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Home News Kinect Now Available For Windows

GAMING NEWS

Kinect Now Available For Windows

Posted on Wednesday, February 1 @ 09:01:16 Eastern by Jonathan_Leack

Have you ever wanted to flail your arms and legs around the room to control applications on your PC? More specifically would you like to use Microsoft's Kinect for your computer? No? Well too bad, because Microsoft has released a Windows PC version of Kinect today.

Kinect for Windows is now available via retailers for $249.99 MSRP, which is a $100 jump over the Xbox 360 version. It is currently only compatible with Microsoft's SDK and can be programmed using C++, Visual Basic, and C#, but developers are now able to integrate the controls into their software. However, this PC counterpart is not intended for PC gaming. That's okay, because Kinect makes more sense for Excel and Powerpoint anyway.

The $249.99 price tag and lack of gaming support is bewildering, but Microsoft has announced an upcoming Academic version which will sell for $149.99. If you think kids are addicted to iPads, wait until they figure out that they can complete their homework by using Kinect.
Tags:   kinect, PC


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Comments
  • Squiggy
    Squiggy
    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 12:53 pm
    Is there any actual hardware difference between the Windows and Xbox 360 Kinects? Some lame-ass driver that recognizes the two and won't let you use the 360 one maybe?

    Because if they're the same exact hardware, then people could save money just buying the Xbox-branded one, and then finding whatever necessary drivers were made for the Windows release.
    0 0
  • Jonathan_Leack
    Jonathan_Leack
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 2:07 pm
    It's a modified version. It has been modified to be able to use "near mode" which permits use at at distance of 40cm instead of the Xbox 360's 50cm minimum. It also comes with a one-year warranty which I don't think the Xbox 360 version comes with.
    0 0
  • Squiggy
    Squiggy
    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 3:41 pm
    So one minor addition justifies a $100 markup? ech.
    0 0
  • Ivory_Soul
    Ivory_Soul
    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 1:21 pm
    I'm sure not a single Windows game will be made to support this. Seeing as the Games for Windows brand is nearly abandoned and Windows 7 Gadgets were abandoned early. Also don't forget how bare the Zune marketplace is in terms of apps!
    0 0
  • Jonathan_Leack
    Jonathan_Leack
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 2:09 pm
    Given that PC gaming is a little more intimate (i.e. you sit much closer to the screen), using Kinect for PC games would be a very niche market. That's probably why Microsoft have chosen to not even mention gaming use in their public statements about the device.
    0 0
  • InFinnIte
    InFinnIte
    Joined: Nov 2011
    Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 at 6:40 pm
    I for one am keen to know if this device will offer the same support (if eventually) for Mass Effect 3 on PC. At $249.99 with currently no games I am bewildered why they expect people to pay more for less functionality?
    0 0

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