Microsoft to sell Xbox One without Kinect for

[BajiRav]

What the hell has changed? Is MS remote-disabling your Kinect or something?

 

I guess not but the other news of them giving Kinect resources to games will be a blow to lot of the functionality that made X1 stand apart.

 

- Xbox, record that

- Xbox, go to <game>

- side by side skype

 

I am sure there are other use cases that I was looking forward to when I eventually bought mine but those going away is a possible scenario.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Kinect wasn't bundled with the 360.  It was bundled with the One, just now.  I don't think they gave it the time to get developers minds thinking of the killer app.

 

Killer app? In terms of gaming all you were ever going to get is what we've had before but with more accuracy. There must be something they put in the water in some states in America that continues to delude people after a whole generation of motion controls and gaming that we're still waiting for the "killer app". Are we still going to be waiting in another 8/9 years for these terribly hard done by developers who we never give any time to create their killer app?

 

Create games with motion experiences, maybe even hitch it up with VR down the line, but it's never ever ever ever going to replace the versatility of analog sticks/buttons across the wide range of games we have. I'll give someone a foot massage the day Spelunky is mastered with motion controls. Even something like COD is never going to be played seriously with motion controls. COD is a killer app, motion mini games and voice controls to switch your guns never will be. The closest you'll get is something like Dance Central, but how many overweight mountain dew drinking male gamers are going to be into that? Things that sell well to the stereotypical male gamer need fast responses, lots of inputs and reliability. There exists no killer app for many gamers, and developers have had ample time to try. People aren't going to go out of their way to try and force themselves to continually use something different just because it's there - How many of you still kept shouting Skyrim commands at your TV after having a few hours of fun with it with friends?

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I think what Microsoft needs to learn, is while some (me included) wanted some of the new future items on the xbox, not all consumers appreciate drastic changes. They need to do things incremental. They also didn't pitch it well at E3 last year. The XBOX One in its original form was definitely the future of gaming the problem was that the majority didn't want that drastic change

 

I see this argument pop up all the time online. I struggle to understand the rationale behind someone disliking something like Kinect or disagreeing with a company's plans/policies, somehow instantly makes them a luddite who is scared of the future and wants to stay with the horse and kart. Literally that is what people on NW said word for word last year when the DRM was removed. That is just a perplexing thought process IMO.

 

I don't like something, therefore I'm scared of the future and advancing technologies.... :blink:

 

It's worse when you think about it more and many of those same people who lack interest in kinect or don't want their consumer rights removed are also the same people looking forward to future technologies like VR and cloud computing.

 

The fact of the matter is that kinect has been attempted twice now to less than stellar response. It doesn't matter if the same technology was introduced again in 5 years from now, the reaction would still be the same. It either needs more time in the oven to develop and be something that genuinely furthers gaming or the technology still isn't there yet for it to be interesting enough. Kinect wasn't on Microsoft's radar when the 360 was developed. It was a reaction to Nintendo's Wii and they wanted their share of the money pot / hype. The rumours about it's inception didn't even surface until mid/late2007 iirc. It still took another 2 years for it to be unveiled and a further year to release. By then, as someone said earlier, the hype was dead and the Wii sales were already dropping off. They stuck with it obviously because they'd pumped so much money into the project, but it's probably the same length of time Kinect 2 had when we saw interest die and the release calendar was empty. This isn't about being "scared of the future". People just don't care / lost interest. Pressuring people into owning something inside the box based on a niche of gamers who like it was the final straw and fast forward 7 years and yesterday's announcement is the result.

 

I for one love xbox and the exclusives, particularly Halo. It's enough for me to own an X1 even without Bungie developing it any more. But saying "well buy a PS4" if I don't like Kinect is not the answer. Actively pushing people away from something they enjoy to satisfy the minority is bonkers. It's insult to injury when the developers aren't interested in it either nor do Microsoft put effort into building a library to support it.

[Houtei]

yeah i dunno why people are acting as if kinect is gone.   I think it might hurt any future games that were going to be made if any but MS will continue to improve it via patches and it will continue to get better.   One good thing about this is they are going to improve navigation with kinectless Xbox which i think is needed.  A lot of the ui is designed with having kinect shortcuts and what not in mind.

