The Xbox One - Part 3

[X Knight]

I'm very interested to see how easy it is to navigate around the X1's interface without Kinect, using just the controller or a X1 remote (if such a device is released......I'd imagine it would be since the X1 is also a Blu-Ray player and media hub).

now, MS could make it a total pain in the ass to navigate around the interface without Kinect, which would be a subtle way of nudging you to use the Kinect.

in fact, as part of the MS PR campaign, I think it might be a good idea to show a video or presentation showing how to navigate without Kinect using just the controller or whatever.

show what you can ( and can't ) do without Kinect. and say, "See. While you will get the optimal experience using Kinect, you don't HAVE to use Kinect to enjoy the X1. You can disable it's features or even unplug it."

such a video/demonstration would go a long way towards easing the concerns many potential customers have about Kinect.

after the whole used games/DRM issue was resolved, my main concern about Kinect ( and the X1 ) was the whole privacy deal. I wasn't comfortable having an "always on" camera in my home.

now, those fears have been largely eased thanks to today's announcement.

seeing an actual demonstrationg of using and navigating through the X1 without Kinect would further ease my concerns and make me more comfortable about buying an X1.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

The Gamepad for Wii U is a decent analogue, and it's one that people criticize. I don't think it's entirely accurate to the Kinect situation here, but that doesn't matter.

I think it's entirely accurate. Most Wii U games use the Wii remote/Nunchuk combo and the entire interface is easy to use without the gamepad at all.

I'm not shutting down 'discussion', the 'dont buy it' argument is to shut down the ridiculous 'outrage' and claims that Microsoft is trying to **** them over. That's not discussion, that's knee jerk BS, thinking with ones heart rather than ones head.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

I'm being criticized for complaining about price that was never "official" for PS4 so I think it's fair to criticize your point about a feature that's always been part of X1. There's never been a PS4 for more than $399. Well there's never been an X1 without Kinect.

 

[JOlsen]

See, this is the kinda BS I can't stand... They're not forcing you to do anything and saying it's not 'necessary' is ridiculous. They built the console largely around Kinect functionality. Most of it's interface and cooler features use Kinect.

They're not 'screwing you' because you haven't bought the ****ing thing yet. You're free to buy whatever you want. They've offered a product which offers a service. Acting like it's a slight just because it doesn't appeal to you is exactly the kind of entitled consumer fan BS that MS should have ignored.

You are funny.

They are screwing everyone by forcing an optional control mechanism, claiming it is required, backpedaling that it is required then not giving consumers the option to not buy it. I'm just going to wait for the kinnectless version they will put out to compete with Sony after they are finished screwing all the fanboys that have to have it NOW but would normally skip it.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I'm being criticized for complaining about price that was never "official" for PS4 so I think it's fair to criticize your point about a feature that's always been part of X1. There's never been a PS4 for more than $399. Well there's never been an X1 without Kinect.

Lol, I wasn't really criticizing you, but really, your whole point was that if the PS4 was $500, no one would complain about the Xbone's price. It's just theoretical what if that we have no way of knowing.

How is that comparable to what's being talked about with the Kinect? The situations are entirely different. Unless I guess you're trying to say the Xbone would be the same price without Kinect. Okay, fair enough, but that's only part of the point overall. I find it doubtful, but you're right there, I guess we have no way of knowing.

I think it's entirely accurate. Most Wii U games use the Wii remote/Nunchuk combo and the entire interface is easy to use without the gamepad at all.

i think it's slightly different, but I'm going to stay away from arguing this since I have only a passing familiarity with the Wii U at this point.

I'm not shutting down 'discussion', the 'dont buy it' argument is to shut down the ridiculous 'outrage' and claims that Microsoft is trying to **** them over. That's not discussion, that's knee jerk BS, thinking with ones heart rather than ones head.

Right, fair enough, I guess, but since I was in the thick of this argument currently I just naturally assumed it was more in aim at people like myself who are trying to make real points.

 

[Tron Bonne]

You are funny.

