Does Kinect Only Support 2 Active Players?

[Terminator02]

Are all of those promotional shots of families enjoying Kinect a lie? Maybe. If recent technical specifications for Kinect are accurate, the motion-sensing peripheral will only truly support two players at once.

According to a listing from UK online retailer Play.com, Microsoft’s device can track “2 active players” simultaneously, even though it can apparently recognize up to six people in the camera’s view. Check out the Skeletal Tracking details under the system's technical details pulled directly from the site:

If these specs reflect the final product, it would put Kinect at a disadvantage when compared to Sony’s Move and Nintendo’s Wii, both of which support four players at once. Some multiplatform titles, like Majesco’s Zumba Fitness, add credence to the apparent player discrepancy. According to a press release, that title supports “up to four players on Wii and PlayStation Move, and up to two players on Kinect for Xbox 360.”

Kinect releases this November, so we hope Microsoft clarifies the issue before then.

Source

hmm, i only see up to two people playing at once

 

[zachpl]

I remember reading somewhere that at launch games will only support 2 people, but developers can program for use up to six players...

 

[Antoni-YO!]

So far I think the most proof we have is 3 players (Did some googleing) and I think it can take more. Back at E3 2009 they had 4 ppl playing trivia games... Then again I don't think you actually have to be on the screen for that.

 

[BlackDave]

So far I think the most proof we have is 3 players (Did some googleing) and I think it can take more. Back at E3 2009 they had 4 ppl playing trivia games... Then again I don't think you actually have to be on the screen for that.

Actually the players made a motion that looked like hitting a buzzer. The camera needs to see that.

 

[Slyakin]

It says track 6 people, so maybe...


What does it mean by "active" players? As in, actually moving around?

 

[ChrisRX]

I can't remember what interview it was but they said that although the hardware can generate point cloud data for an infinite number of players, it can only track skeletons of 2 players

EDIT: I found the article I was thinking of and it would seem they've updated it. Only the demo software they were displaying supported 2 skeletons but the Kinect API should be able to process enough players as long as processing power is available. (And we're talking 3 PowerPC processors here so there should be plenty)
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/19/kinect-h...ehind-the-tech/

 

[DarkCrudus]

Haha not surprising, when was the last time microsoft had a game that supported 4players at a time on 1 xbox? hell they hardly have splitscreen on most games =/

 

[Drag0nflamez]

Haha not surprising, when was the last time microsoft had a game that supported 4players at a time on 1 xbox? hell they hardly have splitscreen on most games =/

Yes because we have System Link & Xbox live for that.

FANBOY ALERT!

 

[shakirmoledina]

i do remember the first video i saw (its in my pc too) which showed hands flying around but there were 4 players ie. man,woman, and two boys who joined later i believe
i dont think tht only 2 people can play but infact two people can control one character possibly

 

[zuron7]

Haha not surprising, when was the last time microsoft had a game that supported 4players at a time on 1 xbox? hell they hardly have splitscreen on most games =/

Yes because we have System Link & Xbox live for that.

FANBOY ALERT!

So , you expect one family to buy 4 Xbox'es.

 

[KingVamp]

Haha not surprising, when was the last time microsoft had a game that supported 4players at a time on 1 xbox? hell they hardly have splitscreen on most games =/

Yes because we have System Link & Xbox live for that.

FANBOY ALERT!

So , you expect one family to buy 4 Xbox'es.

Going by that logic, it should only be 2 Xbox'es.

Anyway the Family members going have to take turns. :/

 

[Hadrian]

So if this is true it really makes the supposed price look like its even more of a rip off. While it wasn't something I was interested in, at least it was something that you only had to buy once to play multiplayer games.

Lets take a look at the prices of what it'll cost people who want to play four player games with erm four people across all of the home, this is to play ALL games:
Wii: 3 nunchuks + 3 extra wiimotes + 4 motion plus (assuming you didn't buy the Wii Sports Resort bundle) = £95.51
PS3 Move: 4 Moves + 4 Navigation Controllers (assuming players don't want to use regular PS3 controllers instead) + the PS3 Eye that the Move NEEDS = £260.28...ouch.
360 Kinect: Two Kinects + 360 Arcade = £379.97...butthurt ouch!

This is taking consideration that the family/groups even owns the console.

UK prices of all motion devices according to Amazon. Note the Kinect price isn't from Amazon and is the rumoured one.

Having to pay for so much just to play Wii four player games doesn't seem so bad now. Now that is a lot of cash, ok sure if I want to do multiplayer on the Wii a friend brings their own Wiimote and nunchuck but still if you have a family of four and its you who has to pay for these controllers then well is it worth it

 

[DarkCrudus]

Haha not surprising, when was the last time microsoft had a game that supported 4players at a time on 1 xbox? hell they hardly have splitscreen on most games =/

Yes because we have System Link & Xbox live for that.

FANBOY ALERT!

Fanboy alert of what? I enjoy the 360 more than the other consoles, just be nice if i could have friends over and not have to drag a couple tv's and xboxes into one room just so we can all play together. was disappointed when borderlands had splitscreen but only 1screen for system link -sigh- 4tvs n xboxes in one room get cramped ha

 

[DunkrWunkah]

Since when does anyone on the Internet play video games with their families?