Kinect Pros and Cons

Kinect is the new gaming technology that Microsoft is developing as an add-on to their Xbox 360 console.  What is potentially revolutionary about this new gaming system is the promise that games can be played without the use of a controller.  Instead players will use their own voices and body movements to control the game.  But is this new system all that it is hyped up to be?  Here are some Kinect pros and cons to help you decide.

Kinect Pros

• No controllers are necessary to play the game.  This means there will no longer be a learning curve for having to learn how to use controllers for playing games, which lowers the barrier to entry and will make games more accessible to more players.
• Has the potential to revolutionize the gaming experience to make it more interactive and realistic.  The gamers become an integral part of the game itself.
• Games are ready to play with no need for any calibrations or adjustments.
• Introduces gaming to a wider audience than just hard core gamers.
• Great for younger children.
• Technology has the potential to transform not only gaming but other forms of entertainment, media and computer technology through the use of voice recognition and body movement rather than using controllers, remote controls, etc.

Kinect Cons

• Experienced gamers may feel less in control of some games.
• Potential incompatibilities with some established games.
• People with mobility issues or other disabilities may not have full range of motion necessary to play some games.

Kinect does hold great promise to revolutionize the video game playing experience and make gaming more accessible to a wider audience.  Kinect is due to be released at the end of 2010.  Only time will tell if this new gaming system lives up to its promising potential.