Disabled vets may want to wait to Kinect
Published: November 5, 2010
Microsoft’s new Xbox 360 controller, the Kinect, launched yesterday, but veterans with disabilities may want to hold off on a trip to the local GameStop.
While the gamers at Stars and Stripes were at first pretty excited about the possibilities for a controllerless, camera-based system as a way for disabled vets get in on the game, several reviews allude to many launch titles requiring full range of motion in order to play. In addition, some of the motion and voice recognition to browse menus - another way the accessory might appeal to disabled vets - are still a little buggy, kind of a bummer for anyone looking to take advantage of the 360’s Netflix, music playback and other features.
A publicist for Microsoft, Angella Wong, told Stripes the company is continuing to work on the technology behind the scenes to improve its ability to recognize more “form factors and positions,” and it believes gaming should be approachable to as many people as possible.
Stripes’ gamer Brian Bowers got his first look at Kinect on launch day, and said that, on the accessibility front, things seem to simply depend on the game. The active sporty-type games require a lot of movement, so those confined to wheelchairs won’t be able to get into them as effectively. The driving game “Kinect Joy Ride” and pet simulation “Kinectimals,” however, will work just fine.
It looks like the potential is there, just not fully realized. So don't expect any KinectForWarriors charity groups just yet. If any military gamers out there are already getting a workout from Kinect and want to know which titles to sink some cash into, Stripes will have a full impressions on the hardware and review of the better launch titles in the coming days.
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