“Casual gaming” is a term that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I don't like it as a whole and generally the games produced to fill the “casual” market are devoid of creativity and redeeming features with an ability to be more addictive than caffeine dipped methamphetamine and garnished with whatever they flavour Arnott's Shapes with. I game as a creative outlet; I enjoy the story and immersion provided by “good” games and I loathe any experience that seems to tarnish the avenue that provides me with this.

 

I freely admit there are times that I yearn for the experiences of my youth – going “seconds” on SF2 or plugging away at Tetris and Bubble Bobble and when this happens I sit down and partake in games such as Lumines and Puzzle Fighter. But I always revert back to requiring an experience that does more than just test my eye hand coordination and pattern recognition skills. 

 

Needless to say I view Microsoft's Kinect add-on as a horrid abomination. One that will further dilute the pool of games available with a continuous supply of Wii-clone bloatware which will take funds and resources away from publishers, reducing their ability to release games worth playing. I currently stand of the opinion that motion gaming is in the same category as 3D TV and film. A concept great on paper but limited in its technology and implementation. 

 

Despite all I have outlined so far, Steve left it to me to head along to the Kinect launch event to view the going's on and report back on my impressions. Pretty much one way traffic you'd assume, but the night left me with some innteresting observations nonetheless.

 

Firstly let's go positive – not a natural direction with me but we'll see how that goes.

 

 

Graphics: Let's face it the X360 puts out better graphics than the Wii and it puts those graphics to good use on games like Fighters Uncaged and Ubisoft's MotionSports. This means you have the ability to play games without having to rely on your avatars which are....(positives first remember). Good to see that you can play sports games looking like an athelete.

 

Minority Report Air Controls: The ability to swipe the air to continue or point to the option you want to select feels like the future has landed.

 

Fun Factor: Without a controller in your hands the ability to jump into a game and play is just that much easier. As long as the programmers make sure that the commands the Kinect is looking for are intuitive and simple anybody should be able to partake in the fun. Likewise the amusement factor as you watch your friends flail mindlessly at thin air with faces etched with worry and concentration is priceless. Additionally the more alcohol involved will increase the hilarity – but also the likelihood that somebody will need to go to the A&E.

 

No Controller: Nothing to hold in your hands means that the Kinect is looking at the entire body for movements. This means that you are able to run, jump, and duck without pushing buttons. Leg and head movements are picked up and utilised in some games.

 

Now I have that out of my system back to what I do best- complain.

 

 

Avatars: I haven't liked these at any point and now you get to play games with them? What's the point of the graphics engine if you're going to use it to emulate the Wii? All the games I viewed and tried with Avatars as the onscreen personas left me underwhelmed. All these games look the same and play the same so why bother buying more than one? The first publisher who breaks the mold and produces a party game with unique art style will be a winner – but who will do that? I have my doubts about there being any creativity involved in making any Kinect game.

 

Lack of Control: This is where the gap between the dream and reality smacks you firmly between the man-plums. The camera is looking for specific triggering moves, so if the game doesn't have the moves in it then what's the difference between pushing a button on a controller and waving your hands about? Fighters Uncaged is the prime example, every game I watched became a succession of flailing arms and legs. Random movements seem to trigger responses and then when you attempt moves they don't evntuate. Frustration for the player results compounded by the hysterical squeals of laughter from the audience.

 

Lack of Focus: The 3D camera shows its limitations quite quickly with any obstructions behind the players. The calibration functions of the games and the hardware seem all good until movements from people watching create random responses onscreen. Likewise the screen indicates the section of floor that you need to stand in but then your ducking is ignored when there are objects behind the player. It all goes to show that the 3D camera still has a way to go.

 

Lack of Space: You need to be a minimum of 6ft back from camera and have an armspans width around you to play. Once you factor in furniture you may find your lounge insufficient for space.

 

The GAMES: The single biggest killer for me. Will not be an issue for those with kids to entertain or those that get together with mates regularily to party play, but for me not one of the games demo-ed was even remotely worth purchasing. What the games lack is elements of storytelling or strategy. The Kinect sports games rely on pass and block movements – brilliant for racquet sports but useless for football (of any kind). Fighting games appear to lack finesse and collapse into flail-frenzies. Nobody has yet made a Kinect game with any depth or plot which means the Kinect is a casual gaming add-on to what used to be the hardcore gamers console.

 

All in all the release of the Kinect is Microsoft's attempt to get a hold on the Wii and handheld dominated casual gaming market. What remains to be seen is whether it will ever move beyond that market. There is the abiltity for it to become an impressive accessory, all it requires is one game that is a “must have”. A game that will redefine how and what we play. At the moment however it looks nowhere in sight.