

I just hope the mic is better.  I tried using my Kinect for chat and I always got feedback.

[trooper11]

Its interesting to see MS' treatment of Kinect.

 

They have stated that their goals with Kinect now are not to push motion control only content, but to see it used in tandem with your standard controls for content and as the alternative way to interact with the console.

 

I think they realize that focusing on motion only content just isn't the future of the tech. Heck, they avoided any talk about such games at E3 or at their first event. Instead, they treat it as just a hardware feature of the console that can add functionality. So even though its so integrated into the system, it seems MS decided its focus needed to change.

 

That could be a positive change for future adoption by devs.

[ahhell]

I think it will be a good thing once devs start making use of it.

 

Also, that Fantasia game looks super cool.

[firey]

Personally I don't see a use.   I would much rather talk into a headset instead of talking to my TV.  I prefer the use of a controller than waving my hands around.   My pc and phone both have voice control, which I use on neither.

I think it's a cool concept, and there may be uses, however for me if I were to buy an xb1 the 100$ for the kinect (which I wouldn't use unless forced) would be pointless.

[jakem1]

The fact that it works up close should now make it an option for all the people who don't have a room large enough for the current Kinect.

[Torolol]

i wish they could makes kinect moveable, so i could put it on the quad-rotor surveillance drones that i gonna buy.

[compl3x]

i wish they could makes kinect moveable, so i could put it on the quad-rotor surveillance drones that i gonna buy.

 

 

lol. You could just attach one of those go pro cameras to it.

 

Wait. You don't live anywhere near me do you? :|

[Torolol]

lol. You could just attach one of those go pro cameras to it.

 

Wait. You don't live anywhere near me do you? :|

certainly i could, but it would be nice if my Xbox One Skype can be turned into Aerial Reporting Feeds.

[jerzdawg]

I think if they get the lens right to the point where people dont need 6 ft of space in between it will help.  I saw they switched to a wide angle lens to fix this, but I remember trying to play at my nephews house and we ran out of room between the couch and the tv.  

[IceBreakerG]

I think the new tech is awesome.  One of the things I'm excited about is how Dead Rising 3 will use it.  It uses the kinect's microphone in the game so that the zombies can hear you.  So if you start talking or your phone rings, the zombies will hear it and come to your location.  It adds another level of depth to the experience.  Will be interesting to see how other games use it too though.

[GotBored]

I think the new tech is awesome.  One of the things I'm excited about is how Dead Rising 3 will use it.  It uses the kinect's microphone in the game so that the zombies can hear you.  So if you start talking or your phone rings, the zombies will hear it and come to your location.  It adds another level of depth to the experience.  Will be interesting to see how other games use it too though.

 

 

Nice, its good to to see that it is already being utilized. :) It would be good if your voice travels further the louder you are also, so if you just talk you can attract zombies nearby to your location so you could kill them behind cover. Or yell out and get a larger group of zombies to close-in on your location while you run away to a better stand point.

[compl3x]

I do like the idea of that feature. However, is it just me or does the new DR3 look kind of drab in a grey/brown, dark palette where the last games were bright and kind of goofy (in a good way)?

[spaceelf]

I think if they get the lens right to the point where people dont need 6 ft of space in between it will help.  I saw they switched to a wide angle lens to fix this, but I remember trying to play at my nephews house and we ran out of room between the couch and the tv.  

You can fix that with Nyko Zoom on the old models.  From what I know it isn't an issue with the new one.

[trooper11]

I do like the idea of that feature. However, is it just me or does the new DR3 look kind of drab in a grey/brown, dark palette where the last games were bright and kind of goofy (in a good way)?

 

Well I think the dev did say that they were trying to do something more serious this time around. I don't mind that. They need to do something to keep the series fresh imo. I want to see more of the game before deciding though.

[IceBreakerG]

I pre-ordered Ryse and Dead Rising 3.  The look and tone of DR3 does look more serious, but I like that.  In a video I saw on Game Trailers, they were saying how the "funny" sides to Dead Rising are still there if you want to do it, but overall it will be more serious, but you can still put on crazy outfits or whatever if you want.

[compl3x]

Well I think the dev did say that they were trying to do something more serious this time around. I don't mind that. They need to do something to keep the series fresh imo. I want to see more of the game before deciding though.

 

 

Serious is fine, but I wish that didn't always translate into grey-brown depressing colour palettes.

[George P Global Moderator]

From what I remember the new Kinect can work fine with as little as 3' and as far back as 12'.    As far as what to use it for, someone in another thread said that they can use it's ability to track your heart rate and awareness in a horror game.  When it thinks you're in a calm state or not paying that much attention it can send that data to the game and devs could use it to have the game scare the crap out of you when you least expect it. 

