The Proof is in The Hacks

Everyday, I open my Google Reader app and find a new post about someone hacking the Xbox Kinect. The post titles read 'FPS are Possible with Kinect', 'Max Payne on Kinect Hack', 'Call of Duty FPS on Kinect Hack', etc etc.

I don't kow if many of you have noticed, but there is one commonality all the gaming-based Kinect hacks share. I specify gaming-based because, currently, there are two factions hacking Kinect. 1-Those who hack Kinect with gaming in mind. 2-Those who hack Kinect to build the very first holodeck! Whatever the motivation, each undertaking has merit.

The Kinect gaming hack commonality is the use of a physical hardware controller with the sensor. The hacker has to use some form of input for character movement, environment interaction, etc. A Wiimote is the preferred form of input. So this leads us to the following burning question: Is the hacked marriage between Kinect and a physical controller a complete coincidence? I don't think so.

I charge that this "coincidence" is the way core gamers want to experience Kinect - with a physical controller present. Not to mention, its the only way we can experience all of our favorite game genres with Kinect's cool features AND the motion-only software titles. (like Sesame Street Kinect!)

Will Microsoft (or anyone) acknowledge this commonality? I have! And the result of that acknowledgement is Project K. A hardware-based controller designed specifically for Xbox Kinect.

Just this morning, I ran across a twitter post detailing a noticeable decline in Xbox hardware sales. Hear me when I say this about Kinect hardware, specifically: IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.

Until Microsoft can lasso the core gamer base (Who stabilize hardware sales) with a familiar control scheme for Kinect, sales will continue to slide.

Agree or disagree? Why does Kinect need a hardware based controller? The proof is in the hacks!

The LED's of Project K

I must admit the front fascia of Project K has me at odds. So, I thought it best to elaborate on the inclusion of a fascia because many commenter's are questioning it's necessity.

The front fascia/guard of Project K houses 2 identical LED's that can produce an array of colors. Their basic function is to report pitch, roll, and yaw motions to Kinect. This was determined necessary as Kinect has/had a tough time recognizing subtle wrist turns in-game. (See Kinect Sports Bowling) But, the LED's functionality delves much deeper than that.

I felt a feature that would allow a gamers mood/temperament to be a factor in the difficulty of game titles could be a new experience. How should this work in Project K? Well try this, if you are sitting at your PC right now, take your index and fore-finger of your right hand and place it into the meaty base of your palm beneath the thumb on your left hand. Can you feel your pulse? This area of the palm is where Project K is in constant direct contact with you. As you game, your pulse becomes an indicator of the difficulty of the experience.

Project K is designed with a sensor in it's handle to monitor your pulse. I know that many of you are asking: Didn't Nintendo already do this? Yes they did with the Wii Vitality Sensor. And while a novel idea, it was hampered by a terrible design manifestation. Developers could have created very compelling software with a pulse sensor if designed properly. I can guarantee you Nintendo hasn't abandoned the patent it has on this idea. (See Wii 2.)

For a real world example of how pulse monitoring affects Project K's LED's in-game, consider your favorite racing simulator. Let's say you are in a dead heat for 1st place on the last lap of a championship race. You need to keep your cool, but you can't and your pulse quickens. The pulse sensor in Project K tells the LED's to display a stressed color palette. Kinect recognizes the color and instructs the software experience to behave erratically. Your steering becomes shaky, your vision blurs, etc etc. The game adapts to your current physical state in real time! The only way to regain control of your game is by slowing your pulse!

I divulged this information to gather the core gamer's response. I feel this is where gaming is headed. And with properly designed hardware, it can be a sweet ride!

Should I remove or retain the front fascia on Project K given the features detailed above? Let me know in the comments!