Microsoft Kinect Pointlessly Coming to PC in February

Microsoft didn’t really have too much to say at this year’s CES 2012 keynote. Windows 8 doesn’t offer much for PC gamers, and the mobile market is outside our scope. Microsoft did however announce the February release of Kinect for Windows. The device that gives the Xbox 360 motion and voice controls is now officially coming to PCs. It was hacked on almost everything, but this one will be a real Microsoft sanctioned version. Kinect for Windows will be available February 1 for $249.

What you’re probably thinking right now is ‘why?’ This all seems a bit pointless. The Kinect is for motion control and gameplay, most people don’t have a huge space by their PC desk, nor are their monitors usually eye-height when standing, or large enough for motion games. The device itself is also rather large and a lot of people won’t have desk space to put one up.

And then there’s the biggest downside. The price. $249 for something with limited functionality? There isn’t really any software and this will be of most use in Windows 8, an operating system that will be largely ignored by gamers. Developers won’t be going after it either much because at that price tag not many PC gamers will be buying it. If they lower the price, maybe someone will take a stab at it, but right now, this device won’t gain much traction. Like the Razer Hydra, I think this one is destined to be forgotten.

Image credit flickr

Tags: Hardware, kinect, microsoft, microsoft kinect, motion control, windows, windows 8