Author Profile
James started his career in video games as News Editor on Nintendo Life. Since leaving in 2012 to join Nintendo of Europe, James has risen through the ranks to become NoE's Senior Product PR & Corporate Communications Manager.
News Playing Cabela's on Kinect Makes You Look Like This
"We're having a great time!"
You wanted more hardcore games for Kinect, and you've got it: Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Hunting Party combines all the fun of body-tracking with the thrill of hunting animals with a plastic gun. Activision has just released the first screenshots and 'lifestyle' photos of the Top Shot Sport, the plastic gun necessary to...
Review Kinect Fun Labs: Air Band (Xbox 360)
A musical joke?
After Kinect Sparkler turned out to be rather dim, the second paid addition to Kinect Fun Labs is here in the much more pleasing form of Air Band, which lets you become a musical ensemble with just your bare hands. You and a friend can jump in to one of five musical styles — disco, rock, pop, latin and country — and mime playing...
News GamingZap Shows Off New Powerless Kinect Adaptor
It'll make sense
When Microsoft launched Kinect in November 2010, it faced a problem: how to get the sensor to draw power from older Xbox 360 consoles, as well as the newer S models. The simple solution was to bundle a USB to mains adaptor, but that still requires a separate plug socket. UK retailer GamingZap has just launched a way around it: the...
News You Can Breed Horses in Champion Jockey
Just think that over for a second
The road to becoming the ultimate jockey isn't all about being short and light: it's also about riding a top notch horse, bred for speed. That's one part of the process Champion Jockey is eager to represent, with an in-depth breeding mode shown off in these new screenshots. Each horse has an individual personality...
News Microsoft UK's Release Dates for Kinect's Biggest Titles
Get informed
You want to know when you can expect some of this year's biggest Kinect games, right? Well then, you've come to the right place, as Microsoft UK has just sent us a press release full of calendar-marking goodness. Here's a round-up of when you'll be able to pick up the brightest lights for your sensor this year. Bear in mind these...
Reader Blog Losing 80 Pounds with Kinect and Dance Central
It can be done
In the first of a new series of reader blogs, we're sharing stories from Kinect fans just like you. We want to hear bout any success stories you might have had — a great video you made in Yoostar 2, a world record score in Kinect Sports or something awesome made possible by Kinect. You can contact KINECTaku to share your story, and...
News You Can Look This Stupid Playing Champion Jockey
Live the dream
There's no easy way to say this: if you play Champion Jockey, you're probably going to look a bit foolish, especially if this new tutorial video is anything to go by. The demonstrator in the video below is clearly aware of how silly he looks but carries it like a champ, even roping in a second player for some truly momentous...
Review Avatar Superstar (Xbox 360)
Lacks the X factor
It feels unfair being overly critical of an Xbox Live Indie game. For a measly 80 Microsoft Points you know you're not going to get an experience on-par with the best games out there, but we must still be truthful in our critique of Avatar Superstar. The screenshots and branding suggest that this is a karaoke experience, whereas...
Review Kinect Fun Labs: Kinect Sparkler (Xbox 360)
Fizzles out
Kinect Fun Labs is a set of interesting toys, tools and gadgets designed to show off what Kinect can do, and while the service started off free, it's now embracing paid add-on content with Kinect Sparkler. While the price is a measly 240 Microsoft Points, however, it's still expensive for the content. Kinect Sparkler is a doodle pad,...
News Grab a Matte Xbox 360 250GB with Kinect
Gloss over
At the moment the Xbox 360 S comes in two flavours: 250GB and 4GB, in glossy and matte finishes respectively. A new challenger is about to enter the ring though, with a matte 250GB console on the way. There's no word on when the new bundle will be available or if Microsoft has made any changes other than taking the dust-sucking gloss...
News Microsoft Announces Limited Edition R2D2 Xbox 360
Told you so
We exclusively revealed the limited edition Star Wars Xbox 360 with white Kinect two weeks ago, and now Microsoft has made the bundle official. The white R2-D2 Xbox 360 S, C-3PO-inspired control pad and white Kinect sensor will launch with Kinect Star Wars later this year, with exclusive downloadable content in the console box too...
News Go On a Fitness Adventure with Jillian Michaels
More Kinect adventures
Jillian Michaels is really working herself into a video game-related frenzy these days: she's already appeared on The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout and later this year her buns of steel will be challenging you to push yourself to your limits (we assume) in Jillian Michaels' Fitness Adventure. Rather than put you in a smelly...
