Kinect is not for you

Recently there has been a lot of discussion around the launch titles for Kinect, mainly around the fact that there are no hardcore or core games being released and the video footage that we are seeing isn’t filling anyone with much confidence about the device.

But here’s the thing, Kinect is not being designed for you. If you are reading this you are a core gamer, you spend part of your free time playing games or reading about games and you are not the target market for Kinect.

[Wizziokid]

i think i can decide on my own what is for me and what isn't thanks...

[GavinMannion]

Did you read it? The point is that Kinect is being marketed and targeted towards casual gamers for now so complaining about how it doesn't enhance the core experience isn't going to get you anywhere.

This isn't an anti or pro Kinect rant it's merely an opinion

[0mega4]

as it points out that kinect is targeted towards the casual cash cow

as microsoft just wants a piece of the pie

even if in the process they've forget about the core audience and fail to secure exclusives

[inveni0]

I was at my in-law's house for dinner tonight, and we played Wii Bowling. My wife, my 5-year old son, my 11-year old nephew and my mother-in-law's 70-something mother. The Grandma was using the Wiimote for the first time, and it showed. But she was having fun. I told her about the soon-to-release Kinect, and she thought that it sounded really cool. Not having to worry about buttons really appealed to her. I told her that I didn't know for sure if it would work as good as they wanted it to, but she still sounded interested.

And it makes sense. No buttons works for that audience. It just doesn't work for me.

I like buttons.

[Immortal321]

I thought casual gamers play games casually, not turn on a game system and get sweaty, or "move around."

most parents that want an active child don't buy games, they put them sports.

what boy wants to play with an virtual animal that don't kill? +

well at least MS is doing one thing I appreciate. when the kinect sells millions, I will know how many stupid parents are out there.

[inveni0]

The reason my in-laws have a Wii is because my nephew is fat.

[Newtype]

some people need info before deciding for themselves. You only go based on what Microsoft shows you? The fake demos from e3?

[Wizziokid]

i never said anything about my thought's on kinect, I said I will decide for myself if I want it or not which currently I don't I would rather have a personal hands on with the tech before making my final call.

[Anon1974]

The author isn't trying to decide what's best for you to buy. He's offering his opinion and experiences. How is sharing that his 5 year old daughter is hyped about Kinectimals somehow telling you how to spend your money?

There's no doubt that Kinect is being marketed towards the casual gamer. If you think that notion is flamebait somehow, I don't know what to tell you.

[aceofspades]

i know

[JsonHenry]

I had no intention of buying this. Until my 3 year old daughter saw that "Kinectimals" demo with the tiger...

Now I have been informed by my wife that I must buy (waste my cash) on this device.

My original goal was to boycott ALL the motion devices until an actual hardcore game came out that I wanted to play.

[skrug]

get the pseye with eyepet it would be cheaper xD

[callahan09]

@inveni0: I hear what you're saying, but at your grandmother and anybody else out there who thinks similarly, I mean, come on... surely they've operated a television before. THAT requires more buttons than Wii Bowling! And you have to operate a TV to operate a Wii or Kinect or any other console application. If they can turn on the power, change the channel and adjust the volume, I don't see how pressing A to confirm selections and using the B button to simulate holding onto and letting go of the bowling ball could possibly be too much to handle.

[Persistantthug]

When a Wii is already on the market.

People have had 4 years to buy a Wii, and the casuals who would want such an item, most of them already have it.

Kinect is an add on device.
Major Add on devices never sell more than 10 to 20 percent of its total install base.....never, never ever.

Because of history, I'm not convinced this is going to be "home run, hit it out of the park" add on device Microsoft seems to want it to be.

Couple that with the fact that it also doesn't seem to work very well....but we should save that for another time

[EVILDEAD360]

The author of the article is right..Kinectimals is going sell Kinect alone for all the families who own the 360 and have young ones in the house..

Everyone is complaing that Microsoft went after the casuals..but look at ALL the MOVE games released in 2010 and they are all casual too. The fact that you can use Move as an alternate control device for Heavy Rain doesnt make it a Move title..

It's all about the Wii Sports copies and supplying thwe casual market for both peripherals..

We will all see how it truns out for Microsoft and Sony by the end of the year..

Evil

[aceofspades]

but move is actually good and fun, thats the difference. ok off to work bye

[GamerEdie]

I have to agree with Darkride. This is clearly an opinion piece from a mother of a five-year-old who, quite correctly, points out that the ambivalence that Kinect has received from core gamers isn't reflected in the mom-and-dad set.

I'm not sure why people think this is flamebait. There's no baiting here. She's quite clearly saying "This peripheral is not made to be popular with core gamers... but casuals and family gamers are already salivating."

If you're complaining about the provocative lede or first graph, then maybe... I don't know... you're a bit sensitive?

[Miraak82]

meh , i got a pseye

[aceofspades]

man ps eye is the shiz, getting eyepet E D I T

[DJMarty]

I like my tech to actually work.

MOVE all the way.

[cereal_killa]

Right now no it's not, the games are crap and childish if this is they way M$ is planning on going with Kinect I will never purchase it. With them not giving any support to any of there hardcore market (Halo and Gears) and maybe the possible support for Fable 3 but we will see what happens. I had high hopes for Kinect when it was 1st announced this is what the Wii should have done in the first place but time and time again kinect is proving to be another rushed product by M$ (massive lag, smoke n mirrors demos) just like the 360 maybe they should really take there time with this and make sure it works right in stead of using the same old slogan "who cares if it works right the Muppet's will still buy it over and over again".

