Rare and Molyneux wanted Kinect to have buttons
Microsoft’s big pitch regarding Kinect is around the fact that your body is the controller. This means no peripheral controller with buttons. However, in the early stages of Kinect, several factions at Microsoft wanted a physical controller.
According to CVG, Rare and Peter Molyneux revealed that they were “absolutely adamant” that Kinect use a physical controller of sorts in the latest issue of EDGE. Molyneux and Rare felt that some sort of haptic feedback was necessary for motion gaming.
Rare man, George Andreas stated:
We were absolutely adamant that we needed a button, something with haptic feedback, that would initiate an action. It took a long time – we threw some prototypes together and then we saw you didn’t need one.
Apparently the whole notion of using your body as the controller came from none other than Kudo Tsunoda, lead designer of Kinect.
We [Rare] were very vocal to Kudo [Tsunoda, Kinect lead] at the time, and Peter Molyneux was as well, that you needed something in your hand.
However, apparently after experiencing some of the demos crafted by Tsunoda and team, Rare and Molyneux changed their minds and felt that this concept could work.
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September 6th, 2010
Does everyone remember when CON called me racist? Well here he is calling Ivan a Spik lol:
http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/09/19/uncharted-2-reviews-trickle-in-a-reason-to-own-a-ps3/
1-0 to Oldschool
September 6th, 2010
@CON
Yeah, I remember that LOL
========================================
“We [Rare] were very vocal to Kudo [Tsunoda, Kinect lead] at the time, and Peter Molyneux was as well, that you needed something in your hand.”
^ well then, there you have it – a key feature (wanted by Rare and Molyneux) was left out of Kinect.
You have to wonder if Microsoft will come up with some type of wand to to actually make Kinect work properly. But then again, Kinect cost $150 by itself.
September 6th, 2010
Another stupid Kinect story.
We had a comment months ago (here, no less) where Microsoft made it plain that some Kinect games would be completely controller-free and others would not.
…..and so what?
Why is there this dumb and inaccurate pretense that in all cases Kinect means no controller at all?
September 6th, 2010
Talk to Rare and Molyneux HH
“We [Rare] were very vocal to Kudo [Tsunoda, Kinect lead] at the time, and Peter Molyneux was as well, that you needed something in your hand.”
September 7th, 2010
Have seen seen a Kinect game played in part with a controller?
September 7th, 2010
you seem to have misread the article. Notice the phrase “at the time”? they had originally wanted buttons and haptic feedback until they were shown tech demos of kinect which convinced them that it would work without. The USP of kinect is that it works without controllers, hence all the games at the moment have been designed to work without. that does not preclude MS from introducing supplementary accessories and games further down the line that offer feedback and buttons etc as well.
September 7th, 2010
If Microsoft start adding controllers or buttons down the line then I will see that as an extreme step back. They said it won’t need buttons, I wanna see them stick to that. But it’s pretty obvious they’ll add a X-mote down the line lol
September 7th, 2010
How I miss the Old Microsoft like the Old Sega. Windows 98 brings back fun memories.
The peresent Microsoft under Ballmer is trash.
ates is just going to enjoy his retirement while he looks at the ship he built sinks down.
360 fanboys why buy just one Kinect unit?
Why not buy yourselves 2 or more units a dozen even if you really believe its the best motion control system for you.
Not out of brand name loyalty but for it being a technological product that will satisfy your gaming needs more than any other device that you vigorously defend it against?
Buy Kinect by all means and prove to your conscience the real facts. But don’t blame us for not warning you. That’s fair enough.
Brand loyalty is just stupid blindness compared to loyalty to the truth.
What, if the 360 is indeed really the better machine then I will honestly consume it and defend it.
‘Brand Loyalty’ will be a thing of the past and this generation has proven that. Not even Microsoft, Sony, Apple, Nintendo can rest on their laurels or established franchise like they used to do.
People’s access to vast amount of information about competing products have that power to know which is the best choice and buy the best for their hard earned dollar. But this only works for consumers who are not blinded by ‘brand loyalty.’
Mike Ferro I think its high time Tech Blorge have a separate column for all things Google and Android.
September 7th, 2010
Android Blorge please….
