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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Why is Microsoft hanging on to kinect so much?

 

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darkknightkryta on 11 April 2014

I recall reading a rumour that Microsoft (Don Mattrick) made all these deals with hardware companies for Kinect. Microsoft has to order X amount of them or pay the consequences. The consequences would be more costly than just losing marketshare apparently.



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SvennoJ on 11 April 2014
kitler53 said:
SvennoJ said:
kitler53 said:

for the same reason sony hung onto bluray so bad.

they think they have a long term strategy and long term profit potential.  they have invested soo much money into the project they feel like they need to make it successful by any means necessary to justify that investment.

Except Sony could not remove the blu-ray drive. Digital wasn't a real option yet and re-releasing all games on DVD would be a nightmare.

Sony also had heavily invested in a video format that would make them money in both hardware and video sales, stuff that's the bread and butter of their company. Blu-ray failure would be very costly. MS however wants to be the middle man between you and your tv. MS can recoup their money faster by losing Kinect and make momney the traditional way by selling games. However the potential tv pot of gold is much larger.

yeah, i suppose.  MS has it easier here because it will be less devistating to the xbone to back out of their kinect investment than it was for ps3's blu ray.  but the initial decision was very similar.  some business guy at sony (during ps3 design) and MS (during xbone design) said:

       "we are willing to comprise our product's other core vales in order to include this other feature."

in sony's case they comprised heavily on price selling a really expensive product at a massive loss.  in ms's case they comprised on price and performance putting out a somewhat expensive product with relatively poor performance.

Yes, it both came from the same arrogance. Both thinking they have all the momentum and people and developers will follow them blindly. Sony lost a ton of money on the ps3, MS has already had to put a temporary stop to their all digital always online plans as both users and publishers weren't buying into it for gaming. Now they're still hoping that they can become the middle man for watching all video content.

Sony pulled it back by heavily investing in first party games and subsequently the ps3 also became the most used Netflix box. Hopefully MS will follow the same strategy, more original games is always good :)



the2real4mafol on 11 April 2014

They probably wanted developers to use it



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DarkD on 11 April 2014

You don't seem to understand a key portion of kinect... Kinect makes more money for Microsoft than the entire portfollio of hardcore games microsoft had in the XBox 360 era. Kinect games are dirt cheap to make and they sell 5 times what Halo does. So yes, Microsoft wants to try and hang onto that big... MASSIVE profit margin. Especially when the hardcore division at Microsoft has all but proven it bleeds money.



SvennoJ on 11 April 2014
Pipedream24 said:
If more people actually tried the xbox one, they would see how great an experience it can be for non gaming applications. Microsoft made no qualms that they wanted to create a set top box that took over the living room...that has been there goal since the 360 was released. Kinect is an essential part of this vision.

Walking into my living room and saying "Xbox On" and having my whole entertainment system turn on is just awesome. It then automatically recognizes me and signs my profile on. Controlling television channels, volume, and DVR functions while moving around my house is fantastic. Being a little older now (Gasp...I'm 35) and having kids, you have no idea how useful this can be. Having Skype and being able to snap two applications at once is awesome too. Nothing like playing games and watching sports at the same time. Can't wait to use the fantasy football app this fall either.

Is Kinect ever going to be a great way to play games? No. As a sole input device it will be relegated to family and party games...which with a group of people and a few cocktails can still be a blast. But for more traditional games, I still believe it can add immersion while using a controller.

As a pure gaming machine, the PS4 is hands down better than Xbox One (I have all three current gen consoles) But right now, the One is a much better package if you want more than gaming.

My final thought...As a kid, sci-fi television shows and movies had people use their voice to control their house. They would make phone calls on a huge tv screen and see the person they were talking to. It was amazing and I always wanted the technology to exist. Microsoft has made it possible and affordable. For those of us who grew up in the early 80's or before, this is science fiction becoming reality.

You must have different kids than I have. It would be my worst nightmare if the kids can control all the stuff in the living room with their voices. Nm I can hardly make myself heard over them at times.

