Xbox One new marketing, a Kinectless version and a game for 400? CBOAT: Maybe
- Thread starter dmr87
- Start date
badcrumble
Member
Microsoft's not even making good use of the Kinect as a differentiator, so it makes sense for them to ditch it. Frankly, I think they should sell the tech and patents to Google or Apple while retaining the rights to keep manufacturing it as an accessory to the Xbone for the lifetime of the console. It'd be a good way to recoup the sunk costs and focus on what matters.
Rex_Harrison
Banned
Xbone isn't even 3 months old yet. Give them at least a year to come up with better uses/ games for the Kinect.
3 months people ! Relax, and take a deep breath. I know everyone wants Xbone to fail but come on now, it's only been 3 months.
Anticitizen One
Banned
Kinect has been around since 2010 though and MS has still not given a reason to own one.
badcrumble
Member
I think recognizing that the motion-gaming fad is over (not to mention cutting the retail price of the Xbone) would help it *succeed*, not fail.
Again, its a feature for a minority, period! And is exactly why the majority do not give a rats ass about this feature and a shit load of other kinect features.
travisbickle
Member
Remove the Kinect, release as separate product
Repackage Xbox One, slim-line casing.
And fingers crossed Destiny doesn't run like shit on the console.
Because of the UK price, more than a launch PS3, I think their console might have cost a lot more to make then we have predicted. Why the hell would you release at that price if you had room to manoeuvre?
Repackage Xbox One, slim-line casing.
And fingers crossed Destiny doesn't run like shit on the console.
Because of the UK price, more than a launch PS3, I think their console might have cost a lot more to make then we have predicted. Why the hell would you release at that price if you had room to manoeuvre?
Again, this is the reason why the majority havent got all excited for the extra cost for X1 for the kinect because MS failed to deliver when hype was most important for kinect...the launch day! There was NO SOFTWARE making it worth spending extra for a kinect...there is a minority that enjoys kinect...unfortunately..the majority dont and this is why we see the mess MS and X1 is now in. You reap what you sow...MS
matrix-cat
Member
Can they not just build a microphone directly into the Xbox case and keep all the voice control functionality?
GoofsterStud
Member
If this is true Kinect is dead.
>.> Free game is a nice perk.
>.> Free game is a nice perk.
BRocknRolla
Member
What if you just had a mic connected via cable where the Kinect was? The Kinect device isn't doing any voice processing, right? Could throw in a much cheaper mic and retain voice functionality.
Problem is, they are stuffing Kinect down people's throats with each console sold and they had plenty of time to actually try and market this thing to the consumers with fun and unique games.
Also Kinect is not a new thing, just version 2. They need to be giving people a reason for that $100 premium in price that isn't just a microphone.
Shin-Ra
Junior Member
Even if Kinect worked perfectly, does anyone honestly believe core games like Steel Battalion (or whatever Ryse was going to be) would play better with it? Not only is there detection unreliability but a common lack of human self-control that software's nowhere near capable of compensating for. Unless you have an avatar 1:1 with you on-screen, you don't even realise you're making false inputs.
I keep seeing people saying drop the X1 price to $399, by dropping Kinect, Microsoft eating the cost and etc., but how does that convince buyers it's a better buy than the PS4? Same price, it's still a no brainer to get the more powerful, and thus, better games with the PS4.
As I mention before the X1 launched, since it's the weaker console, it needs to provide a unique experience (gimmick) that the PS4 can't otherwise why would anyone want it over a PS4. They need to capture the casual buyers. Instead, Microsoft fucked up by not offering any Kinect experience at launched. Kinect Rivals, Dance Central and so on should have been on day one. If Microsoft gets rid of Kinect, there goes their only plus difference with the PS4 and they should just accept being a distant 2nd secondary console for mainly exclusives this gen. It's the same reason why Nintendo can't remove the gamepad from the Wii U. Now that the PS4 has the momentum and being the most powerful, it's going to be hard for Microsoft and Nintendo to slow or stop this freight train.
As I mention before the X1 launched, since it's the weaker console, it needs to provide a unique experience (gimmick) that the PS4 can't otherwise why would anyone want it over a PS4. They need to capture the casual buyers. Instead, Microsoft fucked up by not offering any Kinect experience at launched. Kinect Rivals, Dance Central and so on should have been on day one. If Microsoft gets rid of Kinect, there goes their only plus difference with the PS4 and they should just accept being a distant 2nd secondary console for mainly exclusives this gen. It's the same reason why Nintendo can't remove the gamepad from the Wii U. Now that the PS4 has the momentum and being the most powerful, it's going to be hard for Microsoft and Nintendo to slow or stop this freight train.
