Cliff Bleszinski hits out at Kinect hate

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 7 June, 2011

"If you don't like it, don't play it."

Gears of War design director Cliff Bleszinski has hit out at the negative reaction to Microsoft's Kinect-focused E3 press conference – and slagged off Sony's motion-sensing rival PlayStation Move.

Microsoft today announced a number of Kinect titles, including Kinect Sports: Season 2, Dance Central 2, Ryse and Fable: The Journey.

Microsoft also showcased Kinect Star Wars, Mass Effect 3 and Ghost Recon Future Soldier played using the tech.

Some gamers were left disappointed by the Kinect emphasis, but for Bleszinski the hate is unwarranted.

"I just don't understand," he said during a behind closed doors developer session following Microsoft's press conference.

"If there gamers out there that are weird about it, like, what's the problem? If you don't like it, don't play it.

"I had an interesting conversation where one of the PR people pulled me aside and was like, 'It has come to our attention that you might not like Kinect.' I'm like, does anybody read my Twitter feed? I went to the f***ing launch of it in New York. I love it.

"This is so strange. It's Move that I dog on all the time. I don't want to hold the two goofy-looking aeroplane-coming-in things, right? Less plastic on my coffee table as far as I'm concerned is a good thing.

"I've been asked about integration into Gears. If we had put it into Gears 3, considering the development time table, it would have been a tacked-on feature.

"If we were to get around to doing something Kinect-based, we would want to dedicate something to it and really knock it out the park and make it a Kinect game."

Kinect has sold 10 million units since its November 2010 launch. Microsoft will triple the number of Kinect games available by the end of the year.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (55) Latest comment 12 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Markitron #1 12 months ago

    Move might look stupid but at least i could move and aim at the same time..............

  • Dunk_13 #2 12 months ago

    its shit

  • lcmnick #3 12 months ago

    Post deleted at 12:48:44 14-04-2012

  • digoutyoursoul #4 12 months ago

    in my case, if i dont like it, trade it in, which i did. dont like arm flapping gameplay, i like to use gamepads, thanks.

  • Negotiator1 #5 12 months ago

    Kinect is amazing and the games coming with Kinect features is incredible, not just Kinect games but full on AAA hardcore games using the tech.

  • StolenGlory #6 12 months ago

    Cliffy B:

    He's right you know.

  • aphexstwin #7 12 months ago

    "This is so strange. It's Move that I dog on all the time. I don't want to hold the two goofy-looking aeroplane-coming-in things, right? Less plastic on my coffee table as far as I'm concerned is a good thing."

    but isnt it the plastic on your coffee table thats got you where you are today, cliff?

  • Braincleaner #8 12 months ago

    the tech is pretty damn good(you can't deny that you went "ohh!" at the avatar creator), and used in the right way, in a year or three, it could be really good. but MS need to understand the people who watch E3 don't give a damn about a disney game and pretty much all of us died a lil inside when Tim S did his bit (even tho deep down we all love cookie monster) and "fist bump!" made that tiger horror show from last year look non-cringe worthy. i can see they really are "trying" to push the kinect into "hardcore" AAA games and that should have been all the kinect they showed(ME3,Ghost recon,fable). Yes, show some kinect stuff if its part of your plan for the coming year, MS, but don't make it 85% of your entire show. it's like a buddy who has a nice car, it's not a great car, its just nice, but they won't shut up about it!

  • geordiek #9 12 months ago

    When the headline says 'hits out' don't they mean flaps arms?

  • chris_ace #10 12 months ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • HyperTails #11 12 months ago

    We get it Cliffy, you're up Microsoft's arse. You don't like Move. Guess what? I don't care. Guess what else? I have a Move, like it, and think Kinect is a piece of shit. Guess what else? You might want to create games that are actually good, with great storylines and memorable characters that people will still be talking about in 15 years time. But you don't, because you're just another talentless little man that acts like a complete knob everytime he opens his mouth.

  • azic #12 12 months ago

    This guy goes from bad to worse. I guess he has signed Epics death warrant with Sony now.
    How Mark reign continues to employ this prick is beyond me? This is one case of a a man thinking he is bigger than company.

