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Microsoft: ‘No Need’ For Kinect Processor, Removal Not Cost-Related

XanTium (XBS) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:49:36 +0000

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft removed a standalone processor from Kinect because there was ?no need? for its inclusion, not as previously rumored, to merely reduce the cost of the device.

?We didn?t know how much processing Kinect was going to take at the start of development,? said Tsunoda. ?Obviously, you don?t want to lose any of the things that are important to Xbox customers. Graphic fidelity is something that Xbox has always been known for, and you want to make sure that you still hit that level.”

“Forza is a graphical showpiece, and we had Forza with Kinect at E3? the graphic fidelity has actually improved in some areas from what they shipped with Forza 3. It?s still running at 60 FPS and it?s supporting Kinect, so there?s just no need to have that extra processor.?
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Full Story: gamasutra.com

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MS advises against ‘clutter’ for Kinect

XanTium (XBS) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:30:16 +0000

From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has warned that messy floors “with clothes all over the place” will prevent Kinect from working properly. Better have a quick tidy.

The company also advised against putting the sensor in “a noisy environment”, using the examples “on top of your Xbox” and “on top of your subwoofer”.

“We rely on the floor for a number of different parts of the technology,” said Mark Plagge, Kinect’s senior project manager, during a set-up video.

“The ideal play space starts about six feet away from the Kinect sensor. Some games will need you to move side to side quite a lot, so you’ll want to know there are three-to-four feet on either side of you.”

The requirements don’t stop there. People with halogen spotlit rooms may encounter difficulties, as the Kinect sensor prefers an even light source throughout.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net

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Kinect for Xbox 360 Connects Advertisers and Consumers

XanTium (XBS) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:49:03 +0000

From the MS press release:
[QUOTE]
Brands are jumping in to a new era of engaging and connecting with consumers. Microsoft Advertising today announced at Advertising Week 2010 that a full lineup of forward-thinking companies is bringing its brands to Kinect for Xbox 360, the new controller-free gaming and entertainment experience that responds to body movement and transforms how people play, entertain and connect with family members and friends. Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile USA Inc. will each launch respective ad campaigns throughout the Kinect console experience, ?Kinect Sports,? ?Kinect Adventures? and ?Kinect Joy Ride? game titles.

?With Kinect for Xbox 360, we are removing the last barrier to interactive television ? the controller,? said Mark Kroese, general manager of the Interactive Entertainment Advertising Business Group at Microsoft. ?We have seen tremendous momentum from the advertising community, including big campaigns from Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile. These visionary marketers are leading the entertainment revolution with ground-breaking campaigns that are highly engaging.?

Advertising campaigns will commence with the much-anticipated North America launch of Kinect on Nov. 4:
* Chevrolet. As announced in June, Chevrolet is the first automaker to launch a multiscreen ad campaign that allows consumers to test-drive Chevrolet vehicles in ?Kinect Joy Ride,? the first controller-free racing game from Microsoft Game Studios. When Kinect for Xbox 360 launches this fall, consumers will have the opportunity to take the test-drive concept to a new level by driving the Chevrolet Volt in ?Kinect Joy Ride.? Also, after viewing the video advertisement in-dash on Xbox LIVE or on the Web, consumers will be able to unlock and download Chevrolet Cruze, Camaro and Corvette cars to drive in the game. Chevrolet will then kick off the new year with an ad campaign in the Kinect Hub showcasing the same vehicles.
* Sprint. As a longstanding and pioneering Xbox LIVE advertiser, Sprint understands the value of connecting with the Xbox community. This fall, Sprint is sponsoring the launch of ?Kinect Adventures? with a co-branded retail experience on Xbox LIVE and a sponsored contest in which ?Kinect Adventures? players have the chance to get their pictures featured on Xbox LIVE. Consumers attending New York Comic Con can play ?Kinect Adventures? at the Sprint booth.
* T-Mobile. Another Xbox advertising pioneer, T-Mobile is taking advantage of the immersive user experience in ?Kinect Sports? with fixed product placement throughout the games including volleyball net signage, custom bowling balls and foam fingers held by the arena audience. T-Mobile is further supporting the game title through a sponsorship on the Xbox 360 console. Xbox members can visit a website on the dashboard to access exclusive video content and participate in the first launch weekend Play & Win contest with prizes including Family Gold memberships. Also, during the holidays T-Mobile will support ?Kinect Sports? Play & Win programs with two Xbox Family Game Nights in November and January.
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Control Sky Player with Kinect

XanTium (XBS) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:47:30 +0000

From techradar.com:
[QUOTE]
It has been confirmed that Sky Player on the Xbox 360 will indeed work with Kinect ? Microsoft’s new-fangled motion controller ? when it launches in the UK.

