New version of Microsoft's camera peripheral optimized for PCs will be able to precisely detect motion as close as 50cm, include shorter USB cable.
Microsoft has been vocal about its plans to foster development of Kinect software for the PC, but the console maker is planning to adapt its motion-sensing hardware to the platform as well. In a post on the Kinect for Windows blog, the company announced that new PC-specific Kinect hardware will launch as part of the Kinect for Windows commercial program.
The new version of the Kinect hardware is being created in response to requests from developers and customers alike. First and foremost, the PC Kinect will have new firmware featuring "near mode," enabling the device to keep track of objects as close as 50 centimeters away, "with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters." With the Xbox 360 version of the Kinect, Microsoft advises that players be at least 1.8 meters away from the camera for single-player games, and 2.4 meters away if there are two players.
Beyond the altered space requirements, the PC Kinect hardware will also feature a shorter USB cable, as well as "a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals." Microsoft is also pledging developer support for the camera, with continuous updates to the camera's speech and tracking software.
The posting did not address pricing, or whether the "near mode" firmware update would be brought to the Xbox 360 version of Kinect.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
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So now ms is pushing kinnect for an integrated windows 8 metro ui? I wonder about the xbox live unification...
um, if you can adjust the space requirements for that, then why do I have to be a football field away from my tv to use Kinect for 360?! *grumble grumble*
I am kinda surprised Microsoft is actually going to do this. Most people that use PC's don't really have a set up that would be ideal for Kinect. Could a lot of people install it and use it.. yeah probably, but ideal? I don't get it but I am slightly interested to see what it could do for me and my PC. I haven't tried WII, Motion Plus or Kinect yet.. I am one of those people that likes to spend money but for some reason up to this point it seems very gimicky.
Don't know why everyone is complaining over this. You are not being forced to buy one. If you want traditional controls, then use it. Why is everyone acting like this is the ONLY option to play? Can't others who enjoy it have their fun?
The PC should be able to do a lot with this outside of gaming. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
I like how this article failed to mention the Linux drivers for Kinect and how Kinect already has had programs developed for it under Linux. Oh well, Linux and anything out of the mainstream is treated just like Ron Paul. :|
Somewhere out there I hope there is a developer out there who can build software to sculpt a 3D object with your hands and change options with voice commands. I've dabbled in 3D modeling and I know why good games take 3-5 years to make. Cheers to the future!
@SeriousToast I don't know about the rest of you, but when I play a game, I prefer the screen, the game, and the controller. and preferably something to sit on. **************************************************************** Well, most gamers have been couch potatoes since the 70's. lol!! Not everyone embraces change, but for people that do, there's Kinect, Move and the Wii. Having different choices for gaming is never a bad thing. There are gamers who only play certain platforms and certain games, and it's because there are choices to do so.
I think I'd only want to try the PC Kinect if it allows me to manipulate windows like Minority Report
I can't see them releasing this thing for games. It will be interesting to see what comes from independent devs but I won't hold my breath for a "high budget" game with Kinect features. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kinect functionality in Windows 8 though.
I'm not at all interested in the Kinect on Xbox, however.. I could see myself getting it for PC simply to use all the cool third-party applications that people will likely make for it.
It bombed on 360, I dont see why it wouldnt bomb on PC also. M$ treated Kinect as another console launch, yet here we are a year later and there is still next to nothing for its game library. Oooh, but we can navigate the console's menu now with our voice or waving our arms about.
this make me sure about the Xbox 360 games are playable on Windows 8 but i know disappointing people are disappointing for everything
I have heard rumors about windows 8 being able to play xbox 360 games and i think they are making this compatible to the PC to make kinect compatible games work on PC .
I never really cared too much for camera based games and software in the past and haven't really tried out the Kinect yet. But, I am kinda curious what people will do with it when it's on the more open PC platform.
50cm isn't too bad, it's about the length of my table keyboard to wall, and if I lean back in my seat when watching a movie that would be fine. *EDIT* Unless you're using a CRT, there is no disadvantage, I would place it on top of either the monitor if the tower was on the floor, or if the tower were behind the monitor on the desk, then on top of the tower, it would be fine. Remember height adds a little extra distance. Or did noone pass trigonometry?
i don't have one for 360 yet so if this is compatible with both, i might be interested. would be nice if they could upgrade the optics too, 640 x 480 is what you'd expect from a cheap cellphone camera
50 cm is still kinda far to be a mouse when I'm sitting by the keyboard. It could work though as a mouse supplement when I'm lying on the bed watching a video. But If it cost more than $50 and can't be used for both the 360 and PC I have little use for this.
I don't know about the rest of you, but when I play a game, I prefer the screen, the game, and the controller. and preferably something to sit on.
I imagine that this could allow indie developers to have their own brand of motion capture.
I wonder how long till it will be used in conjugation with a fleshli.... should probally just keep that thought to myself. lol
Maybe they should just make the Xbox more like a computer. The lost link between PC and console. Why go with one over the other. Why isn't it possible to combine the best of both options?
@jamiebullen I keep waiting on some news that will make me want to spend money on it, so yes I do keep reading. Thank you very much.
@v1c3er Yeah, there are head-tracking solutions for the PC, but they only do head-tracking. They're also a lot more cumbersome and require the user to wear something on their head. Kinect technology has the potential to transform into something like a Minority Report-style user interface someday.
This is cool, but I'm looking forward to a next-gen implementation of the technology. The resolution of the sensors isn't all that great and I'd love to see how the technology can be improved by using updated hardware. If I can buy one of these for under a hundred, I'll pick on up as soon as they start selling them.
The headtracking in forza4 is amazing, this technology definitly has future, oh and btw the pc already have a device that works like kinect (forgot the name)
Interesting. I doubt I'd use it much for actual hardcore games, but as with the 360 version, the most potential for this comes with apps. It's inadequate as a game controller, but awesome for other kinds of apps.
I don't think this is necessarily for gaming. I imagine its uses will be mainly for other things.
Eurogamer sources say new motion-capture peripheral will be able to read lips, come packed in with both core and casual-targeted versions of new console hardware.
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