It's not for me. I'm 40, set in my ways with blu-ray and CDs. Image and sound quality over pass through, picture in picture, or other gimmicks. I watched the same sci-fi. We are still decades from being able to talk to a computer. Spoken commands is not what I'm looking for. Plus when watching star trek tng and they go: "Computer dim lights by 40%, ok computer dim it a little more." My only thoughts are: Just walk to the switch you lazy bastard.



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Weedlab on 11 April 2014

It seems integral to their overall strategy for their device - beyond gaming. In some sense it reminds me of Blu Ray for the PS3. There was a little picture (gaming) and a much bigger picture for the format. I see that for Kinect as well - albeit for different reasons.

It's early still, so we'll see how the device fares in time. Aside from gaming, it serves very little use to my friends back in the 3rd world, but I suppose if you're a hardcore gamer and are willing to part with your dollars for an experience you think you'll enjoy, it means little.



 

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Landguy on 11 April 2014

Kinect=long term strategy. Deal with it.( common answer when there isn't a good one)



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bananaking21 on 11 April 2014
darkknightkryta said:
I recall reading a rumour that Microsoft (Don Mattrick) made all these deals with hardware companies for Kinect. Microsoft has to order X amount of them or pay the consequences. The consequences would be more costly than just losing marketshare apparently.


that would be beyond stupid. 

got a source for that? 



darkknightkryta on 11 April 2014
bananaking21 said:
darkknightkryta said:
I recall reading a rumour that Microsoft (Don Mattrick) made all these deals with hardware companies for Kinect. Microsoft has to order X amount of them or pay the consequences. The consequences would be more costly than just losing marketshare apparently.


that would be beyond stupid. 

got a source for that? 

It was a rumour.  I recall reading it here somewhere.



Pipedream24 on 11 April 2014
SvennoJ said:
Pipedream24 said:
If more people actually tried the xbox one, they would see how great an experience it can be for non gaming applications. Microsoft made no qualms that they wanted to create a set top box that took over the living room...that has been there goal since the 360 was released. Kinect is an essential part of this vision.

Walking into my living room and saying "Xbox On" and having my whole entertainment system turn on is just awesome. It then automatically recognizes me and signs my profile on. Controlling television channels, volume, and DVR functions while moving around my house is fantastic. Being a little older now (Gasp...I'm 35) and having kids, you have no idea how useful this can be. Having Skype and being able to snap two applications at once is awesome too. Nothing like playing games and watching sports at the same time. Can't wait to use the fantasy football app this fall either.

Is Kinect ever going to be a great way to play games? No. As a sole input device it will be relegated to family and party games...which with a group of people and a few cocktails can still be a blast. But for more traditional games, I still believe it can add immersion while using a controller.

As a pure gaming machine, the PS4 is hands down better than Xbox One (I have all three current gen consoles) But right now, the One is a much better package if you want more than gaming.

My final thought...As a kid, sci-fi television shows and movies had people use their voice to control their house. They would make phone calls on a huge tv screen and see the person they were talking to. It was amazing and I always wanted the technology to exist. Microsoft has made it possible and affordable. For those of us who grew up in the early 80's or before, this is science fiction becoming reality.

You must have different kids than I have. It would be my worst nightmare if the kids can control all the stuff in the living room with their voices. Nm I can hardly make myself heard over them at times.

It's not for me. I'm 40, set in my ways with blu-ray and CDs. Image and sound quality over pass through, picture in picture, or other gimmicks. I watched the same sci-fi. We are still decades from being able to talk to a computer. Spoken commands is not what I'm looking for. Plus when watching star trek tng and they go: "Computer dim lights by 40%, ok computer dim it a little more." My only thoughts are: Just walk to the switch you lazy bastard.

You're 40!!!! And for me to think I was one of the Grandpas on this site. ;)

Yea, it can be a pain in the ass when one of the kids wants to watch Disney when I'm watching something. But it's so nice to not have to play "find the remote" or open up the controller and find the batteries missing.

The Kinect functionality may not be for everyone. If you have absolutely no interest in the added functions of Kinect, the PS4 is an easy decision. For me though, having all the functionality in one place is really nice.