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Kinect PC compatibility will come at 'the right time,' Ballmer says

by Griffin McElroy on Jan 7th 2011 5:00PM

Curious to see what Minesweeper, FreeCell and some of your other favorite Windows games would be like if they were controlled using only your ghastly human form? Good news -- when asked by the BBC whether Kinect functionality would soon come to Windows-based computers, CEO Steve Ballmer explained that Microsoft "will support that in a formal way in the right time."

Given the peripheral's sales success and the overflowing passion of the modding community (already using Kinect with PCs), we'd say the right time is "now." We're fine if Microsoft wants to take its sweet time, though -- we're not sure we're ready for our Kinect to watch us while we work, anyways. It can be so judgmental!

Source: BBC News

Tags: compatibility, kinect, microsoft, pc, steve-ballmer, xbox

Reader Comments (27)

You know, I spend all day in front of my computer working. If the Kinect could actually help make me more efficient, and I can imagine a few ways that it might with the right software, that would actually get me to buy one more than any game.

@Courtney

Yeah, I agree. I hope they sell it as a standalone (w/o game) eventually. I might be interested with all of these cool hacks around.

@Courtney
The only way I see it helping productivity is if they implemented head/face gestures or something like that, but I can't really imagine what they would do or why they would be better than what I'm currently doing.

When I'm working with my computer I sit down with my hands on my keyboard and/or mouse, if I was to drop the keyboard and mouse to flail around with my arms I'm pretty sure I would both look stupid and lower my productivity.

I still can't believe that Ballmer is the CEO of Microsoft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc

@philmcfail

Believe it...Believe it

Ballmer was crazy with windows before it was the cool thing to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL4hyATkQ74

Now's the right time.

@LaughingTarget

I'm thinking the same thing. They had a chance to be a leader again and they are squandering it. That company needs a shakeup in a bad way.

"......would soon come to Windows-based computers, CEO Steve Ballmer explained that Microsoft "will support that in a formal way in the right time." "

A few months later -" Today, CEO Steve Ballmer, announces official Kinect support for PC via the Windows 8 OS."

We already know it is coming to PC officially via Windows 8.....

Kinect with Directx 12??

TV's with media center embedded and kinect tech for controls, sign me up

There is a broad spectrum for the future of kinect. One thing I would assume would be some form of alteration toward it where you wouldn't have to be at such a distance from the PC to use it. I would assume they would make it function where you could be closer to your computer and it still reads you.

Mine sweep!

Of course, given that you have to be, what, nine feet from it to work effectively, that makes it not suitable for a lot "sitting in front of your computer" tasks.

@Aerothorn

I could use it to watch my employees make rude gestures behind my back and then automatically issue them pink slips.

@Aerothorn Nine feet? The recommended space for teo players playing it at the same time. Why, you're so silly. I can use it effectively at only 3ft away. And the only reason it is that far is because it's mounted on my wall. As for playing games full on in single player, 5 ft is MORE than enough space.

This is great news because just today I thought to myself "how can I play mineweeper inaccurately 8 feet from my computer while Im bored?"

Thanks Ballmer!

Combine minesweeper with sweep the leg?
PUT HIM IN A BODY BAG!!!!

No time is the right time for Kinect or Move. It's out, but other than Dance Central, where all the killer apps in the pipeline? Where's the cool hardcore games like that game from the creator of Panzer Dragoon and Phantom Dust? How about some news on that? It seems like there's been no news about stuff releasing this year. And look at Move. Sure they're tacked on Move controls to existing "hardcore" games, but if Heavy Rain is any indication, they're better played with the DualShock 3.

@KungFuChaosNinja Do your own searches lazy.

You know, I think the modding community and all that has been more marketing more than real true modding.

I have no proof at all, but for that whole, "we spent a billion on marketing" and the only things I keep seeing are PC mod hacks, I think not all of them are legit. Just seems kinda fishy how quickly things progressed when it seems like it took much longer for wiimote hacks and took forever for DS3 drivers for the PC. I still have yet to see any Move hacks (but I haven't really looked either). Seems like clever marketing to me.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Steel Battalion anyone?

Soo...There is so much interest in this that people are making home made software to run this thing and to use it for various aplications but....it's not the 'right time'?

So will it be the right time when everyone has already done the work and commercial products are already being released with kinect compatability for it on PC?

How about right when Asus releases the clone?

The "right time" will probably be when the XNA framework supports it, which is rumored to be within the next couple versions.

Somehow, this doesn't excite me nearly as much as Apple's iPad -> Mac feature integrations in OS X Lion. I mean, I don't want hackers stalking me in 3D.

You sound mad? Sounds like someone didn't get kinect for Christmas.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames Its called being social with your friends on and having fun in your living room. I'm sorry you don't have any friends to play Dance central with. Causal gaming ftw.

they will release with windows 8 for shure but probly with office 2012
btw anyone know is windows 8 going to use midori's OS code?? or are they waiting still :P

Breaking News

Kinect PC compatibility will come at 'the right time,' Ballmer says

Reader Comments (27)

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:13PM Courtney said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:50PM LockeDaemonfire said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 4:33AM Raniz85 said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:16PM philmcfail said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:27PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:17PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 8:21PM ToTheMoon said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:18PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:22PM oolz said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:29PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:32PM Joeybeast said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:45PM Aerothorn said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 6:32PM Courtney said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 7:22PM Robborboy said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:46PM Cavall said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 5:55PM swooded said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 6:03PM KungFuChaosNinja said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 6:47PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 6:40PM Lekko said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 8:32PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 8:21PM The Pumpkinmancer said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 10:45PM arrrdawg said

Posted: Jan 7th 2011 11:49PM Polymorphic Ninja said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 9:08AM TCJJ said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 11:27AM shopping bags said

Posted: Jan 11th 2011 1:40AM shopping bags said

Posted: Mar 1st 2011 10:06PM c1c2c34c said

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