    Fine you don't like move, but to be in the games industry and shit on a platform maker is just beyond unprofessional.
    Epic need to give this wankpot the boot.

  • technicianTed #13 12 months ago

    I don't want kinect or move for my consoles, but i have to say even i'm impressed with the amount microsoft have sold.

    It's hammered sony's move in terms of sales, which surprises me because i thought it would be the sony fans who lapped up the motion controllers.
    But the opposite has happened.

    Love it or hate it, it's been unbelievably successful so far, even if i see nothing on it that makes me want to get one.

  • Mchief22 #14 12 months ago

    It's all well and good saying if you don't like it don't play it, but were having it rammed down our throats at every opportunity!!
    I'm not playing it, but I still have to hear these dev's talk about it, when I know it's just a fad!

  • actionfitz #15 12 months ago

    £80 - £100 of pure 'do not want'.

  • chris.totten #16 12 months ago

    Kinect looks balls - sorry. If I wanted to wave my arms around like a dick I'd have bought a Wii - oh wait i did and it's sitting gathering dust!! Hardcore gamers (you know the ones who shell out obscene money on titles and DLC) want better faster graphics, nothing more

  • digoutyoursoul #17 12 months ago

    i'd smash his missus everywhere though to be honest, i'd wave a move controller while doing it too

  • Negotiator1 #18 12 months ago

    Cliffy B is the man, he don't give a shit he just tell's it like it is, and the Sony fanboys start crying.

  • FuzzyDuck #19 12 months ago

    Prefer to have Move on my coffee table than to move my coffee table for Kinect, hoho!

    waggle-interface on any format = no thanks.

  • -cerberus- #20 12 months ago

    If we don't like it, don't make it.

  • digoutyoursoul #21 12 months ago

    i think the majority here would prefer a gamepad rather than move or kinect. there is a lot of pissed off xbox players at the moment on twitter, xbox forums, various game websites, me too to be honest. the direction they are taking is not what i would want from a xbox 360 but respect to them for making money on it, the kinect strategy is not what i want.

  • sfp_noodle #22 12 months ago

    Easy to say when you've got £130 burning a hole in your pocket. I've tried both Move and Kinect, the former works every time whilst the latter lags like crazy. Seriously Cliff, did you even watch that utterly embarrasing demo of the new Star Wars game? What were they thinking!?

    Let's make this clear, I have no interest in waggle gaming and that will most likely never change. The difference between MS and Sony is that MS are completely shunting their original audience to one side. Sony on the other hand are catering to both sets of audiences in both core and Move games. With this gen in it's final quarter, no 360 fan should expect that to change until the next Xbox is released. Two E3s in a row of nothing but Kinect rubbish makes it perfectly clear where MS' focus lies for the remainder of this console gen.

  • CalmBlueOcean #23 12 months ago

    "what's the problem? If you don't like it, don't play it."

    Or, based on this years E3 showing, plan on buying any games in 2012.

  • Xardan #24 12 months ago

    What do you expect? These very outspoken people of the gaming community are constantly complaining. Kinect is just the next thing. The gaming community should really grow the fuck up in my opinion, Its embarrassing.
    It wouldnt surprise me if the majority of the very outspoken lot are just diehard Sony slaves.
    Edited by Xardan at 07/06/11 @ 00:58

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #25 12 months ago

    I'm sure he is just sick of hearing Dicks whining about stuff... as am I!

  • Marshall2008 #26 12 months ago

    Thought the Ghost Recon demo was pretty cool.

  • atrimus #27 12 months ago

    complaining about the hate aimed towards one device, then in almost the next sentence hating on a rival device. yeah, those are the straw-legs most fanboys try to stand their arguments on. "goofy-looking aeroplane-coming-in things" he says? funny. gamer's have been holding these goofy-looking things since the dawn of gaming; they're called controllers.

  • vegard #28 12 months ago

    "If there gamers out there that are weird about it, like, what's the problem? If you don't like it, don't play it"

    The problem isn't Kinect itself, it's how MS is ignoring the good old gamepad.

