subject: Xbox Kinect the Next Step to Virtual Reality Gaming at Home? [print this page] It seems the gamer world is abuzz about the new Xbox Kinect. When it was first announced at E3, there was much confusion and curiosity over the previously named "Project Natal" which has now been officially announced as the "Kinect". This new device which attaches to your existing Xbox 360 will offer a new way to game that has never been done before.
This is the most advanced version of motion gaming that we have seen come to a home system and its much-anticipated release has gamers everywhere excited. But with this new technology comes a lot of questions. One of which is how it compares to the Nintendo Wii, currently the leader in motion gaming.
Xbox Kinect versus the Nintendo Wii
There has been much comparison of the Kinect to the existing Wii by Nintendo. Announcement of the Kinect for the Xbox 360 threatens to challenge to cordless nature of the Wii and bring you console gaming with no controller at all. The Wii brought us Wii Fit, as well as many other games for the console that allowed you to get up and get moving, even if you had never before played video games. The Wii also featured many family-friendly games, which is typical of Nintendo, and there were many opportunities for family and friends to get together and enjoy a fun time.
But the Kinect claims to have something even more than the motion-sensor gaming of the Wii. Kinect promises to bring you the same motion-based fun but with a completely hands-free device. Many believe that this will greatly stretch the limits of what we previously thought gaming could be like.
When compared to the Wii, the Kinect will:
Have better graphics
Have bigger hard drive storage
Be cordless and controller-less so no batteries required
Function as a multi-function media device
It works with a special optic camera that can track your movements as you play. You don't need a controller because this motorized camera as well as the microphone beside the sensors will map out reference points along your skeletal frame that put you inside the game, very similar to virtual reality.
In fact, while it's not really virtual reality, this technology is the closest we have seen to it in a console available for home use. Basically, Kinect promises to do all that the Wii can do, but better. It also promises things that the Wii cannot offer at this time. And all of these benefits come with the added bonus of being complete hands-free so there are no expensive controllers and accessories to buy.
It's More than Just a Game Console- It's a Full Media Center
But there is even more to love about the Xbox Kinect because it is more than just a video game console; it is also a full media center. You can watch movies and even control your television and more from the same system.
If you have a cable box connected to the same television as the Kinect, it will allow you to change channels without your remote and without any type of control at all. If you subscribe to a movie service like Netflix, you will also be able to choose movies and completely control the movies (stop, fast forward, etc) all without any controller whatsoever.
Since the Kinect has more hard drive storage, you can also keep all of your favorite songs and music files, download new music files and more. This turns your gaming console into a complete media system that you can control with just the wave of a hand.
When it comes to virtual reality gaming at home, the Kinect could be the next step in the process. While the Kinect itself is not quite virtual reality, it is amazing game technology compared to what is available today and it's progress towards virtual reality in home one day in the future. Ultimately, when it comes to the Kinect, there's a lot to look forward to, whether it's actual virtual reality or not.
Xbox Kinect the Next Step to Virtual Reality Gaming at Home?
