UPDATE: Sorry everyone, looks I’ve got the purpose of the Kinect Port completely wrong. The port is designed so Kinect doesn’t require an additional power supply. It works fine on the original 360 when used with external power. My sincere apologies for getting it wrong, consider this a lesson learned. Thank You Bob and others for the correction. -David

My nephew and I laughed during Microsoft’s keynote when they announced the “Built-in Kinect Port” as one of the 360S features. We made jokes at the time that they color-coded one of the USB ports just for Kinect’s ‘family friendly’ target audience. Turns out the joke’s on us! (UPDATE: Turns out the jokes on me!)

That’s because Kinect doesn’t use a standard USB port but a specially designed connector just for Kinect. Listed as the 6th major bullet point on the 360S specifications is the Kinect-Ready port. Microsoft went through the trouble and expense to design Kinect so it won’t plug into the original 360 or any other standard Windows computer. Why would they do this? Don’t they want to sell Kinect to the 40 million existing 360 gamers? They do not. Read on to find out why.

The second major bullet point that really jumps out is: Backwards Compatibility. Typically, “backwards compatible” indicates that in addition to its normally designed software, a system is also capable of running the older version’s software as well. Why bother to state the obvious? Gamers are well accustomed to product refresh cycles, so why mention that a slim version of the 360 can also run 360 software? In the case of the 360S, backwards compatibility refers to its ability to run Xbox 360 software – not original Xbox games – and its ‘normal’ software are Kinect games. This answer reveals deep insight into the inner thinking at Microsoft and the reality distortion field Kinect has on them.

Microsoft’s Wii-envy has taken over all rational thought inside Redmond headquarters. They’ve been up night and day putting their master plan in place to steal Wii’s casual audience away with Kinect. They believe so strongly in Kinect, the 360S represents a brand new console for them, not simply a product refresh; Hence the Backwards Compatibility feature. The vision is of millions of new casual gamers flocking to Kinect with its compelling library of new and innovative software titles. They believe it so strongly, they designed the Kinect port so existing 360 owners will have to pay-up for a new console to play. That’s what they didn’t say! Will it work?