Cliffy B comments on Kinect and how it's moving Microsoft forward
Microsoft officially revealed Kinect to a small audience this evening -- previously known at Project Natal. A small list of launch games was revealed earlier this evening with a heavy emphasis on casual games, but Microsoft showed a lot of new and unique software this evening during their event. Showcasing a Star Wars game, Joyride title, Kinect Animals, and Kinect Sports, Yoga, and a Dance title, Microsoft has certainly catered titles for the casual crowd. During the showing, Epic's Cliff Bleszinski was sharing his thoughts on the revealing of Kinetic and it appears he is intrigued.
At this time, Epic hasn't announced any games that'll support this new control method, so don't expect to be slicing Locust in half next year when Gears of War 3 launches with your Kinect. Over the years, gaming has evolved from simply software to a more entertainment oriented approach, which is something all three console manufacturers have been trying to do over the years, but Nintendo got the winning formula when they released the Nintendo DS. By bringing in new gamers of all ages, gaming will be able to be viewed as a true entertainment medium and stand among movies as a major entertainment industry.
Cliff Bleszinski feels that the showing Microsoft did tonight certainly helps project that ideal. Stating: "I think Microsoft just took a nice step towards "entertainment" from "software." Moving from software to entertainment is quite a leap and it's something each company has been wanting to do for the last decade.
By definition, entertainment is:
1. art of keeping people entertained: the various ways of amusing people, especially by performing for them
2. enjoyment: the amount of pleasure or amusement somebody gets from something
3. performance or exhibition: something that is produced or performed for an audience
You could argue that gaming is a form of entertainment already, but it hasn't been viewed in the same respects as movies, sports, or other forms of entertainment until recently. It'll be a continuous debate among many, but gaming is moving in the direction to be recognized as an entertainment industry. With gaming now becoming widely accepted among people of all ages and groups, it can finally become a viable entertainment industry. Thanks to Nintendo DS, Wii and now Kinect, gaming is moving forward in some fashion.
Source examiner
