Eurogamer Asks: Is Your Home Kinect-Ready?

Published 29 November, 2010 Duration 14:45

Enter our actual houses to find out.

Comments (104) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • dazcox5181 #1 2 years ago

    I was worried about the space needed but it's less than it's made out to be - I had no issues and didn't need to move anything, only thing is with a 2 year old running around the sensor gets confused sometimes!

  • CaptainQuint #2 2 years ago

    Having bought Kinect and playing it over the weekend, we've found our lounge provides JUST enough space for it. Like a lot of folk, our TV is actually in the corner of the room; and not in the centre, as MS obviously recommends. Between the sofa and the fireplace we are able to play from a decent diagonal position - the camera has no problems mapping the room from that angle and so far we've had no problems.

    Unlike Eurogamer, I had no issues at all setting Kinect up. Remember - the camera doesn't have to be facing the same way as the TV - so long as players face the camera and look at the tv on a slight angle they shouldn't experience any problems, it's quite playable from a diagonal position.

  • Nasty #3 2 years ago

    lololol at bawbag neighbour. Reading between the lines, Ellie is a bit noisy with the bedroom gymnastics too.
    Edited by Nasty at 29/11/10 @ 16:30

  • optimusprym8 #4 2 years ago

    You need more space if you're all like the woman at 00:26

  • altitude2k #5 2 years ago

    I really thought there was going to be at least one broken TV in that video. It was close.

  • Moz #6 2 years ago

    Tall people are at a disadvantage I'm only 5'8" and can play Dance central stood just in front of the sofa. But a friends has ago the other night and at 6'2" it was constantly saying to stand back.

    The frustrating thing is there are plenty of ways they could have given it a wider field of view. I'd happily pay an £20 for it if it could have people in full view at 4' from the camera.

  • StooMonster #7 2 years ago

    I'm "all right Jack", got 11-feet from front edge of AV-rack to front of sofa opposite screen and 12-feet wide between left & right sofa.

    Although, there a very large and heavy coffee table to consider.

    The coffee table slides towards the couch for Wii gaming, but for Kinect that's going to have to slide towards the AV-rack methinks, which I hope doesn't stop Kinect from working when it looks down at floor. Because I reckon there's the possibility that even though I have the length, breadth, and height I might have to take coffee table out of the room (which is madness).

  • Peew971 #8 2 years ago

    The angry neighbour cracked me up. Classic TV moment :D

  • FogHeart #9 2 years ago

    Spherical paper lampshades. Precarious stacks of CD cases. Embossed wallpaper.

    It's like Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen taught us nothing.

  • X201 #10 2 years ago

    Dimensions in Feet and Inches

    EuroGamer, teaching Johnny Foreigner that he's wrong since 1832 :D

  • kangarootoo #11 2 years ago

    @2m19s I see that Ollie Welsh has the same Ikea TV media shelf cabinet thing as me. A sound choice for all your console storage needs.

    ... and now I see that Mr Minkly has, I think, the same large yellow tape measure that is sitting in my toolbox.

    Have you buggers been on a burglary spree?

  • telboy007 #12 2 years ago

    Ellie, report your neighbour!! ;)

  • kangarootoo #13 2 years ago

    You need some of this stuff Ellie.

    http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/201508?WT.a...

    That should shut the bugger up.


    Alternatively, you could recommend he gets some of these.

    http://www.wickes.co.uk/Safety+Workwear/...

    but there is a slight chance that might just make him more angry.

  • ZizouFC #14 2 years ago

    Ellie's neighbour is a dickhead!

    So is Kudo with his awesome indoor shades. Does he ever take them off?
    Edited by ZizouFC at 29/11/10 @ 17:05

  • asphaltcowboy #15 2 years ago

    Minkley's room is best eh? EDITORIAL BIAS! ;P

    Actually on topic, one of the main issues Kinect suffers from is that the camera (according to 'e' on Major Nelson's podcast) is meant to be at eye level. Now I'm not a tall fella, but with a thin TV, a low TV stand and a wall I'm not allowed to drill or nail things into, achieving the ideal set up is rather difficult.

    I did have the chance to test out Kinect in my flat this weekend and it did work reasonably well. Had to fold down the dining table and shift the sofa back, but considering how small my apartment is, it was pretty good at tracking 2 players (it's really difficult not to slowly drift forward during running events in Kinect Sports). Probably a 3.5/5 on the EG scale. And indeed, similar to Ellie's place I have no carpet and creaky floorboards, which would be a BIG problem if the flat below us wasn't empty quite a lot of the time (during one particularly heated Rock Band drumming session, someone did come up to ask if we had a dog (?!)).

