Microsoft introduces new games system Kinect
Microsoft is taking aim at the Wii. The company unveiled Kinect, its new motion-controlled gaming system for the Xbox 360, at the E3 Video Game Conference in Los Angeles. Kinect makes the player the controller, allowing a person to play games without a handheld remote or even without pressing a button. CNET’s Dan Ackerman explains how it works.
Xbox 360 officially took the wraps off Kinect, formerly code-named Project Natal, at a splashy, trippy Cirque du Soleil performance commissioned to unveil the device to the world. Spectators in light-up ponchos watched as a giant living room set rotated upside down, a life-sized elephant puppet ambled through the crowd and images of gameplay footage were projected onto giant screens in L.A.’s Galen Centre arena.
“It’s a webcam the plugs into your Xbox 360 console and it uses multiple cameras and mulitple microphones to track your body in 3-D space,” Ackerman said. “Then you can use it to either play games or control the media functions on the Xbox.”
Kinect goes on sale November 4th. Microsoft did not reveal the suggested retail price.
One of the first games available for the Kinect allows the player to dance alongside the King of Pop. Video game developer Ubisoft announced that it will release the new game featuring Michael Jackson . A person scores points by matching Jackson’s moves on songs including “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.” The game works with Kinect, and a similar system being developed for Sony’s PlayStation 3. There will also be versions for the Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable.
There will be 15 games available when Kinect goes on sale in November, followed in 2011 by new titles that will include a realistic Forza Motorsport driving game and a Star Wars game that will see players swinging a virtual lightsaber, using Force powers and duelling with Darth Vader.
The Kinect peripheral will also let Xbox 360 owners control their systems with voice commands and hand gestures reminiscent of the Steven Spielberg sci-fi movie Minority Report, like choosing on-screen icons by pointing at them, or saying, “Xbox, play music” to play tunes stored on the console.
