Kinect For PC Costs $250, Is It Worth It?

GamerFitNation's Gregory Laporte discusses whether or not the Kinect for PC is worth $250. "After a rigorous day of doing my daily duties, I sat myself down to catch up on all of the daily news posting and CES information from around the web. There was one announcement that really confused me and had me questioning myself if Microsoft had lost their damn mind. It was the announcement of the Kinect for the PC. Now it wasn’t the initial announcement of it being for the PC as there have been many videos of people hacking the Kinect and creating new tools for their PC with it. The only issue I had was they are trying to charge $250 dollars for it."

[chasegarcia]

it will cost students $150 later on with student discount. http://www.microsoft.com/en...

[xtheownerzx]

Yea, but you missed the final part of that which it states "$149 for Qualified Educational Users"

[darthv72]

there would be a price difference. I will have to read up on what is really different and why you cant just use a kinect for the 360 on a PC. Others have done that with great success.

I am making an assumption that the cost difference is the user tools MS 'officially' provides for it. Pricing aside, it should make for some even more interesting projects now that it has the MS seal of approval for PC.

[RedDead]

....is it any different that the Xbox version? Or should PC users just hack the XBox one because they're getting ripped off?

[Nitrowolf2]

@ The_lonely_Planet

He actually makes a good point here. If it's no different then the Xbox 360 one then might as well buy that one and hack it for the PC instead of bending over and paying for the same product. Whether he's comment is considered trolling is up to mods. It's not like he's saying it sucks, he just saying that the price is bull if it's the same as the original.

I'm pretty sure there are differences, but I haven't read much into Kinect PC version so IDK.

[MurDocINC]

Biggest difference is PC has a closer range so you can sit in front of it.
I think it could make for some fun video chat. Like giving you VR hands to grab some bootie which would morph to your touch. I think you all get the idea.

[ShadowKingx]

its worth if its compatible with xbox 360 and PC. if its just PC way to much.

[Shadonic]

the kinect for 360 is already compatable with PC people have already made games and mods and programs to play AAA games that werent even made for kinect already. I dont think itsworth it i remember an article talking about a kinect made for people working on a computer while sitting very close to the kinect i belive that this is it im sure its been moderated so that the pc can harness kinects largest amount of data transfer unlike the xbox one. IDk what they will do next honestly kinects basically done almost everything its just that microsft isent doing it. its the modders and universities and indie developers really brining the amazing things .

BTW excuse my typeing

[NYC_Gamer]

i want the hardware because feel it could bring nice apps/indie projects.but i'll wait for some type of price cut.

[GamersRulz]

It cost the same as PSV ? what the hell is MS smocking?

[Soplox]

No its not

[Tanir]

lets be honest guys, Kinect in general has no point as trying to be a Gaming Device.

Kinect is cool and all but what MS should do is get that software into Television sets, get them into Bravia's, Toshiba's, etc, have so that becomes the way you change your channels, it heres your voice aswell with voice controls, and can even have the kinect games as a side thing.

i think itt would work great with tv's but trying to be an actual for control for games isn't doing much and MS needs to realize that now, because like with the wii, yeah everyone will buy it because they are un educated or just risk takers, but no one will use it.

[MurDocINC]

I think I seen TVs with the tech in some CES coverage. Don't think it was M$ tech tho. Plus doesn't make sense for M$ to do that cause they want to push their Xbox sales and they already invested alot into content for it.

[Titanz]

There's a video of people using the Kinect device, for full motion capture animations.

There're a lot of benefits to Kinect, besides gaming.

[enfestid]

Why do all gaming sites have a fundamental misunderstanding of what Kinect for Windows is for right now? It's for development. It's not really for public consumption -- no games even support it at this point in time. The SDK is required to use it, and Microsoft's providing certain additional development tools (voice updates, for instance).

Seriously, it takes all of two seconds to research this information. If you get Kinect for Windows and aren't a developer (or interested in development), you're wasting your money.

[Lulz_Boat]

LOL

[fredolopez]

this is pretty cool!! the price is a bit too out there, but that qualified ed. users price really makes it reasonable.