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Just a note for anyone in NZ: Noel Leeming is taking pre-orders for $187.49 which is apparently the cheapest in the world :eek: (approx US$120). This price lasts until 10/8.
 
kinect_you7ix8dchiu95g.jpg


:D
 

Yeah, I can just see it how they were talking about how it recognizes who you are to log you in.

Next thing you know it will...
query your facebook profile,
tell your friends you're "kinected",
invite eachother to help you choose a dress by spamming their walls,
upload your bio to your playmates,
fetch all your social activity from Bing...

Big BrotherSoft will be watching you! :eek:
 
Concerns about cost aside...

Is anyone else looking forward to how people hack this into being a peripheral for interfacing with computers? After seeing the Wiimote multitouch demo at TED, I've got my hopes.
 
Concerns about cost aside...

Is anyone else looking forward to how people hack this into being a peripheral for interfacing with computers? After seeing the Wiimote multitouch demo at TED, I've got my hopes.

I think this will have a profound effect on robotics. There's a sensor that does the same type of ranging like it now, but it's like $9000. It's called the Swiss Ranger. For electronics projects, this is pretty damn expensive, especially for small scale research at the university levels and hobbyists. But like the Wii, reverse engineering a mass produced item might bring about some interesting things.

I guess that's how it goes sometimes. Technology becomes "practical" when there's a consumer application and you can apply economies of scale.
 
Yeah, I wasn't even thinking about robotics... this could be very big indeed.

I guess that's how it goes sometimes. Technology becomes "practical" when there's a consumer application and you can apply economies of scale.

That's what has me excited about it, much the same as I was with the Wiimote (XGA multipoint IR sensor) and the iPhone (multitouch, accelerometer, etc.). I just wish I had the engineering chops to mess with it myself :eek:.
 
Kinect just killed itself for me with its ludicrous space requirements. 9' for 2 players minimum, and 6-8' for single. Sorry, but how many people have that much clear space?

My 360 is connected to my secondary 32" TV in the study, and there is simply no way I can arrange it to get that amount of room. My living room can probably take it, but I don't want the 360 down there - and the PSeye is on the TV base anyway.
 
I want a character that will greet you by your name, like , "hey there waloshin, how you doing?" You would respond and it would be interactive by saying something like, "thats cool. " It would also reconize the many human emotions, and facial expressions and would try to cheer you up or something if you look sad or depressed.

wow. Go outside and get some human friends :p
 
wow. Go outside and get some human friends :p

Nah...not everyone tries to cheer you up out there. Some ppl just make you more pissed off.
At least if the XBox character does that, you can like blow him to pieces without the cops making you more sad. :eek:
 
I want to try it out. Also the camera seemed bigger in the review videos I saw than in the photos - not a bad thing but still, just something I noticed.
 
picked it up this morning but wont get to play with it till sunday as i work til close tonight and work a 12hr tomorrow
 
I tried it out at the store. There's like a .5 second delay in registering your movement. So it doesn't seem to work too great with twitch gaming as you have to anticipate your move too much.

The fitness one is pretty cool though since it doesn't really matter than much. Didn't get to try dancing, and didn't see anyone do that either since it appears everyone is too shy. But I imagine its similar to the fitness game in terms of operation.

The Playstation one is better for those twitch games imo.
 
I bought it today and have been playing around for a couple of hours (hence I am sweaty and stinky before I even get to the gym)....

Firstly it's bigger than I expected. It also looks good and far from cheap (playstation move & camera I'm looking at you)...



It works, and when it works - it works very well.

Dance Central is fantastic fun and a great aerobic workout on top.
Kinect Adventure is your usual mini game shenanigan.

I also bought Kinect Sports & Kinect JoyRide but have not played either as yet.



Space is the biggest problem...

Damn this Kinect is one greedy mofo in regards to space. I could not use it in my own room due to lack of space, the same room where Move & Wii both have no issues what so ever. This is going to be its biggest problem by far.

