Australians To Connect with Kinect
Why Core-Gamers need Kinect
by XboxOZ360:
©2010 Grant Smythe;
After seeing Kinect for myself at E3, and the possibilities it has for the family, I’m honestly looking forward to its arrival this November here in Australia.
While many so-called ‘gamers’ (or what we tend to term hardcore gamers to be precise) seem to be having huge issues with it, there are tens of thousands of Australians that will embrace the system with open arms, no pun intended.
Why? Simple really, the majority of family entertainment is purchased by women, and family heads, such as mums, dads and grandparents. It’s a statistical fact that women represent the largest ‘casual game’ purchasers in Australia, and most likely in most major countries across the globe.
It’s For Casuals But Will Help The Whole Industry
This is the market Kinect is aimed at, not the hardcore gaming fraternity, and we [gamers] need to understand that in order to get the whole concept of Kinect. And while many ‘gamers’ are actively jumping up and down like cats on a hot tin roof, claiming MS (or Sony via Move) is forgetting its core audience, that core audience is also forgetting that it only represents a small percentage of the annual income for ‘casual’ gaming. Which is a multi-billion dollar business world wide.
Sure, MS has given SDK’s to many developers out in the gaming world to help ‘enhance’ many of their current titles, and to add some further enhancements to further games coming off the production line. But again, Kinect is not aimed at replacing the controller in hardcore gaming, as many seem to believe, nor is it designed to in the first place for such games as FPS, racing games or RPGs etc.
Kinect is designed to allow the casual gamer, the mums, dads, aunts, uncles, the kids next door and the fireman in the station house to get invovled in gaming ‘per-se’, and ideally, for some of those, it will provide an in-road into venturing further into the hardcore gaming arena. Its main and ultimate aim is to engage the casual gaming family in cooperative gameplay within the living rooms across the globe, not disenfranchise the core gaming market, as so many seem to believe.
Gamers Need To Look Beyond Themselves
If ‘so-called gamers’ bothered to take their blinkers off, put on some proper glasses and got rid of the ‘tunnel-vision’ and took a non-biased look at the situation, they would see this quite clearly. But unfortunately, they are far too engaged in their own self righteousness, believing that they are the only ones that matter, and thus Microsoft are therefore abandoning them in favour of some silly motion gaming device that will not suit their gaming needs.
Microsoft has taken lengths to separate the Kinect Brand from the core 360 gaming brands by changing the packaging across the board for both Kinect, the Xbox 360 console and its associated games and the Xbox Live Arcade experience and its games by using distinctly different marketing, packaging, and even promotions POS [Point Of Sale] items to separate them from each other.
Gamers, please just step back, look at what Kinect can offer your family, your friends at parties, the household in general, not whether or not it will make Ghost Recon easier to play and thus dumb it down, or that you’ll have to stand and play racing gamers or FPS and RPG’s and flap your arms about to play the next H.A.W.X game.
Kinect will arrive in Australia this November, and judging by a flurry of interest already, notably NOT from gamers, but from Joe-public, I can see it taking off rather nicely, and do exactly what it is designed to do.
There will always be the Halos, Gears Of War, Alan Wakes, Forzas etc. coming hard and strong, but there will also be a larger number of casual games aimed directly to other newer gamers, a new generation of gamer, the fun-gamer, similar to that generation back in the mid 60′s to 70′s, when arcades for families were all the rage, and console gaming was simply something for the hardcore.
We only have to look at mobile gaming on the iPhone, and now the iPad, to see that.
These devices are supplying simple, basic, fun games designed for quick-fix stints of fun, not 2-3 hour sessions of being a sniper in a watchtower somewhere in Russia or on covert operations in some far-off world location.
The gaming cycle is turning completely around, as does everything in the world . . . . for those old enough, we can see this, as we were around in those younger heyday years when gaming was emerging, but for the younger and current generation of gamers, it seems all new.
Why Gamers Need Kinect
Gamers need things like Kinect or Move because by allowing game developers to build family orientated games that bring in huge amount annually, it helps bolster the publishers coffers thus enabling them to fund other new and or innovative IP games that would otherwise sit on the back shelf and possibly never see the light of day due to lack of funding.
Publishers are losing millions annually, but through such things as Kinect, and Move they will have the opportunity to venture into new territory, build their bank balances, make investors happy, who by the way actually fund the new IP’s in advance, because their portfolios are being bolstered by family orientated gaming via such things as Kinect, Move and 3D gaming enhancements.
Gamers, stop trying to shoot the golden goose, it’s here to help you, not hinder you.
Official Kinect Press Release
©2010 Grant Smythe:
SYDNEY, Australia. — July 22, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Xbox 360 console owners can purchase the revolutionary Kinect sensor for A$199.00 (RRP)** packaged with the Kinect Adventures game*. With over 1.1 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in households across Australia and New Zealand, console owners1 will enjoy the fun of Kinect and controller free entertainment.
