Two soon to be released motion control systems, two magic-based 3rd person action games. One of them, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will release on all systems, but will include Kinect-specific modes exclusive to the Xbox 360.
The other, Sorcery – a PS3 exclusive – is free from the shackles of a film licence. They both involve using motion to cast spells – but comparing them it’s pretty easy to see which uses motion control better.
Here’s the Harry Potter Kinect demo, from this week’s Gamescom :
Savvy viewers will notice that not only is it a “guided experience,” but the game often seems to be interpreting gestures in a way that’s resulting in unintended actions. It also seems to be beset by quite a bit of lag. Granted, the game probably isn’t even in a proper beta stage so flubs like that are not only excusable, they’re entirely expected.
Compared to Sorcery for PlayStation move though, it’s actually a bit laughable. While Move is essentially a shameless rip of the Wii’s controls, it’s a more mature input method that just seems more conducive to proper gaming. Besides that, it just looks like it’s more fun.
When Kinect was first announced (as Natal) I was excited. It seemed to open up a whole new way to play games. As time’s gone on – and the device has gotten closer to release I’ve become increasingly disillusioned. It seems that while Kinect may indeed offer a new way to play, it’s apparently just a new way to play games on-rails.
What I’ve come to realise is that Kinect isn’t made for people like you and me. It isn’t even made for the people who make up a large portion of the Wii demographic. It’s designed for – and is being marketed to – people who find even the Wii’s controls intimidating. I have no doubt that Kinect will get millions of people to open their wallets. It just won’t – until something suitably compelling comes along – get me to open up mine.
Last Updated: August 19, 2010
Steve Hofmeyr
August 19, 2010 at 14:11
Ever since MS revealed Kinects launch lineup I’m dissapointed. Let’s hope they bring some hardcore games to the table.
Nick de Bruyne
August 19, 2010 at 14:19
To put it bluntly, Harry Potter just look plain bad, MS really needs to start thinking carefully about what they need to do to ensure that the Kinect doesn’t become a laughing stock. A good start would be to have games that actually work consistently.
Fox1
August 19, 2010 at 14:20
I take it the fate of Kinect depends on Harry Potter 😆
Bobby Kotick
August 19, 2010 at 14:25
I really can’t see them doing anything more with this technology. It’s the same dilemma Sony faced during the Eye Toy years, and let’s not kid ourselves, those Eye Toy Play games were initially fun, but they quite frankly terrible.
Kinect is definitely a step up from the PS2 Eye Toy, but you’re still severely limited to casual “wave games” and on rail games like the above featured Harry Potter game.
There’s no way to turn Kinect into a Star Trek holodeck simulator where you can move a character in a 3D environment with your body.
They could probably try to integrate Kinect into some sort of RTS game where you can control the map, unit selection, with your body, but Kinect has been downscaled so much, that I seriously doubt it can even do that any more.
Bobby Kotick
August 19, 2010 at 14:45
Of course not Fox, but it’s not looking good for the platform. Jedis and boy wizards are not meant to be on rails 😛
Bobby Kotick
August 19, 2010 at 14:54
Reliability and stability are crucial here, and so far Kinect hasn’t fared very well, although the Chinese dancer fiasco, was probably due to the flashing lightbulbs from the cameras, but the lag in the Harry Potter game is inexcusable. It really looks bad.
Anyway… Kinect would be pretty cool for puzzle games though. I can already visualize a 3D Kinect Rubiks cube game, where you can move the cube in 3 dimensions, manipulate it with your hands etc.
Anyone got another game idea?
Nick de Bruyne
August 19, 2010 at 14:59
I still like the idea of Kinect integrating into normal games. Picking an object up and examining it with hand movements to find clues, or using the voice recognition to read your lines in an RPG, that detects your tone of voice and translates it over into the game for example.
I really think that the Kinect is going to be better to the Hardcore market as an easy controller-less interface, as well as something to enhance already existing game types.
easy
August 19, 2010 at 15:09
i assume you would need to be facing the kinect camera head on when playing games like this? otherwise your gestures would become erratic, if not unresponsive.
RSA-Ace
August 19, 2010 at 15:11
Geoff I’m a little disappointed that Kinect isn’t on the rails in the image (maybe even with some steam above it).
Geoffrey Tim
August 19, 2010 at 15:13
Now I’m a little disappointed too. 🙁
Bobby Kotick weighs in
August 19, 2010 at 15:13
With a little text box that reads… “Taking games into the future!” :w00t: :happy:
Bobby Kotick weighs in
August 19, 2010 at 15:18
It’s supposed to extrapolate that you are indeed an entity in a 3D environment, and thus take into account that you’re facing it head on, but who knows if Kinect can actually do all the fancy things it was supposed to (or more importantly if it still can).
Uncle
August 19, 2010 at 15:33
I think MS is aboard a sinking ship with Kinect. I think they realized halfway through the project that control-less gaming was not as cool as they visualized. Unfortunately they had sunk too much money and publicity into it to drop it. So they had to push on knowing it is rubbish and going to flop with the hardcore audience.
I’m guessing that why Peter M jumped ship.
