This thread is for the 8 testers who are trying out the XBox 360, Kinect games console with Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games.
We hope you're enjoying the testing! As you know, we've asked you to post two lots of feedback on this thread, as well as doing your video and photo feedback. Below are some initial questions for you to answer now, we'll post some further questions later on that we'd like you to answer at the end of the two-week test once you've had a chance to put the Xbox to the test fully! Please also feel free to leave any other comments you may have.
All testers who add both sets of feedback to this thread (and do their video and photo feedback) will be entered into a prize draw to win: Kinect Adventures, Kinectimals, Kinect Joyride, Star Wars, Dance Central game, Lips I Love the 80'S (1 mike bundle), Xbox Live 2100 points, and 12 month Xbox LIVE Gold membership (RRP £378).
Initial impressions:
Q1. What was your DC's initial reaction to being able to test the Xbox 360 and Kinect games console?
Q2. How easy or difficult did you find the setting up process?
Q3. What were your first impressions of the Xbox 360, Kinect and Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games?
Q4. The first time your DC(s) played on the Xbox and Kinect, how did they get on?
If you're not a tester, please keep your eye on this thread because we'll be opening it up to everyone to share their thoughts on Xbox in the next couple of weeks and there'll be more prizes up for grabs.
Thanks,
MNHQ
Here's where users test and review products and give their feedback. If you'd like to run a product test please email [email protected].
MNHQ have commented on this thread
Product tests
NOW CLOSED Xbox 360 with Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games - tester review thread
TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 05/04/2012 16:00
Hi there! Firstly, thank you ever so much for letting us test this.... we are so very pleased to have the opportunity 
Q1. What was your DC's initial reaction to being able to test the Xbox 360 and Kinect games console?
They were totally over the moon. They could not have been any happier if we'd won a trip to Disneyland or lots of money, seriously. They were whooping for joy and it was possibly the best (Easter) pressie ever!
However, would say that DS started to display decidedly autistic, obsessive compulsive behaviour before and when it arrived. XBox360 became virtually his only topic of conversation until it was set up....And then as soon it was set up he was planning on buying FIFA 12 - never mind that we had been generously given games too! Anyway needless to say FIFA 12 is shelved probably until Christmas and we shall be concentrating on the games we've been lucky enough to be sent ;-)
Oh and DS does rather seem to have taken it for granted that it will be his....he has been firmly reminded that it's a family games console! Needless to say it has upped his cool credibility amongst his friends.
Q2. How easy or difficult did you find the setting up process?
It was a thorough process to set it up because you are forced to set up XBox Live Account but it seemed a lot simpler than setting up the Wii because the controller is easier and more effective to use!
Q3. What were your first impressions of the Xbox 360, Kinect and Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games?
Needless to say despite never having played on one before both the DCs found it a lot easier to navigate and play than their aged parents! DD understood the logic of it but seemed to have a few problems with activating the KINECT mode (because Mummy was rattling away on the PC keyboard at the other end of the room!) but then she was well away. DS has a natural affinity with all things technical and took to it like a duck to water.
Of course DD liked the idea of the Disneyland Adventures whereas DS was a lot keener on the Pixar Rush games - there's a surprise!
Q4. The first time your DC(s) played on the Xbox and Kinect, how did they get on?
Had one session yesterday and DW came downstairs this morning to discover that DS has already managed to download a trial version of FIFA 12 - aaargh. So as you can see he's well and truly got the hang of it.... We've been out today but will have another session this evening so may add some more to this question.
Hello fellow testers. Just marking my place, and will return with feedback if I can drag the DC away from the XBOX 
Q1. Open-mouthed and super-excited! Plus lots of pestering about how soon it would arrive.
Q2. It was very straightforward to plug in and set up. Unlike the previous poster, I didn?t have to join Xbox Live ? in fact we are going to set it up later. I have connected to wifi, which was straightforward. The hardest bit was trying to navigate around the menus, set up user profiles and avatars, and to actually get playing with Kinect. That bit was quite stressful, with DC running in and out of the play zone and waving arms around randomly.
Q3. First impression was that the box itself was quite bulky, compared to our other console, but the Kinect sits quite discreetly in front of the TV. The games looked fun, the most appealing bit was to be a Cars character.
Q4. We started with Disneyland, and found it very frustrating to use, with players dropping in and out of the game for no apparent reason, or changing character. Still, we managed to interact with the Disney characters ? the dancing and posing for photos was hilarious. Played a few levels, which were fun. The main problem was finding how to exit the game. Still haven?t worked it out, so just turn the console off 
.
