Kinect News (Page 2)
News Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure Scans You In
Get into the game
Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure uses one of Kinect's most-vaunted original features: the ability to scan yourself in to create a virtual avatar. Of course we've seen this feature used in Kinect Fun Labs so it's not a first, but if it works as well as this trailer below promises — a wish that rarely comes true, admittedly...
News Kinect Fitness Games Go Cheap for New Year
Save some pounds (or dollars)
If part of your New Year's Resolution is to get fit and you want to use Kinect to do it, we've rustled up some superb deals to help you do so cheaply. Don't forget we also have a Guide to Kinect fitness games and Kinect fitness game reviews too. UK Kinect Deals: January sales are a big deal in the UK — imagine...
Guide Starting Out with Kinect
Get the most from your sensor right away
So you've unwrapped all your presents and found a shiny new Kinect and games. Congratulations, and welcome aboard! Unlike every other motion controller on the market, you don't need anything in your hands to play Kinect — with no controllers and no buttons you're free to use your body and voice to play the...
News Even Kinect Star Wars Succumbs to Kinect Dance Mania
Is nothing sacred?
Kinect does some things very well — dancing, for instance. That's why there are 13 Kinect dancing games out now, but the genre's seeping into other games: games we thought were safe from move-busting. Games like Kinect Star Wars. The ESRB has rated the game and revealed it now includes dancing tournaments alongside the...
Competition Put Your Darts Skills On the Line with Kinect Contest
Can you hit the bullseye?
Microsoft is giving UK gamers the chance to put their darts skills on the line with a new Kinect Sports: Season Two competition. To enter, download the free Kinect Sports darts Gamerpic before Sunday 18th December and play a single-player darts match on Live between 1pm and 5pm on 7th or 8th January. Three players will be...
News Kinect Sports: Season Two Golf DLC Out Next Week
Fore-hundred MSP
You can treat your caddy to some new sights next week, as Kinect Sports: Season Two is due to get nine new holes from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Maple Lakes golf pack launches on 20th December for 400 Microsoft Points, adding nine new holes alongside new Challenges and Achievements. On the same day the game will also get a free...
News Kinect-Powered Dance Evolution Arcade Game On the Way
Kinect leaves the living room
Next year Kinect will throw off its living room shackles and join the arcade scene, as Konami has announced it's working on an arcade version of Dance Evolution (or DanceMasters) for release in 2012. The game is currently on test at certain locations in Japan, with the sensor tucked away inside the arcade cabinet...
Rumour Kinect 2 Capable of Reading Lips and Emotions
Project Skynet commences
After last week's next Xbox rumours comes another set from Eurogamer, this time focusing on the upgraded Kinect said to come with every machine. Anonymous sources have apparently told Eurogamer Kinect 2 is capable of lip reading, and can detect emotion in the user's voice. Eurogamer also claims the next Kinect can...
Rumour Next Xbox Split in Two Models for Kinect and Core
Which would you choose?
Xbox 360 has been around for six years now, and although regular Dashboard updates and the introduction of Kinect have kept things fresh, eyes are starting to turn towards the next machine in the Xbox line. The latest rumours, from technical wizards Digital Foundry (via Eurogamer), claim that the new machine will come in two...
Feature Kinect Holiday Gift Guide 2011
What's worth your money?
There are over 80 games available for Kinect now, and knowing exactly which one to pick up as a present can be a tough proposition. That's why we've put together our Kinect holiday game guide 2011 to let you know exactly what you should be looking for when picking a game this season. We've split this article into five...
Talking Point What's Kinect Doing Right or Wrong?
One year on, how's it going?
Kinect has had a full 12 months to bed itself in, and arguably the standard of releases this Christmas is higher than what the sensor launched with last year, but the sensor still hasn't established itself as a home for quality games. In the past few days we've seen an encouragingly healthy discussion about the matter...
News Be Soothed by Deepak Chopra's Leela's Soundtrack
It's Sumthing Else
A good soundtrack is crucial to any relaxation experience, so it's probably good news that the tunes accompanying Deepak Chopra's Leela will be released separately on 15th November. The soundtrack, put together by Sumthing Else Music Works, draws from "traditional string instruments and dubstep" and features artists...
News Free Kinect Sports Season Two DLC Out Now
Up your game
We're big fans of Kinect Sports: Season Two here at KINECTaku, especially now Rare's released some new downloadable content for free. Available on Xbox Live Marketplace today, the Kinect Sports: Season Two Challenge Pack #1 adds new modes to each sport: Crazy Kicker (American Football), Frantic Fielder (Baseball), Cool Ringings...
News The Worst Kinect Photoshop We've Ever Seen
You won't believe your eyes
You'd think paying some actors to stand in front of a TV and Kinect and pretend they're having a great time would be among the easiest parts of releasing a game. You'd probably be right, which makes this back of box art for MotionSports Adrenaline even more brilliant. We're no Photoshop experts, but even we can tell that...
News Zumba Kinect 2 Official, Called Zumba Fitness Rush
Groovy
If you've finally had your fill of Zumba Fitness: Join the Party, you'll be thrilled to know Majesco is bringing a sequel your way in February 2012. Called Zumba Fitness Rush, the game adds more songs, steps and style to its predecessor, with downloadable songs after launch extending the game's lifespan. MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT AMPLIFIES THE...
News Ubisoft Announces Four New Kinect Quiz Games
Final answer?
Update: Ubisoft has informed us that Family Feud 2012 is not Kinect compatible, despite an earlier Gamestop leak pegging the game for Kinect. Original story: Ubisoft's locking down the licensed quiz show category on Kinect, with no fewer than four game shows on the way before the end of the year. First up we've got Family Feud 2012,...
