7 Reasons Why Microsoft's Kinect Will Fail

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect?  I give it less then a year.  Once the initial launch craze dies down we won't see another positive news story about it until Xbox owners rejoice when Microsoft announces it will stop supporting Kinect.  At least we will have a couple of months of hilarious Kinect injury videos until that happens.

Welcome to the second post in my series of why Kinect will succeed or fail.  In this post I will discuss seven reasons why I think Xbox 360 Kinect will fail.  If you want to read the seven reason why I think it will succeed then click here.  To read the seven reasons why it will fail, click the read link below.

• WAY TO BE THE LAST ONE TO THE PARTY MICROSOFT

It is one thing to show up fashionable late, but last?  The Nintendo Wii has had motion control since its launch, and has even updated its motion capabilities with Wii Motion Plus over a year ago.  While the PlayStation Move only launched a few weeks before Kinect, developers will be able to leverage their years of experience developing for the Wii since the Move motion control scheme is very similar.

• WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO STAND THE WHOLE TIME???

It is well known that Kinect has a bit of a problem detecting gamers when they are sitting on the couch.  The idea of having to stand the whole time while playing all Kinect games does not sound very appealing.  When I play games I like to veg on the couch and relax, and I know I am not the only one.  I don't mind getting up a moving around for some games, but all of them?  No thanks.

• I THINK I AM GONNA NEED A BIGGER HOUSE

Kinect requires at least 6 feet of room for single player games and at least 9 feet for multiplayer.  That is a lot of room to have between you and a TV.  This is really going to limit where you can put Kinect in your house.  Not to mention you will probably have to rearrange some furniture and move the coffee table even if you have a big enough room.

• MULTIPLAYER, MORE LIKE TWO PLAYER

Like Microsoft avoids answering the couch question, they have also been dancing around the multiplayer question.  Microsoft says it is up to the developer on how many gamers can use one Kinect at a time.  So far there haven't been any games launched that support more then two local players, so it makes you wonder if it is really up to the developers or a limitation with Kinect.  This stinks for gamers who want to use Kinect at parties, especially if they already have a Wii or PlayStation Move that can each do at least four player local.

• I CAN THINK OF 150 REASONS NOT TO GET ONE

At $150, Kinect doesn't come cheap, at that is if you already have an Xbox 360.  If you do not have an Xbox 360 the cheapest you would be able to get Kinect would be $300.    You can get a Wii for $200, and it is likley that the Wii price is gonna drop in the near future.  Basic PlayStation Move functionality can be had for $100 if you have a PS3.  Microsoft is really gonna have to make Kinect's value clear to gamers if it wants to sell a lot of them.

• LARGEST BETA TEST PROGRAM EVER!!!

Judging from Kinect reviews, Microsoft should have let their hardware team and developers have a bit more time with the product before release.  Many reviewers noted problems with Kinect picking up movements and various player environment interference issues.  Most of the games released at launch are either mini game collections or are suffering from bugs and glitches.  Microsoft pushed Kinect out now so they wouldn't miss the holiday season and fall behind the competition, but this move could cost them in the long run.

• TREATING KINECT AS A SEPARATE PLATFORM IS LOSE LOSE

By treating Kinect as a separate platform Microsoft is making a big mistake.  They will end up dividing Xbox 360 owners into the casual and hardcore audience.    By creating two different audiences, Microsoft is going to stretch itself thin trying to cater to both and gamers are gonna be the ones who suffer.