Maybe announced at E3 for immediate availability? They can wait until then to see how bad things are, and hope for titanfall to give them an uptick. Spring is generally pretty quiet anyway. Also gives them enough distance from launch to hopefully avoid any ambassador program
Metalingus5150
Member
I know people are saying market Kinect to casuals, maybe casuals don't like motion gaming as much anymore?
I could Absolutely See them doing it BC wiiu failure with pushing excess hardware and ps4 doing so well with nothing extra.
I hope they don't. If anything they should stand by kinect and support it. But I see them planning all along to pull it if they feel it holds sales back...
I never bought first kinect but it makes the one for me. So much more convenience.
I hope they don't. If anything they should stand by kinect and support it. But I see them planning all along to pull it if they feel it holds sales back...
I never bought first kinect but it makes the one for me. So much more convenience.
badcrumble
Member
Yes, Microsoft does need to accept being in second place this gen, and dropping Kinect will make them a less-distant second place by allowing them to compete in the US.
twinturbo2
butthurt Heat fan
I highly, highly doubt that MS will unbundle Kinect with the X1, for reasons discussed already in this thread (mostly of being that differentiation from PS4).
I'm guessing that there will be price parity with Kinect still in the box, and MS will eat the losses for the time being. Toss in a free game and/or a Live membership card and/or a Live gift card to download whatever. Maybe take any third party apps like Netflix out of the Live paywall, and offer a free game or two each month with Games for Gold once the library gets beefed up. Get the devkits reworked and up to speed ASAP so there's no more embarrassing Tomb Raider situations.
The last thing MS should do is panic and act irrationally at this point. Impulse decisions almost never go well.
I'm guessing that there will be price parity with Kinect still in the box, and MS will eat the losses for the time being. Toss in a free game and/or a Live membership card and/or a Live gift card to download whatever. Maybe take any third party apps like Netflix out of the Live paywall, and offer a free game or two each month with Games for Gold once the library gets beefed up. Get the devkits reworked and up to speed ASAP so there's no more embarrassing Tomb Raider situations.
The last thing MS should do is panic and act irrationally at this point. Impulse decisions almost never go well.
SwiftDeath
Member
A kinectless SKU was expected. There is simply little reason to make every XB1 buyer pay for a Kinect. It doesn't differentiate the console enough in a positive and compelling way to validate the upcharge for it.
badcrumble
Member
Price parity *with* Kinect would be flushing a lot of good money after bad, IMO. What makes you think that Microsoft shareholders would be okay with simply drastically raising the hardware subsidy on the system instead of spending that cash on other, more important divisions within the company?
a Master Ninja
Member
I think I agree with the sentiment that if the Xbone drops Kinect it loses the only interesting differentiator it has.
yeah thats the one. the marketing situation is what it is. but the app itself is great.
badcrumble
Member
Microsoft, in their current position, shouldn't want interesting differentiators. They should concentrate on boring but safe ones, like the Halo franchise.
twinturbo2
butthurt Heat fan
Because MS, unlike Sony, has a bunch of profitable divisions? And that the costs won't stay high for long?
You're probably going to shoot down any argument I have anyways. But dropping mandatory Kinect is just a metaphorical white flag.
Didn't Apple already buy the company that developed the Kinect sensor technology?
Also, they need to drop the price below $400 even with a game as the PS4 is $400, significantly more powerful, and when you pay for the (cheaper) online you get lots of games free.
I like the premise behind Xbox Fitness, but I feel it's hard to get started. It's not very clear what videos are without reading lengthy descriptions and trying them out. I started a 10 minute one the other day that kicked my ass, so it's made me weary of trying others. Would be great if it helped you put together structured programs based on current abilities and goals, as well as mix up your program in intervals (e.g., new program every 6-8 weeks) like a trainer would do for you.
I feel like Microsoft needs to make the Kinect value strong out of the box and make that extra $100 less of an issue for casuals. Wouldn't hurt to make premium games like Kinect Sports Rivals and Dance Central F2P, where KSR is supported by character accessories/skins (e.g., Conker outfit), custom equipment (e.g., clear bowling ball with Spinal skull), and/or buying individual sports (rotate them weekly so people can try for free with friends like KI does with characters), and DC gives you 30-40 songs for free with new releases for $2-3 a track or released in bundles monthly. They're both popular party games with existing sports/tracks that could be brought over from previous games to make them big value props faster and could be supported with weekly challenges and online competitive play. Would give Xbone/Kinect value right out of the box, build community, introduce weekly challenges to casuals, and have business models to make money on those games over the long haul as the user bases build up. They're the kind of games you can demo in a store with a sign that says they're Free Online Games and help make that extra cost worth it.