September 7th, 2010
I may defend the PS3 but I can say with out a doubt that Samsung makes the best HDTV in the world not Sony.
Even if their LCD panels come ou of the same plant in South Korea.
September 7th, 2010
Gunstar I second that call for android blorge. Three different Blorges based around an Apple product needs some balancing out.
September 7th, 2010
“If Microsoft start adding controllers or buttons down the line then I will see that as an extreme step back.” why would that be bad? So microsoft introduced a method of interaction where you don’t need any form of controller. That doesn’t mean that they have turned their back on controller based games (why else release a revised xbox controller for example?). This simply expands the options gamers and developers have of increasing interactivity and immersion. Sony tried the same with the eyetoy but never made much of it. Before kinect you can interact with the game via the controller. After Kinect you have the choice between controller and/or Kinect.
September 7th, 2010
If MS introduces a controller it will in a way prove they were wrong and all the people complaining about this one key thing (Marks, Molyneux, ME) were right in their initial assessment of controller free gaming.
If they were to do that, the only hurdle I can see them having to get over would be processor power consumption by Kinect and how many core titles could it support (would they need to be dumbed down a bit?)
September 7th, 2010
Android smartphones
Android tablets
Android HD TVs
Android apps
Android netbooks
Android laptops
Android media players
Android ROMS
Android emulators
Android hardware
Android software
Android viruses, malwares
and specialy paranoid Android video games…
September 7th, 2010
Gunstar,
I absolutely agree. Samsung makes the best hdtv’s hands down. There is no other brand that can touch Samsung’s hdtv’s.
September 7th, 2010
“If MS introduces a controller it will in a way prove they were wrong”
They already have a controller. Sony is introducing the Pii-mote for Eye because it didn’t work well without one, and now the games for it are turning out worse than wii games.
Still no coverage of Move launch games on a gamer site, still more misdirection towards move tech instead.
September 7th, 2010
Well Kinect is almost finally here. We’ll have to suffer through all of the bad impressions and reviews after is releases, but then it can fade into obscurity as just another failed peripheral. God I can’t wait.
September 7th, 2010
^^ I agree. The same goes for Move.
September 7th, 2010
same. . .i hate all this motion control crap. the sooner this fad is over with the better.
September 7th, 2010
Just cancelled my Move pre-order also (cancelled Kinect earlier). Nothing for either tech appeals to me at this time as a gamer.
September 7th, 2010
“Still no coverage of Move launch games on a gamer site, still more misdirection towards move tech instead.”
http://gamer.blorge.com/2010/09/02/ps3-move-sports-champion-reception-mixed-kb-to-the-rescue/
They probably don’t need too. You’ve been posting on three separate stories about launch games as well as your own topic on the forums. Will Move reviews news on Blorge be enlightening to you in any way whatsoever?
September 7th, 2010
Talk about “buttons”
check this out – keep pressing the buttons on the screem (link below)
http://www.yaybuttons.com.php5-13.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/
September 7th, 2010
I pre ordered Resi 5 Gold because I’m intrigued to see how it will play with Move. None of it costs much really.
September 7th, 2010
“Move reviews news on Blorge be enlightening to you in any way whatsoever?”
Slightly more than the continuous string of repetitive anti-Kinect/Move “teh superiorz” tech impressions. At least the Move game reviews/previews would reflect actual games.
Here’s a good start:
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/09/playstation-move-1.ars/2
“Intrigue” isn’t enough for me to plop down ~$150 for the Move system; I’ll wait for a decent amount games that justify the investment, i.e. significantly better experience with Move control.
Ruse looks to be the best representative so far, but still nothing that makes me want to drop the DS in favor of Move:
uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/111/1118121p1.html
September 8th, 2010
“Slightly more than the continuous string of repetitive anti-Kinect/Move “teh superiorz” tech impressions.”
So just so I have this correct….
You’re not just happy with the reviews on other sites shitting on the shovelware titles of Move or your own posts and forums posts bringing it to light? you want Gamer Blorge to also post what you’ve been saying?
And that’s so much more enlightening to you than two prominent First party developers thinking that Kinect should have had buttons?
*rolls eyes*.
September 8th, 2010
Personally.
