Microsoft Kinect due out on Nov 4th
Just wanted to provide a quick recap of Kinect related information announced today by Microsoft at E3. Kinect is of course the new name for Project Natal and is set to make its debut in North America starting on November 4th. Microsoft expects Kinect to roll out to the rest of the world thereafter.
Kinect launch titles include the following:
“Kinect Adventures” from Microsoft Game Studios
- Jump, dodge, and kick your way through adventures set in a variety of locations
“Kinectimals” from Frontier Studio, Microsoft Game Studios
- Play with “Kinectimals”, virtual pets, that will come running to you when they hear your voice, respond to commands like “jump”, “roll over”, and “play dead”.
“Kinect Joy Ride” by Big Park, Microsoft Game Studios
- First controller-free racing game to come out for Kinect
- Kart racing meets massive jumps and full body stunts
“Kinect Sports” by Rare, Microsoft Game Studios
- Microsoft’s counter to Wii sports
- Play soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, boxing, and multiple track and field events all from your living room
“Dance Central” by MTV Games
- First full body, controller-free dance video game
- Full body tracking with more than 90 dance routines created by professional choreographers
- Features tracks from Lady Gaga, No Doubt, MIA, Bell Biv Devoe, and more
“Your Shape: Fitness Evolved” by Ubisoft
- Interact with the virtual environment in ways you’ve never done before
- Choose a personal trainer to help meet your specific fitness goals
- Take yoga, martial arts class, or play family friendly minigames
- Receive specific feedback as you exercise thanks to the game’s real-time precise tracking system
Other titles coming include:
- EA SPORTS Active 2 by EA Sports
- DECA SPORTS FREEDOM by Hudson Entertainment
- Dance Masters by Konami
- Adrenalin Misfits by Konami
- Zumba Fitness by Majesco
- Sonic Free Riders by SEGA
- The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout by THQ
- Motion Sports by Ubisoft
- Game Party: In Motion by Warner Bros Interactive
Kinect, of course, is much than simply a new way to game. It’s a complete new way to interact with your Xbox 360. Use Kinect to interact with your Xbox 360 menus. Access your movies, TV programs, music, sports, all without the controller. Launch movies or TV shows simply by saying “Xbox play..”
Thanks to the built-in camera, Kinect also enables “Video Kinect” – a new way to have video chat with friends whether they’re on Xbox Live or Windows Messenger.
About the only downer today is the lack of pricing information for Kinect. We still have 5 months to go I suppose.
