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Kinect video chat will work with Windows Live Messenger at launch

by David Hinkle on Sep 29th 2010 7:00PM

Kinect adopters won't be limited to spending face time with just each other come launch, as Marc Whitten, Xbox Live general manager, has confirmed the sensor will interact with Windows Live Messenger on PCs. "I'm also excited to confirm that Video Kinect will integrate with Windows Live Messenger at launch, so Xbox Live members can video chat with hundreds of millions of PC users around the world," he said in a press announcement.

However, it appears the cross-platform functionality will be limited to video chat. If you were hoping to invite your PC pals to virtually watch Harry Potter and the Goblet Devils of Shamshire (or whatever) with you, it's not happening. As if they'd stop playing StarCraft 2 long enough to join you, anyway.

Source: Gamerscore Blog

Tags: chat, kinect, microsoft, microsoft-kinect, pc, video-chat, video-kinect, windows-live-messenger, xbox

Reader Comments (36)

Video chat is lame. I don't need to see my ugly friends.

@FriedConsole

Agreed, video chat should be reserved for pornstars and models.

@That Burning Sensation :: I'm a pornstar so I'm covered.

Can't video chat just now - let me do just one more turn in Civ V...

so wheres my update i thought it was out today and yes im a beta tester

@Frank the tank
I'm guessing it should kick in fairly soon if you did get accepted. Just got the prompt to update on my system a few minutes ago.

Or you could buy a 20$ Webcam and do the same thing on MSN, Skype, AIM, ICQ, Facebook Chat, Google Chat or whatever you use!

AND Play Starcraft 2 with them at the same time!

@Ashkental But then how do you play Halo Reach? :(

I like how their video chat hardly works msn to msn but they think its going to work just fine at launch

why would i want to chat with them? theres something called skype and i heard its free. MSN is just for IM

Sigh. It's another awful feature microsoft will use to justify charging for live.

Dear Microsoft.

I Still don't care about Kinects.

Man, can't wait to get my penis out on this.

Uhh... and by "get my penis out" that's street slang for trash talk your buddies; all the kids are using it nowadays, what?

@Crayola Q Pants ESQ

Kinectroulette

@Crayola Q Pants ESQ

Btw, call it Skittles

ima ctrl alt delete this mental image.

@PedoJokerBear

I wish I could do that

@Crayola Q Pants ESQ Actually....Someone SHOULD make porn games for it. They already made 3D porn...So why not? It could completely tell when you're "doing things" ... Just sayin' ... maybe you could get filthy rich off the Kinect, don't knock it.

@Wonkuoysseleht

+1

I used to use WLM to video chat with my relatives overseas for free. I doubt its a feature the average user will use though.

Harry Potter and the Goblet Devils of Shamshire.

Wat.

ignoring the pessimisim... sounds cool. would make kinect a bit more useful. not to me but maybe someone without their computer in close proximity to their xbox

@Wonkuoysseleht yes because that is the only service xbox live provides.... Give me a break I'm sick of pepoe who complain when some feature is added to live saying you can do it free elsewhere. Then chat on your Mac pc or whatever and stop acting like you are paying to use a webcam when you have been (most likely) paying your measly 5 bucks a month already without this edition.

@Wonkuoysseleht
If this feature alone is why anyone would be paying for gold, they are doing it wrong.
Having the ability to use the chat, that is inherent with kinect & an already existing gold sub, with friends or family who don't have 360's is a nice addition.

Both me and my parents picked up playstation move last week and have made quite a few video calls over PSN, all of which worked pretty well especially considering the service is free. I prefer the comfort of sitting on my couch and talking infront of my flatscreen over a computer desk and computer screen. But hey I have many video calling options now! Skype on PC, FaceTime on my iPhone 4, and video chat on my PS3.

From what I've been reading on various gaming and tech sites, kinect isn't looking too awesome, but video calling is definitely a plus. It's unfortunate that you have to have a Gold subscription to use that feature though.

@DrChristopher Nice try.

@TRACE
?

I don't get the point of whining about having to pay for gold to use this feature. I could understand if this was the only reason to get gold, just don't get all righteous when you already pay for it and it's a feature you may not use. Youvarent paying to video chat it's simply something you can now do on your console with a membership you already pay for. Use it or don't but don't try to make it an issue by acting like they are charging you extra for it.

@brer I don't think it's the gold members whining as much as the silver members (like myself) who wish it was free.

@brer They are hiking the price of Live later this year because of all the awesome services they are now providing to us. So yeah, they kinda are charging us. That said, I don't mind. I work hard to make money and spend money.

@TRACE i agree and as i was just telling my friend, the yearly cost for xbox live gold is totally worth it...and its also why i bought a new console when i got a red ring of death...because it was worth it for me to take the opportunity and upgrade to an elite console and spread the love by giving my brother the repaired one. when a console pulls off that (and i'm not the only one) then it's pretty damn good. i dont rush out to buy every game. so the way i see it, if i get 1 or 2 games a year....the gold subscription is just another game for the year. no big deal. though i do wish it was free or cheaper. who doesn't? maybe it will be...with technology everything gets cheaper over time.

you see this? nah, of course you can't because not a damn was given during this announcement.

Do people still use MSN? Lol. I thought FB kind of made it redundant :P

@Spunky Monkey 190906 i thought trillian, meebo, pidgin, IRC, etc. all made it pointless to use ._.

@Kage25

I don't have to install MSN. It's called practical.

@Spunky Monkey 190906

FB doesn't allow me to be offline and see who's online. I have to be online for that.

Which brings us to MSN, yeah.

@Spunky Monkey 190906 'Obsolete' may have been the word you were searching for.

Breaking News

Kinect video chat will work with Windows Live Messenger at launch

Reader Comments (36)

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:08PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:00PM That Burning Sensation said

Posted: Sep 30th 2010 1:24AM delicatessen lama said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:10PM Halwende said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:11PM Frank the tank said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:32PM mat1cs said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:17PM Ashkental said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:27PM MrMagicMushroom said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:18PM Jerkamie said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:20PM shadowhowl1900 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:31PM saturn118 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:39PM neoand12 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:57PM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:59PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:59PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 9:31PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 10:55PM Ashitaka said

Posted: Nov 5th 2010 11:34AM BusyBrowser said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 7:58PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:02PM finnith said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:03PM xJimmeh said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:07PM Trevsweb said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:23PM brer said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:36PM swooded said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 8:47PM DrChristopher said

Posted: Sep 30th 2010 5:54AM TRACE said

Posted: Sep 30th 2010 11:25AM DrChristopher said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 9:24PM brer said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 10:15PM bre30127 said

Posted: Sep 30th 2010 5:53AM TRACE said

Posted: Nov 5th 2010 11:38AM BusyBrowser said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 9:28PM Kage25 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 9:46PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 10:21PM Kage25 said

Posted: Sep 29th 2010 11:01PM Ashitaka said

Posted: Sep 30th 2010 5:55AM TRACE said

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