Halo Anniversary adding 'Analyze Mode' with Kinect [update]

by Ben Gilbert on Oct 15th 2011 7:54PM

Yes, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is getting Kinect functionality -- but you knew that already. Despite a bit of news escaping Tokyo Game Show earlier this year about what the functionality entails, we were promised a fuller reveal "this October." And here we are: 343 Industries reps told Halo panel attendees tonight at NY Comic Con that the game will include a variety of new Kinect features, such as analyzing world items.

When in Anniversary mode (read: fancy new graphics mode), players can use Kinect voice commands to "Analyze" various enemies, which will then add said enemies into a readable in-game database ("The Library" -- no, not that Library). What's more, you can also shout "grenade!" and, well, Master Chief will totally throw a grenade. "Reload weapon!" does ... you get the idea. A video showcasing the additions was shown off and we'll have it up for you as soon as possible. It'll arrive in fuller form on Halo Waypoint this coming Monday.

Update: Analyze Mode is only available with Kinect, 343 says, and won't work if you've only got a controller. Sorry folks!

[Image credit: 'Laugh Pong']

Tags: 343-industries, halo-combat-evolved, halo-combat-evolved-anniversary, kinect, microsoft, microsoft-studios, nycc, nycc-2011, xbox

Reader Comments (74)

("The Library" -- no, not that Libraby)

If it's not that Libraby then which Libraby is it?! Too many Librabies in games these days, if you ask me.

@Acosta02 how is libraby formed

Jump!

Get in the Warthog!

Switch weapons!

this sounds exhausting lol

@ZexionArmando
was about to say. lol
10 bucks to any one who can reload faster than me by saying "reload weapon" before I can hit "x" :P

So,

AutoVista for Halo?

If I don't see Master Chief teabag someone when I scream "Teabag!" then I have no faith in this....

@ArchiGamer You have to scream

Crouch!

Rise!

Crouch!

Rise!

Wow Microsoft is really trying to squeeze every bit of juice out of kinect. What a waste of resources this is.

@DSight You see how you got down voted? Casual gamers disagree. (back to playing Dark Souls)

@DSight

I would agree with you if they didn't already have the commands in game and they're just adding a new action to access them. Voice activated commands are more flare than function, I agree. I don't think this really sucked the resources of the programming team though. Just a quick easy bullet point for the back of the box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh1-b1vyxQI

Still no original multiplayer....i'd buy a 360 for that

@Timjoy I can see it now...

"Due to popular demand and fan feedback we've decided to release the original Halo Multiplayer to the fans!!! ....(for 1200 Microsoft points.....)"

And with this whole Kinect thing. Can I just, like, say "HEADSHOT!" and "NO SCOPE!" and get some kills?

@Timjoy There will be classic multiplayer modes. It's the best you'll ever get. It's not like the original Halo had any sort if net code to just throw it on Xbox Live.

@BadSkut

My pc version of halo 1 disagrees with you.

So basically any kinect functionality in controller based games are going to be the equivalent of a headset from games 10 years ago (ie SOCOM). Great

@BLipp18

I remember Microsoft had this mic with a little control panel about 10 years ago, one of the first I ever saw. It allowed you to bind any voice command to any key or key macro. I was obsessed with it for awhile, spent hours setting up a new set of commands for each new game I got. Until I realized it wasn't really any faster, at at times more inconsistent, than just hitting the bloody keys.

It did add to the immersiveness of games like Red Alert though, shouting out orders to my army.

@BLipp18 - This is why I don't understand the significance of voice commands via Kinect. Sure, it's nice to be able to use voice commands without a controller with something like Netflix, but I don't see how it's such an inconvenience to use a headset (or a controller attachment, in the case of Dreamcast or Xbox) to allow the same functionality. Making these features Kinect-only is just bizarre, especially given the fact that nearly every Xbox 360 in existence has a wired headset packed in with it.

@kevinski - It's because the voice control functionality is built into the Kinect SDK. Adding voice control with Kinect requires a lot less work than adding it with a headset because with the headset, they have to build the voice recognition into the game.

I may not have all of the details 100% correct but that's the basic idea behind it. Bioware explained the situation when everyone jumped all over them for the PS3 & PC versions of Mass Effect 3 not supporting the voice controls.

lol

Lol I'm halo fanboy and this would be cool if we had a move sharp shooter to go with it then I'd be totally immersed

Immersive Teabagging.

Scanning enemies into a database? I guess all those comparisons between Metroid Prime and Halo were legit after all.

@tendoboy1984

...what comparisons?

@tendoboy1984

i was thinking about the same game when i read the title of the article. Metroid Prime is a great series, but i think outside of this whole "analyze mode" there isn't a whole lot that makes MP and Halo seem all that similar.

I'm still waiting for a fully voice-operated shooting game that obeys your every command.

"Snipe that dude."
"Dodge bullets."
"Win game."

Doesn't shout orders at... yourself totally break some of the immersion, on top of being way more unwieldy that simply tensing a finger?
Unless it's for finger amputees.