First Impressions The Black Eyed Peas Experience
Rock that body
Michael Jackson: The Experience was a pretty good attempt at bringing the King of Pop to the living room, but the Black Eyed Peas are a totally different undertaking: whereas the MJ game put you in Michael's shoes in his legendary live shows and music videos, in The Black Eyed Peas Experience you don't play as Will.i.am, Fergie or the...
First Impressions Just Dance 3
Get on the floor!
Until now Harmonix has undoubtedly had the Kinect dancing market all sewn up, but that dominance will meet its sternest challenge yet in October when Ubisoft brings the astonishingly successful Just Dance brand across to Xbox 360 in the luridly coloured form of Just Dance 3. At first glance, very little has changed from its Wii...
First Impressions Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012
Toned up
Ubisoft knows when it's onto a good thing: not only is the publisher bringing Just Dance 3 to Kinect, it's also gearing up to launch a sequel to the sensor's biggest selling fitness title. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 is set for release this November with all the original game's content and some new tricks up its sleeve too. Game...
News There's a Kinect Game Out Even We Didn't Know About
Hope you like singing
We pride ourselves on knowing pretty much everything there is to know about Kinect, but we're not infallible Kinect-powered robots: sometimes we miss things. This is one of those things. While there are still no Kinect-enabled games to download on Xbox Live Arcade, there's already an Indie game available: Avatar Superstar for...
First Impressions Kinect Sports: Season Two
Another big score for Microsoft?
Last night we brought you our First Impressions of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier from Microsoft's Christmas showcase, and next on our travels was the sequel to Rare's Kinect Sports, without doubt one of Kinect's best launch games. We were quickly told that the motion tracking had been vastly improved from the first...
Review Let's Dance with Mel B (Xbox 360)
Zig-a-zig arrggh
Every Kinect sold comes with a demo of Dance Central tucked away on the Kinect Adventures disc, meaning everyone has a chance to play the sensor's best dancing game by far. Now you have the chance to play one of its worst, Let's Dance with Mel B. We've always had a nagging feeling that developer Lightning Fish Studio overachieved...
News Make Your Room Bigger with Nyko's Kinect Zoom
40% less space required
If your living room isn't quite big enough for Kinect to work properly, you might be interested in Nyko's handy new accessory, the Zoom for Kinect. The peripheral manufacturer has announced the new bit of kit will release across North America on 23rd August at $29.99. Clipping over Kinect's eyes, the accessory means you'll...
Review UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System (Xbox 360)
Muscle bound?
Quite why it's taken so long to combine the testosterone-fuelled sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) with fitness software is beyond us; the predominantly female-targeted exercise game may rule the sales roost, but with UFC rapidly gaining popularity the two mediums have finally come together in UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness...
Rumour Fighters Uncaged Preparing for Round 2
Make it stop
Not had enough of the physical torture inflicted by Ubisoft's Fighters Uncaged? Ubisoft has got you covered then, according to a recent release schedule from major retailer Gamestation. The list reveals Fighters Uncaged 2 from Ubisoft, with a release date of 11th November. No further information is given. Gamestation has previously...
News Forza Motorsport 4 Limited Edition is Packed with Extra Cars
Soak it all up
Microsoft just revealed its big Forza Motorsport 4 Limited Collector's Edition, containing 25 extra cars and a stack of other additions to convince you to part with your hard-earned £59.99. Inside the special edition you'll find cars from Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari and more, though it's worth pointing out that most — if not all...
Rumour Power Rangers Samurai Suiting Up for Kinect
Become Megazord!
You can already be a Japanese superhero with Kinect, and Ubisoft's PowerUp Heroes will transform your Avatar in a super being, but neither can quite quench the desire to become a Power Ranger. Perhaps Power Rangers: Samurai will do the trick. Spotted at GAME and
News 2K Play Announces Nickelodeon Dance for Kinect
Get down with the kids
2K kids label 2K Play is mining a rich seam of Kinect games based on Nickelodeon characters — first here was Nicktoons MLB, now there's Nickelodeon Dance, coming to Xbox 360 later this year. The game will feature Dora the Explorer, Diego and the Backyardigans, whom we assume your kids or younger siblings might recognise...
