PanicFreak
Member
VR was going to kill of Kinect anyway.
Wouldn't a depth sensing camera system like Kinect make VR better???
VR was going to kill of Kinect anyway.
All the talent is at Playtronic, haven't you heard?
No, but Mattrick was apparently the one to dumb down Kinect sports into being nothing more than a Wii Sports knock-off.
Price and Sutherland agree that setting aside a small team to revive an old franchise - whether for Kinect or not - might have served Rare better. "I think it would have been an easier sell for Rare fans to say, 'Don't worry, the studio's doing this and servicing its old IP as well,'" comments Price. "The fact that Rare became completely aligned with Kinect took away the possibility of giving a lot of gamers something they would have immediately loved." Sutherland suggests that the game could have taken the form of a Kinect exclusive, a controller game, or a mixture of the two.
Imagine that Layton example with physical puzzles but with a third generation Kinect or some shit like that coupled to the VR hardware.Wouldn't a depth sensing camera system like Kinect make VR better???
Do you expect VR to be a hit in the casual market?VR was going to kill of Kinect anyway.
I've never believed any of the statements claiming that Microsoft has allowed Rare any freedom, so I'm totally biased and unsurprised approaching this article. It's just too hard to imagine that the company would make a major change in direction that is so unpopular with their fans and stick to it. Even Nintendo was releasing things like Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy on the Wii.
Microsoft is commonly blamed for Rare's transformation into a so-called "casual" studio, but Price feels this is a step too far. "Phil Spencer taking the mantle of Xbox is one of the best things that could have happened for Rare," he comments. "Because he's always said to people at Rare [as general manager of Microsoft Studios], 'Do what you want to do and we'll back you,' and he's always stayed true to his word in that regard. It was people in Rare's management at the time who said: 'Well, Kinect is a great opportunity for the studio - go all in on it.' So when executives at Microsoft see that the management team are passionate about doing that, they back them. Microsoft to their credit did that, and perhaps the story online isn't quite reflective of the truth.
From what I understand there is too much lag inherent with Kinect to make it useful for VR.Wouldn't a depth sensing camera system like Kinect make VR better???
From what I understand there is too much lag inherent with Kinect to make it useful for VR.
The biggest issue I had with mandatory Kinect for Xbox One was that MS didn't seem to fully believe in the device. I'm not the biggest kinect fan to begin with, but I was surprised that the games support for it was so terrible. At least Kinect for 360 was accompanied by several retail games that was specifically designed for the device.So, when MS revealed that it was going to be mandatory... even I, a once diehard Kinect supporter, thought it was dumb.
No one wants it anymore. Demand was pretty high after the WiiKinect has one major fault, no one wants it.
Yea. but Rare was supposedly "dead" when most of those guys were at Rare/MS.
OH right. All the talent was really at Free Radical before it was at Playtronic. What are some of the other "all the talent has left to work at ______" developers?
OP left out one of the most interesting parts (on Microsoft allegedly "killing" the old Rare):
VR was going to kill of Kinect anyway.
The biggest issue I had with mandatory Kinect for Xbox One was that MS didn't seem to fully believe in the device. I'm not the biggest kinect fan to begin with, but I was surprised that the games support for it was so terrible. At least Kinect for 360 was accompanied by several retail games that was specifically designed for the device.
They didn't even bother to port over some of the more succesful 360 Kinect games to Xbox One.
The most regrettable thing about Kinect v2 imo, is that it died before universal apps with Windows 10 had a chance to become a thing. There are a ton of fun mobile apps that could have used the Kinect in place of touchscreen swiping (something like Sonic Dash could have been a ton of fun), in the way that Fruit Ninja Kinect did... now many of these games won't have a control system that makes porting them viable.
To be fair, Kinect Sports sold 9 million (more than pretty much anything else they ever created), whilst a couple more Viva Pinata's would have probably doomed the studio entirely. Rare's biggest issue under MS was always one of audience. The Xbox audience were simply not looking for Nintendo-esque games in general, and that was what Rare specialised in. Had Kameo and Viva Pinata been released on Nintendo platform, nobody would be placing a pre and post line between them and Rare's other offerings... but on Xbox there was a constant perception of "Rare's dead" with every title they created, long before the Kinect was even a thing... it just changed to "Kinect killed Rare" (even as they were still doing what they often did, created an alternative take on a huge current Nintendo experience), with everyone acting as though their previous core games were received with open arms at the time. If they were, then Kinect Sports may not have happened... it was basically the studio trying to prove their worth... and for a moment, they had succeeded.
I agree being able to do things with your hands would be great in VR. At the same time, for many games it may make more sense to be able to hold something and press a button. For feeling like you're shooting a gun, for example, even a regular gamepad would be better than just your hands.I think "like Kinect" is an important distinction... the Kinect v2 itself would be unsuited to VR, but some evolution of the device would be extremely beneficial for a feeling of presence. Wand-like devices are a serious limitation atm in comparison to it actually knowing what you're doing with your body.
Anything more complicated wouldn't have worked anyway.
That really was a good read. Shame what happened to Rare as a result. Says a lot though about Phil when they say he's like do what you want and we'll back you. Really glad this is the type of guy running the place now.