They are screwing everyone by forcing an optional control mechanism, claiming it is required, backpedaling that it is required then not giving consumers the option to not buy it. I'm just going to wait for the kinnectless version they will put out to compete with Sony after they are finished duping all the fanboys that have to have it NOW.

Of course, I have to post after this guy -_-

 

[JOlsen]

Of course, I have to post after this guy -_-

What's wrong with me giving my opinion about the new console and how I will handle Microsoft's greed?

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Microsoft believes in the Kinect and they're putting it in the best position to succeed. Whether that belief is misplaced is up for debate, but they're absolutely doing the right thing for Kinect by including it. How much it benefits the consumer, we'll just have to see.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

Well this is one of the better discussions I've had, so it's not aimed at you Tron Bonne I'm just so sick of the knee jerk stuff, which I guess MS needs to take some blame for. You send out muddy messaging, people are going to follow the console they care about not the ones they don't.

What's wrong with me giving my opinion about the new console and how I will handle Microsoft's greed?

Fair point... If only MS made games out of the kindness of their heart, like Sony.

 

[JOlsen]

Fair point... If only MS made games out of the kindness of their heart, like Sony.

If the kinnect was 100% necessary like they originally claimed I wouldn't complain at all. I'm more upset at the horrid marketing they are doing then anything else. It's like they aren't even really trying.

 

[Tron Bonne]

What's wrong with me giving my opinion about the new console and how I will handle Microsoft's greed?

Dude, I set up a nice china tea cup display and then you charged right into it.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

If the kinnect was 100% necessary like they originally claimed I wouldn't complain at all. I'm more upset at the horrid marketing they are doing then anything else. It's like they aren't even really trying.

That's totally valid, although that doesn't make them greedy, just incompetent.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I don't see Microsoft offering a Kinect-less system at all. While not requiring to hook up Kinect is a good thing because it isn't needed for the games, completely getting rid of it will completely destroy what Microsoft is trying to do with not only the Xbox One, but the Xbox brand.

Sorry PC, but Kinect isn't a gaming tool anymore, it's a multimedia device designed to enhance the Xbox brand's attempt to dominate the living room media center, even with a Kinect in every Xbox One, I don't see developers giving it the support it needs to gain legitimacy in front of gamers. Developers clearly have shown that they have no interest in Kinects and Wii Remotes and PlayStation Moves. Without the PlayStation 4 giving support to a Kinect like device, publishers aren't going to be too interested in it either because the only way they will invest the time, money, and resources into doing something innovative is if EVERYONE can use it as opposed to it being restricted to just one platform. And Microsoft is even treating Kinect more as an integral feature to the multimedia features of the Xbox One as opposed to a gaming peripheral.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Honestly, I'm fine with the Kinect as just a media navigation device. But whatever the future of the Kinect is, it will only get there with one in every console, not as an optional peripheral.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

After seeing how much better the new Kinect is at PAXAus and having gotten a media hands on with the latest built of Oculus Rift HD VR, I would be very excited at the merging of those two technologies.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

I'm very excited for the Occulus Rift. Really hope it comes to consoles cuz my Macbook Air can't handle the stuff on the way.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

My hands on with it was amazing... It was built around that Unreal 4 demo we saw a while back, with the fire lord and the giant castle... It was the most amazing gaming experience I've ever had. The only downside was using the Xbox controller to cast spells... But if I had Kinect integrated and could cast spells with my hands (as well as SEE digital avatars of my hands) then, well.... Mind blown.

 

[jacobed]

I love the kinect. It's fun for games with the misses or friends that come over. And it has completely phenomenal voice recognition for the navigating. This new version sounds like its so much better and I can't wait to get it up and running in my living room

 

[Iceman]

A cheaper Kinect-less XBox One option should be added as it will sell a tonne of extra consoles that will otherwise go to the competition. Even if Kinect is amazing I think that would be the way to go. I hear those points about developers making the effort when they know there is a huge built in install base but Microsoft should take the lead here themselves to ensure that everyone chooses to spend an extra $100 and buy Kinect 2 (whether separately or packaged with the console).

