Microsoft is attempting to stop reviews of Kinect from surfacing before the controller is released – which many are taking as a sign Microsoft is trying to cover up a sub-standard product.
The gaming press complains about not being sent review copies:
Kinect is Microsoft’s biggest push for the Xbox gaming division to date. The Xbox division could sink or swim depending on the success of the device. However, in an unusual move the company has been hesitant to send out the device for review.
Many journalists in the gaming industry have complained about Microsoft’s hesitation to send the Kinect and any of its software offerings for review. This is actually something that has been actively talked about on game press forums.
In addition the publisher has also placed an embargo on posting any sort of review for the device prior to launch. Microsoft’s internal anti piracy investigation group has also issued a take-down notice to Destructoid, who incidentally made fun of the Kinect’s new commercials.
The fact that Microsoft is being so sensitive about any sort of criticism towards the device is a major concern. Just like how film studios won’t hold a pre-screening for movies that is expected to tank, the video game industry operates exactly the same way.
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Typically its a very bad sign when publishers do this as it means that there is something wrong and the company wants to rely on ignorance and marketing rather than letting the public find out early. I am not saying this is the case for the Kinect, but it is very concerning nevertheless.
Square Enix was recently caught trying the same thing with Final Fantasy XIV, and seeing how that turned out it is easy to see why some identify this as a worrying sign.
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I cant wait for the xbox division to sink so that developer's resources can return back to the glorious master race.
Besides, one Wii more than enough for casuals to handle.
I know what that means...KINECT SUCKS EVEN BEFORE RELEASE!
Maybe it works only in theory, the FPS demo game really sucked. M$ must have a reason for a complete news block. I guess internal tests to actually control real games with it bombed spectacularly.
Duh, M$ wants to pay for "good" reviews.
Quagmire Logic. So M$ is now the fat chick.
M$ seems to have a track record for being idiots with their systems, so somehow i'm not suprised. 360 overheating/disc destroying, anyone? I work in a video store, and i see more 360 discs get destroyed compared to our DVDs (relative to how many are rented out). Hardware is srsbsns, but not in M$ HQ
Guess what happens when the inventors of bluescreen switches from software to hardware manufacturing??!
Guys have patience, it takes a while to paint the area around the light red
look at me, im typing M$ so that i can be cool too. Aren't I just awesome for typing an $ instead of an S? it makes me feel like im really sticking it to Microsoft when i do this.
Sony didn't seem to have any fear of getting their product out for review, even if their starting lineup of software isn't the best.
This, plus rumors of a HUGE marketing campaign means that Microsoft will try to sell as many as possible before people realize that Kinect isn't as good as it's cracked up to be.
Sony's had some good marketing lately, so maybe they'll be able to fight back. Sony cranking up their marketing at the right time could seriously mess up Microsoft's plans.
I say they review it anywayXD
Thats how we took down FFXIV.I'm a PS3 fan myself lol.
I dunno why they do not want this to be reviewed I mean look at the wii it was received poorly by the gaming population but it is doing very well.
Microsoft is making itself look like an ass since the wii's main success comes from the masses of people who don't even go on sites like destructoid. I mean look at the more serious games out for the wii. Metroid other M was a serious game for the wii yet it did not manage to outsell just dance...
Dont understimate M$.
U must aknowleddge that, anyone that posted negative reviev is already dead....
You got that right!
"Kinect sucks even before release."
I'm sure everyone here figured that out back when it was called Project Natal.
You mean "Project Fatal"
Damn...it's so bad you can't even let anyone review it Microsoft? Sounds like the wasted a lot of time and money on the "revolutionary" Kinect....meanwhile...playstation move and Wii motes are doing quite well..
I've seen all the future game line-up for it in Gamefaqs this year and the next...
Family games and Party games...
Bloody hell...
WHERE IS MY INTERACTIVE ANIME SNUFF GAME!?!
So much potential and you all WASTE it on party and family games..?
This...This is madness...
(THIS..! IS..! MICROSOFT..!)