Were talking 10-12 feet for best results. That's quite some distance from your TV and if you have to factor in a room having sofa's & chairs - it soon is evident your going to need a bigger home. Kids can forget this in their bedrooms anyway.

Once I was able to give it the room it demands it worked great, but as I say without that room - forget it.


Menus

Dance Central's menu is great. Works with movement very well and feels sensitive and intuitive. Kinect Adventures menu system by comparison is clunky.




Right off to do some proper work for a change :D
 
Thanks for the review!

I guess they would have to start releasing what I consider "real" games for it, before it becomes even remotely interesting to me.

(I'd also have to own an XBox I guess....but at least this is a problem I can remedy myself - the lack of games out of my control!)
 
Little update.

JoyRide is quite fun. Menu system is rubbish though. But the game itself works surprisingly well. There's a lot of leniency built into it to accommodate the motion controls. Graphics are clean, shatp and colourful. The ovefly leniency controls prevents it being a frustration festival. But like I say menu system is pants.

Kinnect Sports is fun and frantic. Enjoy the bowling - it's certainly as fun as Wii Bowling so I can see it being a party game winner. Table tennis is awesome too.

What I like about most Kinnect games so far is Avatar support. It is long overdue since Microsoft introduced them.


Of all the Kinect games the biggest criticism is with the menu system. Only Dance Central has got it spot on - intuitive & responsive.
 
I bought it today and have been playing around for a couple of hours (hence I am sweaty and stinky before I even get to the gym)....

Firstly it's bigger than I expected. It also looks good and far from cheap (playstation move & camera I'm looking at you)...



It works, and when it works - it works very well.

Dance Central is fantastic fun and a great aerobic workout on top.
Kinect Adventure is your usual mini game shenanigan.

I also bought Kinect Sports & Kinect JoyRide but have not played either as yet.



Space is the biggest problem...

Damn this Kinect is one greedy mofo in regards to space. I could not use it in my own room due to lack of space, the same room where Move & Wii both have no issues what so ever. This is going to be its biggest problem by far.

Were talking 10-12 feet for best results. That's quite some distance from your TV and if you have to factor in a room having sofa's & chairs - it soon is evident your going to need a bigger home. Kids can forget this in their bedrooms anyway.


Once I was able to give it the room it demands it worked great, but as I say without that room - forget it.


Menus

Dance Central's menu is great. Works with movement very well and feels sensitive and intuitive. Kinect Adventures menu system by comparison is clunky.




Right off to do some proper work for a change :D

I'm reading that mounting it above the TV gives you an extra 1-2 feet of space, if you are short of it by having the sensor below the TV.
 
I'm reading that mounting it above the TV gives you an extra 1-2 feet of space, if you are short of it by having the sensor below the TV.

Tried it both ways. Made no discernible difference. It saw the gaming area zone exactly the same for me. :(
 
Price is now confirmed at $150 for Kinect + Kinect Adventures. Also confirmed is a new 4GB Arcade 360, based on the slim design, retailing in a bundle with Kinect for $299 (or $199 for the 360 by itself), giving a $50 discount on the total cost.

My thoughts? Too expensive to bother with! Kinect costs nearly as much as a console itself, which is far more complex.


[EDIT: £129 in the UK, bundle price at £249]


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$150 USD is too much? Looking at the toys in red I would figure $150 would be a drop in the bucket. just saying
 
Actually I think its ok priced. Move appears superficially cheaper but it is not.

Playstation Move cost me €60 starter pack + €35 nunchuck + €55 for a 'Sports Champions' not the rather pathetic demo disc included in the starter pack.

Total = €150 & only 1 person can play

Add a controller and nunchuck for second player and I'm up-to €220




Kinect €150 with a full game Kinect Adventures
Two people can play (assuming you have the floor space)

So for me it's pricing is more than competitive.
 
