User blog comment:Damac1214/Microsoft Just Removed the Kinect Being Bundled With the Xbox One, and This is a Huge Mistake (And How This Relates to Call of Duty)/@comment-1854594-20140514094526/@comment-1055346-20140514161211

While I can't speak for Mass Effect 3, as I have no idea what that games voice commands were, Skyrim I know a little about. All I remember was that it was dissappointing, because instead of being able to shout the actual shout at the game, you had to say like "Unrelenting Force" which was dumb. And in this regard I agree, when the voice commands were forced in and a bit pointless, like almost everything in Halo Anniversary, they didn't show off the kinects capabilities at all. In the motion control department I can't really argue, all I can ask is weren't PS3 Motion controls pretty iffy at times? Like with the Dragon game that relied on Six-Axis.

And you really outlined, and agreed, that there were several good qualities about the kinect yet you really think it's that pointless? If they know they'll have the install base, higer level games and more advanced features like the motion capture will become more common place. Not saying these won't happen now, but I doubt we'll see them as frequently or quickly as we would have.

We pretty much agreed on the Wii U gamepad, so we'll let that discussion rest.

To start off "allowed for these quick-time events that you are so impressed by", I thought I made it pretty clear that the quicktime events in Dead Rising 3 were not the thing that impressed me and got me thinking about Kinect's potential. I will also concede, and maybe even add it to the blogs concession section, that I don't know as much about the PS4 controller as you do. Ignoring the motion controls, because as you point out earlier, the PS3 had them, I still don't see the use of the touch pad. You outline weapon wheels as a big seller, as well as the fact that you can press it on one side for one button and another for, obviously, another button, but were weapon wheels even remotley a hassle to begin with? And whenever I've heard of a game using the touch pad as a button interface, like in Call of Duty, it's just a pause and select button.

Again, I'll agree the the PS4's touch pad has potential, and that it's removal would likely be as tragic as the removal of the kinect or gamepad, but I don't believe it's potential is as great as either of the other devices.

And I still don't agree on the light bar, and you've visualized it's use in Thief for me clearly enough that I get the gist of it. It sounds like a nice touch, but I don't see it from a gaming perspective. It has to be pitch black in the room, and you have to pretty much not be fully concentrated on the screen for the light to have the intended effect, and I'm sorry, I just don't see that as appealing.

In your bonus round you mention the Xbox One has no touch interface, which it does. Xbox Smartglass, and that can be applied to any game you want it applied too and used for a variety of tasks. Considering how impressive Dead Rising 3's Smartglass abilities are (Including the in-game phone guy CALLING YOUR PHONE), smartglass is Xbox One's awesome contributor to the field of touch interface, and considering the sheer amount of people who own smartphones or tablets, it's not like you even have to buy a new device to use it.