100°

Kinect may not be a hit with gamers, but it is poised to become a medical game-changer

Xbox One’s highly innovative Kinect sensor may not be the biggest hit with hard-core gamers – Microsoft recently unbundled it from the Xbox One. The tech giant however, does not give up easily on its innovations and beliefs in future-proof products and keeps investing heavily in this technology.

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microsoftproductreviews.com
Gazondaily3562d ago

That's cool and all but I don't game in a hospital -_-'

I'm surprised no devs have found a decent gaming application for it yet. I still think there is potential.

Dehnus3562d ago

Because: Creativity!
It's far easier to release yet another shooter than to make a creative game that is universally liked. So almost all big publishers focus on those.

With a creative silly title you always risk that only a small portion of the masses enjoy the game.. and thus you make less money.

The times of the Dreamcast and offbeat games are gone, Indies are fun, PC has some great gaming... but don't expect EA or ActivisionBlizzard to come with anything more than the beaten path.

Hellsvacancy3562d ago

I disagree, games like Flower and Journey prove otherwise

mhunterjr3562d ago

How about a hospital game? I'd play kinect based 'operation' :p

Tedakin3562d ago (Edited 3562d ago )

The only thing Kinect has done in games I've liked is Dead Rising you shake your hands to knocks zombies off, which worked great and tilting around corners in Battlefield 4. The voice stuff is great though. I mean I do like walking to the couch and saying Go to Killer Instinct, and before I've even picked up the controller the game is already loading. Stuff like that is nice. Also adjusting your volume without having to stop playing. No pausing the game and grabbing the volume remote, you just say Volume down or up. Seems little, but do it a thousand times and it adds up.

mcstorm3562d ago

For me what Microsoft have done with Kinect on the xbox one is great. It has really changed how I interact with my TV but I still hope they add a few more things to the xbox one soon the 3 biggest ones for me are Now TVL Game Centre and DLNA playback via folder browsing. I know the 1st two are coming soon but I would more or less not use any other device to my TV needs if they all get added.

As for the gaming side the games have been a back lustier. I was disappointed with the head tracking in Forza 5 as it was not head tracking like in 4 you have to move your body left and right where in Forza 4 you just moved your head. I've not used it in BF4 so not sure what its like but now the servers and game looks to be more stable ill give it a go soon. I liked the Fifa 14 Kinect commands work well for quick subs ect. I also like the controller tracking in KI too that is kind of cool but apart from that not much has been done by developers so far.

As for outside of gaming I think some big things will come from Kinect 2 as it is a lot more advanced than then 1st Kinect and a lot of amazing things were don with the 1st one will be interesting to see what is done with kinect 2 over the next few months.

Clown_Syndr0me3562d ago

This. People need to stop blaming MS for the Kinects failures. MS delivered new innovative technology, but the developers did next to nothing with it.
Blame them for release nothing but half assed crap, because its too much hard work to divert from the standard FPS or TPS or whatever.

dericb113562d ago

At least MS themshelves could have make a proper game with it, and that didn't happen or hasn't happen yet. Don't blame others for MS faults with Kinect.

Chevalier3562d ago (Edited 3562d ago )

Then why doesn't MS make games using the kinect games themselves? I notice that Nintendo add tablet features to their games well to show off different uses. I imagine RTS games would be a great use of the kinect like Halo Wars 2 maybe? They should get more interest in kinect built up by featuring it's uses in 1st party games developed around it.

Clown_Syndr0me3562d ago

I agree MS should use it more themselves, but so should third party developers. But then again they hardly use the PS4s motion/touch pad either.

Spotie3562d ago

No way in hell does Microsoft get off the hook. As said, they didn't develop anything worthwhile, either; why should we expect third parties to do it instead?

As for its medical applications, that's sorta old news. They were using the first Kinect in hospitals years ago. Frankly, it seems better suited there than in gaming.

Chevalier3559d ago

If the company that created the product can't even imagine a good use for it in games that's kind of telling as well though too right? Why would a 3rd party company bother putting in all that extra work?

It's cost versus benefit and if it doesn't bump up their sales then they're going to see no need to spend the extra time or money. The most innovative use should be by MS themselves.

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djplonker3562d ago (Edited 3562d ago )

Lol the kinect costs £100ish most medical equipment costs tens of thousands... I dont see the nhs using these XD

ok all it does is remove the need for a mouse / keyboard and it says it will save time during surgery.... I don't even trust it to game properly.

Rob Hornecker3562d ago

That could change if a kinect feature ever gets merged into use with the windows operating system.

djplonker3562d ago (Edited 3562d ago )

You really think doctors will look at the kinect and say yes thats a big help...

maybe if you have privatised healthcare because then they are only in it for the money so maybe they will buy a kinect to help profits instead of buying real medical equipment.

