tom's: New MS Kinect for the XBox is Racist

[KAOSkins]

This is rich. :ols: Also overblown as apparently Consumer Reports found the problem only related to the light available. Still, I think for some folks it's going to be an issue unless MS goes to IR or something other than visible spectrum.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Microsoft-Kinect-Dark-Skin-Facial-Recognition,news-8638.html


GameSpot reports that while testing out Kinect, the system failed to identify two dark-skinned employees, while lighter-skinned employees were recognized immediately. However, the situation with Kinect's facial recognition isn't so black and white. GS's Brendan Sinclair writes that though system recognized one employee inconsistently and was never able to properly identify another despite repeated calibration attempts, it was able to recognize a third dark-skinned staff member. Though this could be put down to Kinect's facial recognition (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Microsoft-Kinect-Dark-Skin-Facial-Recognition,news-8638.html#)software just being dodgy as a whole, Sinclair reports lighter-skinned employees were consistently picked up on the first try. - continued at link

[ACW]

Kinect=Wii rip-off

[KAOSkins]

Kinect=Wii rip-off

Except it has much better resolution and no controller. Granted, it's the same idea just taken to another level.

[Corcaigh]

It's racist in so far as the system targets white folks to play lame games. :)

[KAOSkins]

It's racist in so far as the system targets white folks to play lame games. :)

Are you suggesting they did it on purpose? I imagine it's because MS didn't have any dark skinned people on hand during testing.

[IONTOP]

It's racist in so far as the system targets white folks to play lame games. :)

Well at least the people on XBL won't have to worry about offending black people with their racist comments anymore!

[SiCkSoULjA]

Actually it uses both visual camera and IR, and it clearly says you have to do the face detection in different kind of light settings in the manaul.

Its completely different than the Wii and Playstation Move while those use motion controls it just picks up your arm. The Kinect sees the whole body

[DjTj]

Actually it uses both visual camera and IR, and it clearly says you have to do the face detection in different kind of light settings in the manaul.

Its completely different than the Wii and Playstation Move while those use motion controls it just picks up your arm. The Kinect sees the whole bodyMicrosoft needs to make it work with Windows 7 so we can start using our computers like in Minority Report.

[IONTOP]

Microsoft needs to make it work with Windows 7 so we can start using our computers like in Minority Report.

To convict people of crimes before they happen?

[Corcaigh]

Are you suggesting they did it on purpose? I imagine it's because MS didn't have any dark skinned people on hand during testing.

No I'm suggesting that the games are lame. Microsoft obviously hates white people. :)

I've never been to a software company who didn't employ at least some dark skinned Asians. :)

[FerndaleSkins]

The Nintendo DSi has had downloadable software games that use face recognition to play them (warioware snapped is one of the top of my head) out for a few years now. If it is ripping off any ideas Kinect is ripping this off.

The stuff for the DSi is really difficult to use at best. You have to set it up in a certain range of ideal light conditions, and everytime you play it seems you have to duplicate those exact same lighting conditions for it to work properly. I don't know about you but having any idea where the sun is going to be at in the sky or cloudy, whatever is beyond my control.

Seems like this face/ body motion control crap is about 10-15 years away at best, and it seems funny that Microsoft now uses it after Nintendo's version seems to be a failure to me.

[Heisenberg]

Kinect=Wii rip-off



LOL ACW jealous again.


I'm not the biggest fan of any of the motion controls but Kinect is much better than Wii.


However, Playstation Move is a blatant Wii rip off - but even it at least has HD visuals.

[RansomthePasserby]

Kinect=Wii rip-off

Then everything is a rip-off and it doesn't matter anyway.

[PokerPacker]

I'm not the biggest fan of any of the motion controls but Kinect is much better than Wii.

:rotflmao: Kinect was built for shovelware. What kind of serious game can you play without a controller? sure, it may have better motion sensing, but that's its only form of input which really hinders it.


However, Playstation Move is a blatant Wii rip off - but even it at least has HD visuals.
While it does have HD visuals, we'll have yet to see how well they support it. Good games > Good graphics.

[Heisenberg]

:rotflmao: Kinect was built for shovelware. What kind of serious game can you play without a controller? sure, it may have better motion sensing, but that's its only form of input which really hinders it.


While it does have HD visuals, we'll have yet to see how well they support it. Good games > Good graphics.


I'd argue that 95%+ of non-Nintendo produced games for Wii are exactly that - shovelware.


As to your second point, I agree with it - however other than the usual Mario, Zelda, Metroid games - I don't think Wii has that many great games.


Anyway, just my opinion. Everyone I know that has tried the Kinect seems to love it.

[Enter Apotheosis]

The whole face-recognition software not being able to recognize darker skin tones thing is nothing new.

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[RansomthePasserby]

:rotflmao: Kinect was built for shovelware. What kind of serious game can you play without a controller? sure, it may have better motion sensing, but that's its only form of input which really hinders it..

I don't get it. Kinect is an add-on to the Xbox 360, which already comes with controllers and serious games that use those controllers. Further, I'm sure they can implement the 360 controllers into Kinect based games.

[Enter Apotheosis]

:rotflmao: Kinect was built for shovelware. What kind of serious game can you play without a controller? sure, it may have better motion sensing, but that's its only form of input which really hinders it.