"Every company makes mistakes, and people forgive certain companies more than others. We all love Nintendo so much we can forgive them for whatever they do. We'll always forgive them, the day the next Zelda comes around. Everybody likes to create this narrative that Microsoft are evil, but that's not the case - they were very supportive. I guess there were a few people who have since left who thought: 'I wanted to be working on this game or my pet project, and I didn't get to.' And they've kind of painted a picture that it's all Microsoft's fault."
I fully believe Phil Spencer was on the ground floor of all of those discussions. He defended the Xbox One's DRM as much as Mattrick did.If only that would translate into the gaming masses buying in to the Xbox brand.
Phil's taking over hasn't seemed to erase the vitriol many people still seem to have for the Xbox One. Which is a shame really, its a good console to have in one's collection and a lot of people are missing out over some butthurt they experienced under the reins of the real villain.
It's like if you were pissed at Prince John and Robin Hood comes and deposes him and places awesome King Richard on the throne but not supporting King Richard because his brother was a douche...
http://www.destructoid.com/ms-on-xbox-one-we-have-built-a-natively-connected-device-255988.phtmlSpencer explained: "I mean the analogy, and I don't know if it's a great analogy let's say I live in an area that doesn't have cell service. I wouldn't go buy a cell phone. Now, I might roam in different areas where my cellphone becomes active."
He continued: "The 360 ecosystem is a great ecosystem for somebody that's in a purely disconnected state for long periods of time. We have built a natively connected device with Xbox One and we think the experiences are moving in that direction."
All of the Rare talent are also at 343 Industries.OH right. All the talent was really at Free Radical before it was at Playtronic. What are some of the other "all the talent has left to work at ______" developers?
I fully believe Phil Spencer was on the ground floor of all of those discussions. He defended the Xbox One's DRM as much as Mattrick did.
http://www.destructoid.com/ms-on-xbox-one-we-have-built-a-natively-connected-device-255988.phtml
I fully believe Phil Spencer was on the ground floor of all of those discussions. He defended the Xbox One's DRM as much as Mattrick did.
http://www.destructoid.com/ms-on-xbox-one-we-have-built-a-natively-connected-device-255988.phtml
All of the Rare talent are also at 343 Industries.
(No really: Ex-Rare devs that worked on DKC3, DK64, Banjo-Tooie and Viva Pinata are currently working there)
I'm so glad that era of gaming is dead.
Why did you come into my brain and type it out before I could? I actually don't care that you did because you saved me the hassle to. Great post.
I agree being able to do things with your hands would be great in VR. At the same time, for many games it may make more sense to be able to hold something and press a button. For feeling like you're shooting a gun, for example, even a regular gamepad would be better than just your hands.
We are still in the nascent stages of VR; the ideal VR solution should be able to do both.
As an employee of a boss that makes a TON of regrettable software design decisions that I don't agree with...and usually have to go back and redo later when users complain...
This is what you do when you're not the boss and you want to keep your job!
You tell the boss, "I don't think this is a good idea." They either listen to you or they tell you, "This is what we're doing, tow the line or get fired."
I choose "tow the line". I like having a good paying job. I bet Phil does too.
Towing the line got him to the top of the pile as well, seems like he did a pretty good job of working his way up
The biggest issue I had with mandatory Kinect for Xbox One was that MS didn't seem to fully believe in the device. I'm not the biggest kinect fan to begin with, but I was surprised that the games support for it was so terrible. At least Kinect for 360 was accompanied by several retail games that was specifically designed for the device.
They didn't even bother to port over some of the more succesful 360 Kinect games to Xbox One.
Couldn't agree more with that sentiment.
We are seemingly past that dark time in gaming.
I totally agree. Fighter Within?!?! -sigh-
Dance Central Spotlight, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Kinect Sports Rivals, their fitness game and maybe one or 2 more should have been mandatory launch titles. Give people a visible reason why they NEED to spend the extra $100Not a bunch of lies and PR fluff.
OP left out one of the most interesting parts (on Microsoft allegedly "killing" the old Rare):
Kinect Sports Rivals not only needed to be ready for launch... it really needed to be a pack-in title with every single console. You don't make a peripheral like Kinect mandatory with every console, and then not package any software to use with it.
I am positive that this was the plan (especially since the game was revealed before the Xbox One's launch).
Yes how DARE they make games for people other then 30 year old males! Dark times indeed. Oh brother.
People made games for kids and teenagers long before motion control was a thing.
And they still can today.
The only ones who have ever said it wasn't Microsoft's fault are Playtonic, who have a game releasing on XB1 and no reason not to be political, and Phil Spencer himself. What about the statements over the years from countless other ex-Rare staff who are spread all over the industry? Nothing but salt, surely. Let's ignore those guys and take Gavin Price's words, only his and Phil Spencer's words, as facts.
"Every company makes mistakes, and people forgive certain companies more than others. We all love Nintendo so much we can forgive them for whatever they do. We'll always forgive them, the day the next Zelda comes around. Everybody likes to create this narrative that Microsoft are evil, but that's not the case - they were very supportive. I guess there were a few people who have since left who thought: 'I wanted to be working on this game or my pet project, and I didn't get to.' And they've kind of painted a picture that it's all Microsoft's fault."
The only ones who have ever said it wasn't Microsoft's fault are Playtonic, who have a game releasing on XB1 and no reason not to be political, and Phil Spencer himself. What about the statements over the years from countless other ex-Rare staff who are spread all over the industry? Nothing but salt, surely. Let's ignore those guys and take Gavin Price's words, only his and Phil Spencer's words, as facts.