@Dehnus

Do you really think the main surgeon has a mess about on the moniter while preforming the surgery to get more info or is it someones job to operate that for him?

Hint it's not the guy wrist deep in your chest XD

Dehnus3562d ago

It will be one dirty point and click device eventually if you used a mouse. Now you can just flip through the patient's medical records without ever touching anything.

Rob Hornecker3562d ago

I would rather have his hands working on my "chest" then F*#KING around with his hands on a mouse/keyboard.

Lets stick to the real point and for me is what the kinect can be used for more than just games. There has been talk of using the kinect for the windows PC now for sometime. With MS laying off 18000 people this doesn't look like triple AAA company with a whole lot to look forward to as a future!

As others in this subject have mentioned, like it or not the kinect is here,and it is here NOW. Lets just hope that someone,some how has what it takes to take into the future! and this story is a start to it.

Rob Hornecker3562d ago

This is a good thing. I like my kinect for the 360 and was looking forward to a improved kinect for the xb1. I still feel it has a chance to make it a game changer, but so far there has only been 1 game released that takes avantage of it.

The milo demo was cool and showed promise, but alas it was only a pipe dream. Plus the introduction of the xb1 at last years e3 and there change in policies left a very bad taste in die hard xbox owners.

XiRockLee3562d ago

Kinect is in a better place now

Gaming_Guru3562d ago

Sony's method of the Move and camera would deem more useful than the Kinect and some foreign object.

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20°

Joy Ride Turbo - The Beginning of the End for Xbox Kinect

Joy Ride Turbo launched 10 years ago today. The first title was Xbox Kinect exclusive, yet this sequel failed to support the device at all.

300°

10 of the Biggest Video Game Hardware Failures Ever

Cultured Vultures: "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal, and no matter how much developers might try, some gaming hardware just fails to hit the mark. We’ve compiled a list of 10 gaming hardware fails, and boy did some fail hard."

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culturedvultures.com
Knightofelemia823d ago

I would label the Power Glove, Kinect, and that Tony Hawk skateboard more as hardware addons hardware failure would be like the Virtual Boy and one day Stadia.

Magog822d ago

Kinect was bundled with every Xbox One and inflated the price on an already underpowered and low RAM machine so for the One it wasn't an accessory as much as a white elephant.

CaptainHenry916822d ago (Edited 822d ago )

Definitely the RROD but that power glove had a lot of issues as well. The Kinect just didn't work

822d ago
CrimsonWing69822d ago

Hardware add-ons are more like RAM or a video card, basically components that enhance capabilities or performance of the computer.

If you really want to get technical the Kinect is more of a peripheral device, kind of like a keyboard or mouse to a computer.

ThatsGaming822d ago

The person in this article obviously is not up on their gaming history....

Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Coleco Gemini, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga, Atari 5200, Atari 7800 were all massive failures and in most cases cost their companies participating in future gaming generations.

Gamer79822d ago

Sega saturn (successful in Japan) and dreamcast were not failures.
Seems like you're not up on you're gaming history

septemberindecember822d ago

@Gamer79

How in the world are the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast not seen as failures? They both sold around 8M each, which is much lower than the ~30M that the Genesis had sold before it, and even the Master System before that. They were both the worst selling consoles in their respective generation (PS1, N64 outsold Saturn, PS2, GC, and Xbox outsold Dreamcast). Both of the consoles were incredibly short lived. The Saturn was discontinued in every territory but Japan after just three years. In Japan the console was discontinued after six years. Meanwhile the Dreamcast was discontinued worldwide in 2001 after launching in most territories in 1999 and in Japan in 1998. The failure of the Saturn and Dreamcast lead to Sega pulling out of the hardware market. Which, by the way, all of this occurred when Sega was massively dropping the price of their consoles quickly to compete. Sega was hemorrhaging money at this point.

None of this indicates a successful console. Saying the Saturn was a success because it did better in Japan is like saying the Vita is a success (they both sold around the same amount of units in Japan). Even the Wii U outsold these consoles worldwide.

Magog822d ago

The picture should be the 360 RROD. When I think of gaming hardware failures that's what springs to mind. Kinect and it's bundled price tag definitely hobbled the already underpowered Xbox One though for sure so I would give it a close second place.

porkChop822d ago (Edited 822d ago )

That's not what the author means by failures. It's about hardware that failed in terms of sales (Wii U) or just failed to deliver on its promise (Kinect).