The whole motion control thing is still somewhat of a novelty... which makes all of it a prime target for shovelware. I would expect the Wii to be a good baseline for the ratio of shovelware to legitimate titles that both the Kinect and Move will have.

[PokerPacker]

I'd argue that 95%+ of non-Nintendo produced games for Wii are exactly that - shovelware.
'tis true, sadly. My point was, though, that the kinect can't really be used blockbuster type games, be it FPS or Action/Adventure. It can do mini-games based around motion sensing (hence all the shovelware) but it can't give you free roam over an environment.



As to your second point, I agree with it - however other than the usual Mario, Zelda, Metroid games - I don't think Wii has that many great games.
Wii's been building a solid library, especially recently. There's the obvious games you mentioned, which includes:
Mario Galaxy 1
Mario Galaxy 2
New Super Mario Bros Wii
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Metroid: Other M
Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess

There's also the Kirby's Epic Yarn, the newly released Goldeneye, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Monster Hunter Tri...
Sure, it may not have as many blockbusters as the PS3 or 360, but I like the diversity of its games. 360 and PS3 tend to get a lot of First and Third person shooters, which are nice, but I don't want all of my best games to be the same thing. I like me some shooters to go along with 3D platformers, 2D platformers, Action/Adventure...
But anyways, I do think the Playstation Move has potential, but again, we'll have to see how well they support it. The reason the Wii was so successful wasn't just because it had the controller, but because they knew how to support it.



Anyway, just my opinion. Everyone I know that has tried the Kinect seems to love it.
We'll see how it is in a year. By then the honeymoon of the new nifty device will wear off and we'll be left with how good it really is. Maybe I'm not giving it enough credit, but time will tell.

[Darth Tater]

Better Off Ted

Nothing new here.

[PokerPacker]

I don't get it. Kinect is an add-on to the Xbox 360, which already comes with controllers and serious games that use those controllers. Further, I'm sure they can implement the 360 controllers into Kinect based games.

the problem is that the 360 controller requires you to keep your hands together. Now if there were separable controllers like the Wii's or the PSMove so that your hand's had free range of motion, then you're getting somewhere.


The whole motion control thing is still somewhat of a novelty... which makes all of it a prime target for shovelware. I would expect the Wii to be a good baseline for the ratio of shovelware to legitimate titles that both the Kinect and Move will have.

The difference with the kinect, as I previously mentioned, was the lack of controller. the Move and Wiimote can still support your everyday console games because they still retain the traditional analog stick and buttons as an interface and add in motion controls as an extra form of input, while the kinect tosses out traditional input and relies completely on motion control, so it can't play the same kinds of games.

[RansomthePasserby]

the problem is that the 360 controller requires you to keep your hands together. Now if there were separable controllers like the Wii's or the PSMove so that your hand's had free range of motion, then you're getting somewhere.

No, it doesn't. You can easily use the x,y,a,b, right bumper, trigger, and analog with only one hand... controllers flying out of people's hands may be a problem though.

[TorresA]

Microsoft needs to make it work with Windows 7 so we can start using our computers like in Minority Report.



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[afkidd]

Wii's been building a solid library, especially recently. There's the obvious games you mentioned, which includes:
Mario Galaxy 1
Mario Galaxy 2
New Super Mario Bros Wii
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Metroid: Other M
Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess

System has been out 4 years, that list depresses me. most of the people i know that have Wii aren't really into games, or either had to get it so they could convince their wife to let them get something for their real system (headphones, new game, etc) along with Wii fit. only time i ever touch my friends Wii is while drunk playing down loadable Tetris to settle an argument.

Until any of this motion stuff has great precision with the remotes (or lack of in kinetic) I'll be staying away. Can't really say i would enjoy getting killed in Black Ops because my remote stopped senses for a split second.

edit - have not used PS3 Move or Kinetic, but for 150 bucks to play lame games, I won't be until one of my sucker friends does it.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Kinect=Wii rip-off

As a HUGE libertarian, shouldn't stuff like this make you happy? You know, competition spurring innovation and all of that?

[PokerPacker]

System has been out 4 years, that list depresses me. most of the people i know that have Wii aren't really into games, or either had to get it so they could convince their wife to let them get something for their real system (headphones, new game, etc) along with Wii fit. only time i ever touch my friends Wii is while drunk playing down loadable Tetris to settle an argument.
I was only listing the games covered by the "usual Mario, Zelda, Metroid games". I figure those are console sellers alone, but there are plenty of other games outside of those franchises.

Super Paper Mario (should've been listed on the previous list)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Goldeneye
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Monster Hunter Tri
The Conduit
Red Steel /2
No More Heroes
Madworld
Mario Kart Wii
Super Mario Strikers
NBA Jam
Boom Blox Bash Party
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Dead Space: Extraction


I'd be interested to see a spread of great Wii games vs. PS360 by genre.

Until any of this motion stuff has great precision with the remotes (or lack of in kinetic) I'll be staying away. Can't really say i would enjoy getting killed in Black Ops because my remote stopped senses for a split second.
The Motion+ adds a gyroscope that helps adjust for any sensor issues including pointing out of the range of the sensor.

[Stophovr6]

I played kinect last night. It was ok. My friend only had a few games. The racing game was kind of fun. I found one of the games to be super laggy and in all didn't think the kinect system responded very well to my movements.

[DjTj]

Microsoft needs to make it work with Windows 7 so we can start using our computers like in Minority Report.Now here's a step in the right direction:

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