    Dance Central was perfectly workable (conveniently the one/only Kinect game I'm actually interested in at the moment), but I don't think I could buy any games that involve running on the spot, jumping or other such "loud stuff", for fear of being evicted.

  • trousers #16 2 years ago

    "You've got no underlay" - he says that as if he's saying "You stabbed my puppy to death."

    You should get "Roy Castle's Kinect Tap Dance Marathon" as soon as possible.

  • feistycheese #17 2 years ago

    Sorry, but I dont agree with the overall sentiment of the video, it either works completely in a space, or it doesn't. You cant say 'it just about fits me in, but I worry about the room I have to move in and it doesn't recognise me' and still call it a success. Thats like saying 'well, the x button and y button both work, but the right thumbstick doesn't move'. Its either fully working, or its not.

    And Ellie needs to get her neighbour to wind his neck in, stick a poo bag through his door and really give him something to complain about.

  • Fur_Cough #18 2 years ago

    Angry Neighbour = definitely Eurogamer TV highlight of the year.

    Not too promising for Kinect though.

  • StooMonster #19 2 years ago

    DigitalFoundry comparison analysis of Eurogamer staff gaming/living rooms please. :o)

  • kongzi #20 2 years ago

    I hope Kudo IS a massive cokehead and not just trying his hardest to look like one, that would be kind of sad.

  • captain_Carl #21 2 years ago

    Love the way Leona Lewis (who is on Sony's record label) was at the launch

  • StooMonster #22 2 years ago

    trousers: "You've got no underlay"

    Of course not, Ellie's got laminate flooring with a rug on it. Mr Downstairs Neighbour prolly doesn't even realise that carpets and thus underlay went out of fashion more than a decade ago.

  • miiiguel #23 2 years ago

    @captain_Carl : you will find this funny too... check this out: there's a guy here at the office who has a Vaio (Sony) and it's using Windows 7 (MS). Hilarious, no ?
    Edited by miiiguel at 29/11/10 @ 17:43

  • kangarootoo #24 2 years ago

    @feistycheese

    I have to agree with your sentiment. 3 out of 5 for a setup in which one feature mostly works, but the other doesn't at all. If I had spent £130 on something, and only parts of it sort of worked, I wouldn't really consider that a 3 out of 5 experience.

  • kangarootoo #25 2 years ago

    @miiiguel

    That's nothing. I saw a cattle farmer eating an egg the other day. What a stab in the back for cattle farmers everywhere.

  • kangarootoo #26 2 years ago

    @StooMonster

    Umm, you can get underlay for laminate flooring. The reason it exists? To reduce noise transfer to the room below.


    I know Mister Neighbour was a bit arsey, and I know some of you will fight Ellie's cause no matter what (as part of some bizarre collective internet attempt to get into her pants - taking lessons from the "agree with everything she says and she will like you" manual of wooing girls), but I can't help thinking the neighbour's complaint was valid... even if he did communicate it in a stroppy way.

    If I could hear someone jumping up and down in the room above me, on a regular basis, I'd probably get a bit peeved too. His vaccuming comment was perhaps a sign that he is retired and needs something to occupy his time... but in this particular instance, where two grown adults were hopping about playing "sim-football", he was probably justified.


    But hey, carry on.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 29/11/10 @ 17:52

  • Sunyavadin #27 2 years ago

    What the shit is Ellie wearing????

  • Fab4 #28 2 years ago

    @stoomonster

    You can put underlay under laminate floors.

  • vmanb #29 2 years ago

    No underlay that neighbour was banging on about, if anyone with that attitude and aggressive behaviour was at my door they'd have no front teeth left in about 2 seconds flat. What a prick

  • kangarootoo #30 2 years ago

    "if anyone with that attitude and aggressive behaviour was at my door they'd have no front teeth left in about 2 seconds flat"

    Irony?

  • StooMonster #31 2 years ago

    Fibre board usually goes beneath laminate flooring, not "underlay".

  • Feanor #32 2 years ago

    Lol... angry English neighbour guy.

  • vmanb #33 2 years ago

    irony i think not. So somebody turns up at your door like that and you just smile and say your sorry, more fool you.

