Kinect: A Spastic Mess

Video Games | Kinect | Video Physics Tech Demo

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Gametrailers put together a demonstration of the new Kinect motion controller, and showed the world -- if the "Avatar" window is any indication -- that Kinect could use a little more time to cook in the oven. Granted, I haven't seen full-body mo-cap done like this before, but if that mo-cap information is translated into a twitchy, flickering blob of polygons, then my interest takes a nosedive.

Microsoft PR Commenters have said that this footage is from old Kinect builds, and that all the kinks would be ironed out by the time it's released, either in hardware or software.  However, considering all the public showings Microsoft's done up to this point, I'd be hesitant to believe those statements.  Every clip I've seen, from Leipzig to Hollywood, shows Kinect's motion controls as laggy and inaccurate at least.  If it's months away from release and the thing can't even detect a jump properly, then something drastic needs to happen.

I really don't understand the mentality of releasing a product before it's ready, though it seems to be common practice in the game industry, save for Blizzard and Valve.  When your first product is a hot mess, do they expect consumers to make a return visit when the successor is really ready?  You know the saying, "you can't get fooled again?"  That's the consumer talking, Microsoft, and they won't be pleased if you give them a buggy paperweight for $150.  I can guarantee they're going to remember that moment if when Kinect 2 hits the streets.

Please, Microsoft.  Listen to this tiny mouse click in the void of the blogosphere; Focus on the software that's 100% solid, not the "wouldn't it be cool" stuff.  Save those for after the launch!