Microsoft has confirmed to MCV that Kinect will not boast any voice control functionality or the chat software ‘Video Kinect’ at launch, and that gamers will have to wait until a later date.
Speaking at Gamescom, Xbox Live marketing manager – Robin Burrowes – had the following to say;
“We will be announcing when voice control will be turned on in due course.”
This is some very surprising news, bearing in mind that voice control is one of the major points Microsoft has been focusing on. The uphill struggle for Kinect continues.
Source: MCV
UPDATE: Microsoft has spoken to TSA regarding MCV’s story and has said the following;
“Voice control is an exciting part of the ‘Kinect for Xbox 360’ controller-free experience and we can confirm that it will be available at launch in November 2010. Only on Xbox 360 will you be able to navigate the Kinect Hub using your voice to control your movies, TV Shows and music. We do not have additional details to share about local voice availability at this time.”
On a side note, they have also spoken to us regarding yesterday’s story that Kinect requires a player to be four to five feet from Kinect;
“Comments recently about the play space for “Kinect” were misinterpreted. It is true that the “Kinect” sensor reads the configuration of your room and adjusts play space, as appropriate. We know that living rooms come in all shapes and sizes, and have conducted numerous play tests to ensure everyone will be able to jump off the couch and into the fun when “Kinect” launches globally this holiday.
Apnomis
Ouchie, it will probably come in the Spring dashboard update or something – controlling your Xbox with your voice and using video chat were two of the only potentially interesting non-casual features of Kinect this is giving yet more reasons for the bulk of the existing Xbox user base to hold off buying Kinect…
I’ll be very interested to see how much their Kinect promotional material emphasises voice control in this case. It sounds like, much like the 360, this hardware is far from ready but they need to get it out to avoid losing ground to the PS Move…
Soild_Nat
Have they taken a leaf out of the PS3 launch book written by Sony? The tables really do seem to be turning at the moment. This is a pretty big blow for them, just makes me wonder why its not in from launch, what have they come up against?
Isn’t that Milo game completely dependent on voice etc? I know its only a demo but surely its working for that, why not in the retail version?
The more i here about Kinect the more i think Sony got the approach right, yep its a Wii rip off but it works and works well, the expression ‘let’s not reinvent the wheel’ comes to mind here.
cc_star
Good points, they do seem to have swapped places with the launch of their motion peripherals.
The Xbox launched at a low pricepoint but needed adding to and was a runaway success
The PS3 launch was almost a catastrophe as Sony pushed the technology limit, but blundered from one negative article to another and sales were a slow burner
Now with the Motion phase, Sony have launched a product with an initial low price point but needs adding to, and Microsoft have tried to push the technological limit as well as include everything in one box, but couldn’t buy good publicity if they tried.
Quite a reversal
JesseDeya
1) What about Move needs adding to?
2) How are MS pushing the technological limits?
In answer to my own questions (from my perspective)…
1) Nothing. It works exactly and precisely as advertised, it has family AND core games available on launch (and quite a lot) and it’s cheaper than Kinect (depending on config).
2) Conceptually Kinect is a great idea. In reality, it isn’t meeting expectations. I firmly believe the hardware MS bought the license to is capable of a lot more, but they have crippled it by reducing the camera resolution and removing onboard processing. In it’s current form I can’t see Kinect pushing any limits other than the average gamers tolerance.
By contrast, Sony faced bad press on the PS3 launch despite the fact they actually DID have superior hardware. In this case, Sony face GOOD press despite having superior hardware… and for a change, software.
cc_star
1) A few games at launch and probably more in future are best enjoyed with two Move sticks per player, therefore the initial purchase (just like the 360Arcade) needs adding to. Also the usability of a DS3 with one hand for the length of the average play session probably effects Move’s accuracy, meaning a Navi controller will need adding.
So like I said a low initial pricepoint but needs adding to
2) A camera which can see in a 3D space and feature full body mapping is advanced because it’s the first of its kind to be put in a sell-able package for a games console (like the expensive Blu-ray drive & Cell processor) and like the PS3 where you didn’t need to buy a WiFi connecter, online subscription or a separate HD player, Kinect includes everything in the initial purchase for multiplayer gaming.
Whether Kinect is meeting expectations or not… that depends on your expectations, everyone I’ve seen playing Dance Central is pissing themselves, and I bet if you gave a family Kinectimals they’d love it, so it probably is a product the kids & grandparents will be able to enjoy, meaning its hard to say it’s not meeting expectations even if it isn’t meeting yours, mine or anyone elses on this site.
The lowering of the camera resolution only really effect finger precision (therefore ability to bring core gamers games to the system) which isn’t something relevant to their target market (families, and drunken parties)
simplebob
The cynic in me now believes that the only purpose of Kinect is to damage Sonys Move launch. Is the next release going to state “At launch Kinect will only be a 1.3megapixel web cam in a fancy case, with an in box voucher to replace it for a better product when we get round to coming up with one” Jeez
philzy85
Seems like microsoft are up a certain creep without a paddle with the issue of very very limited disc space (non bluray) and more troubles with kinect…. the down sides of rushing things?
seedaripper1973
Would this ‘creep’ be a certain Aaron Greenburg?
philzy85
i mean creek lol my baaaaaaaaaaaad :P
Klart
Man oh man. And I already thought it looked bad before.
gazzagb
Why don’t they just delay it? It would be better to do that rather than release a half-working product that costs £130. MS aren’t going to appeal to the casual or the hardcore market if they release stuff that doesn’t work.
solidsteven
it ms tbey love money and are frightened by sony.
smokeybeef
I can’t help but think that they have done this to drip-feed features to pad out the longevity of Kinect. There’s no real games for it any time soon, so maybe this is just a way to bide the time while keeping Kinect owners eager for something.
monkeyspoon
It was only yesterday that I said that Kinect does so many things wrong, it’s hard to find anything it does right. Today has proved my point yet again.
Porcupine_I
The great pumpkin will come next year! i am sure it will!
teflon
It’s feeling a little hodgepodge a moment. But, then again, Sony and Nintendo are no better.
Nintendo took a couple years to come out with Motion Plus and actually deliver on the initial promises from their tech. Sony have been adding to the XMB ever since launch, lumbering towards a good end product as time goes by.
Most recently, from Sony, they’re adding 3D support, but doing it piecemeal. 3D games support is now built in, but the 3D movies patch isn’t here yet…
It’s just a little odd that MS are joining in on this “release now, sort out later.” approach after having been bitten so hard by RRoD….
mrfodder
Are there any active 3d bluray movies out yet?