  • kangarootoo #34 2 years ago

    @StooMonster

    Dammit. Out pedanted about DIY. This has never happened to me before :)

    Though if you follow my Wickes link, you will see they call it "Fibreboard Underlay". I don't even know where to go next with this one. I think that either you, or me, or Wickes has to die so that honour can be restored.

  • asphaltcowboy #35 2 years ago

    I was hoping someone would eloquently put forward the suggestion that maybe that guy (despite his overly aggressive style of complaint) did actually have a point... and as always, kangarootoo was there to do the honours. Well said sir!

  • kangarootoo #36 2 years ago

    @vmanb

    My suggestion of irony was on the basis that you, in your outrage at someone's aggressive attitude, would knock their teeth out.


    And if you think that the only two options available to you are smile and say sorry, or punch someone, well.... I hope you don't use crowded public transport too frequently.

  • vmanb #37 2 years ago

    Now if he knocked on and asked politely i'm sure he wouldn't need a visit to the dentist. Being on public transport and somebody acting like that on your property are two totally different things.Unless you don't want to stand up for yourself that is

  • Sharzam #38 2 years ago

    I have just under 6ft between sofa and TV, so it struggles with 1 person and forget 2 player. However i have laminate flooring and my sofa moves easy on it so a quick slide to the side of the room and the game works fine for 1 & 2 player. Considering most of the time i want to play is when it will be more than 5 mins moving the sofa really isnt a problem.

    edit: worth pointing out in almost all cases its best on top of the TV, you improve it by a foot just by moving the sensor above.
    Edited by Sharzam at 29/11/10 @ 18:48

  • StooMonster #39 2 years ago

    Kangarootoo: yep, once I knew nothing, then I bought a wreck of Victorian house and have spent a decade doing it up. Has honed the old DIY, and I think we've used every possible type of flooring in different parts of the house. :)

    Also, have an old codger of an inlaw that sounds very similar to Ellie's neighbour, and makes similar complaints, and he's definitely talking about carpet underlay (even though I've explained to him many times that the noisy offender probably has laminate flooring). "They've got no (carpet) underlay" is an oft heard refrain.

  • Paulie_P #40 2 years ago

    I have even less space than Tom!

  • gylo #41 2 years ago

    Great video, that angry neighbour gave me vivid flashbacks of my flat last year. An angry neighbour below thought that I was doing DIY all night above him upstairs. In reality I was playing drums on Rock Band... tippy tap tap!

  • Fixxxer #42 2 years ago

    All technology from now on should favour short people so that I can shoot tall people with the laser cannon on my hovercar.

  • kangarootoo #43 2 years ago

    @vmanb

    "Unless you don't want to stand up for yourself that is"

    You really don't get it do you. I stand up for myself all the time, but I manage to do so without punching anybody. It doesn't matter whether you are on your own doorstep, or on the moon. Punching is for self defense, not delivering a complaint. The neighbour in the vid wasn't even being that arsey ffs (its not like he was threatening anybody).

    Now maybe you are just indulging in a spot of anonymous internet chest flexing and exagerating a bit, but if you would have actually punched that elderly man, I would have to say you are mad and would thoroughly deserve finding yourself in a cell shortly afterwards (which is certainly what would have happened).

  • effinjamie #44 2 years ago

    Someone came screaming at my door like that would get punch to the face told to ****OFF until they learnt some manners!

  • LOLLERS #45 2 years ago

    I genuinely want to see Kinect tested in Ellies neighbours living room, just to see it from a casual gamer perspective, which is who Kinect is aimed at after all...

  • kangarootoo #46 2 years ago

    @TonyCorleone

    Put simply, you don't know me. And what you describe is a self defense situation, which I've already made reference to in an earlier. Dealing with someone who attacks you in the street is entirely different to dealing with a neighbour, who some might say has a valid complaint.


    "Give it a rest Mr. Universe."

    This is what I find funny about some people who are apparently adults. If I say I'm not keen on willfully hitting people who don't deserve it, just to "tell them off", you accuse me of not being manly enough. Like every proper bloke should punch someone from time to time, just to keep his blood red. Bloody child.