“Kinect offers tremendous entertainment value for the whole family and those who are new to video games – with nothing in your hands and no buttons to press. If you can do it in life, you can do it with Kinect” said David McLean, Head of Xbox, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.
With full body play, Kinect is a unique and accessible way for everyone to enjoy controller-free fun. With more than 15 games available at launch, Aussie living rooms will become fitness rooms, dance clubs and sports stadiums.
Additionally, new customers will have an all-in-one opportunity to jump in with a great new offer from participating retailers for A$449.00 (RRP)** featuring:
· The all new Xbox 360 4GB console
· Kinect sensor
· Kinect Adventures game*
“With a record month for Xbox 360 console sales in June, we are excited about our momentum. Given our rich offering this Christmas including Kinect for Xbox 360, Foxtel by Xbox LIVE and a great line up of blockbuster games, I imagine consumers will definitely want to pre-order at their retailer of choice to secure their Kinect under the tree this Christmas. It is going to be an exciting time for all of us.”
xxxxxx
Filed under: Xbox 360 Tagged: | David McLean, Kinect, Microsoft kinect, project natal, X360 S, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S
“Gamers need to look beyond themselves”? Without hardcore gamers there IS no findustry. WE are the reason that gaming stayed alive after the crash back in the late 80′s. So no, we don’t need to look beyond ourselves. Hardcore gamers ARE the gaming industry.
[Ed: please remember, we do not tolerate any swearing at all on OXCGN in the comments section. While this one has been edited this time, further breaches will mean the commenter being barred.
Which isnot something we want, as we welcome everyone to have a ‘civil’ conversation on OXCGN.
Many of our readers are young ppl, some under 15, so it simply is not appropriate.
That aside, while I agree that the ‘hardcore gamer’ might seem like the backbone of the industry, it no longer is. As the statistics show that the main purchase power comes from family purcahses, 60% of sales are by mothers actually. Whereas before, it was not that way.
The so-called ‘hardcore’ gamers do not support new initiatives in game development as freely as those of the newer generations. WHo are willing to look past the older constraints that were placed some time ago re game development. Plus the so-called ‘hardcore’ gamer spends less than the casual gamer when it comes to all aspects of gaming. A trend that has begun in 2005/6 with the inception of the current generation of family-friendly consoles (handheld and the like)
With those came a new wave of gamer, one that has a great expendable income, either through parents of their own means. That’s not to say the ‘hardcore’ gamer doesn’t spend big, they do, but on a lot less across the board.
They (we) are no longer the so-called backbone of the industry, in fact, we are the minority now, whereas the ‘casual’ gamer is by far the most prevelant these days.
@ Doveman,
Kinect IS NOT 4 player. It is only TWO player.
It has no doubt been an interesting time working with the games retail business and perceiving what the consumers are hunting for coming up to the big season.
M$ have no doubt done their homework this season as there has never been as much interest in the Xbox brand as there is now, with Halo: Reach, Fable III and the new slimmer hardware, sales in the Xbox brand are higher than they have ever been. My surprise is the higher than expected interest in Kinect and I think the value is there, let me explain. I’ll admit when US retailers were chucking $150 price tags around I was sceptical of it success. When M$ release the $200 price tag and the Xbox bundle with camera I thought “well they have quite sunken the ship… yet”. But the more I did the numbers the more value Xbox presents.
You see M$, for $449 (and there will be cheaper prices around… guarantee you of that)… you get a 4-player motion control experience right out of the box.
How much is a 4-player Wii experience? PS3 move experience? I could do the numbers here but as I soon as I ask the question, you know the answer is simply much much more!
Comparing Kinect to the purchase of a standalone Wii console is and unfair comparison… sure there will be single player experiences, but let’s be honest here that Kinect will be best enjoyed with 4 people and you don’t need 4 controllers (plus nunchuks, motionpluses, playstation eyes) for that to ensue!
The arguments of some against the Kinect are justified, especially if you are chasing a solo experience with this device. My advice her would be simply don’t buy it and put your penny to experiences that M$ are offering you with games Like Halo: Reach, Fable III and Gears. But at the end of the day M$ have the cheapest 4 player motion control experience available on the market.
M$ truly do have something for everyone this holiday season!
Thanks for the reply mate, good to see you droping back every now and then.
This is what I mean about how it is aimed at a totally different market, but “gamers” seem to be taking it onboard as if all games, and gaming systems should be aimed at them, and them alone.
Yet they make up a small percentage of the actual income generated by ‘casual’ gaming through the family per-se.
From what I have heard through other retailers, it seem sthatthe majority of ‘interest’ is not from what the retailers call core-gamers, but from the family-focused gamer or new-gaming families looking forsomething to unit the family, especially this christmas.
It’s why the Kinect event in LA was NOT AIMED AT GAMERS, I could shoew link after link of things from CNN< CBS, Times etc showing the support the attendees (family ppl) had for the unit at the show.
They knew the event was a "performance" – but the gaming media and gamers in general wanted a "demo" of the item, not a show.
