How OnLive Can Be a Success

Photo from centralasian

There hasn't been a new contender in the gaming console market in a long time.  It's a tough market to break into with the likes of Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony dominating the market for years.  But recently a new company has emerged with a home console that takes a vastly different approach then the big three.

This company is OnLive and they made a pretty big splash with their idea back at the 2009 Game Developer Conference.  They have already released their gaming service on the PC and Mac, but does their home console strategy have what it takes to succeed?  Click the link to read what I think OnLive needs to do in order for their home console to be a success.

7 Reasons Why Microsoft's Kinect Will Fail

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect?  I give it less then a year.  Once the initial launch craze dies down we won't see another positive news story about it until Xbox owners rejoice when Microsoft announces it will stop supporting Kinect.  At least we will have a couple of months of hilarious Kinect injury videos until that happens.

Welcome to the second post in my series of why Kinect will succeed or fail.  In this post I will discuss seven reasons why I think Xbox 360 Kinect will fail.  If you want to read the seven reason why I think it will succeed then click here.  To read the seven reasons why it will fail, click the read link below.

7 Reasons Why Microsoft's Kinect Will Succeed

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect will be a smashing success.  In one years time we will forget about the PlayStation Move and Nintendo's Wii will be stumbling to figure out how to make the next Wii to reclaim the success they once had.  Why do I say this?  Because Kinect is advanced motion technology that doesn't require silly glowing orbs to work.

Ok that might be a strong statement, but in my first of two posts I will discuss 7 reasons why I think Microsoft's Kinect will be a success.  I will shortly follow this with 7 reasons why I think it will fail, but for now click the link to see my 7 success reasons.

Update:  Click here to read TBone's 7 reasons why Kinect will fail

XBOX 360 Kinect Review Round-Up

Review Round-Ups are a collection of reviews for a product from sites that I read before I decide on going ahead with the purchase or not.

XBOX 360 KINECT REVIEWS

• Kotaku
• Joystiq
• Engadget
• Gizmodo
• Wired 

TBONE'S TAKEAWAYS

• Reviews seem generally mixed.
• You will need a lot of space to use Kinect.  Most sites noted you need at least 6 ft for single player games, and 9 ft for multiplayer local games.
• Gotta move those coffee tables so they are not in front of the TV, otherwise Kinect won't be able to see your feet
• Most sites said the voice commands seemed to work really well, but current implementation is limited
• Navigating the XBOX Dashboard with Kinect (read: using hand motions) is limited and needs work
• Almost everyone was pretty excited about the future potential of the product.  Microsoft just needs to work out some bugs and expand functionality.
• Launch lineup of Kinect games is pretty weak with the pack-in Kinect Adventures and the sold separately Dance Central being the stand outs. 

 

Review: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Review: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Kotaku reviews the latest DLC for Red Dead Redemption.  I am a big fan of how Kotaku does reviews; they review the experience instead of relying on assigning a score.  I hope to use a similar approach when I start reviewing games.  But for now check it out.