  • sinelinden #47 2 years ago

    Idea for a Eurogamer sponsored follow-up to Angry Birds, Angry Neighbours. Flinging said Neighbours at rolls of carpet, underlay, slats of laminate flooring with 15 hidden gold Kinect Sensors to find ? Default volume setting is mute so should even be a hit in gated communities

    My suggestion for the next episode of Eurogamer asks is, In Tim Schafer's opinion is Ellie's downstairs neighbour Bobby Kotick ?
    Edited by sinelinden at 29/11/10 @ 19:51

  • vmanb #48 2 years ago

    I tend to find that people with his attitude only understand one language. Anyway lets just agree to disagree on this one, you would let pricks like him walk all over but i wouldn't. I am a gamer after all so i'm obviously going to be aggressive, to much GTA i suppose

  • JamieR #49 2 years ago

    I have no intention of getting this and I don't have the space clearly anyway this is the type of thing best for multiple people so you really need massive space

  • VandelayIndustries #50 2 years ago

    Lack of space and grumpy neighbors :( So based on that video, Kinect is absolutely useless for me.

  • GreyBeard #51 2 years ago

    Ellie should have invited him in "to share the magic" of Kinect. LOL.

    You may rate me down for this one :p

  • 43n1m4 #52 2 years ago

    The big question that remains unanswered from watching this video is, how much better will Kinect be, if you place it above the TV? I'm planning to do this at my place - not that we don't have the space as it is, but it might improve the 2-player experience, as right now we have to place the sofa further back.

  • Geordiemp #53 2 years ago

    More intering for me, is kinect good enough for my home, is there akiller deep game ?

  • Stu #54 2 years ago

    Ironic that to have a large enough flat you will have had to dedicate a lot of time to your career, rather than computer games (unless you're lucky).

    Shame. Do estate agents accept payment in Achievement Points?

  • CaptainQuint #55 2 years ago

    lol @ the fact that my post (#2) went from being voted positive to returning to neutral. I mean, a couple of people actually neg'd it - a well meaning advice post by my good self.

    Ha ha, some people.

  • Phishfood #56 2 years ago

    They should have made a wall mount for the thing to increase the distance from the player. Poooooor.

  • influenceuk #57 2 years ago

    I got Kinect, and decided to move my front room around. Yeah granted it was a hassle but it was well worth the move around :)

    I had had the room the same for a year, so it was time for a change lol :)

  • coderkind #58 2 years ago

    What was Ellie's neighbour's problem? It looked like it was filmed in the middle of the day, so unless he works nights he should put up with a little occasional noise.

    Video was very good guys and helpful to someone who's sitting on the fence still regarding Kinect, ta.

  • tinyspark #59 2 years ago

    'Kin'ell....Kinect just seems like too much fucking hassle.
    Edited by tinyspark at 29/11/10 @ 22:31

  • Distributor #60 2 years ago

    KUDO!!!! + Glasses. Gotta love the guy.....

  • peterfll #61 2 years ago

    Sorry but neighbours are a genuine consideration for a lot of people living in flats. I hadn't even thought of that. Can't believe they gave Ellie a 3.5 readiness rating after that, plus half the features not working properly, plus moving furniture out the way. In it's current guise I can't see Kinnect having a place in my home, simply on the basis I'm not prepared to continually move my coffee table and foot rest around every time I fancy a quick 30 minute bash of something.

  • darkmorgado #62 2 years ago

    Ironic that to have a large enough flat you will have had to dedicate a lot of time to your career, rather than computer games (unless you're lucky).

    Shame. Do estate agents accept payment in Achievement Points?

    Eh? I have a 2 bedroom factory conversion. My living room is 12x15ft (ceiling is 10ft). I pay 650 each month in rent. And that's considered expensive in Northampton. When I was in Borehamwood, I had a flat with similar dimensions for the same rent.

    Are people's rents really that expensive for living in shoeboxes?

  • FutureDave #63 2 years ago

    Only just noticed how much Minkley reminds me of Dave Gorman, especially in his little cardi. And Oli Welsh is a voice alike to David Baddiel.

  • darkmorgado #64 2 years ago

    I have to say that I am increasingly attracted to Minkley. I think it's his eyes.

  • GitSomE_UK #65 2 years ago

    Regardless of whether Kinnect is right or wrong I rather enjoyed that articles. Thanks EG!

  • dirtyvu #66 2 years ago

    for Ollie's setup, he needs to put the camera higher to be able to play better. high placement is ideal for Kinect. the higher the better. he should put it at 6 feet. except for little kids. for little kids, 6 feet can occasionally be a problem.

  • dirtyvu #67 2 years ago

    because i play through my brother's online account, i can't use kinect id feature (because every time I stepped in front of the game, it would log into my account which is a free account). it does work brilliantly but for me, it's a no go.

  • Stoatboy #68 2 years ago

    Perhaps Ellie's neighbour from downstairs is just a bit grumpy because he's clearly living underground judging by the view from her window.

