Friday, November 5, 2010
Microsoft Kinect: Impressions of Kinect Sports
So, here i go continuing the deluge of Xbox Kinect posts. This time i am looking at Kinect Sports.
Kinect Sports is a mini-game collection that has ties to, wait for it, sports. i have a slight problem with the chose sport menu where the hand/cursor seems to drift on me for no reason. They could have come up with a better gesture to show you are ready than hold your hands up (over your head). Overall, this was a slight disappointment to me. Much like Kinect Adventures, there are six events (but it has mini-games for each sport). i am an Xbox Silver member, so there are things i probably can't use. i wonder if i can use Kinectshare.com. i know it is a surprise, but this games is eerily similar to Wii Sports. Well, here they are:
* Soccer (football to much of the rest of the world): i have not played this single player, so i am not sure how much different it is (though it is probably much easier to tell who acutally has the ball). In this game, you kick the ball (either straight, or diagonally right or left) or hit it in with your head. Apparently you can make saves as the goalkeeper too.
* Bowling: i haven't really figured out this game yet. It would seem this would be a simple affair, like Wii Sports Bowling, but it is not. You have to hold your hand out to one side (either right or left, but not both at the same time) to pick up the ball. After that you birng your arm back, then forward in a bowling motion. i am not entirely sure how you aim your shot (as the highlight on the lane marker keeps jumping around). There is an achievement for breaking the lane (can be done when messing up release) and you can throw it on other lanes.
* Beach Volleyball: this is a game of beach volleyball to 7 points (must win by two). In this, you will be serving the ball (toss the ball up, then hit it), passing (basically holding your arm out at the right time and spiking (usually precluded by a jump). A slight problem for me here is that if i jump with my hand up more than a little, i will hit the ceiling.
* Boxing: this one is going to take me a while to get the hang of. It is not as simple as Wii Sports boxing, though you won't hit yourself in the face with the annoying nunchuck cord doing this. i end up whiffing on my punches (maybe it is a distance thing). You can punch high or punch low and block.
* Table Tennis: i didn't like it on Wii Sports and i'm not a fan of it here. In theory, this should be easier to control (and maybe it is). It should at least be easier than Konami Ping-Pong on Game Room. In this game, you are sort of translucent and you see through yourself. You pick up a paddle then toss the ball in the air to set up a serve (or if you are me keep missing the ball). You direct your shot with your arm (your arm apparently being the paddle). You play to 11 points, with a 2 point win being necessary.
* Track and Field: i found this to be probably the best done sports category. Yes, you will be running in place (works better than i thought it would). There are several events here: Sprint (you run in place until the race ends, keeping your knees somewhat high is a good idea). Javelin: you basically run in place until you get to a place where the ground turns green, then you throw it (i think i got near the back line on this one). Long Jump: you run in place, like the Javelin, then at the right time, you jump. Discus: the only event where i didn't set a "world record". You reach out to grab the discus, then you throw it (in a discus throwing method - there is an achievement for messing up the throw though). Hurdles: in this event, you run in place until the hurdle turns green (then you jump).
Kinect Sports is a mini-game collection that has ties to, wait for it, sports. i have a slight problem with the chose sport menu where the hand/cursor seems to drift on me for no reason. They could have come up with a better gesture to show you are ready than hold your hands up (over your head). Overall, this was a slight disappointment to me. Much like Kinect Adventures, there are six events (but it has mini-games for each sport). i am an Xbox Silver member, so there are things i probably can't use. i wonder if i can use Kinectshare.com. i know it is a surprise, but this games is eerily similar to Wii Sports. Well, here they are:
* Soccer (football to much of the rest of the world): i have not played this single player, so i am not sure how much different it is (though it is probably much easier to tell who acutally has the ball). In this game, you kick the ball (either straight, or diagonally right or left) or hit it in with your head. Apparently you can make saves as the goalkeeper too.
* Bowling: i haven't really figured out this game yet. It would seem this would be a simple affair, like Wii Sports Bowling, but it is not. You have to hold your hand out to one side (either right or left, but not both at the same time) to pick up the ball. After that you birng your arm back, then forward in a bowling motion. i am not entirely sure how you aim your shot (as the highlight on the lane marker keeps jumping around). There is an achievement for breaking the lane (can be done when messing up release) and you can throw it on other lanes.
* Beach Volleyball: this is a game of beach volleyball to 7 points (must win by two). In this, you will be serving the ball (toss the ball up, then hit it), passing (basically holding your arm out at the right time and spiking (usually precluded by a jump). A slight problem for me here is that if i jump with my hand up more than a little, i will hit the ceiling.
* Boxing: this one is going to take me a while to get the hang of. It is not as simple as Wii Sports boxing, though you won't hit yourself in the face with the annoying nunchuck cord doing this. i end up whiffing on my punches (maybe it is a distance thing). You can punch high or punch low and block.
* Table Tennis: i didn't like it on Wii Sports and i'm not a fan of it here. In theory, this should be easier to control (and maybe it is). It should at least be easier than Konami Ping-Pong on Game Room. In this game, you are sort of translucent and you see through yourself. You pick up a paddle then toss the ball in the air to set up a serve (or if you are me keep missing the ball). You direct your shot with your arm (your arm apparently being the paddle). You play to 11 points, with a 2 point win being necessary.
* Track and Field: i found this to be probably the best done sports category. Yes, you will be running in place (works better than i thought it would). There are several events here: Sprint (you run in place until the race ends, keeping your knees somewhat high is a good idea). Javelin: you basically run in place until you get to a place where the ground turns green, then you throw it (i think i got near the back line on this one). Long Jump: you run in place, like the Javelin, then at the right time, you jump. Discus: the only event where i didn't set a "world record". You reach out to grab the discus, then you throw it (in a discus throwing method - there is an achievement for messing up the throw though). Hurdles: in this event, you run in place until the hurdle turns green (then you jump).
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