Interactive gaming that requires the player to get out of their chair and get moving is all the rage. Motion detection software has taken this concept
a step further by transforming the player's body into the game controller. Just when you thought this type of gaming had reached its pinnacle – at
least for the time being – leave it to Microsoft to one up the competition. Kinect for Xbox (formerly
Project Natal) is a 100% controller-free gaming device that makes interactive gaming an entirely new experience.
The Kinect full-body motion detection device is designed to work with any Xbox 360, plugging directly into the unit. Kinect is not only a camera that
detects and tracks 48 points of movement on the human body; it also contains an audio sensor so that players can use voice commands to control the
games. This amazing piece of equipment's software has face and voice recognition capabilities that rival no other game system currently on the market.
We've all heard the stories of broken television screens and bodily injuries inflicted by a game controller inadvertently hurled through the air. It's
easy to get so engrossed in a game, especially the immersion types. You forget that when you hit a home run in a baseball game that you're not holding
a bat but a game controller. That will never be an issue with Kinect for Xbox, because the software evaluates trillions of body configurations at 30
fps (frames per second). As a result, the player doesn't need to adapt their movements to fit the game. Kinect reads the movements of each joint and
muscle interpreting how they release and contract.
"You are the controller," said Mike Delman, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business. "You simply step
in front of the sensor and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and recognizes your face." Kinect is described by its creators as a gaming system
that gives its players a "magical experience" and is not just for kids and teens. According to The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), computer and video games encompass a multi-billion dollar industry.
Games are being played in 68% of American households, with women comprising 40% of players. Kinect for Xbox not only wows gaming enthusiasts, it also
offers fitness and other experiences, making it something that the entire family can enjoy.
Microsoft recently announced the long awaited release date for Kinect for Xbox. You'll be able to purchase Kinect for Xbox on November 4th – just in
time for the 2010 holiday season which starts the beginning of December with Chanukah. This release will also include fifteen games that include Kinect
Joyride, Zumba Fitness and EA Sports Active 2.0, just to name a few. The Kinect for Xbox will be sold for approximately $150.00 and can be pre-ordered
from a variety of retailers including
Amazon.com
,
Best Buy
and Microsoft Store.