    And I'm now starting to wonder if he's not some poor elderly relative who she's claiming benefit for looking after, whilst keeping him in a manky basement, and spending the cash on the latest gadgets and bling jewellery. Poor Ellie's elderly relative. :(

  • NewbieZilla #69 2 years ago

    The bermuda triangle of kinect.

  • TheJuriel #70 2 years ago

    Neighbor complains about hearing sounds of living IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY? Unless he has to work night shifts, he really has nothing to complain about. I'd carry on stomping, as it takes more than one complaint to get kicked out of an apartment, and I'd just file similar reports on him harassing me.

  • TheJuriel #71 2 years ago

    I was disappointed they didn't try how Kinect works in smaller spaces by setting it up at an angle, instead of facing head-on like the TV set does.

    I have plenty of space for Kinect, but I'm not getting it at that crazy price, since it has no real games for it.

  • NewbieZilla #72 2 years ago

    "I have plenty of space for Kinect, but I'm not getting it at that crazy price, since it has no real games for it."

    I wouldn't get it even if it cost half the price without games I want for it. As soon as the quality of games improve, my desire to get it, awareness of price will reduce proportionate to the quality of the product.

    At the moment, it sucks.

  • Kill_Crazy #73 2 years ago

    Nice to see Minkley running to Ellies aid with the grumpy neighbour!

  • 00.00.01 #74 2 years ago

    Good to see Kinect getting tested IRL. Too bad a grumpy neighbour has to spill the beans...And how the hell does that guy know Ellie doesn't have any flooring/undercarpet?
    On the other hand...if true, having a laminate floor without undercarpet is just NOT done.

  • coomber #75 2 years ago

    Sorry, but this report has completely bottled it. It clearly demonstrates that Kinect is designed for larger living rooms than many people in this country have. Oli saying he thought his living room was okay when clearly there wasn't enough room just about summed it up. But the spineless interviews at the end...you had those Microsoft bods over a barrel but let them fob you off with some PR bullshit of a response.

  • Whatsfor #76 2 years ago

    I like how Oli Welsh is about 45 and is still into gaming! I always wondered if I'd still be gaming in 20 years time!

  • Whatsfor #77 2 years ago

    Also this video only really proves that southerners have tiny living rooms. Also did I notice the last one had the living room, dining room and kitchen all in one room?

  • local_celebrity #78 2 years ago

    @Whatsfor

    They call it a stu-stu-studio flat, deary. Though it looks like solitary confinement to me.

    I didn't realise you EGers were such paupers. You should come round mine. See how the other half live!

  • cowell #79 2 years ago

    Interesting vid.

    Unfortunately that's what you get for putting wood flooring down in a flat. The noise from people just walking around is bad enough, let alone jumping up and down to play Kinect.

  • Skith666 #80 2 years ago

    Pretty cool vid, getting to see how the reviews live!
    Before this video I never even thought about the idea of Kinect-angered neighbours coming and battering down my door, I think the next time that happens Ellie should just run after him with the Kinect sensor bar screaming "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!" that should warm him off!

  • ThePissartist #81 2 years ago

    If the Eurogamer gamer office wasn't in London (assuming it is); I'm sure you'd all have space to play Kinect.

    Those are some pokey flats.

  • relaxantenet #82 2 years ago

    An angry neighbour below thought that I was doing DIY all night above him upstairs. In reality I was playing drums on Rock Band... tippy tap tap!
    relaxar , massagem tantrica , acompanhantes
    Edited by relaxantenet at 01/12/10 @ 17:34

  • beetleman99 #83 2 years ago

    Kinect isn't on my wish list, and it's just as well. I probable have the 6ft, maybe the 8ft, but I do have my desk ( I moved it the other month and it was a pain) bang at the side. Me and my friends could expect some pretty sore elbows (and a broken computer) if we used Kinect. As such, I suspect I am not Kinect ready.

  • up_the_ante #84 2 years ago

    I love Jonnys concerned little face and way he instictivly uses his left hand to pause the game at 6.45. I don't know why that's funny but it just is.

  • Machetazo #85 2 years ago

    Great start for this feature. I liked the whole video, apart from Kudo.

  • NorfolkNClue #86 1 year ago

    I suspect there was a lot of history there about the neighbour - chances are the first 7 times he would have been quite polite. Sounded like radge from consistant noise. Not saying that it was noisy, as different people have different tolerance elvels for noise, but hey ho. There are inifite variables that we just don't know.