Pixar Rush was better. Loved the body scan, despite the fact that the hair/face looked nothing like us, the clothes colours were good. Shame it?s only two player, as it would be a fab party game. Again we had the problem of players dropping out.
Overall we were impressed that the Xbox is such a family-friendly console, with the Kinect. Lots of active gaming going on with the DC and visitors. In fact, there has always been at least two players at any time.
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Can you use the controller for Disneyland Adventures then?! We have barely played it as it was just too fustrating-players dropping in and out, both players being the same character when it recognises there are two etc. Having the proper controller for the game would be great-we might actually get past collecting the autographs... 
Thank you for selecting us for this test. You have made 2 boys very happy They can't wait to go back to school and tell all their friends.
Q1. What was your DC's initial reaction to being able to test the Xbox 360 and Kinect games console?
I did not tell the boys that we had been been chosen until I had signed up to the terms and conditions and been told the xbox had been dispatched, just in case! From Tuesday night when I told them until wednesday when the xbox arrived DS2 talked non stop about the xbox and sat in the window waiting for the delivery for over 4 hours. When the box arrived he was like it was Christmas and was shaking with excitement.
According to DS1 who is 12 it was "cool" to be testing the xbox, all his friend have one and he's been asking for one for months.
Q2. How easy or difficult did you find the setting up process?
DH found connecting the Xbox up very simple and intuitive (although made slightly more difficult by 2 excited boys. The instructions were really clear. Setting up the profiles were rather more complicated but still easier than we had expected.
Q3. What were your first impressions of the Xbox 360, Kinect and Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games?
The graphics are amazing a
According to DS2 the Xbox 360 is "sensational" and not having to use a controller is "amazing". He enjoyed playing both games but particularly likes the way in Pixar Rush that you are turned into a character in the game. He also liked the voice activation element although the slight delay caused some frustration as both boys shouted "exit to park" in louder and louder voices. I'm very impressed it could understand a Yorkshire accent .
DS1 like the fact that you can build an avatar that looks like you so you feel that you are actually in the game and forget that you are stood in your living room.
DH thinks it is really engaging and as you feel part of the game you are not concentrating on a controller so you can enjoy the game more - apparently he even smiled when playing today
We were also impressed with the games that came with the Xbox and they enjoyed the 2 player challenges. We have a Wii with a similar game "Family Trainer" but the boys enojyed the Kinect game much more as they did not use controllers (this also means my wall is protected from flying controllers when people get a little carried away!)
Q4 The first time your DC(s) played on the Xbox and Kinect, how did they get on?
They were straight in to the game. The instructions were clear, as the games are almost instinctive although we did have some falling out when they both stood in front of the sensor and were both trying to take charge.
Disneyland adventures was frustrating initially spending all the time collecting autographs until we found the shortcut to the park map. Once the actual games had been found DS2 has loved playing these, especially Peter Pan (and Mummy particularly liked laughing at DS2 with his arms out flying and dodging the canon balls)
DS2 got cross with his character when running/walking around the park on Disneyland adventures as he didn't think it was going fast enough and when trying to turn a corner he ended up with his back to the television and couldn't get his character round the corner.
We had problems with people dropping in and out (especially when I walked behind them and it picked me up - causing much shouts of Muuummmm!)
We only received the memory card on Wednesday so have done some filming the last couple of days but could do with a little longer.
Apologies for the delay in responding with second half of information feedback. DCs were away over Easter so we had a pause in transmission and I was so busy getting hooked on Netflix that I didn't think to take the opportunity to have a go on my own on the XBOX!
Q1. What was the most enjoyable part of this experience for your child(ren) and for you/your DP?
The total kudos of having an XBox, particularly for DS, amongst his schoolfriends!
The range of activities that you can do with an XBox, which particularly appealed to DS (11) - watching movies, talking to friends, downloading Netflix (!), downloading demos of other games (dare I mention FIFA12 again!).
Also, the novelty factor of Kinect - amazing to think how much technology and gaming has moved on even in the past couple of years!
Q2. Did you find yourself playing together as a family or did your child(ren) play more independently? If you did play together, what would you say was the best thing about doing this? And were there any disadvantages to playing as a group?
Well, DW I'm afraid to report (who is a total Luddite) was not at all inspired by it. Technology has left her way behind!