 

 

I do think that there may be some of the unwillingness to try or accept something new but also its little bit of  people that don't like something and talk as if a company should bend to their will because if I dont like it then 90% of everyone else must not like it either or they are just stupid and dont count concept.  Also I think its horrible marketing and even though kinect is great and i cant imagine my XO without it i think it was oversold as to what i could do.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

"omg, MS will never unbundle the Kinect!"

 

All the people who swore this wouldn't happen look mighty silly now.

 

Fanboys of anything are silly. But this shouldn't be about point scoring on either side. We should all be happy the matter is settled and that Xbox is finally on the road to recovery. It's a rocky period and probably not completely over as we hear more about the repercussions from the announcement, but going into E3 it's finally an exciting time for xbox.

 

I'm certainly glad we don't need to discuss it endlessly or having to clean up the mess afterwards anymore :rofl:

[Ironman273]

There seem to be a lot of people that are wondering what the big deal is.  They're saying that it's just the nerds at Neowin that wanted the "original" Xbox One.  It's obvious from the OP's article that it's not the case.  And now more people are writing about it.

 

http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-please-dont-give-up-on-the-future-1576383536

[Showan]

There appears to be no gameplan with the Xbox One now, everything they had offered as a difference maker is slowly going away. I'm selling mine and I'll just stick to PC gaming now

 

Honestly can't blame you for feeling this way....

 

I wanted to see the X1 as it's original plan they talked about at the reveal and E3...

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

There seem to be a lot of people that are wondering what the big deal is.  They're saying that it's just the nerds at Neowin that wanted the "original" Xbox One.  It's obvious from the OP's article that it's not the case.  And now more people are writing about it.

 

http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-please-dont-give-up-on-the-future-1576383536

 

Isn't that the same website which had the headline "Why the X1 policy change is for the worse and we're to blame" or something nonsensical like that? Not surprised they'd jump at the chance to write a follow up.

[KeeperOfThePizza]

I never had any interest in the Kinect in the first place. Leave that crap to Nintendo. Though being able to Skype with people is convenient.

[MorganX]

I for one love xbox and the exclusives, particularly Halo. It's enough for me to own an X1 even without Bungie developing it any more. But saying "well buy a PS4" if I don't like Kinect is not the answer. Actively pushing people away from something they enjoy to satisfy the minority is bonkers. It's insult to injury when the developers aren't interested in it either nor do Microsoft put effort into building a library to support it.

 

While OT, I think MS should embrace the PC and still consider a title exclusive as long as it's not available on other consoles. I would gladly pay $100 to a buy once title to play on both Xbox One and PC. I'd give anything to play Killer Instinct on PC and would love pc/xbox multiplay. Especially if I could pick up on the PC where I left off on Xbox and vice versa.

 

I think buying into the hardcore gamer notion that being on PC means it's not exclusive serves only Sony, as they have no PC platform to leverage. I'd rather have that, than a Kinect myself.

[Ian W]

When I first saw the topic title, I thought someone had complained about the DRM policy reversal.

I'm not sure how removing the Kinect is a bad thing for the majority of consumers. The console will be cheaper as a result.

[Ironman273]

Isn't that the same website which had the headline "Why the X1 policy change is for the worse and we're to blame" or something nonsensical like that? Not surprised they'd jump at the chance to write a follow up.

Yes. But they're popping up all over.

http://www.wpcentral.com/xbox-one-without-kinect-will-sell-more-consoles-kills-any-potential-kinect-had

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Yes. But they're popping up all over.

http://www.wpcentral.com/xbox-one-without-kinect-will-sell-more-consoles-kills-any-potential-kinect-had

 

I'm sure a website called WPcentral is really impartial :P

 

At the end of the day the decision has been made and unless MS really want to look stupid they're not going to turn back. At least you'll still have Kinect support unlike the DRM which was completely taken out. Panicing at this stage when nothing has changed as far as release calendar goes is premature. Apart from Harmonix the news has came and gone as far as reactions from devs go. I think that's pretty telling about their stance and what plans they had (or more likely didn't have) for it in the first place.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Fanboys of anything are silly. But this shouldn't be about point scoring on either side. We should all be happy the matter is settled and that Xbox is finally on the road to recovery. It's a rocky period and probably not completely over as we hear more about the repercussions from the announcement, but going into E3 it's finally an exciting time for xbox.

 

I'm certainly glad we don't need to discuss it endlessly or having to clean up the mess afterwards anymore :rofl:

 

I don't make as much mess these days /flex  :punk:

[trooper11]

Evidence such as?

