Avatar Kinect…Home but only better?
I have finally caught on to what Microsoft is doing. It’s taking everything from its competition (PS3, Wii) and attempting to do it much better. One can argue that they’ve certainly smashed egg in the face of the Wii and its motion control with Kinect. In fact, I’ll just say it now…they have.
However, with the latest announcement coming involving Microsoft’s attempt to best Sony’s Home feature I’m not so sure. Avatar Kinect will allow you to chat in a virtual environment with friends as your Xbox Avatar. Seriously, why would I want to do this? I’d much prefer to chat with my friends as myself and not watch my Xbox Avatar attempt to lip sync for me.
Gamers are given 15 stages in which to interact with in some sort of roundtable like discussion. You can then upload to Facebook for the world to see. I’m sure this will go over well when you consider that 8 million Kinect units were shipped to retail over the holiday giving folks ample opportunity to invest in Kinect.
Avatar Kinect will be available only to Xbox Live Gold members this Spring. You can watch Steve Ballmer do his Avatar Kinect announcement in a video right here. It would really help for Microsoft to seriously invest in “believable” people when they advertise this stuff.
What say you?
January 6th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Reminds me slightly of Home which I never really used. My try it out but dont plan on using it to often even though its a good concept.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:17 am
I say bring it on…no reason not to add features like this to enrich the Kinect experience. I mean technically it’s not free and it is starting to look a lot like PSHome only without Sony’s stink on it. The more value added to the cost that over 8 million have already paid the better you’ll feel about that 150$ price tag.
On the flip side core-gamers yet another slighting at the hands of the Kinect Beast. Just think of Kinect as a way to exercise in between your hard core gaming addiction…it’s what I do!
January 6th, 2011 at 9:20 am
I think this is awesome. But I want to watch the real person not the avatar.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:00 am
well you don’t think it’s awesome because you can’t watch the real person..duh Nina! so instead say it would be awesome if you could watch the real person.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:16 am
BPD, Real person probably will never probably happen unless they have a way to monitor. Can you just imagine how many inappropriate things would go on. It would be way worse then people showing personal parts in UNO. Home was ridiculous in itself because there would be one lady in the room you were in and a ton guys would surround and be very vulgar\inappropriate and harass her. People when they get behind a mic and are many miles away become very inappropriate.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:35 am
Harris you are SO MEAN TO ME!
Sugar excellent point. Really didn’t think of that…because well I’m a mature guy. I see your point.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:03 am
i used PS Home twice. and never again. it makes no sense and it takes you away from the experience of PS3.
i doubt i’ll use Avatar Kinect any more than that. makes no sense to talk about with Avatars.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:47 am
It’s cool, but I’m not sure how much I would use this. Unless there’s somehow like achieements, or unlockables like avatar awards or gamerpics lol. I would only use party chat anyways I think.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I noticed there were no headsets used for this. So I wonder will there be issues speaking? And do I have to sit right in front of my Kinect? I would think a person would have to talk really loud in order to be heard. Microsoft really has a way of making this look so easy.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Nuclear you cheevo wh0re
GameSkills that’s why they call it MARKETING LOL
January 6th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Well they made some generic achievements for gameroom so it would not surprise me if the made some for this as well.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Game, the Mic built into Kinect is pretty good. It recognizes my voice commands rather well so I would not expect this to be and issue to be honest.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
@BPD, Ya, not sure if you have used Playstation Home but its like a big ol rape or gang bang for any ladies that join which is pathetic. Companies try to offer fun things for us gamers and some people just ruin it for all.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
The only problem with the Kinect mic is it makes you sound like you’re underwater. But yeah other than that it works really good.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Really. I have never really noticed that problem to be honest but I dont use the mic too often. Only done Kinect Video Chat a few times.
January 6th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
I dunno about Kinect to Kinect. I’ve never done that. But when I’m using a headset and someone is using the Kinect, to me it sounds like they’re underwter. It’s not bad, like communication is stillfine and all it just sounds a but funny.
January 7th, 2011 at 9:20 am
I tried the Kinect video chat for the first time last night and I did not have any issues with the audio. No one sounded like they were talking under water. I dont use mine for game chat so I am not sure there.
January 7th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Well I think it’s always because my friends are always playing something while talking, so they’re not only moving around but the mics are picking up the audio and stuff from the game coming out of the speakers.
January 7th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Yeah, That could be and issue. Was one of the reasons I chose not to use the mic for gaming. I have my Turtle Beach x41s for that.