Should I buy the Kinect?

On November 4^th, Microsoft released the Kinect Sensor for the XBOX 360 and they are hoping that it will revolutionize the way we play video games and also that it will increase the sales of the XBOX 360. By now you probably are aware of what Microsoft Kinect is, and what it promises, but you may be wondering whether you should buy it now or wait a few months. Here are some questions that I am asking myself:

Do I really need the Kinect?

While I do enjoy playing normal video games on the XBOX360, I'm not the best gamer out there, and any game that involves clicking a number of buttons in a certain sequence is beyond me! What I have found is that motion sensing games allow an average gamer to get more out of the game, for example, on Tiger Woods Golf 2010 I have found that I get far more enjoyment from actually swining and seeing the ball fly off into the distance, than the normal method that simply involves timing! So for this reason - yes I do need a Kinect!

What about the competition?

Sony are introducing their wand which combined with their PSEye effectively gives you the same experience as Kinect – Sony say it is more accurate and sensitive than Kinect, but then they would wouldn’t they!

Nintendo have released a more accurate controller that does seem a lot more sensitive (I got it with the Tiger Woods game) but other than that have been very quiet. I wonder what they have got up their sleeve and whether they will be bringing out a new version of the Wii that will once again stun the world!

Will the Kinect work as well as they say?

While I was sceptical initially, so far the Kinect seems to be living up to its promise. It's easy to use, intuitive and incredibly fun - it really does enhance the XBOX 360 and makes it more of a family system than a hardcore gaming system.

Will Kinect improve the multi-media experience?

One area that really intrigues me is the application of this device to other multi-media. I’ve seen videos where the user controls the DVD both by hand and voice. Having the ability to control my living room with my voice, changing channels, pausing TV etc really opens up a whole new world, and this is one aspect that really excites me and perhaps pushes the Kinect close to my Christmas list. With all the gadgets that I have connect in my living room, and a remote control that requires a masters degree, anything that can make the process of using these gadgets easier and more intuitive is a huge plus for me.

Should you wait and see?

I'm on the fence with this one - so far the Kinect works very well; however, if you look at some of the recent gadgets from Apple, you'll notice that v2.0 is always better - however, I would assume that the improvements will all come on the software side, so even if you buy v1.0 you should be able to upgrade - so go for it!

Conclusion

It's down to a matter of choice - do you want to move to the next stage in video gaming, or are you happy with the way games work now - if you are then there's no need to buy the Kinect, however with Christmas fast approaching this is certainly going to be a system that will provide endless fun for the whole family at Christmas!