Christmas cracked?
Microsoft has finally revealed the full line-up of controller-free games for its Xbox peripheral, Kinect, which makes its debut on 4 November.
The software giant is taking no chances that its console add-on will go unnoticed and seems determined it will be this Christmas' ‘must have gift,' so much so that it is splashing out on a $500m advertising push, according to The New York Post.
Microsoft reportedly started planning its marketing blitz some 18 months ago with a little help from Steven Spielberg. The blockbuster budget is apparently the same size as the campaign for the original Xbox, when Microsoft didn't have a foothold in the console market- now it seems it is prepared to cough up to keep it in the race.
Here are the 17 games confirmed:
Kinect Adventures comes ‘free' with every Kinect sensor and Kinect bundle and includes mini games or experiences like floating in space or negotiating obstacle courses to get users acclimatised to the new system.
Kinectimals lets people look after exotic pets that respond to voice commands and react when ‘touched'.
Game Party: In Motion is a collection of 16 party games including sports like Hoop Shoot and Darts to arcade games such as Table hockey and Rootbeer Tapper.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 the Videogame lets Hogwarts fans play as Harry, using their hands to make magical motions, in a plot that mimics the novel with 22 Kinect challenges.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Microsoft has gone all-out on exercise offerings with the new motion technology.
Dance Central uses Kinect's body tracking tech for 90 complex dance routines and 650 moves, minus a mat, while DanceMasters is a similar offering.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is arguably the Xbox's answer to Wii Fit offering exercise coaching and personalised workouts.
The Biggest loser Ultimate Workout is based on the TV show and is another fitness programme making use of Kinect's motion control sensors to give real-time comments and offers a video diary function to track weight loss progress.
EA Sports Active 2 is another exercise-based offering that combines total body tracking and heart rate data via a wireless heart rate monitor that comes with the ‘game'.
Zumba Fitness is a high-energy Latin music workout with 30 routines.
Kinect Sports claims to be the first ‘full body controller-free sports game' letting users compete with friends over Xbox LIVE and includes 6 sports: Football, beach volleyball, track & field, boxing, bowling and table tennis. It has a ‘team vs team' mode for tournament style competitions.
MotionSports offers 40 sports challenges from Super G to American football with live commentary.
Deca Sports Freedom includes a slightly different set of sports with 10 choices in total: tennis, boxing, archery, paintball, beach volleyball, dodge ball, kendo, mogul skiing, snowboard cross and figure skating.
While Microsoft said it wanted Kinect to be adopted by the ‘serious' gamers its console has so far attracted, it remains to be seen whether its selection of games for ‘thrill seekers' will impress.
Kinect Joy Ride is a kart racing game with no steering wheel required and players can race up to 8 rivals on Xbox LIVE.
Adrenalin Misfits promises ‘unbelievable fantasy worlds' for sideways boarding battles.
Fighters Uncaged lets players box their way to victory in a world of ‘illegal free-fighting tournaments' with no weapons, other than the player's body.
Sonic Free Riders sees the return of the hedgehog as players become the character to navigate it through various levels.
C'est touts.
