90°

8Bitfix E3 2013: Hands On (or is it Hands Off?) Impressions with the Kinect One

Is the Kinect One worth the extra $100 on the Xbox One's asking price? Find out as we analyze what the Next Gen Kinect One is capable of with a video demonstration that was recorded live at Mirosoft's E3 booth.

Neoninja4393d ago

I'm happy to see a preview about the new kinect, I'm a bit skeptical on it as most are. The first one was okay, but not as good as it should have been. It's looking like this one will be leaps better. I would like to see a few games with some kinect integration to see just how much better it is than the original.

Foxgod4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

Yeah me2, despite al the negative concensus, i am actually curious about kinect2.
Didnt care so much about kinect1 as it didnt offer too much to me, but the improved and new features sound fun.

For the rest i dont care about having yet another camera in my house, i own so many devices with camera's. or that do data mining, what gives to add another one.

IIJOSEPHXII4393d ago

I don't think anyone at Microsoft ever read the book "1984" by George Orwell.

Foxgod4393d ago

Whether or not you believe the scenario of that book.
its not something that started with kinect, you are already surrounded by camera's (tablets, phone's, laptops, 3Ds, Vita, etch).

Its really strange that people freak out all of a sudden about something that is already all around us, namely, data mining.
Every device we use that has the least amount of internet capabilities mines data, from our phone, to our pc.

ShwankyShpanky4393d ago

Please familiarize yourself with the concept of "false equivalency."

There are a couple other logical fallacies in your brief "argument," but the above referenced is obnoxiously common.

slapedurmomsace4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

@ Fox And what do all of those devices have in common? You can turn them off. Granted you could unplug the console from the wall every time you were done playing..but that...if anyone finds that acceptable in this day in age, than more power to them.

Foxgod4393d ago

Kinect can be turned off,

http://kotaku.com/xbox-ones...

it has a power button, and kinect can be disabled, but then you can only turn it on using the buttons.

besides, does it matter, whenever you use your device (camera, laptop etch) the camera's are on as well, so info is gathered, its nothing new, and it remains bull to attack the XB1 on something everybody already uses.

falviousuk4393d ago

@fox why do you even bother arguinf with them, they are blinded to things like facts, and only regurtitate the negative falswhoods propagated on here.

Its almost as if there was a full on campaign by a certain company to apply as much pressure on negativity towards the xbox one as possible in the run up to launch.

When you actually stop and thing about the features that the xbox one is pushing, there is more to the box and service that what people on here would have you believe.

Yes you can turn off kinect (this sentence will appear blurred to the ps fanboy brigade)

As someone else pointed out elsewhere, what has the PS4 brought to the table, other than more powerful hardware over the PS3. And since when did more power equal better games. State of decay on the 360 is an excellent example of gameplay over graphics.

But again its pointless posting this up as the usual brigade fanboys will continue to pollute these forums, xbox posts in particular.

If they are so disinterested in the system, why do they continue to post time and time again. Makes you wonder what there motives are. paid ?

ShwankyShpanky4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

"Kinect can be turned off ... it has a power button"

No, the Xbone has a power button. The Kinect can only be shut "off" via software settings. Software settings can be remotely overridden.

Remote activation doesn't even necessarily need to enter into it. I've got a Samsung DLP HDTV from 2008, and recently it's been a bit buggy, with settings repeatedly reverting themselves to defaults. Hell, when I plug my Win7 laptop into my docking station at work, I often have to re-do the display settings to get the proper dual-monitor and display rotation settings back.

As has been asked over and over (and I'll ask it again over and over)...

If it can be "turned off," why can't it be disconnected?
If it can be "turned off," why can't it be disconnected?
If it can be "turned off," why can't it be disconnected?

Consumer: "I'm not too crazy about this always-online camera and microphone."
MS: "That's okay, you can turn it off."
Consumer: "Great! So if I can turn it off, that means that the system can operate without it, so I'll just unplug it and put it away. One less piece of clutter in my entertainment center."
MS: "Oh no, you can't unplug it."
Consumer: "Why not?"
MS: ... <crickets> ...

P.S. Again: False equivalency. Your comparison is unsound.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4393d ago
Dr Pepper4393d ago

The only thing I've really seen demoed with the new Kinect (besides when people have just stood in front of it and watched themselves be turned into block figures) was the Fantasia demo at E3. The lag was quite noticeable. I'm not exactly sure what the person playing was doing besides making fireworks appear, but there was such noticeable lag that it seemed like it would affect the experience negatively.

I'm not sure why they would show the game in that state. Either they weren't ready to reveal it, or there are problems with the product on a more fundamental level. Other people can continue to be amazed by seeing the machine recognize a smile, but I have plenty of doubts that have yet to be alleviated. So far, it seems like nothing more than a less convenient way to move slides on the X1 menu and provide a way to use Skype (which doesn't exactly scream gamer-centric, or, for me, justify the added 100 dollar price tag).

badkolo4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

listen at this point we should really wait, they are adding it to the system so they are bankking on kinect v2 to work as advertised, i mean lets be real here, if this thing launches and kinect 2 doesnt work as advertised, you can kiss the xbox good bye so lets just wait, either kinect is usefull and works extremly well or they dug themselves a grave they cant fix since the whole system is pretty much based on having kinect work with it, thats what the whole reveal was about. I doubt they would commit suicide like that . kinect v1 didnt need to be perfect, it just needed to work ok and bring something new to garner the wii style audience, it was coming out years after the launch and isnt the same as kinect 2 . lets wait before we get our pitchforks ready

Dr Pepper4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

I just feel that MS, to really sell the device, should've come out of the gates with something amazing. As an example, an RTS game utilizing fluid motion controls could've been really interesting. Hell, they owned Ensemble. What if they had kept the studio and released an amazing Age of Empires game in the launch window to sell the concept? Just throwin' out an idea.

