The Xbox 360 Kinect - Essay Example

With its trendsetting Nintendo Family console systems, they redefined the way that we play video games via its motion sensor game system, the Wii. However, the Wii has recently fallen to the roadside as stiffer competition from the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox began to offer better graphics, gameplay, and game titles. The Wii is perfect for entry-level gamers but could prove to be a bore to the more serious game players. That is why game console experts do not recommend the Wii (Bakalar “Which Game Console Should You Buy?”) to:

            Those who are looking for a game console that doubles as an all-purpose entertainment hub, want state-of-the-art HD graphics, enjoy a robust online community, and/or prefer a wide selection of adult-targeted titles.

            In other words, you can get your feet wet in the Wii but don't expect to take a serious swim in it. Especially since the Wii has already been retired by Nintendo in favor of the newer Wii U which has yet to catch on with the gaming market.

            The second serious motion gaming contender is the PlayStation Move. Although its motion wand is nothing that should leave the Wii shaking in its wake, it does offer better graphics capabilities and gameplay than the pioneering console. Cnet Australia ranked this particular console as one of those destined to gather dust bunnies on your entertainment shelf due to the limited motion gaming titles and a problematic motion-sensing system that results in a more complicated gaming system because:

            ... it also requires a camera to be installed near the TV, which won't be used for most PS3 games. It requires a few feet of distance to use, but most             games only register the controller's motion, not yours... (Stein &Ackerman “Xbox         360 Kinect vs. PlayStation Move vs. Nintendo Wii Remote Plus”)

            Of the 3 top-ranked gaming consoles, The X-Box 360 Kinect seems to have been destined to become the premier motion gaming platform what with its top-of-the-line HD images, blue ray player, and very affordable online game library membership, the Xbox has proven to have the most workable and gamer-friendly motion gaming profile. The seamless way the eye of the sensor detects physical movement without the aid of a wand makes it safe for gamers of all ages as there is no danger of any hardware suddenly hurling out of one's hand. It also limits the possible effects of repetitive motion injuries among game players. Consumer Reports sings both the positive and negative of this wand free type of gaming in its report:

            Controller-free gaming takes advantage of body motions. For example, a river-rafting game lets you steer down a river full of obstacles by sidestepping, and you can fly over ramps to grab tokens by jumping. But sometimes, hands-free gaming is strange: In a racecar game, for example, steering without a wheel in your hands can be disorienting. (ConsumerReports.org)

            But in the end, the true leader in motion gaming has to be the Xbox 360 Kinect. Not only because of its ultra-cutting edge wand-less gaming feature, entertainment hub capabilities but because of its ever-expanding game titles and affordable $50 a year membership for downloading games from its online library.