USC Researchers Rig Kinect Sensor to Play World of Warcraft - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 30 December 2010 / 3,904 Views
Researchers at the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies have created software that enables Microsoft's Kinect sensor to control a PC, using a toolkit known as the Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit (FAAST), which "emulates custom-configured keyboard controls triggered by body posture and specific gestures." Translation: moving = keystrokes.
So, of course, the first thing they use it for is to control their World of Warcraft character, despite the fact that a much more philanthropic (and presumably the intended) use of the technology would be for motor skill rehabilitation after a stroke, or reducing childhood obesity with a much more physically active gaming habit.
Oh well. Take a look at the video proof below. First porn, now Warcraft. What will we get Kinect to do next? I mean, seriously, what else is there?
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lol, I like you example of 90+ WPM. Its a good demonstration some things work better with a small controller that use fingers to perform action. The next generation of Kinects, if they can track fingers accurately, should already be a step forward what we call "core" game.
Even though, it will probably remain easier and faster to use some kind of physical controller. I have a hard time figuring why you pass as some kind of fanboy for saying this. Kinect is perfect for game where moving your body give more immersion and less frustration, like Dance central or Kinect sport. Thumbs up!
That is pretty damn incredible.
@thranx @hyruken
I'm not a Kinect hater in the least. I think it's quite intuitive. But Rpruett is right. Remember when the Wii first came out and we had all sorts of stupid games with Wiimote controls slapped on just so they would HAVE motion control? But the motion controls didn't fit the game at all. The perfect example that comes to mind for me is Marvel Ultimate Alliance. God, that game sucked so much on the Wii. It was a complete wagglefest.
Any hardcore game that would have complicated controls in it normally cannot work properly with Kinect for the same reason. You might be able to get some sort of functionality, but it'll be an entirely senseless bodywagglefest. And like I said before, you normally have a plethora of buttons to press for WoW, each with an entirely different function. WoW is a big part of the reason the Logitech G13 exists, as well as many of the other gameboards out there. And with those, some people STILL can't press the buttons quickly enough. How on earth do you expect to be able to waggle your body quickly enough to surpass the efficiency of two hands full of fingers capable of typing at 90+ wpm?
It's not breaking any myths because it is still not functional for 'core' gameplay. You could not play and function in World of Warcraft to any functional level while using Kinect. The controls aren't remotely intuitive and relatively complex to do simple tasks. There is still a definite and significant amount of delay and for games that require a lack of delay this is a significant problem.
The complexity of many interactions becomes another issue. When I play WoW for example, I might have anywhere from 20 - 40 different buttons that I may need to press many of which for limited specific usage. Memorizing 20 - 40 different gestures becomes a very tedious, annoying, and non-enjoyable process.
If you haven't played WoW before then maybe it looks fine and dandy to you. The way he was operating the game, it wouldn't make playing WoW, more enjoyable and by using Kinect it provided a more tedious experience with less control. For Kinect to 'bust the myths' it needs to work well, intuitively , respond quickly, etc and make sense for sorts of 'Core' games.
Not breaking any myths? All I have heard on these forums is how will you move a character in 3d space with kinect and this does just that. You can down play it all you want but there he is controlling his guy with his own body movements. Of course it is just mapping movements to keys, the game is designed for keyboard and mouse not kinect. This just shows that when games are designed for kinect from the beginning there will be possibilities for it. If you guys want to be blind to that fine for you. But I as i said this is already breaking some kinect "myths". It is a clever idea too. Most people were thinking of running in place not leaning forward or back. Glad to see hackers are doing some of the work for game devs and I can't wait for these ideas to make their ways into games.
It also should be noted that the man in the video is playing a Mage. Which atleast in current WoW mode is a pretty straight forward ( easy ) class in terms most of the rotations used. A lot of classes will not play that easily and require, crisp rotation selection, etc.
Which again furthers the point that Kinect still is waiting to have a good use for 'core' games.
Simply giving ideas for what can be done with control schemes. They're not telling you this is how it'll be. People jump on this research like they're selling it or putting the ideas into production. It's an idea, an attempt. Instead of being narrow-minded and chewing it for not fitting your standards - understand that it's only a foundation.
People bury their heads so far into what they already know, in fear of not being able to adapt to new ideas. Get real guys.
This absolutely isn't breaking any myths or misconceptions about Kinect. Just like a previous poster stated, they're just mapping WoW Keyboard controls to Kinect gestures. It just flat-out isn't intuitive enough yet.
For Kinect to work with 'core' games it's going to have to add a sense of immersion or gameplay experience, not just exchange pressing B for flailing you arms in the air.
This is not breaking any "myths", we already knew Kinect could be used in this manner. Theres a difference between could and should. Its obviously not what Kinect is intended for. A controller is more suited for those controls.
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Who would seriously play WoW like this? This is just another failed attempt to use Kinect in a core game.
this is so stupid, using motion control should be letting you feel you are in the game, but what he is doing doesn't feel so at all, what's the point making yourself so busy if you don't feel that when using all those motion for, just making yourself uncomfortable to play a game like this...
@Chaos
But they are...
This guy probably did this in like a week or so. Sure it is not polished but that only comes with time. As more people spend more time with the device they are coming up with ways to use the technology. You make it sound like changing key maps to limb maps is an easy thing to do....
All they're doing is basically Macroing the Kinect controls to take over the Keyboard controls. It's much simpler than what it looks, they mapped each body part to a certain key.
Sure you can say this is "breaking Kinect myths", but really they're not.
All this hate on WoW. Well, let me break it down economically for ya'll:
1 year of WoW = $180 ($15/month multiplied by 12 months)
3 brand new PS3 or Xbox 360 games = $180
From a pure financial perspective, it is cheaper to play WoW annually if you buy more than 3 new games a year.
As for it taking over your life? Do you hold the same for college kid or married Dad who spends his free time playing nothing but FPS like Black Ops? What about your co-worker whom always finds a way for their DS or PSP to interfere during their working hours?
Individuals can put down the controller or keyboard at any given time. Blizzard is not forcing them to schedule their life around weekly raids. They are personally responsible, like every video gamer is, for the amount of time their gameplay sucks out of their life.
wow a lot of hate already. Can't you guys see it for what it is? This is already breaking some kinect "myths" mainly the controlling of a character in 3d space, and for RPGS. Wait until games designed around kinect controls like this come out.
I'd like to see someone play using that for a hardcore raid where now you've got TWO arms to do what a lot of people can't keep up with using TEN fingers!
please don't... ok the only positive thing is that all these fatty WOW-player now really can do some little thing for their health...
but come on... i lost some friends because WOW... they live now there and "play" the real life! this is another reason to try this ****ing game
Too much work >.<