Microsoft has always been adamant that Kinect is not just about gaming, but an entirely new way to control everything on your console, which includes services like Sky Player.
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Full Story: techradar.com

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Microsoft On China’s Kinect Clone

XanTium (XBS) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:18:10 +0000

From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
The eBox [Chinese game machine - dubbed "Kinect clone"] will come with 30 games built in and a set-top camera that can detect a player’s movements, according to the article. According to Eedoo Technology, the company behind the product, this is only the second controller-free console.

“I think it’s all about who builds the best experiences,” Microsoft Game Studios exec Phil Spencer recently told Kotaku. “I don’t think anybody longs to buy a piece of plastic to put under their TV. I think what it’s going to be able is who has the best games and experiences for people. I think it’s always been about that and should be.”

“We don’t really know anything about it other than that press release that went out,” a Microsoft spokesperson pointed out. “Nobody really knows what it is doing and how it’s doing it. We don’t know about its content. There isn’t a lot of clarity on it.”
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Full Story: kotaku.com

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TGS: Kinect To Sell 3 Million, Extend Generation

XanTium (XBS) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:25:24 +0000

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Greenberg is very bullish on Kinect, predicting three million sales this holiday season, globally.

“Our key indicators are feedback from retailers — I think you’d be surprised at how sophisticated they are, and they really have the pulse of the market. They’re looking at preorders, they’re talking to customers.

“We’re also done our own research. We believe this will be the biggest launch in our history, for Xbox. We will sell more Kinect sensors than we did [systems] at Xbox 360 launch.”

“Our estimates that we will sell in excess of 3 million units this holiday,” The company is spending “hundreds of millions” of dollars in marketing, “exceeding in what we did when we launched the original Xbox 360,” says Greenberg.

The generation, at this rate, seems to be tracking longer. Of course Sony has always talked about a 10-year cycle, but so does Greenberg. “We do think that this generation is unique. We’re treating the launch of Kinect as an entirely new platform launch, as almost a new generation. For us that does extend the product life cycle.”
At this point in the Xbox 360′s lifespan, he says, “we’re five years in. We think we have another good five years-plus, but that remains to be seen — but easily there’s another five years’ life.”
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Full Story: gamasutra.com

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The New Xbox 360 Controller is Really about Patents?

XanTium (XBS) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:08:49 +0000

From nexus404.com:
[QUOTE]
Ever wonder why Sony and Microsoft don’t have the ‘traditional’ D-pads on their consoles? Microsoft has (had) the infamous disc and Sony has just the four buttons arranged like a D-Pad. Nintendo actually has the traditional cross-shaped D-Pad patented. (See US Patent 4,687,200). That’s why Nintendo products use it and others don’t.

So, everybody hates the “disc” D-Pad that the Xbox 360 controller uses. And video game hardware is such a low-margin segment of the industry to begin with, so licensing the patent from Nintendo is out of the question. So they come up with this brilliant rotating disc thing that lets you use a “traditional” D-Pad without infringing on the Nintendo patent. Major Nelson confirmed in his online YouTube video that Microsoft has this “hybrid” D-Pad patented, so don’t expect others to use it.
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Full Story: nexus404.com

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Kotaku: Hands On With The New Xbox 360 Controller

XanTium (XBS) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:08:01 +0000

From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
Major Nelson even agreed to shoot this video, and while I put him to work he revealed that this is his own personal controller. The new d-pad is easy to transform and the alternate, raised-cross mode feels like it will be good for games that require precise horizontal, vertical and diagonal inputs — you know, like fighting games.

We knew about the transforming d-pad, but did you know the analog sticks have changed? They tilt the same, but the shape of the depression on top of them has been tweaked. The old raised bits are gone and the center has a deeper depression. I’m not sure what the consequences will be of the small change, but the new stick did feel comfortable under my thumb.

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Full Story: kotaku.com

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Xbox 360 S Repainted in Glossy White

XanTium (XBS) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:22:56 +0000

From engadget.com:
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This seemingly repainted Xbox 360 250GB has been lovingly put together over in China and really makes us wonder why Microsoft is depriving us of such snowy good looks.

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Full Story: bbs.a9vg.com (via engadget.com)

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Kinect voice control not available in some countries until Spring 2011

XanTium (XBS) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:20:28 +0000

From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has told Eurogamer Spain that Kinect voice recognition will be disabled for mainland Europe until spring 2011.

The company confirmed rumours that the voice-recognition software will only accept American English, British English, Japanese and Mexican Spanish at launch this November. Even Canadians will have to wait until spring 2011 to be able to control the system via voice.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net

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