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Yes, Kinect Will Be Useable While You're Sitting

...and then all was right in the world.

As a dude who goes to the gym two or even three times a day, I don't have a problem being forced to stand up with a hands-free game controller. Normal people, on the other hand, apparently do. Calm down. Kinect can in fact be used while in a seated position.

Microsoft's inability to communicate this information caused something of an Internet stir coming out of E3 2010. But it appears as if it all the belly-achin' was a waste of time. If a studio designs a Kinect game that wants you sitting, then you'll be able to sit while playing. It's that simple.

"Kinect can be used while sitting when an experience is developed with sitting in mind," a Microsoft representative confirmed to Joystiq yesterday (via MTV Multiplayer), finally confirming the fact. 
 

That pillow is a nice touch. 
That pillow is a nice touch. 

While this is good news for couch fans, the big idea behind Kinect will likely remain the same. The device is supposed to inspire motion--to get you jumping, throwing your arms around, busting a move, leaping, or even jogging in place. The crop of E3 2010 games certainly clung to movement, as will, undoubtedly, most of the first big releases outside of these titles.

On the other hand, the fact that Kinect will work while you're sitting does keep the option of game-specific, throwaway features open for designers. I'm not exactly keen on physically imitating a grenade throw while playing Halo 4 or Gears of War 16, but at least this kind of stuff will be possible.    

94 Comments

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smithyc

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Edited By smithyc

Thank God for that.

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TotalEklypse

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Edited By TotalEklypse

first? maybe  
 
ah crap fail

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Psych0Penguin

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Edited By Psych0Penguin

Yo Brad, how much can you bench? 

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ethan

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Edited By ethan

These people need to hang a picture or something on their wall.  

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Video games should be played while sitting or laying down anyhow.

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Dany

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Edited By Dany

I agree with Brad, the devise is meant to have you acting like a fool by jumping, moving or dancing, but I have to admit that having kinect work while sitting would be good for games like a RTS can do voice control or you can signal grenade to be thrown or simply map a target on something

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s-a-n-JR

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Edited By s-a-n-JR


But what about all the menu-minority report type stuff?

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Video_Game_King

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Edited By Video_Game_King

Just like the Wii, right?
 
 

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EpicSteve

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Edited By EpicSteve

And the internet just took a major sigh of relief.

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deactivated-594be97fd5af7

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Good news, playing some things like driving games standing up would be mad stupid.

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benjamimmy

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Edited By benjamimmy
@Video_Game_King:  lol that's awesome :p
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nnickers

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Edited By nnickers

Yo bro, I hear you work out a lot.

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deactivated-5d8bd173e1e3b

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@Psych0Penguin said:
" Yo Brad, how much can you bench?  "
Id rather ask him how much he can squat.
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dawgpound89

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Edited By dawgpound89

Still not getting Kinect, even if it means I'm allowed to stay lazy

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Sanderson

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Edited By Sanderson

Brad Nicholson, you're an egotistical prat. You go to the gym. We get it.

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sdornan

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Edited By sdornan

Bro, since you're so buff and stuff, do you play, like, all of your games standing up? So rad if so.

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webby

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Edited By webby
@BradNicholson said:

" As a dude who goes to the gym two or even three times a day

Really? 
Do you just do cardio or is your picture from ages ago. You look tiny lol. 
Edit: or is it mean't to be an ironic joke
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radar5

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Edited By radar5

my question is will work through a coffee table since it is using infrared red?

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PhilESkyline

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Edited By PhilESkyline

I'll believe it when I see a video.  The problem is how people sit and also the type of seating they have.
 
Do I need to be upright in a chair?  Can it be a sofa? Love seat? Bean bag? Can I just sit or lay on the floor?
 
I think there are too many variables at the moment to be certain.  Now if Microsoft requires you to purchase a special type of chair in order to play the game seated that would be a deal breaker for some.  We'll just have to see how this works out.

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ZmillA

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Edited By ZmillA

meaning if the game isn't designed for sitting down, you won't be able to.

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MayorFeedback

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Edited By MayorFeedback

Was this ever actually a question or concern? If it can detect the motion of your hands, fingers, and the rest of your body, why can't it detect if you're sitting down? Or, why couldn't it detect those things WHILE you're sitting down? 
 
One of Microsoft's earliest videos showed somebody sitting on a couch, driving a car with their hands in the air. 2009!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0IqdRTDJQc

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Shasam

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Edited By Shasam

Yes, the reason why I wasn't impressed with Kinect at E3 was because I thought I would have to stand.

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TheCreamFilling

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Edited By TheCreamFilling

So sitting down will only work if they want you to sit down. What if somebody without legs wants to jump on a raft and is forced to sit?

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dsd21

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Edited By dsd21

Normal people. Hahahhahaha.