  • CamberGreber #29 12 months ago

    Cliffy B lashs out at Kinect Haters.
    Cliffy B dislikes Ps Move.
    Cliffy B puts his pants on one leg at a time.
    Cliffy B is in the shitter right now.

    WHO GIVES A SHIT?

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #30 12 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Power_n_Glory #31 12 months ago

    MS are trying to reach a wider audience and that makes sense from a business point of view. Just a shame about the quality of some of the Kinect games.

    MS aren't the only ones. Sony are trying to get developers to support Move. No real surprises for the PS3 this year either. Uncharted 3 looked stunning. Day one purchase.

  • frazzl #32 12 months ago

    You've got to love the SDF making bullshit claims about MS "shunting" aside "their original audience". As Blezinski said: you don't want motion control in your games, don't get it. I know I don't and it hasn't had a negative impact on my gaming yet. And just so you know you SDF bellends, Sony is placing as big an emphasis on the Move, as MS is placing on the Kinect. So why don't you go cry a fucking river elsewhere :).

  • Puzza #33 12 months ago

    It's getting to the stage where you can't not play Kinect every game seems to have it tagged on in some way or another

  • borkedconsole #34 12 months ago

    Gears of War 3 is crap and so is kinect. Have fun with the motion controller and the ms paid advertiser money cliffybiatch, i'll skip both.
    Edited by borkedconsole at 07/06/11 @ 04:44

  • atrimus #35 12 months ago

    @frazzl

    "you don't want motion control in your games, don't get it"

    ergo, aside from third-party stuff there is little to get on the 360, as Microsoft seems to have shifted focused exclusively on Kinect. conversely, as much as Sony is pushing Move (and 3D, i should add), they have a wealth of content to which Move and 3D are inconsequential. contrary to his praise of Kinect, Blenzinski has done absolutely zilch to bring the device to any favorable light since it's been announced, and since Microsoft's presser has come and gone minus his presence, i'm guessing he has nothing in store for the device for the foreseeable future.

    in a nutshell the dude is a blatant mouthpiece fanboy. his poison just so happens to be Microsoft/360.
    Edited by atrimus at 07/06/11 @ 05:13

  • frazzl #36 12 months ago

    @atrimus

    1) There is a huge amount of third party content available, which will make up the bulk of most gamers' libraries. Secondly if you only own a 360, this means that this bulk of content is for all intents and purposes, only available on the 360. The same would hold true if you only owned a PS3. For owners of both consoles like myself, I still feel that there are enough differences to make multi-platform titles a single platform decision. Achievement points/trophies, controller preference, and friends lists are not insignificant.

    2) There are sufficient 360 exclusives in the 360's future. It's not as if Sony's E3 lineup was a spectacular list of upcoming exclusives. Apart from pushing the Vita, the move, 3D gaming, and certain negligible "extra" content what exactly else did they do? I didn't see any must have PS3 exclusives in their announcement. In fact even this year, Yakuza 4 has been the only PS3 exclusive (and the only PS3 title) that I have bought! Along with Yakuza 4, Gears of War 3 and Forza 4 will do me fine, as I am sure whatever other exclusives are released next year.

    This whole comments thread is simply SDF vitriol because Sony's E3 announcement has been just as "poor". So as I said before the SDF can go cry a fucking river elsewhere!

  • bad09 #37 12 months ago

    Seeing as at some point he will be pimping a gears kinect game he would defend it. MS were an embarrassment yesterday no matter how much Cliffy bleets on.

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #38 12 months ago

    i would rather hold a move controller than dance like a dick in front of a stupid camera but don't call me a fanboy because i have an xbox

  • davisorle #39 12 months ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • UncleLou #40 12 months ago

    "This is so strange. It's Move that I dog on all the time. I don't want to hold the two goofy-looking aeroplane-coming-in things, right?

    Like, what's the problem? If you don't like it, don't play it.

  • Tyranix #41 12 months ago

    The problem, Cliff, is that as long as Micrsoft forces the studios it bought out to make games for the pipe dream we know as Kinect, it stops them making great proper games for the console itself.

    So the typical lame response of 'If you don't like it, just don't play it' is incredibly ignorant, especially from someone in the industry.

