E3 2011

E3 2011: Microsoft incorporating Kinect into all first-party games

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Video Q&A: Game Studios boss Phil Spencer says internal development houses will integrate motion-sensing tech, but no mandate to do so.

LOS ANGELES--Microsoft continued to heavily push Kinect functionality at its 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing, with the publisher trotting out a number of third parties who had committed to the Xbox 360's motion-sensing technology. Of course, one of the biggest advocates for Kinect is remains the platform holder itself.

Microsoft's internal development studios won't be passing up on Kinect.

Microsoft's internal development studios won't be passing up on Kinect.

In an interview with GameSpot, Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer said that he believes all first-party games going forward will incorporate Kinect functionality.

"It's not a mandate that everything we do in first party has to support Kinect right now," he said. "But I will say, specifically with voice, that there are some things that just seem to make navigating and playing games so much easier...that I would guess the answer will be yes in the end that you'll see all first-party games using some form of Kinect functionality."

"Whether it's voice in Forza or head tracking in Forza, which you wouldn't say is somehow turning the Forza gameplay experience on its head," he continued. "Rather, it's just using the advantages of what Kinect brings to make the experience better. So I think there's some specific examples where Kinect makes everything better."

For more from GameSpot's interview with Phil Spencer, in which he discusses third-party Kinect support, Halo 4, and Nintendo's Wii U, check out the video below.

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

299 Comments

  • narseal

    Posted Jun 27, 2011 7:44 am GMT

    did microsoft force you TO BUY KINECT? shut up!!!

  • daxlks

    Posted Jun 25, 2011 6:53 pm GMT

    @Albaficas cool story bro tell it again...

  • Albaficas

    Posted Jun 18, 2011 4:10 pm GMT

    kinect the most boring piece of crap ever made so far...also microsoft has the worst conference since first xbox came out...almost 2 hours of crapy disney stuff and kids......im glad i found a noob t osell my xbox..since microcave try to steal al lthe casual players the ycan get but failed miserably...more kinect more halos..nothing new,no more creativity from them all the ycan do is throwin a halo or gears every years thats all.2011 and 2012 zero games from microsoft except flopza and gears.glad my ps3 get 3 new ip's and ff13 versus exclusive.bb microsoft

  • Buck_Swaggler

    Posted Jun 18, 2011 11:49 am GMT

    @redweed hehe, cheers to the american dream. The fish-eye lens is actually a pretty good idea, could possibly help it from needing to pivot as much.

  • lethal_intake

    Posted Jun 18, 2011 1:18 am GMT

    Hmm they're really trying to shove the Kinect down our throats. Hopefully the next generation xbox 360 isn't completely geared toward using the Kinect. I like using my controller thank you very much... I'm not the type of person that will try to imagine holding a non-existent weapon in my hands out of thin air, I'd probably look ridiculous and it'll feel awkward. I know the Kinect is there just to enhance the experience but come on at least have the decency to release games that will cater to a variety of different gamers along with the Kinect when it first came out.

  • fastica

    Posted Jun 16, 2011 12:53 pm GMT

    I would feel so embarrased if my girlfriend caught me talking to my TV...

  • stonhengehill

    Posted Jun 15, 2011 11:49 am GMT

    ........

  • DarkrideHex66

    Posted Jun 14, 2011 8:16 am GMT

    Ugh...
    Stop trying to shoehorn Kinect into games that don't need it. Replacing button presses with voice commands isn't innovative, it's annoying. Replacing well made menu systems with confusing hand gestures also doesn't do it for anyone. No one is going to use these features. They'll try them out because they're a novelty, then they'll never use them again.

    Kinect is for casuals. We all know it. Just stick to making party games and leave our core games alone and we'll all get along fine. Oh wait. What core games? That's right - I forgot Microsoft and 3rd party developers have now all but abandoned cool, exclusives on the 360.

  • crazimax

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 10:35 pm GMT

    im not a fanboy at all..i have all the consoles..only reason i bought kinect is that i like to have everything..the only cool game for kinect is dance central..other than that, all the others are just trash..i didn't get the ps move cause it's just another disappointment just like the wii..if you don't like dance central, dont even spend your money on the kinect

  • Gravitedious

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 7:42 pm GMT

    "Of course, one of the biggest advocates for Kinect is remains the platform holder itself."

    What?

  • V3rciS

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 5:23 pm GMT

    Damn Kinect

  • colt_a

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 2:31 pm GMT

    @mfall121 No, that's not the case at all. You and almost everyone else here downing the kinect have failed at reading comprehension. Kinect features will be ADDED to every first party game. Kinect will not be REQUIRED for any of them. It will simply add features.

  • ParisSun

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 1:07 pm GMT

    Some of you need to stop playing games and take reading comprehension. Some form of Kinect will be incorporated in most 1st party games. Using Forza as an example, being able to move the view using Kinect is an option; it's not required or a game breaker if you don't have Kinect. Just use the controller as you have always been doing. If you have Kinect, your gaming experience can be made more immersive and if you don't then you will play the game like you've always been doing. What don't you people get?

  • Indyskater

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 12:42 pm GMT

    Ever since Kinect came out, I noticed that I prefer the PS3 as they seem to have all the good games and exclusives. The multi-platform games I pick up are for PS3 now. All I read and hear about the 360 now is kinect kinect kinect! It's like a nightmare. Instead of getting awesome exclusives they have kinect kinect kinect! The last game I bought for my 360 was Mass Effect 2 and now I'll be getting Mass Effect 3 on PS3 since it's now multi-platform and since the 360 version has the lame kinect gimmick that is voice command, which they can do without the need of kinect. End rant...

  • 021-Vincent

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 10:01 am GMT

    I Don't Know Guys But I Have A Strange Feeling About This !!! I Hope Microsoft Dissapoint Us With The Kinect First Party Project

  • Thisisstupid

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 8:12 am GMT

    Microsoft seems really determined to ram Kinect down our throats like it or not. Why people keep asking are they not just using the headset for voice? Because this way they can force you to buy Kinect?

  • mfall121 posted Jun 13, 2011 7:50 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mfall121

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 7:50 am GMT (hide)

    So what your telling me Microsoft is that if I want to play Halo 4 on my 360 I will have to buy a kinect...... Guess I'll get the pc version for this title.

  • ShadowofSonic

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 7:42 am GMT

    Do what you want Microsoft, but you'll always be third fiddle to Nintendo and Sony.

  • jamiemckie

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 6:48 am GMT

    Just brought a kinect have had the 360 since it first come out I think its a nice add on for the family to enjoy while i like the more serious gams, and if they integrate voice commands into games like fifa 12 and gears with the odd gesture (not full jumping around stuff) all the better imo