News Flash, it was not aimed at the gamer, but at a burgoing new market, a market that could quite well turn the tide for ALL game publishers. A hint would be to check out some of the highest selling Ubisoft games over that last 12 months, and gamers would be surprised at the results . . . . many of the highest sales go to Ubisoft's publishing of Disney games and other associated game titles, NOT the core-game titles.
Now, if you are in business to stay in business, then you do what is nessesary to enable the firm to continue, to grow and to maintain its self. Not serve a small percentage of the marketshare that is fickled when it comes to purchasing goods.
Its refreshing to see a well written article on the web.
I think its the potential of Kinect that is the most interesting. Funny how people hate something before they’ve even tried it.
http://www.gamerzines.com/xbox-360/news/kinect-lag-problem-ufc-trainer.html
That link tells us that LAG is still effecting Kinect.
THQ’s Global publishing executive VP Ian Curran said : ” We won’t show UFC Trainer to anyone until there’s absolutely no lag with the technology and the game,” said Curran while explaining to CVG why the title wasn’t shown at E3.
“If you look at fitness products at the moment, there is lag. It doesn’t give you the sense that it’s real. We’re working on technology to ensure there is no latency with UFC Trainer. “
Kinect HAS to be played 6ft away from the TV. Plus you have to have space around you so you don’t go breaking things while playing Kinect.
Kinect is WELL OVER PRICED for a Camera thats NOT even as good as PS EYE in some departments and very similar in other ways to a camera that been out for 7 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Eye
Kinect
320×240 @30fps
640×480 @30fps
PS EYE
320×240 with frame rates @ 120Hz
640×480 with frame rates @ 60Hz
thats just a quick comparison but i wonder why MS stuck with 30fps, is it because the higher FPS/Hz the more LAG could take place.? and Kinect HAD to drop to 30fps to try and keep a lid on it ? while PS EYE has no problems with lag while using the PS MOVE.?
Look at the games MS have lined up for Kinect, then look at the games Sony has for PS MOVE.
Game over, as the world needs buttons.
BG93, don’t burst a blood vessel. Seriously, you opinion mean jack dammit to 99.9 percent of the world. You probably have good friends that don’t value your opinion, so why force it on the rest of us?
Interesting article.
I agree with your comments regarding Kinect’s purpose in the industry and why core gamers have to remember that game companies need to look to other types of consumers beyond the core gamer. We cannot be so selfish as to think that everything a console manufacturer does has to be made in our sole interest. Clearly, Kinect in particular is being used as a seperate way for Microsoft to focus heavily on the expanded audience by making different type of software for them than the traditional games on the Xbox 360.
Personally, I’m not interested in Kinect or Move. However, I understand as a core gamer that Microsoft and Sony have realized the potential their respective motion control peripherals can offer in terms of compelling software and bringing in more consumers to help the industry grow.
The only thing that isn’t good for the industry is more shovelware, which I am afraid will be something that both Kinect and Move will definetly suffer from. Hopefully, Microsoft and Sony can give better meaning to quality control that what Nintendo has done with the Wii and DS.
In Nintendo’s defense, the company is credited to bringing video games to the mainstream which has had made a big impact on how games are perceived. Quite frankly, it if weren’t for Nintendo, Kinect and Move probably wouldn’t even exist. I hope that Microsoft and Sony show Nintendo some respect for its efforts in the same way of embracing motion control and utilizing the blue ocean strategy in the benefit of the industry as a whole.
Here’s why Kinect is an absolute piece of junk nobody should buy:
The price: Its priced $50 cheaper than a Wii and the low grade 360, both of which offer proven experiences. Games like Halo, Gears, and Forza all offer experiences greater than those found in Kinectimals or Kinect adventures, and those games are probably cheaper than $40 by now (well maybe not Forza 3). This is subjective, but who would rather pay $40 for Kinectimals than $40 for another casual 360 game, $20 for Burnout Paradise (I love it, my friends love it, my little cousins love it. Kinect has priced its games too high and its own hardware too high.
The games: Besides being $40 a piece for an experience worth trying once, these games are nothing more than a MORE CASUAL wii sports. Games that are fun once, but take even less skill than any game packaged with the Wii. How many times can you play that track running minigame? I’ll go with 3 or 4 MAX. Wii baseball, I’ve played that about 30 or 40 times, if not more. Games are all about learning, about a world you don’t live in and how to interact with it. Kinect ruins that. The Wii let you do this, I see it in practically any wii game, I have seen this in only a few kinect games, and I can’t even name them.
3. Kinect is competing with what is already available: This is bad for MS and for certain gamers. I don’t think Kinect will divide the community, but developer focus will shift, especially in first parties, if Kinect does well. Kinect and regular Xbox games will compete for your money, and if a cheap Kinect game is more profitable than your AAA multimillion dollar Xbox games, some devs will reconsider.
Kinect is an utter piece of shit, I have yet to see a single piece of software that will keep anyone of any age interested for more than one hour.