Those Who Cannot Remember the Past

With the reveal of the next Microsoft console just around the corner, there's probably a larger portion of people than Microsoft would want to acknowledge that still shudder at mere mention of the name Kudo Tsunoda. While I wouldn't call the Kinect an abeject failure, it certainly did not live up to the hype nor the potential of the accessory. Many concerned gamers fear the force feeding of Kinect 2 or more motion controls that aren't necessarily wanted. I think there are problems that any new hardware faces, but I earnestly hope that Microsoft has considered some lessons from its Kinect past.

Do not sell what you do not have

Perhaps one of the biggest barriers to full-on Kinect adoption was that gamers believed or at least hoped Microsoft was offering a controller-less Move/Wii control scheme. "You are the controller" we were told. Unfortunately, the delay between movement and on-screen action was a little too noticeable to be as fun or connected than what serious gaming requires. While anticipation could be negotiated in lighter fare like Kinect Adventures, lag between a person's actions and the resultant on-screen movement dooms any game needing immediate, precise movement.

In an ideal world, motion controls for Tiger Woods seem like it could or should be a golfer's dream. -- an off-season way to stay sharp, hone and improve real wold skills. But Kinect is not a fine enough sensor to capture the subtleties of a golf swing. Heck, even using Kinect to navigate menus, the goals of ease and simplicity are clearly further away than just picking up a controller and using the analog sticks and buttons. That the Xbox controller feels so comfortable in the hands of the player makes it that much tougher a sell for what appears an over promised gimmick at best, a complete pander to the Wii family crowd at worst.

It's the software dummy

Games, game, games. As great as the technology may be, if there is not the appropriate software to take advantage of the beast under the hood, then what do we have? Not a big step from the current generation. Certainly, systems have had weak launches and still succeeded but to have an "it" game can really get the ball rolling in the right direction. Halo. 'Nuff said, right? Looking at the WiiU launch, I don't know that I could tell you what came out Day One. I'm guessing a Super Mario Bros. of some type.

But really, what makes a person make the jump? I have pondered this past year the thought that I feel perfectly satisfied with the current console generation. Unless I'm offered something I don't know that I want/need right now, launch day becomes more about the experience of getting on board early and less about playing what I can't currently play.

For Kinect, Dance Central did just that. It was the game I could depend on to show my family and friends my new Xbox peripheral. It worked within the Kinect's limitations and provided a show piece, fun play where frustration was minimized with no fail conditions. Before I realized, "Poker Face" was irritatingly and irreversibly etched in my subconscious.

Of course, part and parcel to the "killer app" is the all important next wave of games. And for Kinect, I don't count Dance Central 2 or Dance Central 3 or Zumba Fitness or Zumba Fitness Rush or Zumba Fitness Core as worthy succesors. Gunstringer, Child of Eden and Fruit Ninja all showed promise, but most often software support didn't come in the form of innovation or originality. Instead, options were limited to fitness and dance titles and their sequels.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should

The last thing I think Microsoft can learn from its Kinect experience is that just because all these bells and whistles are aailable does not necessarily mean you need to use them. Microsoft desribed a number of games that were Kinect compatible but not required as "Better With Kinect" and yet, I don't know that (m)any of these titles were actually better. Did anyone use Kinect with Mass Effect 3, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Forza Horizon, Tiger Woods? No, no, no, and no.

Of course, with any new toy, I can see why a company wants to tout all of its features. But there's a point where it's too much. Don't let features be crammed into a game just because your system can support motion and/or voice controls. If it's part of the game fine, but when it's an add-on, the forced gameplay detracts from the natural flow and progression.

I have no idea what to expect come Tuesday, but I do have high hopes. Let's hope Microsoft remembers the past and heads in the right direction.

Posted with Blogsy