Xbox 360 Kinect

Pros: Incredible concept. Could be implemented to make an entirely new wave of games.

Cons: LOTS of set-up, LOTS of space, bigger TV needed. Way to cut out the little guy, Microsoft.

A few of the launch titles feel clunky at best. Joy Ride's controls take a LOT of getting used to, and I wonder if kids and families will have the patience.

Summary: I really like the idea of more of these devices in the market. Competition is good for the marketplace. That's what causes us to strive to make things better. Wii's had decent motion controls (I've NEVER had accuracy issues. PERIOD!) for three years. Now, the other two competitors are in on it. It's really a "we had that three years ago." "But we made it better." "Oh, yeah, well see this." That's what this SHOULD create in gaming: competition to make the products better.

The down side is that something about this seems very unfinished to me. There's a LOT of set-up and calibration involved in the games before the gameplay actually begins. That's going to cut into little Johnny and little Susie's game experience, and will they have the patience for it? A few of the games, like Joy Ride, have clunky controls which are, GASP, a bit unresponsive at times. (Could be my little TV, but still.) I'm hoping these are launch hiccups. Lord knows the Wii had them, and still does in some games.

But will this really convince casual gamers to shell out the extra 300 - 400 dollars for it? I can't say. I'm skeptical. The people who love these kinds of games already own a Wii. They already have it. These are also people who don't necessarily care for better graphics, or better machines, and they REALLY don't like high prices. I have to question whether this will really be a hit.

Finally, XBOX has been highly successful by NOT being the Wii. That's why it sells. It DOESN'T have these cheap, casual games. So is this really a step in the right direction for Microsoft? I know they want to try to break into the Wii's market. But their base may feel betrayed by it. I know I do. What happened to commitment to the best games at the best best value? It was traded so I can dance with Lady Gaga.

And another thing, the Minority Report analogy is AWFUL! Remember, Tom Cruise had to slip on a glove control to make those machines work. He had a controller. This doesn't. Stop using this analogy!