Right now it just provides ”extra things” like Ghost Recon’s gunsmith mode. It’s a ”tall order to actually improve” shooters with Kinect, because they’re ”so fine-tuned”.
Ubisoft is arguably the biggest third-party spokesperson for Kinect as they’ve unleashed a wave of titles using Microsoft’s controller-less motion platform, with even more on the way. They even developed silhouette tracking technology themselves.
”It’s tracking projection, which is our tech. It’s tracking the silhouette on screen, Microsoft tracks the skeleton. That’s what the difference right now for us to be able to do those floor exercises, and a competitive advantage for us over other fitness products,” said Key.
Fitness and dance games aside, how fairs Kinect in the core game universe? Why doesn’t Ubisoft’s upcoming Ghost Recon use the motion camera for shooting instead of just for the announced gunsmith mode which can disassemble and reassemble weaponry?
”The gunsmith is an added benefit that Kinect can bring. Building Kinect functionality into a core game is still something we’re all toying with, because we still have to decide how does it really improve the experience?”
”If it doesn’t improve the experience, then what’s the point? The gamers won’t support it anyway,” continued sales and marketing SVP, Tony Key.
”So what we’ve done is we’ve added extra things that if you have a Kinect you can do it. But those things are coming, the hand commands and stuff. But what we have to figure out is, is that feasible while you’re holding the controller in your hand?” Balance is crucial.
”Making the game more immersive is the only reason you should use Kinect and those features. And especially the shooter model, is so fine-tuned in how those games are played that to add this layer of Kinect functionality on top of it is a tall order to actually improve the game experience.” There’s plenty of time to explore ways to pull it off.
”I do think it will happen, but nobody’s figured it out yet. And I’m not sure people are even asking for it yet. And that’s part of it too. It’s like, will I sell more if I add that to my game as a publisher? That’s one of the questions I’m asking,” he continued.
”No one’s done it. I can try to be a pioneer there, and we are trying to be a pioneer on Kinect, but first of all we haven’t put out a whole bunch of shooters. We are looking at it, and we are trying to find that perfect combination, and we’re still looking.”
”Who’s to say that that won’t happen in Ghost Recon? We’re still looking at it.”
Check out the full interview between Tony Key and Gamasutra. Ubisoft released Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, MotionSports and Fighters Uncaged for Kinect’s 2010 launch. Do you welcome the day Kinect can tackle the shooter?
