Microsoft E3 Conference 2011

[Nesh]

Why is the wizard game on PS3 using two wands instead of one, or a nav controller + wand. Why is it also on rails?

A bad game that was demonstrated with one wand

Because if Kinect captured at 2560x1440 and processed 4 full skeletons 1:1 at 60 frames per second and did all that with only 1 byte of RAM overhead the next complaint would be "pew pew pew". It's neverending dismissal. Just like the dialog after Kinect's initial showing was all about where's my object scanning, and where's my voice recognition in hardcore games at least, etc. So this E3 you get all that... and what's the response? Nothing to do with Microsoft delivering on every bullet point. It's all fallback to lag, response time, etc.



Again, with the all solving wands, why were games on other system still on rails?



Because they are not basic things. Because you're asking for the equivalent of real-time ray tracing, in a complex environment, not even on the PC yet, and oh yeah you want it on 6 year old hardware specs.



Because being a jack of all trades and a master of none does not guarantee a surefire hit with said consumers. Some people find an abundance of choices as constricting as not having any choices at all. That concept is very hard for some people to understand. Look at Apple's meteoric success and you just may get it, and how I'm worried about Wii U's complexity compared to Wii.

One of the reasons why Kinect takes so much CPU AFAIK is because it relies solely on image and depth processing to understand whats going on from the user. Movement or action mapped on analog stick, or a simple button pressing or a simple shape changing size is less intensive than trying to read a variable body part doing a movement in 3D space which has to translate in action on screen. It can be assisted by another device than let everything solely on the Kinect. Someone who knows better can correct me on this

As far as other games being on rails I dont know where you are getting at, they just happen to be some just as there are games on rails that are using a traditional controller. There are examples of complex games that arent on rails and are using motion controls.

Now regarding your last point you are assuming too much complexity when there isnt necessarilly any. There is simply a kinect and a device with analoq stick and maybe 4 buttons. Its the same layout as the Wii and it didnt prevent it to sell like hotcakes. Only this time some games can be even simpler than what we got on Wii and can be played without a wand like device if the developer decides to make a game without it

 

[mrcorbo]

A bad game that was demonstrated with one wand


One of the reasons why Kinect takes so much CPU AFAIK is because it relies solely on image and depth processing to understand whats going on from the user. Movement or action mapped on analog stick, or a simple button pressing or a simple shape changing size is less intensive than trying to read a variable body part doing a movement in 3D space which has to translate in action on screen. It can be assisted by another device than let everything solely on the Kinect. Someone who knows better can correct me on this

Not if Sony's patents for Move cover a system where a camera in combination with position sensors is used to track a player in space and communicate that to a console gaming device. I believe the patents that covered what would eventually become Move were posted on this forum, but I can't find them via search. Is anyone familiar enough with them to say how broad they are?

 

[Nesh]

If thats the case then we ve got a problem

 

[Silenti]

That's just it. I don't think they DO know. When E3 demos are using the controller, movements are so subtle nobody notices the lag between the players' inputs and the response on the screen. Kinect's movements are so obvious that it clearly shows the delay.

The E3 demos are probably the only time some gamers see Kinect (because they are forced to) and this is what the experience seems to be? I'd write it off too. And don't get me started on the "acting" during these segments. They should know by now what works in an on stage demo and what doesn't and put their best foot forward.

One thing we should all thank MS for, though, is for ditching the charts and graphs since it seems to have forced Sony to follow suit. Let's see if Nintendo got the memo...

I would trade the "actors" for charts and graphs at this point.

 

[Nesh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Bue5aupDU&feature=player_embedded

Hmm looks like we are getting somewhere

 

[mrcorbo]

I would trade the "actors" for charts and graphs at this point.

I guess it's a choice between having someone bore you or insult your intelligence. Given that choice, I'll take the charts and graphs, too.

 

[mrcorbo]

If thats the case then we ve got a problem

If by "we" you mean you and everyone who thinks Kinect should be anything other than what it is, then yes, you would have a problem.

 

[mrcorbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Bue5aupDU&feature=player_embedded

Hmm looks like we are getting somewhere

Nice ideas there. What happened with the graphics, though? I haven't seen a 360 game that ugly since Deadly Premonition!

 

[NavNucST3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Bue5aupDU&feature=player_embedded

Hmm looks like we are getting somewhere

Why would this be getting somewhere after you called Star Wars Kinect a trainwreck?

 

[Nesh]

If by "we" you mean you and everyone who thinks Kinect should be anything other than what it is, then yes, you would have a problem.

We dont want it to be "anything other". We want it to be better at what it does

 

[Nesh]

Why would this be getting somewhere after you called Star Wars Kinect a trainwreck?

I am not referring to the quality of the game itself. I was referring to the fact that the devs are experimenting with a controller free navigation solution with this particular game. It doesnt fall to the "on rails" fate of the other examples

 

[swym]

Halo 4 with MC seems a stretch too me. I'm not saying they should have abandoned the franchise but something new set in the same world would have been much better.

Didn't they have something new set in the same world with Halo Wars? And then again with ODST? And then with Reach?

MC is MIA since 2007. Don't you think it's time to get back to him after 5 years?

 

[Prophecy2k]

Why is the wizard game on PS3 using two wands instead of one, or a nav controller + wand. Why is it also on rails?

Just out of curiosity, what wizard game are you talking about?

Sorcery?

 

[Arwin]

Just out of curiosity, what wizard game are you talking about?

Sorcery?

I'm sure he's talking about DeadMund, which is basically a reskinning of Move's launch title and US pack-in Sports Championship in an on-rails type affair.

 

[Butta]

I'm sure he's talking about DeadMund, which is basically a reskinning of Move's launch title and US pack-in Sports Championship in an on-rails type affair.

Completely agree and I wonder why with all the buttons available on the Move controller they couldn't force people to use 2 Move and have four of the buttons (between the 2 controllers) reserved for forward, backward, left and right movement.

 

[Rotmm]

I'm sure he's talking about DeadMund...

Great Job, Jeremy!

 

[dlm]

Now they need for the games to be "stored" there so I don't need to swap discs.

And when are they going to make a Windows app where I can be logged into xbox live and get alerts when friends are online or send me a message? I don't understand what's taking them so long to integrate with the PC or phones.

It seems on the PC side XBL has gotten *more* closed, not less (see MyGamerCard.net).

That said, the XBL integration on WP7 is great. You can get your friends list at any time and the live tile indicates when you have unread messages or friend requests. You can also update your avatar and check achievements from the device.