  • Seansy #42 12 months ago

    @borkedconsole, you had a try of Gears3 then and managed to get a review in before anyone else? How can you say a game is pants before it's even released?!

    I like the Kinect, it's a great piece of kit with a strong future. It just needs less narrow minded people negging on it. If it means you can get your family or mates involved and have a giggle then great! My parents who are both in their 60's and HATE computer games actually enjoy the kinect with us.

    To add kinect capabilities to new AAA games which assist gameplay isn't a bad thing. You don't need the kinect if you don't want it. But if you have it then great. Forza 4 is a great example.

    I'm all for kinect and look forward to the upcoming games using this.

    Sean

  • coolbritannia #43 12 months ago

    The Ghost Recon demo showed Kinect can do hardcore, I think most of the haters in here are buttfucked Move owners...

  • bad09 #44 12 months ago

    "The Ghost Recon demo showed Kinect can do hardcore"

    Hahahahahahahaha.! Did you actually watch the guy playing it? Yeah doing sign language just to play a game is great......

  • Goodfella #45 12 months ago

    Kinect can do hardcore?

    Bwuhuahahahaha.

    Kinect is for kids and fitness games, nothing more.

  • edhe #46 12 months ago

    "but isnt it the plastic on your coffee table thats got you where you are today, cliff?"
    I don't see no Unreal Tournament on my coffee table.

    What a weird and ignorant attempt at a shallow comback aphexstwin.

  • edhe #47 12 months ago

    @hypertails
    "You might want to create games that are actually good, with great storylines and memorable characters that people will still be talking about in 15 years time. But you don't, because you're just another talentless little man that acts like a complete knob everytime he opens his mouth."
    Unreal, Unreal Tournament & Gears have all set the industry standard in their time and you can guarantee everyone will remember gears in 15 years time, especially if it was their first UE3 experience on a home console.

    Also i have no idea how you couldn't define the "Cole Train" as anything but memorable.

  • edhe #48 12 months ago

    @chris.totten "Hardcore gamers (you know the ones who shell out obscene money on titles and DLC) want better faster graphics, nothing more" thought that was PC "gamers".

  • edhe #49 12 months ago

    "The hate towards Kinect is totally justified. It kills REAL gaming."
    Bull.. *REAL* gaming is when you have a mcguffin that enables you to have fun. Whether it's a ball and a cup, a football, table top games a mouse & keyboard, bungie rope & zombies or a bloody controller.

    REAL gaming is enjoying what you do and getting fun out of it. HOW you do it is irrelevant to gaming itself. Pissant.

  • Osahi #50 12 months ago

    Players are weird about it because there is so big a focus on Kinect it feels like they're passed on. Ok, there is GoW3 and Halo 4 and Forza, but hell, don't we all want something new on 360 too?

    At least with Move, which dissapoint software wise too, we've got some core titles with great implementation. Killzone 3 and Socom is a blast after you've practiced for a while (it's easier with the Gun) and my copy of No More Heroes is waiting to be unwrapped. On Xbox you've got Mass Effect voice commands that you can achieve with a good mike too (like euh, Socom in 2003?) or viewing a car in Forza. (and no, I don't believe the piew piew controls of Ghost Recon will ever be as precise as a move)

  • Bluetooth #51 12 months ago

    At least Skyrim won't be Kinect enabled

  • JammyC #52 12 months ago

    I don't hate kinect, I just won't buy one until it has a few half decent games that hold the attention of a gamer older than 10.

  • man.the.king #53 12 months ago

    @beIIy

    "People defending a fucking games console!! Dear fucking lord"

    I agree - that's exactly what CliffyB seems to be doing.

  • Spungles #54 12 months ago

    "Cliffy B puts his pants on one leg at a time. "

    Unless he gets an active pants reload in which case he can jump in with both legs at the same time. True.

  • edhe #55 12 months ago

    @bluetooth having an elder scrolls title track your head location so that they can actively look at you instead if gazing blankly into the screen would be a nice addition.

    Hell i'd love a title that simply includes a "slap" feature. At any point in the game you can gesture a slap and a hand will come in offscreen and belt across any npc you're talking to, for fun!