Out Today Kinectimals Bear Island DLC (Worldwide)
Now with bears!
You guessed it: bears are coming to Kinectimals today in DLC form. The Bear Island add-on is available on Xbox Live Marketplace for 1,200 Microsoft Points. Weighing in at a hefty 1.54GB, the pack grants you stacks of new animals, activities and quests to take on. Explore a whole new island and mystery in the Kinectimals add-on Bear...
First Impressions Kinectimals with Windows Phone 7
Kitty in your pocket
Unlike Nintendo and Sony consoles, sadly you've never been able to take your Xbox games on the go with you, something even Dreamcast offered over 10 years ago. Now with Windows Phone 7 devices and Xbox 360 you're able to access select content wherever you are, something we recently got chance to try out with Kinectimals and...
News Tiger Woods Tees Off EA Sports' Kinect Support in 2012
The first of many
EA Sports hasn't done anything with Kinect yet, somewhat surprising considering its unrivalled stable of sports games. The publisher will break that duck next year when it releases Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for Xbox 360. The golf game, due out in March 2012, will make use of Kinect's body-tracking and voice recognition capabilities...
Hands On Kinect Sports Season Two
We visit Rare's UK HQ to experience what could be this Christmas' biggest Kinect title
Given the incredible commercial and critical response to the original Kinect Sports, it was inevitable that a sequel of some description would occur. What was slightly less predictable was the news that the legendary British code house Rare would be co-developing...
News First Puss in Boots Screenshots Look Furry Good
You might be surprised
Licensed games rarely look good, but we have to say that the first screenshots of Puss in Boots don't look bad at all. The Kinect-exclusive title puts you in the feline footwear of the titular cat, with the official details laying out a three-stroke gameplay system: Master the style and charm of Puss in Boots in an engaging...
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...
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...
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...
News Microsoft to Release Limited Edition Star Wars 360 Console with Kinect
Special R2-D2 themed model in the works to coincide with the release of Kinect Star Wars
We've just heard from one of our close sources in the retail sector that Microsoft is prepping a limited edition R2-D2 Xbox 360 console — complete with Kinect sensor — set to launch alongside the forthcoming Kinect Star Wars. According to our reports, the...
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...
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 Fruit Ninja Kinect Release Date and Price Confirmed
Coming to fruition in August
We love Fruit Ninja Kinect here at Kinectaku — that much should be obvious from our exhaustive Fruit Ninja Kinect preview. Thankfully, the rest of you will be lucky enough to experience this amazing title on the 10th of August, because it's being launched as part of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade 2011. The Big M has just...
First Impressions Fruit Ninja Kinect
Ripening nicely
If you happen to own a modern smartphone then you’ve probably already sampled the delights of Halfbrick’s amazing Fruit Ninja. The game has now registered over 20 million downloads across mobile formats, and rightly so — it’s one of those unique titles that takes a very basic premise (in this case, the slicing and dicing of...
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...
News Look Out Dance Central, Just Dance 3 is Coming to Kinect
This just got interesting
Dance Central 2, your competition has arrived: Ubisoft just announced Just Dance 3. The multiformat game — it's heading to Wii and PlayStation Move too — has got an exclusive mode on Kinect, the karaoke-styled "Shout Out" mode that gives you points for singing along as you groove. Will Just Dance 3 continue to...
News Kinect, PlayStation Eye and Wii All Mount Your TV
Why change?
CTA Digital's Kinect wall mount and TV clip lets you easily switch between the sensor and Sony's PlayStation Eye for PlayStation Move, but if that's just too much like hard work — or you have a Nintendo Wii too — then dreamGear's Trimount might be for you. The enormous mount lets you stack your Kinect, Eye camera and Wii sensor bar...
News Pro Boxer James DeGale Practises with Kinect Sports Boxing
Recently lost. Probably a coincidence.
As countless tired gamers can attest, Kinect Sports boxing is a tough workout, but it's so gruelling even professionals use it to keep their training interesting. Professional boxer James DeGale recently took media behind the scenes at his gym in Essex, where he revealed he loves nothing more than a bit of...
News Blacklight Team Working on Kinect "Zero Person Shooter"
So CV says
According to a pair of CVs posted on LinkedIn, Zombie Studios is in the process of creating a new title for Kinect. The team behind admittedly mediocre online shooter Blacklight: Tango Down is apparently creating a "zero person shooter" according to one programmer's CV, that uses the Unreal Engine 3 currently seen powering Gears...
Talking Point What Should Microsoft Do With Kinect At E3?
Tell us your hopes
Microsoft's E3 2011 news conference is only a few weeks away, and our thoughts are turning towards what the company will show off on Monday 6th June. Here's a list of what we believe Microsoft should do with Kinect in order to capture the imagination like it did at E3 2010. Improved Tracking: In its current form, Kinect can...
News Forget Video Kinect, Skype is Coming to Xbox 360
Welcome news indeed
Video Kinect is Microsoft's free online chat programme for Xbox 360, and while it has a few neat tricks — Kinect will follow you around the room, zooming in and out accordingly — it's about to get some tough competition, as Microsoft has confirmed Skype is coming to Xbox 360. Microsoft shelled out $8.5 billion — the press...
News Microsoft's E3 2011 News Conference Details Confirmed
What new games will we see?
It's still highly unlikely we'll see a new Xbox and Kinect at E3 this year, but at least we know where and when the revelation would be made, as Microsoft has announced its pre-show conference details. The event kicks off on Monday 6th June, with guests asked to arrive by 9am Pacific Time, or 5pm UK time. The show is...