If it's true they're spending $1B on investment in games for XBox One they should be making some absolutely killer apps for Kinect 2 to show what it can do as I think it's going to be a great piece of equipment. If they did that, when consumers saw them in retail shop demos (as worked so well for the original Kinect) they'd be convinced to get it when they can afford it and devs will be confident that the install base will soon be in place and that there is a great piece of tech to work with.

 

[hippie_hunter]

A cheaper Kinect-less XBox One option should be added as it will sell a tonne of extra consoles that will otherwise go to the competition. Even if Kinect is amazing I think that would be the way to go. I hear those points about developers making the effort when they know there is a huge built in install base but Microsoft should take the lead here themselves to ensure that everyone chooses to spend an extra $100 and buy Kinect 2 (whether separately or packaged with the console).

Without Kinect 2.0 being packed in, the Xbox One becomes the Xbox 360 all over again, which is something that Microsoft doesn't want. They don't want the Xbox brand to be exclusively devoted to video games, they want the Xbox brand to be a superior competitor to Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV. And Kinect 2.0 is the key to all that.

If it's true they're spending $1B on investment in games for XBox One they should be making some absolutely killer apps for Kinect 2 to show what it can do as I think it's going to be a great piece of equipment. If they did that, when consumers saw them in retail shop demos (as worked so well for the original Kinect) they'd be convinced to get it when they can afford it and devs will be confident that the install base will soon be in place and that there is a great piece of tech to work with.

Personally, even with a better install base, I don't see third party developers really wanting to work with it. They have shown flat out disinterest in doing anything really innovative with motion control peripherals like Kinect and the PlayStation Move. And third party publishers aren't going to want to invest in Kinect unless the PlayStation 4 has a Kinect-esque camera.

 

[Donut]

Without Kinect 2.0 being packed in, the Xbox One becomes the Xbox 360 all over again

Most will not bother with Kinect with the newest 180 so it will be like that anyway. People are not buying The XBOX One for Kinect

 

[StrainedEyes]

Most will not bother with Kinect with the newest 180 so it will be like that anyway. People are not buying The XBOX One for Kinect

But, developers would know for certain that everyone has one and would develop for it. Otherwise it'll just get the same shovelware that Kinect did.

 

[Donut]

But, developers would know for certain that everyone has one and would develop for it. Otherwise it'll just get the same shovelware that Kinect did.

That is a moot point when most with the Kinect will not even plug it in

 

[StrainedEyes]

That is a moot point when most with the Kinect will not even plug it in

But everyone will have it, that's the point. Developers will know that if they push a Kinect feature, everyone will be able to have access to it, and they can/will spend time developing it.

 

[Iceman]

Without Kinect 2.0 being packed in, the Xbox One becomes the Xbox 360 all over again, which is something that Microsoft doesn't want. They don't want the Xbox brand to be exclusively devoted to video games, they want the Xbox brand to be a superior competitor to Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV. And Kinect 2.0 is the key to all that.


Personally, even with a better install base, I don't see third party developers really wanting to work with it. They have shown flat out disinterest in doing anything really innovative with motion control peripherals like Kinect and the PlayStation Move. And third party publishers aren't going to want to invest in Kinect unless the PlayStation 4 has a Kinect-esque camera.

Agree with a fair amount of the above & I've only recently changed my mind on this. I've always been in favour of selling the XB1 with Kinect 2.0 included but there seems to be too many gamers, as with DRM & always online (both of which I also had no problem with), who would make their decision based on this issue of being able to buy it more cheaply at say $400 without the Kinect. The more casual buyer will likely see Kinect in a retail store rather than buying blind and will be an easier sell for shop staff to get it with the console. But those hardcore gamers who have been totally turned off Kinect due to the crappy games, input lag & casual focus of the 1st version are unlikely to buy unless they can first buy an XB1 cheaply without it and Microsoft can work on convincing these people later, but still asap. If these guys aren't going to be even plugging in the Kinect anyway it's not really a loss for the real Kinect 2 install base. Developers will only get properly involved when they are shown some really good applications for gaming & that's up to Microsoft to show, assuming Kinect 2.0 can do anything like that.