Kinect is coming.If you're into partying, dancing, sports, working out AND playing
video games, go ahead and circle November 4th on your calendar.
That's the day Microsoft releases their anticipated Kinect
motion-control system for the Xbox 360 -- and to get active folks like
you excited, they've officially announced the 17 games available during
the camera's launch window (only 12 of which will be available on launch
day itself, however):
November 4
Adrenalin Misfits
Dance Central
DanceMasters
Fighters Uncaged
Kinect Adventures (bundled with Kinect)
Kinect Joy Ride
Kinect Sports
Kinectimals
MotionSports
Sonic Free Riders
The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved
November 16
EA Sports Active 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows -- Part 1, The Videogame
November 18
Game Party: In Motion
Zumba Fitness
Holiday 2010
Deca Sports Freedom
Other than EA Sports Active 2.0 ($99, comes with a heart rate
monitor), each game retails for either $40 or $50, with the Kinect
hardware itself retailing at $150 alone or $300 when bundled with a new
360.
So what's the standout here? Hands down, it's Dance Central. Created
by Rock Band makers Harmonix, it nabbed two Game Critics awards at E3,
including Best Original Game. Boasting about 90 actual routines and
hundreds of dance moves to learn, it might actually come in handy for
the two left feet types.
But if you're looking for a little more oomph in your
motion-controlled gaming, you're largely out of luck....for now, at
least. Microsoft unveiled a number of more traditional games for Kinect at the Tokyo Game Show in September -- including a giant mech game (Steel Battalion), a few
horror games (Rise of Nightmares, Haunt, Codename D) and a dragon-themed
flight game (Project Draco) -- but those aren't expected to arrive
until well into 2011.