Kinect a requirement for Xbox 360 Apps, Microsoft confirms

Microsoft is reportedly making Kinect functionality a requirement for all future Xbox 360 apps.

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[Update] A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed Kinect-features will become standard for developers creating apps for the Xbox 360, telling Shacknews: "With the new dashboard our objective is to bring the power of Kinect functionality to every experience where voice and gestures makes sense. We will continue to work with partners to ensure all Xbox app development kit based application integrate Kinect voice and gesture functionality, in addition to being controller and gamepad enabled, so consumers can simply use gestures, voice and their controllers in a seamless way."

[Original Story] You might have noticed that Microsoft's new dashboard update puts a lot of emphasis on the Kinect. Now the company is reportedly requiring future Apps to include Kinect functionality, as a way of standardizing its 360 offerings.

Kotaku reports that Microsoft revealed the requirement at a preview event, suggesting that all future apps will need to be navigable with gestures or voice. Microsoft is also reportedly helping developers with the tools to get the job done, and is aiming to have a standard for voice search across multiple devices. Other added bits of functionality like Facebook or Avatar integration are optional.

Shacknews has contacted Microsoft for confirmation, and will update as more information becomes available.

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  • reply
    December 9, 2011 1:00 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Report: Kinect a requirement for Xbox 360 Apps.

    Microsoft is reportedly making Kinect functionality a requirement for all future Xbox 360 apps.

    • reply
      December 9, 2011 1:07 PM

      [deleted]

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        December 9, 2011 2:23 PM

        Forcing developers to add in extra features they may not care about or want does NOT make sense.

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          December 9, 2011 2:35 PM

          Why would an app developer NOT want to have those capabilities? Especially if MS is willing to help them implement it? Would you rather have everything a jumbled mess, where some apps work with controller/remote, some with voice, some with motion or any combination of those? THAT would not make sense! MS is just wanting to insure that users who have the Kinect have a unified experience. And don't kid yourself, the next MS console will have a version of Kinect as part of the system as default. It only makes sense to have developers start implementing these things now, instead of later.

          • reply
            December 10, 2011 1:00 PM

            what... jumbled mess??? yeah if the developer makes a bad game or hires an incompetent UI designer. And forcing someone to do anything is never right. Some developers may feel that using the kinect / controller distracts from their game experience.

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      December 9, 2011 1:37 PM

      What about those who havent the space, or the money...to buy a Kinect? Its like Forced Assimilation.

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        December 9, 2011 1:38 PM

        they're requiring them to work with Kinect, not requiring them to be limited to Kinect only.

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        December 9, 2011 1:40 PM

        Its not a requrement for the users only for the developers. Future apps will need to support the full field of live users.

        So this pretty much cements the idea that the next xbox is going to have built in kinect right? You don't drop a requirement like this, so late in the cycle, just to through it all away in the next year or more.

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        December 9, 2011 1:40 PM

        I don't think you are being forced to use Kinect to use the app. Just that all developers need to integrate it as an option for navigation when they make one.

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        December 9, 2011 1:41 PM

        The requirement isn't on the user, it's on the developer.

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        December 9, 2011 1:50 PM

        like everyone else is saying, the article title is misleading

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        December 9, 2011 1:56 PM

        You're fucked

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      December 9, 2011 3:03 PM

      Hmm interesting could be really positive or one big mess, who knows.

      I think if it does pass it would mean better quality Kinect features in our games over time, the question is do we want them?

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        December 9, 2011 3:06 PM

        I think really this is totally fine, the bottom line its not going to force user to have Kinect but rather force a standard that ever future title have built in Kinect features of some sort.

        If this is the case and how I re read it that is totally fine by me, forcing all users to have Kinect and use it in all their games is a massively diff concept.

        At least this is how I read it.

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          December 9, 2011 9:44 PM

          I don't think this applies to games, just APPS. Like Netflix/FaceBook, etc.

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      December 9, 2011 3:08 PM

      Makes me wonder how hard MS will push the next-gen Kinect for the next Xbox. Think they would make it the central way to play their future games?

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      December 9, 2011 3:13 PM

      Well the ones I've tried so far are kinda garbage so no loss. SYFY? No thanks. I can watch little 2min preview clips on the net already without your clunky interface.

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      December 9, 2011 6:27 PM

      I do not give a shit about Kinect. But it's not just an MS thing, I don't care for motion controllers at all. The gimmick is cool, but I just haven't seen any game that really needed it (other than those games that were purpose built for it).

      I just don't get the push for it. Yes, the hardware is cool, but it just doesn't add any utility.

      I would change my mind happily if someone comes up with a must have instaclassic for motion controllers, but I haven't see one yet.

    • reply
      December 10, 2011 4:10 PM

      Microsoft has confirmed this report. Update in the story.

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