Instead, gamers are shown a delayed firework simulator with a Disney name slapped onto it. I just don't understand how they are trying to sell this idea with an extra 100 dollars attached to the console. I can skye, but I can do that on a laptop, or on my phone. And even if they did something more hardcore, there are still fundamental problems with using that type of motion control system. I think there is a reason why a game like Ryse abandoned the idea and is using it as support, or a game like Dead Rising 3 says "the zombies can hear you in your room", and doesn't go much further.

These aren't fundamental to the gameplay, and in some ways just detract from it. Therefore, the lack of fundamental benefits make me wary of throwing in an extra 100 dollars for something that isn't necessary. Seems like a weird thing to base your video game console around.

It isn't my goal to bash the X1 for the hell of it. I've been a customer for a long time now, with the original xbox and xbox 360. But I've grown so weary of this game they play.

Shadonic4393d ago

Im going PS4 as well but lets be realistic here Technically you can still play online with Xbox one you just need to have connected to the internet in that 24 hour time-frame which kind of makes online the 24 hour connection stupid. You can trade games as they said you can trade a Code specifically for playing on other consoles with your friend which is a huge hassle in my book and yes you cant play without the camera but you can turn it off while your playing or cover it up if your not using it for gesture specific operations.

fsfsxii4393d ago

I'm going PS4 too but let's be realistic.
Xbox One SHITS on your rights. Is that clear??!

badkolo4393d ago (Edited 4393d ago )

It was easy to hate on kinect and I do agree on the why, it was pushed hard to capitalize on the motion fad and while it worked better then previous cameras and while the mic part worked decently it still had many drawbacks and wasnt fully reliable for gaming and was limited in many aspects, and in the end we got no core games for it, we got crap kiddie kinect games shoved down our throats when they could have been giving us more games and exclusives, so it was easy to hate on it. The kinect 2 though, if finally it lives up to its potential and it actually seems like it might then for once i can be excited about it, it looks like it will be an additional thing to use during games with some kinect games versus it being a motion camera with forced games that dont work well and only focus on the wii style audience while ignoring the core, it looks like they are making the proper changes as we only heard about 1 kinect game and you can actually use it for many other purposes and use it successfully

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660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
3d ago Replies(1)
3d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer3d ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

3d ago
pwnmaster30003d ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

3d ago
Obscure_Observer3d ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

blacktiger3d ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30003d ago (Edited 3d ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole2d ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
Tacoboto3d ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing693d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif3d ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing693d ago (Edited 3d ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif3d ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
-Foxtrot3d ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast3d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto3d ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
Profchaos3d ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo2d ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner2d ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18812d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
3d ago
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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

Read Full Story >>
clouddosage.com
Obscure_Observer8d ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole7d ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK7d ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent757d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM7d ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif7d ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer7d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin7d ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Obscure_Observer4d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever"

I´d told you were on some bs

https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4d ago
Agent757d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer7d ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM6d ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

Obscure_Observer6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

"How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is."

Dude, what I know for certain is that a tech as old as X3D chips which is actually *older* than both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, is hardly the reason behind this new partnership between AMD and MS to build new *custom silicon* for next generation of consoles.

And yes it´s a huge announcement since AMD is working closely with MS to co-develop custom SoC which will allow backwards compatibility across all MS´s next gen devices allowing seamless integration between devices and full backwards compatibility across all generations of Xbox consoles.

I also know is that this announcement don´t have anything to do with Playstation and their strategy with AMD for the PS6, so stop comparing the two pretending that you know what´s going on, because you clearly don´t.

If Sony is working on something remotely similar, that´s remain to be seen.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Fishy Fingers8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer8d ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

HyperMoused8d ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher8d ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning777d ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay7d ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer7d ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 7d ago
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210°

Activision Forces Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

26d ago
26d ago
lukasmain26d ago

Putting Ads in a pay-to-play Premium title? Well done Microsoft. Well done /s This is really scummy.

jjb198126d ago

This game will never change because these sweatlords love buying up all the skins and bundles that become obsolete the following year. They're the ones perpetuating Activision's greed.

VenomUK25d ago

If Microsoft introduces adverts into its other games I hope it can do them without disrupting the immersion of the game world. So for example in the new Fable game it would look out of place if there was a billboard advertising Cadillacs.

A far better way to do it would be to have a wizard conjure a 'dream cloud' in front of your character and then in the cloud you can see the Cadillac car and see the text with price and availability and hear a booming sales voice promoting the car. That would work so well as it wouldn't be a billboard and completely, 100%, fit in with your character's adventuring in Albion. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

crazyCoconuts25d ago

@venom, or how about our of 100 farts in Albion, 1 of them has a Cadillac pop out

VenomUK25d ago

@crazyCoconuts That’s undeniably off-beat - but it could really work!

26d ago
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