Could a system like Kinect revolutionize MMOs?

Think about it: instead of having to type out emotes you could either voice them or simply act them out. A more refined version of the system (Kinect 2.0) might even be able to read off your facial expressions and translate them to their in-game equivalent with near perfect fidelity. SOE has already kicked off something similar to this in Everquest 2.

EDIT: and now I just thought of another aspect of MMOs which facial/voice recognition hardware may just be able to revolutionize: cluttered U.I.'s.

No more having to sift through 10 different quick bars. Just assign a voice command to a specific ability or item and—presto!—as long as you've unlocked it, it's there for your use.

This system would be limited only by the player's capacity to remember the names of said abilities/items. Convenience allied to mental gymnastics!

Of course I'm not suggesting that this would supplant the traditional mouse and keyboard approach, merely complement it.

Everyone seems too hung up about the whole flailing of the arms thing when I didn't even ponder that as a possibility.

If it's too hard see the potential applications of this, let me spell it out more clearly...

VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Potential applications

— Roleplaying: could completely turn it on its head, take it to the next level. Instead of having to type out emotes you can voice them as you're typing your line of dialogue. In this way they become two independent systems that compliment each other. For instance, someone writes something you find funny. Instead of typing /laugh first, followed by your written response, you simply say "laugh" and your character triggers the emote automatically AS you're typing.

— Combat: think of it as a third hand. You're busy doing your rotations, but then someone gets the drop on you unexpectedly. Instead of having to adapt with your fingers to a cumbersome lay out you might resort to a simple voice command... by saying "knock back", for example.

— Utility: Want to summon a specific mount that you feel fits in better with your environment? Simply say: "luxury skiff" while roaming the deserts of Tatooine, for instance, instead of having to sift through a menu to find it.

FACIAL RECOGNITION

— Flashpoints and other group-based instances: make a face and your character will reflect it in in-game cutscenes for all to see. Much tomfoolery and shenanigans ensue.

Those are just a few examples., but I could think of more.

"Certainly not today". What are you thinking, then...ten, twenty years in the future? Talk about being ahead of your time, SOE!

In all seriousness, I'd be surprised if a pitch-perfect motion control system weren't introduced with the new Xbox's release.

Everyone seems too hung up about the whole flailing of the arms thing when I didn't even ponder that as a possibility.

If it's too hard see the potential applications of this, let me spell it out more clearly...

VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Potential applications

— Roleplaying: could completely turn it on its head, take it to the next level. Instead of having to type out emotes you can voice them as you're typing your line of dialogue. In this way they become two independent systems that compliment each other. For instance, someone writes something you find funny. Instead of typing /laugh first, followed by your written response, you simply say "laugh" and your character triggers the emote automatically AS you're typing.

— Combat: think of it as a third hand. You're busy doing your rotations, but then someone gets the drop on you unexpectedly. Instead of having to adapt with your fingers to a cumbersome lay out you might resort to a simple voice command... by saying "knock back", for example.

— Utility: Want to summon a specific mount that you feel fits in better with your environment? Simply say: "luxury skiff" while roaming the deserts of Tatooine, for instance, instead of having to sift through a menu to find it.

FACIAL RECOGNITION

— Flashpoints and other group-based instances: make a face and your character will reflect it in in-game cutscenes for all to see. Much tomfoolery and shenanigans ensue.

Those are just a few examples., but I could think of more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xJqkzngBI

There's nothing I need or want in your list. There's many, many things I would want in a MMO before that so if right now BW would say they are considering this, I would go directly F2P and probably even leave.

Well that must mean it's a terrible idea then! You could have just said so from the beginning. I would never have even considered the notion, would I have known it displeases your Lordship.

1) True it was not, but it's something that needs to be considered. "hey, look at our shiny new product. AAwww, YOU cant use it" is NOT going to go down well. The fact that you did not even think this as an issue at first goes to show that you did to really give your idea much consideration to begin with..

2) That is wrong. In fact, that's quite a disgusting statement to throw around. Most new technologies today do in fact try to make themselves adaptable for disabled users. In fact, you stated the use of Siri, yourself. Even in the early days of push button telephones, they found ways to adapt them for peoples needs.

3) Voice recognition can be used to set up the use of keyboard through short and simple commands. Yes, this has been known to work in gaming software too: here

4) What use would this have? How is it adaptable for people with different needs? Again, it comes down to accessibility and usability. The cost of implementing this and adapting it is huge compared to the benefits (and profit, because that's why companies push these products out!) it offers.

Well seeing as you heavily edited your OP to fit the arguments presented, it's a bit hard to quote that.