I could see this being a cool thing if using kinect was to add interaction between master chief and cortana, but from the sounds of it they might as well have added "Halo play with yourself" as a voice command.

I still want to pick this up to play around with the transition between old school graphics and updated graphics and to go back through the flood if nothing else, but i hope to god this is not a full $60 dollar game

@asojax
$39.99

Can't wait for the swat teams to surround unsuspecting gamers as they yell about grenades and sniping.

@Jason B

Think about what Halo gamers are already screaming about into their headsets when they play. Screaming "Grenade" may well be an improvement for their neighbors.

LIGHT SABER!

ON!

This is cool. I'm gonna be shouting like crazy!

i dont get it.. kinect is about immersion... FPS are about immersion (puts you in the body of the character)

Yelling at yourself in 1st person view to reload, which automatically does.. Why? do i have schizophrenia in this version of Halo for no reason?, It completely negates an entire selling point for kinect and game immersion in general... which doubly proves the point that it is just GIMMICK.

@KiraXD You should instead yell "Fire in the hole!" or "Frag out!" for the benefit of the dead UNSC marines scattered around you. That would add something. Something creepy, but at least you would be a different kind of crazy. Or just yell when no one is around. Turn Halo into a Garfield without Garfield kind of experience.

@IndigoHawk

see now what WOULD be cool in FPS'... is if you yelled, "frag out" NPC's on your side would take cover, and react to you and the position you threw. Same with reloading. yell "Reloading" and teammates would come over and back you up while you take cover and reload... "im hurt" and a medic would know to come to your position... "cover me" etc etc... this could be cool if used in the right games... and used thouhtfully and strategically... instead of just throwing it on a game that doesnt need it (and didnt originally use it)

@KiraXD Totally agree. I'm still shocked nobody has introduced stuff like tilt your head to look round corners in FPS games. Seemed like the most obvious addition with Kinect + FPS.

also... i really dont want this to sound fanboyish... but if Kinect was more like Apples new Siri app.... (and i know MS are working towards something similar) That would be toally awesome.

Hardcore gamers don't use stupid analysis features, and definitely won't take the time to say they want to throw a grenade instead of simply tapping a button.

Yelling "grenade" has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard since "lightsaber on." Maybe if this was an RPG where you call out choices from a huge menu of commands it would make sense. If this was a Pokemon game voice commands would be a great implementation of Kinect, but this is an FPS.

The original idea which was of questionable merit itself was that Kinect would enable you to throw the grenade with a hand gesture, not yell out "grenade." What does this bring to the game other than enabling other people in the room to grief you while you're playing a game?

Totally idiotic.

The analyze thing sounds a little more interesting.

It seems odd to me that voice commands seem to be more common than actual movements with the Kinect... You would think people would want to actually use their camera properly, instead of just using the microphone, or using the camera for small tasks that aren't a part of the main gameplay.

Wow, is the voice functionality for real? It's kind of cool if you have a kinect I suppose.

I can't really see yelling reload being as effective as just hitting the button, so I probably won't read that. I guess analyzing the enemies is kind of cool, but really all this functionality seems kind of forced.

Works for people who suck with controllers.

PEW PEW! PEW PEW PEW!

Why can't we do this stuff with the standard headset. Oh I know its so Microsoft can convince idiots to buy a totally unnecessary 150$ peripheral.

Here's what worries me and has the potential to make me a lil annoyed;

What if achievements are tied to completing this "Library"?

I doubt it's a question of what if, since I know designers love putting collector or database type achievements into games. Plus, this will give Microsoft solid data saying "Hey, look at this, these many "hard core" customers purchased a "hardcore" game and are comfortable using the Kinnect during that experience.

So, what can those who are "hardcore" and don't want or like something like this? Simply don't use it, even if you have the Kinnect. Throwing a fit and canceling your pre-order does not effect the numbers Microsoft looks at, they look at those as just people not interested in the product period. Buying the game, enjoying it, and not doing the part you don't like will actually effect the number they look at.

Also, slap any of your friends who will go out and drop $250+ on a product just for achievements.

@Vaancor Learn to read the site you post on. Few stories down.... http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/when-we-were-your-age-we-didnt-have-halo-combat-evolved-anniv/

No achievements in there tied to this functionality.

I wonder why it is so hard to incorporate voice recognition via headset. I guess that there are WAY more headsets than kinects out there and it would add at least a little value to the game for those without the kinect.

Rainbow Six 3 for the original Xbox had some awesome headset support - when you had the Communicator on, you got squaddie chatter or mission orders directly piped into your ear as opposed through the TV or speakers and you could even call "go go go" to activate breaches. Small touch, made the game absolutely awesome.

@BFBeast666 and yeah, I know that EndWar had complete voice control, but that, somehow didn't work for me. *shrug*

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Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

Halo Anniversary adding 'Analyze Mode' with Kinect [update]

Reader Comments (74)

Posted: Oct 15th 2011 7:56PM Acosta02 said

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