Sony and its treatment of the ps4 camera. If MS stays agressive about bringing features taht use Kinect and content that use Kinect, then it will be a sign that maybe it will be different. If they instead take Sony's approach, well there is less to be excited about.

 

 

This isn't about a "majority" (which are actually the minority), who have pressured MS into anything. You can't blame Reddit/Neogaf/*insert any online community* for this.

 

It simply comes down to Joe Bloggs goes to buy a new console and he buys the more powerful, cheaper option. There's no point in comparing X1 sales to the 360. You're not in this business to come second, competing with yourself and be happy with sales better than 2005. Sony are running away with sales in the early game and if it were to continue it would only get worse. Eventually you lose support from your partners because you have half the install base and what you're left with is a kinect which nobody is developing for after all is said and done. Microsoft are a business, they like money, kinect is clearly not a money maker.

Tell that to DirtyLarry.

I'm not sure why your so sure that feedback from potential customers didnt play a part in this. I think it did. Of course your right that lower the price was a big deal. My point is that there is a chance that what pushed MS to unbundle Kinect instead of just lowering the price was the reaction by consumers.

Heck, even some early adopters have been all for this move, so its not like its suddenly unpopular.

What will happen though is that now you will see more of those early adopters that did like the bundle come out and express their displeasure.

 

 

Fanboys of anything are silly. But this shouldn't be about point scoring on either side. We should all be happy the matter is settled and that Xbox is finally on the road to recovery. It's a rocky period and probably not completely over as we hear more about the repercussions from the announcement, but going into E3 it's finally an exciting time for xbox.

 

I'm certainly glad we don't need to discuss it endlessly or having to clean up the mess afterwards anymore :rofl:

Its funny you say that when this very thread is filled with replies clearly meant to score points or rub it in. I think I have mentioned this before that it really is not shocking to see people pop in and say such things.

If only other people could restrain themselves. You and a lot of other people are genuinely happy about this and not trying to rub anything in,but then you have people like DirtyLarry that are genuinely disappointed. That's how it goes. Hopefully a lot of people are now excited about Xbox because of this.

Oh and as far as your happiness about no more threads, get ready for a new type of thread: how bad the X1 is now without Kinect

[neoadorable]

Don't think we're going to get a lot of threads about X1 lacking Kinect dude...my Kinect as i've advertised here has been dead for several weeks and aside from the heart-warming biometric "hi" power on, nothing much has changed. I just hope the console herself lasts, as i really am putting off the warranty service process as much as i can...

 

I don't think anyone's rubbing it in trooper, don't take it so seriously. With Kinect, without Kinect...she's the same hot chick, just different dress :D

Still having endless fun with Titanfall, Forza, Child of Light, and friggin NUTSJITSU. So i can't load them up by saying "Xbox select, Titanfall". Big deal, i usually didn't do that anyway, feels weird to live by yourself and be openly and loudly talking to a console. I mean i love her and all, but let's draw the line somewhere :rofl:

[neoadorable]

Didn't we just want her to be a games console TO BEGIN WITH?

[trooper11]

Honestly, I felt like reporting most of this thread.

That is how weird I felt reading through this thread so far.

I mean talk about role reversals. Before this, there was one group of people that were upset about how people treated them around here when they stated their opinion about kinect being removed. Now, those same people get to do the same thing. Heck, some even think its perfectly cool to do it :laugh:

At the end of the day MS have done the right thing. They've taken the early blow by removing it which ensures the console remains in the competition. If they want Kinect 2 to sell in the fall, don't make the same mistake as Kinect 1 and sell it for a ridiculous price and make sure there is something to actually play. If all they do is box it and slap $150 on the price tag then they've not learnt a thing.

The problem there is that MS already learned that Kinect as a platform on its own cannot support itself. There simply won't be enough 'AAA' kinect-only titles to support it. Hence part of the reason why they changed their messaging this gen, pushing experiences that enhanced standard games and how it could be used in the background to enhance your overall usage (little things like scanning in codes, switching profiles based on controller pairing, etc, etc).

It'll be interesting to see what they do now. I think expecting a slew of games to show up for Kinect is just not realistic.

At the end of the day it's my personal experience that will suffer and I am saddened by it.  What I don't understand is everyone that is obviously on the Sony side that is happy about this.  If the PS4 fit all your needs and the Xbox One was different than it.... so?  Enjoy your console!  And let others enjoy theirs.  I think Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot.  Now they have a console at the same price point that will be easy to point out is "inferior" specs wise.  They removed all the items in the "Pro" category that would make up for those arguments in the "Con" side.

