‘Dance Central’ hurts oh so good
Neon lights. Lady Gaga. No Doubt. To my right, electric drums, bass, guitar; musical instruments from Rockband 3 send notes to my ear while I nervously stare at five (obviously experienced) dancers on a small stage to my left. They’re playing a Kinect game developed by Harmonix called Dance Central.
TechZulu chief Efren Toscano looks at me and says I’m next. No. HELL no.
Yes. After seeing the guy on the stage in front of me play the same game, botching up beats but still having a good time, I yield.
The MTV and Harmonix rep on stage gives me a quick run through the tutorial, guiding me through my first Kinect game. Hold my right arm straight out to my side. Move it up or down to select a menu item. Swipe to finalize my decision. I select a song: No Doubt’s “Hella Good.”
Before I give my impression, let me say that I have been a big skeptic of the Kinect. First, the name. I liked Natal (at least when I thought it was prounced na-tal, not nay-tul). Second, looking back at the console peripherals like the Power Glove of the Eye Toy, add-ons always seemed like unnecessary gimmicks. A “cool-but-so-what” feeling.
Then, I played Dance Central. The game wasn’t perfect, but it gave me hope for the technology. It was slightly delayed in tracking my movements, barely noticeable. This would not be the case with other Kinect games, which I will discuss in a later post, but at the time I was very impressed. The motion control system, with its touted 14 points of tracking, did follow my every move. After a few minutes of playing Dance Central, my heart raced. It was a good workout. Endorphines flowed and I was psyched for the Kinect. If there is any application for this peripheral it’s to get my sedate rear moving.
My final verdict on the Kinect? Do I love it? Hate it? A little of both. Look for my next post where I give you a rundown on the competitive fun (or not) of Joyride and Kinect Adventures.
Here is my video reaction about the Kinect after playing Dance Central :