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sdornan

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Edited By sdornan
@drhans: Because when you're standing your body is flat depth-wise. As soon as you sit, your're no longer flat; your legs are in front of the rest of your body (at a distance that varies depending on the length of your legs).
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bosshog70

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Edited By bosshog70

can still be a couch potato 

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skrutop

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Edited By skrutop

Sweet.  The $150 I'm not spending on it works equally well on the couch, too!

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eznark

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Edited By eznark

I only go to the gym once a day and only like 5 times a week, I guess that is why my incredibly fat and lazy ass wants to drive cars sitting down.  I'm guessing Nicholson just kicks a hole in the floor board and dead lift walks it wherever he is going.

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foggel

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Edited By foggel

lol@pillow

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MasterHiggins

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Edited By MasterHiggins
@eznark:  It's safe to assume, yes.
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ProfessorEss

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Edited By ProfessorEss

That's a big potential issue out of the way.

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aleryn

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Edited By aleryn

Good, now people will stop bitching about that part of it, at least.

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MayorFeedback

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Edited By MayorFeedback
@sdornan: Listen, I understand that if a game is requiring you to jump in the air or dance a certain way, you can't sit on the couch and do it. But this whole question of "can you even make a game that lets you sit down" isn't just a completely common sense one to answer, they've demonstrated that this is the case multiple times already. None of the games they showed at E3 had people sitting. So?  
 
No, you can't jump in the air without actually jumping in the air. This was a big deal or a worry? It's like worrying that Rock Band 3 won't let you play the drums with your regular gamepad.
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WickedCobra03

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Edited By WickedCobra03
@Shasam said:

" Yes, the reason why I wasn't impressed with Kinect at E3 was because I thought I would have to stand. "

Not sure if serious...?
 
 Really though?  I don't like the fact because I am tired of playing a Wii game after 30 minutes cause you kind of have to keep you hands some what floating above your lap.  With a controller, my arms are at rest.
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XivSpew

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Edited By XivSpew
@Sanderson: I don't think you understand.  Nicholson can punch the sun out of the sky just to spite it.
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The_Laughing_Man

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Edited By The_Laughing_Man

Still 60 bucks per game. And only 2 people can use it at a time. Not interested at all.  
 
@ZmillA said:

" meaning if the game isn't designed for sitting down, you won't be able to. "
That to...
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FinalDasa

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Edited By FinalDasa

I never imagined someone wouldn't be able to. 
Sure there has to be those wii-like games where the whole family can have fun. 
But to include "hardcore" games you cannot expect gamers to stand up while playing on the couch sitting.

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Shabs

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Edited By Shabs

Good. 
 
Now I can go back to not wanting Kinect for lack of games, and not the failings of the tech.

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crushed

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Edited By crushed

Very vague statement. It could mean that stuff like voice commands work while sitting, but you can't do body stuff. Apparently at least one dev has gone on record saying that they aren't developing for Kinect because of this very issue.

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Aarny91

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Edited By Aarny91

Yep, but it won't be as responsive. I'm calling it.

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MAN_FLANNEL

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Edited By MAN_FLANNEL

What kind of tool goes to the gym 3 times a day?  You write about videogames, you're not an Olympic wrestler. 

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Ramone

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Edited By Ramone

Hey guys I go to the gym a lot, I thought you would like to know but just so this doesn't look like an ego-boosting piece of trash blog post I'll just mix it in with a completley redundant news story.

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lolwot

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Edited By lolwot

deleted

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Icil

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Edited By Icil
@The Article said:

"I'm not exactly keen on physically imitating a grenade throw while playing Halo 4 or Gears of War 16, but at least this kind of stuff will be possible."

Bro, imagine you being able to toss grenades around corners or behind you. Overhand, underhand, put some spin on that shit. Remote detonate some mines by pressing your thumb into your fist like a remote. Throw elbows for melee. Rock Band performers imitating what you do IRL.
 
 Kinect is the system with the most potential in my opinion, but just like every motion system out there, the apps have to be good or it's useless.
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f0rk

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Edited By f0rk
@drhans: It seems you didn't pay any attention to post e3 coverage.
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webby

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Edited By webby
@MAN_FLANNEL said:
" What kind of tool goes to the gym 3 times a day?  You write about videogames, you're not an Olympic wrestler.  "
Even still Body-builders don't go to the gym 3 times a day. You can't rest each muscle group enough.  
Ronnie Coleman's Mr Olympia training was 6 days a week (once a day).  
Must be doing a shit workout if you have to go 3 times. lol
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Toxin066

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Edited By Toxin066

The "and all was right with the world" thing made me chuckle. New Brad is growing on me.

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dsd21

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Edited By dsd21
@Webby said:
" @MAN_FLANNEL said:
" What kind of tool goes to the gym 3 times a day?  You write about videogames, you're not an Olympic wrestler.  "
Even still Body-builders don't go to the gym 3 times a day. You can't rest each muscle group enough.  Ronnie Coleman's Mr Olympia training was 6 days a week (once a day).  Must be doing a shit workout if you have to go 3 times. lol "
You do not question Brad Nicholson! Giant Bomb's own Mr Olympia is not a normal person.