Star Wars Kinect

I'm surprised that I'm doing another Kinect blog so soon after the last one, but I read an article last night about Star Wars Kinect and it was just more frustration for me - read on to see why:

Apparently, the previews for Star Wars Kinect were less than stellar, due to the fact that the Kinect sensor bar can't read your arm movements fast enough to keep up with a fast-paced lightsaber duel.  My question is: how in the world did the developers not realize this before they started work on this project?  I could have told them that the first day I played with Kinect Adventures!  Does that mean that Kinect is any less cool?  I don't think so; the sensor does what it's supposed to do and what it does it "terrificly".  The problem is with developers (or with Microsoft, if they've given them this edict), who can't figure out that "Kinect + Peripheral = Amazing".

So somebody please tell me why Star Wars Kinect doesn't come packaged with a lightsaber handle-themed controller that is wireless, features haptic feedback, and includes a gyroscope?  Obviously it requires more money to package something like that and to manufacture it in the first place, but honestly - you're making a Star Wars Kinect game that is supposed to make you feel like you're the jedi for the very first time.  Get it right. 

With the above described controller, the controller would be able to tell the Xbox it's positioning with almost no lag whatsoever, plus provide the player with the tactile response needed when hitting an object with a lightsaber.  Meanwhile, Kinect would be able to watch the player's body, handling all of those commands while the arm holding the lightsaber is controlled via the lightsaber's positioning.  Voilah, now the game is extremely responsive, much more immersive, and can handle much more complicated inputs.  And you don't think every Star Wars fanboy is going to want to have one of these?  Clearly that would help mitigate the cost to include a controller with every game (besides increasing the package price to $59.99 or $69.99).

And better yet, if you had that controller, you could choose to be a jedi or a sith lord... if you chose jedi, you'd have one blade, if you chose sith lord you'd have two blades coming out either end of the handle.  How cool would that be? 

This whole "you are the controller" thing is becoming a pain.  Seriously - people don't mind controllers.  And the thing is, Kinect would be sooo much better if we could just have some type of peripheral for some of the games.  Sure, there are games that don't require a controller at all, but there are some that make more sense with one.  Like how about a Samba de Amigo game that comes with the marracas so it can be accurate with the beat, but also requires you to move in certain ways using the Kinect?  See, that took me ten seconds to think of.

Dear Kinect,
You're awesome.  I'm sorry that developers are underutilizing your abilties and trying to force you into doing something that is awkward.  Just keep watching videos of you with the hackers on YouTube so you can keep your self-esteem up.  You're still an awesome piece of equipment, even if most of your software is underwhelming.

Love,

A Kinect Owner