As promised - mega Earlyflash update from EuroGamer Expo:
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Let me level with you all, I was super skeptical about Kinect. I thought it was too expensive, too pointless tech with lag and other technical issues, but the tech really isn't as bad as it has been said in the press. The thing that struck me is how much the lag being evident is a title-specific issue, rather than an endemic problem with the hardware.
Joyride
A racing game where you use your hands out in front of you to control the car. I found this extremely difficult to control as there seemed to be quite a noticable lag between input and stuff happening on the screen, especially compared to a controller.
The tracks were, on the demo unit, pretty simple to combat this, but still found myself careering from side to side due to lag.
the racing was pretty insipid, very reminiscent of Mario Kart, and really not all that engaging. It may be that more development time and retail hardware will help make this a better experience, but right now I am yet to be convinced on this title.
Kinect Sports
The standard wii-killer package of Bowling, table tennis et al.
Table tennis was pretty good with no apparent lag or other issues to report, but the standout title for me was bowling which just worked and picked up enough detail to allow a high level of control over what was going on. I enjoyed this immensely and can see other members of the house playing this one quite a bit.
Of course, if you've got and enjoy Wii Sports, there's not enough dfferent here to pull you over, especially with the high kinect cost.
Kinect Adventures
A mini-game collection (rafting, leak plugging, etc). We've seen the rafting being demoed elsewhere already, btu having had a go on it, I'm still on the fence as to whether this is a good set of games or not. All of the mini-games stuck me as being pretty simple and not particularly challenging (it may well have been on easy), and hugely reminescent of EyeToy from the PS2 days. It just needed a window wiping game to finish off.
No significant lag here, but it occasionally felt like it got a bit confused.
Watching other people play the game, it struck me that no-one remembers that you can move physically from side to side, or back and forward, which is required for all of the mini-games that I played, so a bit of space in your play area, definitely required.
Dance Central
Dance Central is the game to get for Kinect. There was no lag visible, the game is incredibly engrossing and amazingly fun to play. I managed to get three or four goes on it, and I had a huge blast, I was smiling and laughing the entire time.
The big huge standout feature? No calibration. You just stand in front and go. Move and WiiMote need to copy this, it's a huge technological plus for kinect.
Interestingly hardly anyone would have a go (it was on a stage I suppse), guess Gamers really are quite introverted!
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Overall, I'm so impressed with Dance Central, I've ordered a unit and game to play with. The rest, I'll wait and see how they turn out.