If you don't like getting your next generation console news via Microsoft job postings, today is not your lucky day. The manufacterer has had a busy July, announcing vacancies for dozens of roles on current and future Xbox platform development. Some hint at third party publishing deals, others the evolution of Xbox Live, still more the bulking up of Microsoft Games Studios. There's also mention of great advances in the field of Natural User Interface technology, a wooly term which covers motion-sensing devices like Kinect.
"Do you want to work on the future of Natural User Input as a member of the team that *shipped* Kinect for the Xbox 360?" intones the blurb for a Software Development Engineer at the Interactive Entertainment Business in Redmond. "Do you have strong research skills and are passionate about engineering and product development?
Meanwhile, over at Microsoft's research labs in Haifa, Israel, a senior electronic engineer is sought to join a "a fast growing team that is responsible for designing, building and delivering the devices and the innovative solution for Xbox and various future NUI applications.
"If you are passionate for electronic design of 3D imaging cameras which will serve millions throughout the world, we are offering a unique and great opportunity for talented people, to help us build and ensure our products meets the highest standards."
Improved Kinect features are among those proposed by a leaked "Xbox 720" design brief, confirmed to be authentic but not necessarily representative of the current state of Microsoft's next generation console project. The document posits two sensors, placed to either side of the TV for vastly more accurate depth perception.
One more before you go. Back in Redmond, there's call for a software development engineer to work on future tech.
"If you enjoy being close to the metal, working on cutting edge hardware, being involved with the incredible innovation of Kinect, and being part of a team of highly efficient engineers then this role is for you," notes the copy. "The world has watched us ship some incredible products...the best is yet to come!"
8 comments so far...
bamozzy on 24 Jul '12 said:
I do think it is funny that Kinect as a Technology is superb and it will soon have greater depth perception - is that to make up for its lack of depth in its games!!
All this capability but its best application so far has been 'voice' commands!
I will say that it is better than Move and Wii mote in dancing and fitness 'games' but not being a fan of these it is quite limited. I have also used the Kinect feature for Forza but that does all the breaking and accelerating for you - I much prefer the controller. In general I prefer the controller to navigate the dashboard too but the Voice commands are quite useful too - especially for searching and video controls!
Kinect will forever be more of a Novelty (unless you do play a lot of dance and fitness games) until we get some games of greater substance - We need games of quality and for hardcore (not casual) 'gamers'
msbhvn on 24 Jul '12 said:
The biggest problem with Kinect is that MS cheaped out on the components, meaning it's crap for anything that requires precision. Kinect 2.0 on the Gertrude will have better cameras and more/dedicated processing power in the console, meaning that more complex Kinect control systems can be used in better games. Kinect being supplied with the console will mean the devs can rely on every Gertrude owner having a Kinect, something that isn't the case now.
Voice commands have been thrown into games so that the publishers can get money from MS to put the "better with Kinect" bar on the game case, like ME3 did. You can bet the re-release of Skyrim with all the DLC will have the bar on it, since the Kinect Shouts were a post release update.
darkknight1234 on 24 Jul '12 said:
Kinect was always a waste of time, and people bought into it due to hype and the fact that this is america.
Kinect has no original or unique game application
Its a glorified microphone and headset
jimlad4 on 24 Jul '12 said:
No it's not...
msbhvn on 24 Jul '12 said:
The US OXM site needs to change its domain name if confused Yankee-doodles keep ending up here.
Grummy on 25 Jul '12 said:
I'm trying to work out how the .co.uk suffix is too much for them to understand.
I'd understand if Brits went to the US version instead, it has the .com suffix, and new people may not realise the difference at first, but this way around?
Bubblebeard JS on 25 Jul '12 said:
Kinect has no original or unique game application??? are you mad???? orignal games?? hoe about not using a controller AT ALL for gaming???, navigating around thre dash bord film searches... voice comands in game... ring any bells?? name another Console that can do this?
cant be a waste of time if it as the fastest selling unit THAT year when it came out, i owned it, thought it was a great change and a different direction on gaming, mostly it worked pretty well, if you set it up properly, i did have a few issues ill admit mainly with the lag, but games like 'the Gun Stringer' and 'Steel Battalion' worked wonders for me and i loved them both each in there own way.
i have two kids and games like disney pixar rush and the disneyland adventures went down a storm with them...
i genuinely think tho that kinect is under-rated, for instance 'rise of nightmares' got a crap score by OXM, but i loved it, it worked really well probably because i took the time to set my unit up properly...
sory to bang on but i genuinely think that kinect deserves a better reputation that what its getting.
if they are hiring to make it better it can only be a step in the right direction.
bamozzy on 26 Jul '12 said:
I do agree that Kinect is very much under-rated and that if you set it up and calibrate it regularly it is very accurate.
My daughters were going to get a Wii as they really don't get on with controllers, not into 'games' but wanted some Dance and Fitness type 'games'. However after trying the Demo I downloaded of Dance Central 2 they are now interested in getting an Xbox with Kinect. Games of this nature are SO MUCH better on Kinect as it tracks the whole body - legs, arms, rotation of the torso etc - it can tell if you didn't do the on screen moves perfectly. Move and Wii only track a controller held usually in one hand but at best in two hands. It will never know what you as a person are doing, whether you are stood in the right positions (or even standing). Kinect is so clever at the moment it can tell how your body is 'changing' with its fitness games and it is only going to get better.
I had no issues with the responsiveness of Kinect when using it in Forza and found it equally as responsive as a controller in terms of steering etc. HOWEVER I prefer to have some feedback and touch in games like this. Holding a steering wheel and pressing pedals provides feedback to your body, Controllers provide the same - Triggers feel like Accelerators (and triggers on weapons in FPS games). That bit of resistance and feedback from an object held in your hands provides a much more immersive experience than waving your hands about in mid air. I have yet to see a hardcore' game that utilises Kinect well - the technology isn't the problem but the lack of quality games is.
I tried the demo of Rise of Nightmares and it really is poor from a graphical point of view - it could be an xbox (not 360) game! but the problem is with the games NOT Kinect! I have had no issues with its responsiveness or accuracy but then I took time to set it up and calibrated it regularly in different lighting conditions and it certainly helps and improves its ability to track you!