[renegade]

I Moving all the way! But not kinecting.

[hoops]

Kinect from day one was targeted towards the Wii crowd. MS did not hide this fact. They want some of the Wii market share and this is why Kinect has zero core games for it. This should not come as a surprise to anyone.
This is for non gamers only...and they will eat this shit up like sugar coated wheaties

[lowcarb]

Not for me yet (hopefully one day) but the kids want it and will have it come launch.

[tiamat5]

I am sick and tired of everyone guessing who Kinect is really for. Somebody writes Kinect is not for core, Microsoft jumps in and says that core will buy it. Another desparate Kinect defender says they are targeting casual, Microsoft jumps in and says that it will have hardcore games.Then someone says it's made for children but when they show it they have teenagers,mature people, curvy asians and men in dresses showcasing it. Please, stop the articles pretending that you know what Kinect will do in the future, guessing what games it might work with or might be made or pretending you understand the crap that Microsoft is spewing from their mouth about Kinect. Microsoft has proven they barely know what they want or what to do with Kinect. Stop pretending that you know please. And like I said before Nintendo still had it's fanbase behind it for the Wii, Microsoft doesn't. The Wii sold well therefore Kinect will too argument is idiotic

[commodore64]

The very fact that we are on this video game forum speaks volumes of the fact that we are hardcore gamers, interested in the industry.

As a hardcore gamer, I am definitely interested in kinect - not for kinectimals - but for the fitness aspect of certain games, such as boxing and 'fitness evolved'.

I, for one, do not like the idea of holding peripherals in my hand while jumping and boxing in my lounge. A quick search on youtube reveals a frightening propensity for gamers to accidentally throw their controllers around the room, damaging their furniture - or worse, people.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://currentvideonews.com...
http://www.gametrailers.com...

Ideally, it would be good if I could play these physically interactive games without a controller... and that's where kinect comes in, of course.

I am somewhat certain we WON'T be seeing smashed plasma displays amongst the kinect user demographic.

For me, a hardcoregamer, a fitness game without a controller is exactly what I am looking for.

[TheLastGuardian]

No Shit.

[Funky Town_TX]

So this applies to Move (Wii HD),Kinect (Eye Toy 2), and Gamecube 2 (Wii). And I say it again, M$ and Sony has lost cool points with me this gen with this motion control crap.

[n4gno]

Sony "loosing cool points" to offer the best motion controler ?

do you know you are not forced to buy it ?

[Redempteur]

thanks for the opinion but every hardcore gamer knew that already and that's why there is so much bitching about it .. for a device marketed as the future it isn't for me

[Shoko]

I don't even think it's for the casuals!

[ChronoJoe]

I don't think consumers are annoyed that Kinect isn't hardcore. They're annoyed that Microsoft have have switched focus, to casual.

What makes me laugh though are the people like Omega who have shoehorned themself into a 'casual' consumer, just so they can defend Microsoft and call Kinect awesome.

[tiamat5]

What I don't get is these people claiming that they will buy it for the child because they want it. My little girl wants everything she sees on television and that doesn't mean I will jump to buy it.I am the parent. I am supposed to be smarter and know better. My child would have me buy every Barbie doll in the store if she was in charge. But she is not.As a parent I see what Kinect is. Even if I buy her a Kinect for $300 with Kinectanimals she will play it for a short period of time and get bored with it.300 dollars officially wasted.
Microsoft has never had a properly successful casual or kids game on either the Xbox or 360. Why should I trust them to have kids games that are engaging? My child is not simple minded. She likes things that are engaging.I could buy her a stuffed tiger for less money that looks cuter and better then the scrap of cloth Microsoft is giving me and she will love it forever and have more fun with it then a cold,lifeless screen with a tiger she can't touch or feel while pawing at empty air.Please just stop with the flimsy excuses for Kinect.

[tehReaper]

Hey if you don't want it, that's fine. But maybe you should realize that some people really do want it. You should probably stop worrying about "excuses" people use to justify why they want Kinect and worry about what you ARE interested in.

[tiamat5]

Hey i don't really care if anyone buys Kinect or not. I am just giving my opinion. My words aren't stopping anyone from buying it. If you want to listen and take my words to heart no problem. I just don't like it and I am trying to show people what it really is before you buy it instead of listening to Microsoft lie to you constantly. We are all gamers here.
If I believe something may be a bad decision to buy I give you my advice. You are free to take it or not. After all if Kinect truly is as bad as it has shown to be, it's not my money that will be wasted. Just don't hand me the Microsoft sez this and that. They will say anything to make you buy it whether it is junk or not.

[lowcarb]

And I'm giving my opinion you need not worry about what I get for my children or anyone else. There's nothing worst then a person who tries to tell you how you should spend your money or raise your children. My kids don't get much and this will be something I get for them this holiday. The device looks fun especially for kids so please stop worrying so much. 300 is nothing for some people but spare change that will be well worth it.

[gcolley]

but it affects my gaming experience when they start concentrating on controllerless games like the next forza. why not i spose when ms abandons hardcore driving, namely the wheel, in favour of holding your arms in the air for what will surely be agonising and senseless game sessions.

[btk]

Kinect is like selling a Beetle at the price of a Ferrari. Roughly translated - it is not for anyone. It is overpriced for what it delivers. It has some cool tech - but it does not deliver into good games. Having a perfectly crafted replica of a sniper rifle s not going to give you a good driving game experience. It is the wrong application for the tech they developed. Simple as that.