Since Microsoft's Kinect sensor's launch in November, it's sold ten million units - some eight million of which were in the first two months. And while sales seem to have ground somewhat to a halt, Nyko - maker of various games console accessories, controllers and the like - have announced their latest add-on, called Kinect Zoom, which, if it works, is sure to be a sure-fire hit.
The main problem with the Kinect sensor is the ludicrous amounts of space it requires. If you want to play, you'll be needing at least a six to eight foot distance between you and the sensor - and that's just for single player. To capture two people simultaneously, you'll need at least eight to ten feet - and that's unobstructed distance too, meaning you'll have to shift tables, sofas and sleeping labradors out the way before you even get started. Unless you happen to live in one of those carpeted air craft hangers off the adverts, anyway.
Nyko's Kinect Zoom Lens clips over the cameras on the sensor, adjusting it's viewing angle, and therefore cutting down the space requirements by up to a whopping 40% - meaning the minimum distance for single player could be as low as three and a half feet. Which means I should in theory be able to play Kinectimals in the five foot square space in my bedroom - which, coincidentally is perfectly adequate for stuff like Wii Fit and Just Dance; just not Kinect.
Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher doesn't look all too impressed with the Zoom Lens' blatant gimmick infringement.
The Zoom Lens has already seen masses of preorders (suggesting it's not just us that have issues with the space), and is due to launch in the UK around the 30th of August. There's no word on UK pricing yet, but with a US RRP of just $29.99, it'll definitely be worth a look for those spatially-challenged Kinect-ers among you. We're buying two, just in case.
