Almost a year after its birth, Microsoft and third parties are keeping Kinect alive.
Motion gaming, for a while, seemed like a gimmick. After the Wii popularized the method of play, Sony and Microsoft both followed suit. Many assumed it was a mere cash grab.
Microsoft’s Kinect was always fascinating. Unlike PlayStation Move and the Wii Remote, its infrared sensor tracks player motions so he or she can be the controller. Additionally, it features a microphone for voice commands. It was a gamble — the amount of space it required and somewhat limited catalogue of launch titles could make any potential owner nervous.
Yet Kinect is still going quite strong. As another holiday season approaches, more Kinect-exclusive purple boxes are lining the shelves. September saw Twisted Pixel Games’ The Gunstringer, Harmonix’s Dance Central 2 hit the shelves in mid-October and Rare and Big Park Games’ Kinect Sports: Season Two released Oct. 25. Microsoft published all of those games, but developers are obviously interested.
While games like Child of Eden had versions supporting Kinect and Move, you see many more Kinect exclusives. They’re flowing in almost a year later, proving if you did buy a Kinect, perhaps it wasn’t a bad investment. If you like motion games on your Xbox 360, they are out there to play.
When I look at upcoming games utilizing the device, I’m interested in what developers are doing with it for the audiences the existing games may not attract.
Next month, developer 343 Industries and publisher Microsoft (surprise!) will include Kinect functionality. Using the Kinect’s microphone, players will be able to issue vocal commands such as “grenade” and “reload” in addition to the use of the controller (don’t worry, purists, it’s optional).
Microsoft’s games are not the only “hardcore” titles that will start using the device. Bioware and Electronic Arts’ Mass Effect 3, which is scheduled to release in March, will also use Kinect’s voice features — again, optionally — in its Xbox 360 version. Players will be able to direct dialogue that affects the game’s story and command their crew during battles.
Microsoft’s peripheral has taken about a year to grow into itself. It might still be looking for a killer app, but it’s found its uses for features. If you want to move, games such as Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports: Season Two will let you do that. If you can’t let go of your controller, optional voice commands can ease longtime players into use of the device.
In addition to its consumer purposes, Kinect has found roles in research and programming, as Microsoft released the Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit.
I can’t help but be interested in Kinect’s progress. It’s one year in and despite its strong adoption rate, there’s still room for growth. Kinect obviously has potential in the hands of the right developers. If those developers keep using the technology, Kinect’s future isn’t looking too shabby.