Magog822d ago (Edited 822d ago )

Given that the 360 had a year head start, much easier hardware to develop for, was cheaper, and still ended up in third place I think it qualifies especially when you factor in the frustration and huge losses incurred by RROD.

porkChop822d ago

Selling over 80 million consoles isn't a sales flop. We get it, you don't like Xbox, but that doesn't mean the 360 is suddenly a failure.

Rhythmattic821d ago

Porky....
You know how many people I know bought a 2nd or third 360 due to RROD? Even when MS had to confront the issue with replacement systems, my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in, and waiting for a replacement.,,..,..
If that's how you consider it a win... OK.. but so is having 5 , of which 3 don't function.... Its a win win....mwhahahahaha

porkChop821d ago

"my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in"

You're acting like it would take months. When I sent my 360 in I got a new one literally 5 days later. As soon as MS had tracking confirmation that you sent yours, they'd send a new one to you the same day. No one is going to spend hundreds to buy a new console instead of waiting a week. I swear you guys pull some of the dumbest shit out of nowhere and think people will actually believe it.

Regardless, none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about.

Rhythmattic821d ago (Edited 821d ago )

Porky
"You're acting like it would take months"
Sometimes it could.. FFS.. 'Strya here...
Best turnaround I reckon was 2-3 weeks.....
Either way, My mates experiences still exist.. So Sorry, no point trying to earn Xbox Achievements when it doesn't feature in what was a situation you never dealt with,,,,
3 of my friends would disagree (overall, 10 extra Xboxes purchased)
Regardless.. MS sold a lot of 360's that was due to this reason.. That is sales. Fact

"none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about."
Headline says HELLO !
Oh and "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal," that's enough to pass this on without taking your article bias into consideration.....
As for the rest.... Ok.. But you've actually gone out of your way to give MS a Pass... Fap on.

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Aloymetal822d ago (Edited 822d ago )

Yup, and because of that big fiasco MS had to fork out 1 billion but knowing them I think they're very proud of the 360, it's the only time a MS console reached 80mil+ sales, RROD played a big part of that and a record they will never break again.

Rhythmattic821d ago (Edited 821d ago )

So true.. Even when MS accepted they where caught out in the biggest lie of any generation, The wait for a replacement was outweighed by just buying another, and having one be returned as a backup, which, btw, generally failed on first swap.
I own honestly can't believe MS tards are just supporting , or arguing why and what MS did by just dismissing it....

lonewolf10822d ago

Lol I had the Atari Jaguar, surprised its "competition" the 3DO isn't on the list too, both as "popular" as each other.

SullysCigar822d ago

Lol same. Played the crap out of Aliens Vs Predator and Tempest 2000 .... aaand that's about it really!!

lonewolf10822d ago

Sad but true that was pretty much it.

Kurt Russell822d ago

Agreed, I never actually saw a 3DO make it to retailers in the UK. At least the Atari Jaguar was sold for around 6 months.

lonewolf10822d ago

It made it to some my brother got one, fared just as well as the Jaguar so most probably hard to find in general.

darthv72822d ago

3do had way better games. Jaguar not so much. Neo Geo sold less than both and yet isnt considered a failure. Go figure.

LWOGaming822d ago

Stadia is a weird one. It hasn’t sold at all well but in terms of how it works it’s still miles ahead of Xcloud in terms of stability and performance. Xcloud is still a way behind and that needs sorting but it will be in time. Stadia for me is one of those things that will go down as a what could have been moments. With better marketing it could have been a roaring success. I still play it and it remains the best place in my opinion to play CyberPunk 2077. Only platform I have played it on without having any issues at all. The tech is great. The concept is fine. Marketing terrible. Shame really.

Magog822d ago

The sales model was awful. They should have teamed with an existing player to allow for local and cloud access to games or a gaming subscription service.

LWOGaming822d ago

It was a strange mess from such a huge company, as I said, as a system it works really well but without gamers it’s nothing. Such a waste,

LWOGaming822d ago

The Xbox One was Microsoft’s Nintendo Wii U. Undercooked, undersold and just an unholy mess. The thing is with any of these failures is to learn from them and thankfully both Nintendo and Xbox did just that to the benefit of gamers everywhere.

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120°

Pivotal Decisions in Gaming History - Xbox Goes All-In on Kinect

Xbox 360's Kinect had flopped yet Microsoft insisted on mandatory Kinect for Xbox One, driving the price up and alienating their potential customers.

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techstomper.com
darthv72999d ago

the tech was pretty damn good but their focus on making it the centerpiece was not. Had they opted to keep it as a secondary or even tertiary device, it may have found new use for AR/VR.