 

It can also track how you hold the controller or who is holding which controller so it can setup split screen games without issue.  So for example whoever is sitting on the right, regardless of which controller they have in their hands, will always use the right side of the screen in co-op split screen etc.  

 

Also game devs could add in minor gestures in combination with using the controller.  So a head tracking to peek over a corner in a FPS game.  Or a motion where you hold your hands and the controller up a bit infront of you to simulate holding up a shield in some first person hack'n slash type game.      You could use deep voice commands in games to jump to specific parts of the games menu.  Like, you say where you want to go and it brings it up instead of you having to hit the menu button and then scroll to it yourself. 

[HawkMan]

Serious is fine, but I wish that didn't always translate into grey-brown depressing colour palettes.

 

The color palette is the colors you will find out in the real world, with a bit more fires, destruction and such added, the real world is generally slightly less colorful than the inside of a mall. But the color palette shoudl vary depending on where in the city you are, playgrounds and malls would be colorful. 

[spenser.d]

I'm excited. I bought the first Kinect almost entirely because it was just a cool piece of tech. I have a handful of games that are decent and I really like not having to wear a headset, but it definitely is somewhat clunky to use for navigation. I'm looking forward to a much smoother experience all around with Kinect 2.

[spaceelf]

I'm excited. I bought the first Kinect almost entirely because it was just a cool piece of tech. I have a handful of games that are decent and I really like not having to wear a headset, but it definitely is somewhat clunky to use for navigation. I'm looking forward to a much smoother experience all around with Kinect 2.

Hell yeah.

 

I wasn't impressed with gen 1 for gaming at all except Kinect Sports (and the voice commands for Skyrim and Mass Effect 3 sounded awesome!  Never got a chance to try it...not enough of a current gen fan to give a crap so I'll stick with the PC versions.)

 

Nested menus are starting to annoy me now that we actually have the capability to bypass them entirely.

[Anthony Tosie Veteran]

I actually really enjoy Kinect. "The Gunstringer," "Kinect Sports" and "Kinect Adventures" are all fantastic -- it's a shame there aren't more quality games for it. Yes, there's absolutely lag, but I like the device overall.

 

That said...

 

I think bundling the next-gen Kinect with Xbox One is stupid. My opinion all along has been that they should have a bundle as well as a version of Xbox One without Kinect. They clearly want people using the voice controls, however, so why not just integrate that into the console itself? They could have a version that competes with the PS4 on price that way.

 

Microsoft's made a big deal about how Kinect is so important, yet ironically they haven't shown a single game that makes extensive use of Kinect since Xbox One was announced. At best, they want developers to tack on features that aren't necessary -- making Kinect unnecessary.

[spaceelf]

I actually really enjoy Kinect. "The Gunstringer," "Kinect Sports" and "Kinect Adventures" are all fantastic -- it's a shame there aren't more quality games for it. Yes, there's absolutely lag, but I like the device overall.

 

That said...

 

I think bundling the next-gen Kinect with Xbox One is stupid. My opinion all along has been that they should have a bundle as well as a version of Xbox One without Kinect. They clearly want people using the voice controls, however, so why not just integrate that into the console itself? They could have a version that competes with the PS4 on price that way.

 

Microsoft's made a big deal about how Kinect is so important, yet ironically they haven't shown a single game that makes extensive use of Kinect since Xbox One was announced. At best, they want developers to tack on features that aren't necessary -- making Kinect unnecessary.

I like those too.  And Double Fines little party game was fun too, if very pointless.

 

I'd imagine a mic on the console would pick up the fan noise.  You can't really get around that afaik.

 

I expect it to be used for voice control more than anything else in gaming, at least at first.  (Although they did show the new Kinect Sports...which is probably not what you were talking about but hey.)  There may be more they haven't shown but its other functionality doesn't integrate well into traditional gametypes IMO.  I believe Project Spark uses it with voice.

 

I'd think closer to and at launch there'll be more info on the games showing up.

[Anthony Tosie Veteran]

I like those too.  And Double Fines little party game was fun too, if very pointless.

 

I'd imagine a mic on the console would pick up the fan noise.  You can't really get around that afaik.

 

I expect it to be used for voice control more than anything else in gaming, at least at first.  (Although they did show the new Kinect Sports...which is probably not what you were talking about but hey.)  There may be more they haven't shown but its other functionality doesn't integrate well into traditional gametypes IMO.  I believe Project Spark uses it with voice.

 

I'd think closer to and at launch there'll be more info on the games showing up.

Personally, I have a hard time believing Microsoft can't come up with a way to create a microphone array concealed by something to absorb the fan noise to embed it in the console in a manner that works. I'm sure a company with its vast amount of resources and skilled employees could think of something.

 

There's the thing, though: None of the games shown off have extensive Kinect use -- even thinking of games that use it in a minor way are hard to think of. If it's an important part of the console, how come they've done nothing to prove why that's so?