Technical data revealed on retailer site Play.com appears to confirm that the Xbox 360 Kinect system can only support two players at a time in-game.
The data represents the most detailed information so far released, with the most controversial being the specification of Kinect’s skeletal tracking system. The system is listed as being able to track 20 joints per active player and to map them to Xbox Live Avatars.
Although up to six people can be tracked at a time only two active players can actually take part in a game at once.
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GamesIndustry.biz – News
During E3, PrimeSense, the company behind the Kinect hardware, told Joystiq that the system it had licensed to Microsoft could only handle a maximum of two active players at a time. PrimeSense couldn’t confirm at the time that Kinect could only calculate two players, and Microsoft didn’t comment further when we asked, but leaked Kinect technical specifications from a few UK retailers seem to match up with the two “active” player limit. The leaked technical specifications claim that the Kinect camera can recognize any number of human bodies, but can only calculate the movement and actions of two people at a time.
Other interesting specs have the camera pulling in a video view with a 640×480 resolution at 30fps, and an echo cancellation system in the mic that will make voice chat possible directly through Kinect. The information also explains what the original Xbox 360 will need for the device: 175 MB of memory for system drivers and an open USB port (to connect Kinect).
Of course, these specifications aren’t yet official, and they’re strictly for the hardware — not every game will support camera output or voice chat.
Alleged Kinect hardware specs claim two active player limit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Joystiq
UK online retailer ShopTo is listing Kinect for Xbox 360 with a recommended retail price of £129.99 and release date of November 19.
Microsoft has not yet officially priced the motion control technology, but US retailers have also been quick to put the price at around 9.99 in the region.
In comparison to the UK price, Sony’s motion controller Move will retail as a bundle for £59.99, with individual Move and Navigation peripherals retailing for £39.99 and £29.99. The system is due in September.
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GamesIndustry.biz – News
Microsoft’s Kinect messaging is definitely core-obsessed. First they said they didn’t want core shooters like Halo on it. Then they said it’s got casual approachability, but core depth. Now, they’re saying hardcore gamers will be first in line for it. More »
Kotaku
Are all of those promotional shots of families enjoying Kinect a lie? Maybe. If recent technical specifications for Kinect are accurate, the motion-sensing peripheral will only truly support two players at once.
According to a listing from UK online retailer Play.com, Microsoft’s device can track “2 active players” simultaneously, even though it can apparently recognize up to six people in the camera’s view. Check out the Skeletal Tracking details under the system's technical details pulled directly from the site:
If these specs reflect the final product, it would put Kinect at a disadvantage when compared to Sony’s Move and Nintendo’s Wii, both of which support four players at once. Some multiplatform titles, like Majesco’s Zumba Fitness, add credence to the apparent player discrepancy. According to a press release, that title supports “up to four players on Wii and PlayStation Move, and up to two players on Kinect for Xbox 360.”
Kinect releases this November, so we hope Microsoft clarifies the issue before then.
News
Microsoft’s director of platform marketing says he knows Kinect “will have fewer games than our competitors,” but that’s fine. “We don’t want shovelware, we don’t want ports, we don’t want stuff with motion controls tacked onto it.” More »
Kotaku
Can’t wait to flail in front of Kinect’s dual cameras? You don’t have to. According to a recent Microsoft tweet, official Microsoft stores “nationwide” will offer opportunities to test out Kinect before it hits retail this November.
Unfortunately, “nationwide” refers to only four locations: Scottsdale, Arizona, Mission Viejo and San Diego, California, and Lone Tree, Colorado. Not near any of those locations? Microsoft encourages you to simply pre-order Kinect instead.
Any of you in the appropriate geographical regions plan on checking Kinect out?
News
Can’t wait until November to play with Skittles the tiger or flail wildly until slightly moist with some Kinect Sports? Good news! Microsoft will be demoing its new motion controller “nationwide” for the public at retail this weekend. More »
Kotaku