PrimeVinister999d ago

Maybe. But they were two early for VR and too late for motion control

999d ago Replies(2)
Godmars290999d ago

Their focus was marketing metrics. Information gathering for targeted advertising. Also "event curating" or head counting for special TV events. If MS had had their way with always online and mandatory Kinect pre COVID, as and during it they'd likely be turning into dominant presence in many Western homes. Be getting subsidized by Disney and other streamers as well as the NFL.

Thing was, Kinect as an actual game system, its games, just weren't ready. MS moved on it too soon. Thankfully.

Atticus_finch999d ago

Sorry but it was incredibly bad for gaming. The thing barely worked as intended and the games were broken shovelware. And let's not forget all the lies from Xbox to try and sell it. What happened to Milo?
It's like Xbox it's a perpetual lying machine.

PrimeVinister999d ago

I had almost forgotten about Milo. It looks so unbelievable in retrospect. How did anyone believe it?!

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TheEnigma313999d ago

Kinect requirement, TV focused, DRM, and $100 buried Xbone before it even stared.

PrimeVinister999d ago (Edited 999d ago )

I think Kinect was the worst of the bunch. They reversed DRM overnight and try to play down the TV stuff when they realised it made them look disinterested in gaming.

Kinect stuck around for six months, preventing sales and making more and more people upset when they dropped the Kinect and the price.

Atticus_finch999d ago

Don't forget the inferior hardware which affects their game development to this day.
And the constant boasting and lying that hasn't change very much to this day.

kayoss999d ago

I was kind of excited for the kinect. It had potential. That was until i tried it at one of their Microsoft store. The thing was so laggy and worker who was there, had no clue what he was doing. It kind of made rethink about buying an Xbox One with Kinect.

PrimeVinister999d ago

I had already been turned off of the idea by Kinect for 360. Even when it worked, the games were bad and showed no potential.

Wii made you understand what they were going to do with it within about 10 seconds of Wii Sports. It went on to become a bit of a joke but at least it worked and had a purpose.

Thundercat77999d ago

The damage to the Xbox brand was so hard that til this day they are just the last place brand in the market.

PrimeVinister999d ago

Totally. They haven't been really all that relevant since.

Godmars290999d ago

That has to do with repeatedly failing, having to reaffirm only to again fail at creating a competent flow of decent games.

@PrimeVinister:
Until Game Pass and BC are mentioned. Only for the point to be missed.

kayoss999d ago

thats because they dont know what they want to be. A gaming console, Television, or a gaming service?

Godmars290998d ago

@kayoss:
They wanted, expected, to be Steam. To have everyone coming to them and paying for the privilege. That's the exact mentality on display when they tried to push always online.

brewin998d ago

Its sad because the Xbox one version of Kinect was actually pretty solid. Not for motion games, I couldnt care less about those, but for the other features that are now commonplace in the gaming ecosystem. Things like voice control and optional motion features in games. Stuff that Sony did with the PS camera was pretty sweet and they could have done some of that stuff with Kinect.

The tech was pretty sweet when implemented right though. Who remembers the implementation in Dead Rising 3?! You could lure zombies away by saying stuff into the kinect, it was a bit hokey at first, but it actually enhanced the game significantly once you learned all the different voice commands. There was and still is nothing else like that!

The focus on TV seemed to be an issue for people, but the TV pass through had some real potential. They could have had cable companies giving the XBone out instead of cable boxes! I understood what they were trying to do, but they needed to show the games too, and thats where they lost the core gamers. Being able to jump right to a sports event or TV show with out leaving the console was actually a pretty cool thing. I spent many nights switching between NHL games or TV shows and jumping right back into my games seamlessly, just by telling Kinect to do so. It was better than people care to admit, but I loved it!

People say XBone had no games, but on launch I got Dead Rising 3, AC Black Flag, Watch Dogs, Killer Instinct, Battlefield 4, Forza 5, and Ryse. That was actually a pretty solid lineup in hindsight! Then later on it got gems like Quantum Break, Dead Rising 4, Sunset Overdrive, Gears 4 and 5, the Ori games, Rare Replay, Forza Horizon 3/4, State of Decay 2, ReCore (SUPER UNDERRATED GEM), Halo 5, Halo Wars 2, and all the great 3rd party stuff as well! I dare anyone who sat on the Xbox One to go back and give it a shot now.

It was actually a pretty great console all things considered. Yes the PS4 had better 1st party stuff, stuff that MS just couldnt top or even compete with, but there are some really great games that a lot of people missed out on that they would probably really enjoy if they actually played them. Thats why I recommend a Series S and Gamepass to a lot of people, as its a great way to get an awesome lineup pf games for super cheap!

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