Kinect for Xbox One is against consumer choice, says Sony

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While Microsoft has reversed almost every policy they initially announced with the Xbox One, including DRM, self-publishing and always-on Kinect, one area where the company has remained steadfast is on the inclusion of Kinect with the Xbox One.

According to Sony's Fergal Gera, forcing a console bundle that includes a camera on your customers in such a way is "against consumer choice".

Many had hoped that Microsoft would decide to release a more competitively priced version of the Xbox One that does not include Kinect, especially after Microsoft announced that always-on Kinect would no longer be a requirement, but that has not been the case.

In contrast, Sony has made their PS4 camera optional and no doubt that has been a factor in allowing them to undercut the price of the Xbox One with the PS4.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Gara said, "a decision was taken - and I think it was absolutely the right decision - which is, to force bundle a camera is probably against consumer choice.

"It does not offer the gamer the choice, and therefore the most sensible thing to do as a gamer friendly brand is give them the choice. And I'm absolutely delighted we've done that," Gera continued.

"There is an an advanced, sophisticated camera-based technology there as an option for PS4, but it's not a requirement," Gera explained. "I'm really pleased with that decision."

Gera believes that the fact that the PS4 and Xbox One are releasing so close together will be an advantage to Sony, given that the company were playing catch-up with the PS3.

"To have a 16 month disadvantage and actually get any market share in the current generation, which is a very connected generation where friends get friends, took a lot of hard graft," Gera explained.

"You've got to start good and keep on your toes. PS4 is a platform that can and will evolve. It will be great on day one but it will be far better in year two and year three as expectations rise and ideas are generated and these new tools are executed, " Gera continued.

"That's the way to win. And obviously the gameplay and the core experiences are hugely pivotal to that. They are going to start really strong, but they have to continue to grow and continue to improve."

Posted: Sep 30, 2013 6:20 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.nowgamer.com/news/2100041/forced_camera_anticonsumer_says_sony.html

Comments

DuhTigersBloodPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Cyimking
Dr-J
Pashtun So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Personally I don't think PS4 will be included in the "future" of gaming.
It's basically a ps3 with extra features. No hate intended.
When X1 brings the DRM back then the future of console gaming will begin

What? Lol PS4 is the future of gaming. If it wasn't for Playstation then gaming would be non existence right now. The only true reason on why xbox consumers haven't left are due to them being a long term xbox user.

I hope you are joking and aren't really that dumb. What's funny is no one remembered that the ps4 was originally going to come with the camera but was removed to beat the xbox one price. And what about all of the gaming systems that came before ps3? None of those apparently existed? So when i was young i never played a dreamcast or super nintendo, or anything like that?

Dr-JPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Dr-J
Cyimking
Dr-J
Pashtun So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Personally I don't think PS4 will be included in the "future" of gaming.
It's basically a ps3 with extra features. No hate intended.
When X1 brings the DRM back then the future of console gaming will begin

What? Lol PS4 is the future of gaming. If it wasn't for Playstation then gaming would be non existence right now. The only true reason on why xbox consumers haven't left are due to them being a long term xbox user.

Really that's only reason? I owned a ps1,ps2,psp,ps vita, and guess what? No ps3 or ps4.
So it's not because of "long term users".
LIVE is a better online service than PSN

Also adding, what's the reason for me not switching since you know why people don't switch apparently?

Dr-JPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Cyimking
Dr-J
Pashtun So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Personally I don't think PS4 will be included in the "future" of gaming.
It's basically a ps3 with extra features. No hate intended.
When X1 brings the DRM back then the future of console gaming will begin

What? Lol PS4 is the future of gaming. If it wasn't for Playstation then gaming would be non existence right now. The only true reason on why xbox consumers haven't left are due to them being a long term xbox user.

Really that's only reason? I owned a ps1,ps2,psp,ps vita, and guess what? No ps3 or ps4.
So it's not because of "long term users".
LIVE is a better online service than PSN

CyimkingPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Dr-J
Pashtun So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Personally I don't think PS4 will be included in the "future" of gaming.
It's basically a ps3 with extra features. No hate intended.
When X1 brings the DRM back then the future of console gaming will begin

What? Lol PS4 is the future of gaming. If it wasn't for Playstation then gaming would be non existence right now. The only true reason on why xbox consumers haven't left are due to them being a long term xbox user.

Scared_of_WaterPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

That guy sounds so up himself. Like "we don't force our eyetoy on to people but we were planning on it". Same with the DRM Sony had it but removed it after they saw what happened with the xbox one.

ViIIainPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Relentless757 Do people not understand the benefits of Kinect? Maybe the people against it are just lazy. At least try it before you judge it.

Do you not understand the importance of choice? Some people dont buy the Kinect, no scratch that A LOT of people dont buy it for the Kinect they buy it for playing games with the controller.

Dr-JPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Pashtun So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Personally I don't think PS4 will be included in the "future" of gaming.
It's basically a ps3 with extra features. No hate intended.
When X1 brings the DRM back then the future of console gaming will begin

PashtunPosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

So true. No company should force something down their consumer's throat. Whether it is good or bad. This is why Sony is the best. They care for the consumer. This is also one of the reasons why I and many others are jumping ship to Sony. Such a good future ahead. Can not wait.

Relentless757Posted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Do people not understand the benefits of Kinect? Maybe the people against it are just lazy. At least try it before you judge it.

StancePosted: Mon. Sep 30, 2013

Dr-J For once I agree with Sony, I would have not gotten the kinect

I wouldn't have bought it either but I guess It'll be fun to mess around with.

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