This is true, but there is a clear risk that Sony will have the momentum right up to any may/June price cut! making it the defacto choice. In that situation, a price cut to $399 might not have a huge effect.
badcrumble
Member
"Microsoft has all the money in the world and the shareholders don't give a shit what the company spends it on" is a pair of premises that the last year of the overall company's history has shown to be very, very false. I would hope that the gaming division isn't operating with those sorts of assumptions in mind - it's their job to right the boat, not the job of Microsoft's bigger, more successful divisions.
Yes, *but* Kinect 2 is based on entirely different tech (IIRC) and there are also a bunch of associated patents that I'm sure Apple or Google would love to have, and little harm to Microsoft in selling them if they get to retain use of the stuff for the sake of continuing to sell Kinect/Kinect 2 accessories.
supernormal
Member
The news here is that cboat is still alive and active.
On topic though I hope they stick to their strategy. Dropping Kinect less than a year in is a big "fuck you" to early adopters. I'll wait for E3.
On topic though I hope they stick to their strategy. Dropping Kinect less than a year in is a big "fuck you" to early adopters. I'll wait for E3.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
If they did all of this it could encourage a PS4 drop to $349 next holidays, likely with a game as well. Competition is lovely isn't it?
I think Sony would accept price parity without any immediate reaction. The place that price really helped was launch, and MS don't get a second chance at that. Sony have the momentum on their side, and will emphasise the technical advantages for must platform titles, while announcing more exclusive games at E3. They are in a good position to be the 'premium' console which allows them to not cut prices but simply maintain parity. Even more so if MS drop kinect which,never if you question the practical value, is clearly additional perceived monetary value in the box.
I'd buy it based on option 1 (if they fixed 50Hz for Europe). Anyone gets close to a perfect media box, I will happily pay £400 for it. I've paid more than that for solutions with less promise.
well im not saying its not stupid of microsoft to keep so mum about it. that shit deserves back of the box/commercial advertisements just as much as any first party game out now.
shh. makes too much sense. but seriously, a Spinal skull bowling ball? i would pay up to five US dollars for that. or for a Halo magnum to use in target shooting.
I'd pay a few bucks for a pair of yellow shorts and a blue backpack with Kazooie in it that I can sport during tennis matches or during dance in DC, or Banjo bear claws gloves for rock climbing. Would also buy Jago's retro outfit.
I think MS was pushing a lot of skins in Minecraft, so perhaps they're already thinking along these lines.
And how does Microsoft removing it as a mandatory hardware bundled accessory change in any way, shape, or form your ability to do any of those things you mentioned? Or anyone else's for that matter if they're willing to pay the additional $100 for a Kinect? Keep in mind I'm talking about the functions you're talking about. Not some theoretical game that will shine using Kinect to justify its inclusion.
Really. Nothing about the UI and remote control functions you currently enjoy with your current Kinect-enabled Xbox are impacted by removing Kinect from being forced.
I hope they won't cut out Kinect since it is a main component of the whole experience. This would also split the user base just like it was back with the first Kinect. Last thing is the price. If they cut Kinect then they have to be cheaper than PS4 since Xbox One isn't as powerful as PS4. We'll see...
They probably should have had some idea what to do with it before they put it in the box.
rokkerkory
Member
Stupid if true to segment early buyers
Terrible terrible mgmt of xbox
Terrible terrible mgmt of xbox
SwiftDeath
Member
CadetMahoney
Member
I'm beginning to think bone is more of a disaster than PS3 ever was.
Who designed it? It's like it was designed by committee. Bunch of trend setters who don't know what they're talking about.
I just like how everyone was scoffing at a kinectless bone. Saying it was built from the ground up with Kinect in mind and shit. lol.
SwiftDeath
Member
While I go back and forth on how I feel about which one is more poorly designed, it's insane that it's even in contention.
The PS3 almost shipped without a GPU at all. For the XB1 to be almost as poorly designed or more is crazy.
Duxxy3
Member
Dropping kinect and getting the price to $399 would basically make this the xbox 360, version 2.
That's not a bad thing though. The system sold very well in a few areas, and sold a shitload of software. If microsoft is able to retain more 360 owners by dropping kinect (and the price), then that is what they should do.
I'm sure if that could go back in time three years they would do thing differently, but that's not possible. They deal with the cards that mattrick dealt them.
That's not a bad thing though. The system sold very well in a few areas, and sold a shitload of software. If microsoft is able to retain more 360 owners by dropping kinect (and the price), then that is what they should do.
I'm sure if that could go back in time three years they would do thing differently, but that's not possible. They deal with the cards that mattrick dealt them.
Liberty4all
Banned
My personal opinion is that 499 is too expensive. So I give credence to this rumour.