$150 USD is too much? Looking at the toys in red I would figure $150 would be a drop in the bucket. just saying

The cameras are my job, so not exactly toys for pleasure - and the Macs go along with it.

I could spend the £130 on Kinect, and it wouldn't exactly hurt my wallet, but my issue is more a value one. For that £130 I get a sensor and access to a bunch of crap games, along with promises that things will get better. Until there's actually quality titles available, it remains an overpriced, overhyped accessory that costs as much as a console.

...wait, Kinect costs the same as a 4GB 360. That's ludicrous. Move is also pricey, but has the slight advantage of being a scalable system. Same issue with games though right now.
 
Move is also pricey, but has the slight advantage of being a scalable system.

Not really scalable. You need a game, you need the camera + move controller. And to be honest you need the nunchuck if you want to play something like resi-evil as it's impossible to do so holding standard controller in one hand.

Kinect also feels more of a quality product compared to my glowing dildo controller and it'sy plastic camera. The way move is motorised and moves itself to get you in shot - the bulk and weight of the device actually do scream of genuine quality. I was taken back by it as I was expecting Toy and got high tech gadget.


But you are right it's down to games. Best game on Move for me is Tumble (and because it's 3D on top of move enabled means it really feels different even if the premise is so simple)...

At least from my own experience I can say Kinect launch games are certainly more tailored to the device initially, but for me the only game I can see myself playing beyond parties is Dance Central and that's mostly to keep fit.

I can't see any hardcore games for it - but you never know.
 
I more mean that you can pick and chose with Move. For example, I already have a PlayStation Eye from years ago (and so do a fair few people), so if I were to invest in Move I'd simply need a controller to do the basics, and a navigator if I want to pimp it.

The system scales, based on what you already have, and what you want to have. Whereas Kinect is £129, no matter what you own (Move for me would cost less than £70). I do agree however that Move is damn expensive if you need all the components and want 2 players...but then is there really any game worth that outlay right now? I do see Move as having the advantage of buttons though.

I've had a go on Move, and although the controllers were obviously plastic, they felt no more so than every other game controller (DualShock, Wii Remote, 360 controller) under the sun. Kinect's technology is pretty impressive, I will totally admit.


As we both agree, it does simply come down to the games. Killzone 3 may be the make or break of Move, as from what I've seen it'll be the first AAA title from Sony with Move support. Not sure what Microsoft's answer to that will be?





[EDIT: http://kotaku.com/5688040/report-kinect-only-cost-56-to-make
Seriously, $56 to make, selling at $149? Microsoft should have cut it to $99, still made a huge profit, and actually avoided the massive criticism of price. Totally insane]
 
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I more mean that you can pick and chose with Move. For example, I already have a PlayStation Eye from years ago (and so do a fair few people), so if I were to invest in Move I'd simply need a controller to do the basics, and a navigator if I want to pimp it.

The system scales, based on what you already have, and what you want to have. Whereas Kinect is £129, no matter what you own (Move for me would cost less than £70). I do agree however that Move is damn expensive if you need all the components and want 2 players...but then is there really any game worth that outlay right now? I do see Move as having the advantage of buttons though.

I've had a go on Move, and although the controllers were obviously plastic, they felt no more so than every other game controller (DualShock, Wii Remote, 360 controller) under the sun. Kinect's technology is pretty impressive, I will totally admit.


As we both agree, it does simply come down to the games. Killzone 3 may be the make or break of Move, as from what I've seen it'll be the first AAA title from Sony with Move support. Not sure what Microsoft's answer to that will be?





[EDIT: http://kotaku.com/5688040/report-kinect-only-cost-56-to-make
Seriously, $56 to make, selling at $149? Microsoft should have cut it to $99, still made a huge profit, and actually avoided the massive criticism of price. Totally insane]

I agree I mean look at the Move you can get everything you need for $99 and the same price and extra controller. Its just MS typical Nickle and dime scheme.
 
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