But DS, DD and I had a fantastic time with discovering all the XBox has to offer. But with being at work for a lot of the time that the children were off, they inevitably played as singletons and together. DW would come downstairs to discover DS playing games solo at 7.00 am of a morning!
DS and DD argue a lot as siblings and we had high hopes that they would play nicely together. However, all the issues that they have in everyday life did spill over to playing on the XBOX together. Lots of "I know best" and blaming the other one for anything that went wrong!
Q4. What is your overall opinion of the games? Were they appropriate for the age of you DCs or not? Were they engaging enough for your child(ren)?
'Brilliant' but more for younger children (4 - 8 year olds) in the opinion of DS. DS was more attracted to Kinect Rush whereas DD (6) much preferred Disneyland Adventures. Think DS (11) thought the characters were 'U' certificate rather than 'PG' ones and he thought that there is a good market for Kinect games with characters aimed at older children/teens.... like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Hunger Games....
DD will definitely play the games provided (thank you!) again and again, particularly as she becomes more adept (under Daddy's tutelage). But I am doubtful that DS will of his own volition. He already has his eye on other games, as previously mentioned!
Q5. How did your children find interacting with the Kinect sensor? Did this work well or not?
I think that they were really amazed at the cleverness of it and DS took to it like a 'duck to water', but DD found it a lot more frustrating and found the sensor rather temperamental. So repeatedly, she ended up abandoning a game without finishing it completely because she had inadvertently ducked out of it and was too frustrated to find her way back into it!
A problem we had, is that our sitting room is not very large and we had to totally reorganise the furniture in order to give us enough of an arena in which the children could move easily and fluidly in front of the sensor! Obviously one needs a designated games room...
I think the idea of Kinect is amazing but the technology is not yet advanced enough to fully take you to the level where playing with it is totally intuitive and fluid. I am sure that will come though, sooner than we think!
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Q3. When playing the Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Pixar Rush games, were there any particular characters that your children enjoyed playing as? Which ones were they?
Both children much preferred Pixar Rush to Disneyland Adventures if only because they are more familiar with the characters. Possibly also because the Pixar Rush games are more technologically advanced. Not sure they particularly had favourites but enjoyed the variety of characters/activities on offer.
Q6.Do you think your DCs will be/are any more active as a result of using Kinect or not? And do you think it will influence/has influenced the way they play with their friends/other people?
DS, who is usually quite a sedentary child if we are at home, is definitely being more physically active having the XBox in the house. DD, is the type of girl who never sits still, so would not say she's being more just differently active. They both lead quite active lifestyles though. as we are a car-free family and they do at least an hour's walking every day come rain or shine.
DS, has a total techy vibe with his friends, if they are not playing with Star Wars Lego, so can see this will be the focus of many play-dates to come. Think that girls are a lot less interested in technology and don't think that DD will be anywhere near as motivated to instigate XBox related activities unless encouraged to do so by me or her older brother!
Q7.Do you think your family will get together to play more now that you have the Kinect or not? Can you see yourself playing the Kinect with other adults at all?
I can see that on high days and holidays, particularly in the winter months, it will be a total winner. Less so, and rightly, during the summer months when we should be out and about as a family.
Think SIL would very much like to play on the XBox! And might even encourage DW to have a go too! I can also imagine having a boys night in and playing - not that I have many of those types of evenings these days!
Q8. Has having the console in your home changed your perception of Xbox, or computer games more generally, at all? If so, how? If not why not?
Apart from giving us more sibling fights to break up , it is quite amazing how far computer consoles have progressed since my days of playing Sonic the Hedgehog on a Sega Mega Drive! Would not have thought the technology would have progressed so fast.... I am sure in the next couple of years that the current Kinect (slight) teething problems will be sorted out and this will be the most fantastic system ever!
Computer games definitely have a place in this day and age but they are still no replacement for family driven board games, days out and playing out in the garden/park!
Q9. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Xbox Kinect to
your friends? If so why? If not, why not?
I think it's equally good for adults and children as long as you have a very large house or a designated play room!
Also better for cooperative siblings than ones who argue a lot generally!
But great fun and a lot of laughs had by all, so yes I would recommend it, particularly as it is still in the early stages of its evolution as a gaming system, rather than nearing its conclusion as some systems are.
It has been a great stress-buster for DS in particular, who deserved a welcome break from all his studies.... We might just have to hide it for the next four weeks though, until he's finished his KS2 SATS.
Thank you ever so much for choosing us to review the XBox 360 - it's been a fantastic couple of weeks of activity and entertainment....
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