*Azure jumps into the bottomless pit on his own*
cya i hope you reached hell
I agree with you!! I saw this one video on youtube they were a the Kinect and it totally sucked!! The guy that was playing it was like WTH!?! lol
I wonder if they are trying to hide some error they recently dicovered like the move not working well in bright lit places....
move comes with its own rrod
it takes an open floorspace of 6 feet by 9 feet to function correctly. After that the place needs to be about 3 feet away from the sensor.
not sure about anyone else's apartment/home but I'm not looking forward to having to move a sofa, bed, and entertainment center just to play a shitty game.
I'm lucky enough to have that space in a room to begin with.
I cant wait for this to tank in japan because most urban apartments aren't big enough empty to handle that space requirement.
Then again titles like Idol Master may artificially inflate the sales. Until there is nothing but men in the game.
Guess this is the front runner for the augmented reality plates that mark where an image is supposed to be.
Now lonely otaku can grasp at the air and have it react.
What is this "master race" you speak of?
newtype,or some cousin of master chief.
Someone doesn't watch Zero Punctuation :)
It's PC gamers
LONG LIVE THE PC GAMING MASTER RACE.
Are you saying that console gamers can't have fun too? >:(
You are the cancer that is killing gaming.
yeah because the PC MASTER RACE werent the faggots ruining everything with MMO grind and endless FPS first. Good job assholes.
yeah eh! like you can't even play rts games on your precious pc (you need a proper CONSOLE)
trying to sold lots, before those start melting too?
Don't review our shit, we still want to sell it. ^_^
I don't think it would make much of a difference as Microsoft are mainly trying to market Kinect to the kind of people who wouldn't read or listen to reviews.
Issuing a take-down notice to Destructoid because they made fun of their commercials is just pathetic though.
the only person i know that doesn't listen to reviews is me, and i hate microsoft, so it doesn't really sound like a good idea to me X)
Because this strategy worked out so well for FF14. >_>
True that. M$ is after all a copy-based company.
Copy a very successful game control device,
But failed at it,
So ended up copying a failure game's successful strategy of selling a broken product instead.
Now all they have to do is copy SEGA and destroy their own gaming franchise...
*looks at the Sonic games made after Sonic 3*
Maybe something called "Halo Adventure" or "Master Chief and the Black Knight"...
Oh well.
I will not buy Kinect because I do not want it.
Then you are missing on the opportunity to get Kinected with your friends!
And miss out on nude control movements and making a fool of yourself with family and friends?
I can play PEW PEW PEW with my friends even without kinect!
DFC should be jealous, kinect doesn't work with flat chests :V
EDIT - or at least, not in the usual sense.
I am still waiting for Kinnect with Hinako.
I'll only buy Kinect if they would make an anime-based snuff game...
Or maybe something like "Mad World" and "No More Heroes" if they can't accept cute anime girls (and guys) getting killed while bound and chained...
Man, I want a sequel of the above games to come out soon~
Don't rate this comment!
a.k.a. "please vote me down"?
Oh, I get it. It's irony, because Microsoft is doing the same. Very clever. *downvotes Dia*
reverse psychology at it's finest!
Thats because Microsoft knows they'll only get top notch reviews after they tweaked the kinect well enough for eroge games to run smoothly.
*Control games with your penis*
is that mean a joint project with Illusion?
Why should Illusion share the dick controller profits with M$?
So that everyone gets to play the game - Xbox and PS are quite popular. If there are adult games made for Xbox sure many ppl can play, but we might hear lawsuits from microsoft. =.=
I doubt M$ would sue since it would lead to more Xbox sales. The main market will probably be the PC, though. Most eroge run on PCs - and just about anybody has one.
PC & Games still have some major issue,... some call it a bug, other claim it's called windows. Both statements are probably true.
PC & Games still have mods that can make even Fallout 3 enjoyable game. Windows or not Games for PC are still the best choice for players who want something more than button mashing fun with lot of gore and blood...