Bobby Kotick weighs in
August 19, 2010 at 15:44
Don’t underestimate the willingness of folks to pay money to play with virtual pets. Kinectimals might just save Kinect 😛
I sometimes wonder if the high price point of Kinect isn’t actually a subtle exit strategy for Microsoft. If it doesn’t sell well, they can always just shrug their shoulders and say “Meh, didn’t work”, and thus Kinect joins the HD-DVD xbox drive on the heap.
It’s a bit late for them to axe the project now, but luckily for them they have deep pockets. Had it been Sony who came up with this idea, I doubt they would have survived till the end of the year.
Werner
August 19, 2010 at 16:11
True… but I think we are all underestimating the stupidity of the mass-market lovingly referred to as the “casual gamers”. Those shmucks will buy anything shiny without doing the proper research 😉
But hey… just maybe Micrsoft knows something we don’t.
Bobby Kotick
August 19, 2010 at 16:30
Ultimately, that’s really what matters in the end, whether or not casual (and even core) gamers take to Kinect like fish to water, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, casual gamers are not hobbyists and for most of them gaming will remain merely a fad.
It makes me wonder how sustainable the casual market is in the long term… although I might be completely wrong on this point.
But, all of this is theorycraft, and we’ll only know whether or not Kinect will be a success or not, when it finally launches… and we all stand in front of it at our local Look and Listen branch, while some nerdy kid molests the cute tiger in kinectimals…
:tongue:
And then you discover his name is Lans, and you hope he doesn’t follow you home. :happy:
piet
August 19, 2010 at 16:43
Well said Geoffrey, well said.
ACID
August 19, 2010 at 17:01
Well Sorcery looks awesome. If they add a massive RPG world and a good story it should be a fantastic game. As for Harry Potter i think those above me have pretty much echoed my thoughts so i wont go on about it.
Purple Dragon
August 19, 2010 at 17:12
Just commenting on the Star Trek idea. Hell that would have been brilliant.
Imagine sitting down on your couch as though you are the Captain of the Enterprise.
One can dream…
The Bonk
August 19, 2010 at 19:04
LOL
twilb
August 19, 2010 at 19:06
‘Thank you for travelling with Kinect rail. We are still experiencing technical difficulties and we apologise for the delays.’
Sorcery looks kinda cool though. Not entirely convinced yet, but it seems to have some novel ideas.
RSA-Ace
August 19, 2010 at 19:58
Same. I thought they used Move really well – but as a game I’m not really sure yet. A little depth and some RPG elements and I’m sold!
Bobby Kotick
August 19, 2010 at 20:15
That’s the danger with launch titles, and in this case it might be all gimmick over substance. But for now, I’m cautiously optimistic about Sorcery.
As for Microsoft’s Fail-rail, it’ll take some pretty spectacular and miraculous for me to board the Kinect rail train of fail.
Rinoa
August 19, 2010 at 23:49
Sony already have had hands on with 3d camera technology back in 2000 and rejected it, now it makes it clear why kinect to this day is such a failure, it never worked very well to begin with and reminds me so much of the activator disaster
Rinoa
August 19, 2010 at 23:50
Sony look to have the best motion control device out of the big three companies, I can’t wait until sorcery comes out!!
Pawsed
September 20, 2010 at 04:35
The irony here is there is no debate to be had.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows The Video Game (Part I) is coming out for: 360, PC, Wii, and PS3 (and DS/mobile versions).
What this is, according to Wikipedia, is: “Special side missions will be included in the xbox 360 version of the game where players can use the new ‘kinect’ coming out for the xbox 360.”
So regardless of opinion (though I’ll say I’m a PS3 fan, and Sorcery looks far more fun, it’s not important to my point), the PS3 is getting a full game in Sorcery, and the Harry Potter game (no Move support that I’ve read about though), whereas the Kinect features on the 360 are only a small set of side-games. Parents looking to buy the game for the kids WONT NEED KINECT, and thus this isn’t a Kinect seller. Not for some ‘side games’; not at that price. The parents will just buy the game, not the Kinect.
Ironically, the Wii version is probably the most motion control faithful, as the Wiimote has to be integral to controlling the game. So the two brand new motion control addons might get beat when it comes to the actual Harry Potter game by the old system that’s been out for years. I hope it gets Move support, because I’m not buying a Wii. Otherwise, I guess I’ll just be playing Sorcery.
DT
November 16, 2010 at 05:29
This review is nothing more than two videos showcasing ‘some’ of Kinects & Moves features and nothing more. To take what the reviewer has said about Kinect onboard would be a mistake on your part.
To the reviewer: Honestly mate, you CANNOT compare the Kinect to the Move using two DIFFERENT games. It should be the same title on each platform.
“Compared to Sorcery for PlayStation move though, it’s actually a bit laughable. While Move is essentially a shameless rip of the Wii’s controls, it’s a more mature input method that just seems more conducive to proper gaming. Besides that, it just looks like it’s more fun.”
The fact that you are comparing the Kinect to the Move using two DIFFERENT games with DIFFERENT gameplay mechanices, is the only thing laughable here.
mark
December 30, 2010 at 02:46
The headline for this article says xbox vs. ps3 comparison for Harry Potter – yet all I read was Kinect bashing, no actual comparison whatsoever. I cannot give much credit to an author who lets other’s videos do the talking for him, and doesn’t put in the effort to write what his title suggests. NEXT!