I'm with you there on being a bit disappointed on a personal level after having a good experience.

But again, MS made the choice that had to be made based on sales and customer feedback.

Your right that now the easy point to make is that that the ps4 is more powerful at the same price, so we will see what MS tries to do on that front.

[Crimson Rain]

First that site bash XBO for bundling Kinect; not they bash XBO for unbundling Kinect...

[trooper11]

I'm sure a website called WPcentral is really impartial :p

 

At the end of the day the decision has been made and unless MS really want to look stupid they're not going to turn back. At least you'll still have Kinect support unlike the DRM which was completely taken out. Panicing at this stage when nothing has changed as far as release calendar goes is premature. Apart from Harmonix the news has came and gone as far as reactions from devs go. I think that's pretty telling about their stance and what plans they had (or more likely didn't have) for it in the first place.

You need to accept the fact that not everyone is going to be as happy as you are.

I agree that more will be feel the same then won't, but belittling the responses is just silly.

As far as this being telling, you could be right, but then who was saying the opposite before they announced this? I mean I think I was probably the only one around here that felt that MS made their stance clear based on how they had talked about it. Now that its changed, its easy to claim they had no plan.

[123456789A]

For me it has nothing to do with the games. Everything to do with the OS itself.

You think there are going to be as many resources on the Kinect driven OS now that there is guaranteed to be a fragmented user base?

 

Project Manager #1 - Hmm, we have 100 people and have 3 tasks we need to complete, 2 of those tasks are not Kinect related, 1 task is Kinect Related.

Project Manager #2 - Let's put 33 people on each task. That way each one gets done equally.

Project Manager #1 - Well normally I would agree, but do we really need to task that many people on the Kinect related task since half of our user base may never even use it?

Project Manager #2 - Good point. 10 people on the Kinect task. 40 on the other 2 tasks.

 

Now I am over-simplifying it terribly for the sake of an example, but seriously do you think this is not going to be the case? If them dropping Kinect was a business decision, then them not supporting Kinect as much in the future will also be a business decision. That is how business works.

 

Wow, did you lose half your work force during that conversation?

[Shiranui]

Glad I went with a WiiU, only really play games with my 7-year-old son now.

Super Mario 3D Worlds was insanely good.

Mario Kart 8 is coming at the end of the month, and it looks incredible.

AND, later this year, Bayonetta 2, the sequel to the best game I ever played on the 360, and the only game I ever bothered to get all 1000 achievement points on.

Mute point.

Moot

If you are American, I guess they are homophones (not to me, though).

[compl3x]

But this shouldn't be about point scoring on either side. 

 

I agree. The person who has scored the most is the consumer.

[trooper11]

Don't think we're going to get a lot of threads about X1 lacking Kinect dude...my Kinect as i've advertised here has been dead for several weeks and aside from the heart-warming biometric "hi" power on, nothing much has changed. I just hope the console herself lasts, as i really am putting off the warranty service process as much as i can...

 

I don't think anyone's rubbing it in trooper, don't take it so seriously. With Kinect, without Kinect...she's the same hot chick, just different dress :D

Still having endless fun with Titanfall, Forza, Child of Light, and friggin NUTSJITSU. So i can't load them up by saying "Xbox select, Titanfall". Big deal, i usually didn't do that anyway, feels weird to live by yourself and be openly and loudly talking to a console. I mean i love her and all, but let's draw the line somewhere :rofl:

Um, there is already one today about it thanks to a slew of articles written today.

Also, I don't think you have actually read the whole thread if you have not seen the posts I'm talking about.

It's cool though, that is how it goes. Some people have expressed more disappointment then others.

 

I agree. The person who has scored the most is the consumer.

Tell that to DirtyLarry.

[spenser.d]

Sony and its treatment of the ps4 camera. If MS stays agressive about bringing features taht use Kinect and content that use Kinect, then it will be a sign that maybe it will be different. If they instead take Sony's approach, well there is less to be excited about.

If we based microsofts approach to Kinect on sonys, Kinect wouldn't be where it is today in the first place. Microsoft has proven they care a ton about Kinect, much more than Sony has ever cared about their camera and I don't see why that should change just because they're not bundling it.