I’m looking forward to the games I’d usually play with a controller having a nice alternative control scheme to play with.
You brought up Ruse which looks good but I’ll likely skip. Echochrome 2 looks like a great Move concept game.
September 8th, 2010
@oldschool
loving the new avatar
September 8th, 2010
“You’re not just happy with the reviews on other sites shitting on the shovelware titles of Move or your own posts and forums posts bringing it to light? you want Gamer Blorge to also post what you’ve been saying?”
Right. No other sites shit on Kinect. Nobody here has posted anything negative about Kinect or mentioned buttons before. It’s so “enlightening” here, especially to see a matched critical eye placed on existing Move titles. How many wonky Kinect title videos have we seen? Now how many of the same have we seen for Move?
*sigh*.
September 8th, 2010
“I’m looking forward to the games I’d usually play with a controller having a nice alternative control scheme to play with.”
Just because it’s different? Sorry, but if I’m going to invest ~$150 it should offer a clearly superior control scheme in games, not just “a nice alternative”.
September 8th, 2010
“Right. No other sites shit on Kinect. Nobody here has posted anything negative about Kinect or mentioned buttons before. It’s so “enlightening” here, especially to see a matched critical eye placed on existing Move titles. How many wonky Kinect title videos have we seen? Now how many of the same have we seen for Move? ”
We already got the Sports Champions receiving mixed reviews story. A posts needs to exist for every Move game? Is a story created for every game anyway?
Sorry if you disagree but two prominent first party studios wanting buttons is indeed news.
Can it be helped if their are less whacky videos of Move not working up to par than Kinect ones?
“Just because it’s different? Sorry, but if I’m going to invest ~$150 it should offer a clearly superior control scheme in games, not just “a nice alternative”.”
Yep. I brought up Okami and RE4 as examples for wii titles. Both of those titles are critically acclaimed on MC.
I wonder if PS3 Move will get a version of Epic Mickey also. That’s looking better and better each time I see it.
September 8th, 2010
Phranc – “I’m looking forward to the games I’d usually play with a controller having a nice alternative control scheme to play with”
totally agreed – I’m already looking forward to a bunch of Move compatible games.
Phranc – “Can it be helped if their are less whacky videos of Move not working up to par than Kinect ones?”
couldnt have said any better.
September 8th, 2010
“couldnt have said any better.”
Sure you could have. You could have used the correct
‘There’ not ‘their’ for starters.
September 8th, 2010
LOL I guess I could have
September 8th, 2010
“Can it be helped if their are less whacky videos of Move not working up to par than Kinect ones?”
I wonder why that is when Move has more games out and being reviewed badly? I suppose it is incredibly difficult to find videos of badly reviewed games for some semblance of balance. I know you disagree and prefer pro-Sony coverage like some others here so I’ll leave it at that. Oh yes, there was the coverage of the best reviewed Move title, that also received mixed reviews, but thankfully that was glossed over with a KB video… whew, close one.
I tried playing through RE4 again on Wii… blegh. Give me the traditional controls over that anyday, I see no advantage. I suppose wand support would have a wow factor for some though. The best benefit I could see would be remasters that look better.
Anyway, I’m sure we’ll see more coverage of the best reviewed Move titles only… or perhaps only the good reviews instead of bad ones.
September 8th, 2010
if you don’t like it then don’t buy. These games are Wii-too type of games, nobody expected them to get awesome reviews.
at least Move does not have all the limitations Kinect is facings (nor videos showing its technical issues)…Kinect is pretty much doomed to not support hardcore games.
September 9th, 2010
@Carlb
The last I checked there was only four or so games reviewed on metacritic. The launch lineup hasn’t even fully been reviewed at this time.
EyePet and Sports Champions seem OK….
Kung Fu rider seems like its the only rotten apple anyway. I don’t expect much from these shovelware titles anyway.
again…Why do Move reviews matter in Kinect stores?
September 9th, 2010
@Phranc
The last time I checked there was no games reviewed on metacritic, but several for Move.
Again, we’ve already heard about “buttons”, seen enough bad Kinect videos, and heard enough crap talked about the tech. It’s time to move on to games.
September 9th, 2010
no pun intended?
September 9th, 2010
lol… no, but good catch regardless.