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Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360 to Offer Hands-Free Gaming
Posted by staffwriter in Tech News
At this year’s E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo), Microsoft officially unveiled it’s newest piece of gaming equipment – The Kinect. The Kinect was formerly called Project Natal, a reference to the Brazilian city Natal, a word which means “of or relating to birth”. Will the Kinect symbolize the rebirth of technology as Microsoft intends? Going by E3 coverage, things are looking pretty good for the Kinect.
What sort of games will the Kinect offer? Well, for now there are 15 Kinect-capable games scheduled for the system’s launch in November of this year. Titles include Dance Central, Kinectimals, Kinect Sports, Kinect Joy Ride, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Kinect Adventures!, Zumba Fitness and Sonic Free Riders. Out of those, there are 2 fitness games, a dance game, a sports game, and a racing game, 2 kids’ games, and an addition to the Sonic franchise.
Analysis of early reports about the Kinect suggest that it will be geared more towards the casual gaming market. Similar to Nintendo’s Wii, the Kinect offers several dance and fitness games. During the Halo and Gears of War presentations, the Kinect wasn’t used, further evidence that it will be a causal gaming device.
Racing fans have no fear, Forenza Motor Sports had a spot in the Kinect presentation. The video of the presentation can be seen here. In my opinion, it looks pretty sleek graphically, but the control system may get tiring after a while (next time you play a racing game, hold the controller 2-3 feet infront of you). Nevertheless, the device is pretty impressive.
Look for the Kinect in stores November 4th of this year.
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