I Just Can't Kinect...

Now that Microsoft has finally unveiled its final version of its motion controller, I am still not convinced that it can do anything but casual or "get fit" type gaming, and I still think that Microsoft is not really using this technology in the right way.

The major problem I see with Kinect is that there is no way to make a character independently walk or run. If you go back and look at all of the demos they showed, the on-screen characters are either standing in one place with very little movement, or moving "on rails" like Virtua Cop. If you actually tried to make movement 1-1 using only the Kinect, you would start to walk out the house. Without some kind of controller, this basic function is just not possible. But since Microsoft has been nailing in this concept of no controllers and no buttons to learn, I dont think that they will ever add some sort of a controller.

Force feedback, or rumble, is also a big issue. You are just flailing your arms around in empty space and not feeling any kind of reaction?

Microsoft needs to consider using the XBox 360 controller along side with Kinect as an additional control mechanism, rather than just completely tossing away the controller. They could do some interesting things with that. Like an FPS game where you can use the controller for basic movement and shooting and use Kinect to raise your hand and throw grenades or direct other troops. Or how about an RPG where you can actually talk to NPCs.

The subsequent issue is that they are not able to use the technology with any of their most popular titles, like Halo, Gears, Fable, Mass Effect, etc. I think the only way you will convice the "hardcore" (I hate using that term) audience that Kinect is worth getting is to incorporate it with these franchises. If all it can work with is Forza, then why not just get a wheel controller?

Nintendo was able to use thier Wii controller with their franchise titles like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart, etc. Even Sony, regardless of whether its a blatant Wii rip-off or not, they were able to use the Move with SOCOM 4, Dead Space 2, Resident Evil 5, etc. and even showed a new game called Sorcery, where you are walking around in 3D. Microsoft did NOT show Halo, Gears, Fable, etc with Kintect because it simply does NOT WORK without a controller.

Without a controller, the Kinect is limited to "get fit" games, on-rails shooters, boxing games, and casual family titles. Speaking of boxing, why didn't they show their take on Punch-Out!! That would have been a perfect match.

Right now it just looks like Microsoft simply bought this technology just to have it on their platform and market it as the controller with no buttons. It still looks like an unfinished, experimental project. The technology is THERE, but the innovation and creativity isn't. It just landed in the wrong hands. If Nintendo had their hands on this technology, they could really do something magical with it.

If all Microsoft wants to do with Kinect is to appeal to casual gamers, then that would be a huge shame.