14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft has expressed its own views on gaming on the Xbox 360 console through its Kinect sensor, and how developers should focus on making an easy to use and comprehend experience instead of going all out and pushing awkward situations onto players.
Kinect games have increased in numbers in the last months, as more and more developers are trying their hand at creating experiences through the sensor and the Xbox 360 console, some resulting in artistic and beautiful titles like Child of Eden, while others delivering awkward or laggy experiences.
Ubisoft is one of the most successful companies in terms of Kinect games, bringing a variety of titles for the motion sensor, and has now shared a part of its strategy in regards to the Xbox 360 add-on.
The main aspect developers should remember, according to Ubisoft's senior vice president of sales and marketing, Tony Key, is that the Kinect does have limitations, so experiences should ultimately be simple to comprehend and execute.
"The fact is that the simple gestures are what people want out of a Kinect right now," said Key to Gamasutra. "We're not all ballet dancers, we don't have perfect control over our bodies and stuff. So I think simplicity is what makes the game more appealing in most cases."
Hardcore games shouldn't try to force players to do everything they can with the Kinect instead of the regular controller, or else gamers will ultimately resent both the title and the Kinect because of the experience.
In regards to the special Kinect functionality in the upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, in the form of the Gunsmith section, Key believes it's more a test and looks to gather feedback from players about it.
"The gunsmith is an added benefit [to Ghost Recon] that Kinect can bring. Building Kinect functionality into a core game is still something we're all toying with, because we still have to decide how does it really improve the experience? If it doesn't improve the experience, then what's the point? The gamers won't support it anyway."
Microsoft went on the record earlier this year, saying that it believes Kinect games are going to get better and better, as developers will start unlocking more of the device's power and create new features.