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What is Kinect for Xbox 360? Everything You Need to Know!

Posted 19th August 2010 by Ben     Email article      Share article

What is it about computer games that fascinates us so much? Is it the games ability to take us to a make-believe land where we can do things we couldn’t do in real life?

Is it the games ability to fuel our imagination that makes it so much fun or is it the fact that we can interact with others, including our closest friends in a virtual world? In my opinion it is all of these things.

Microsoft have found a way to enhance the gaming experience and make us feel like we are even more part of the game than ever before. The Nintendo Wii proved that games based on movement as oppose to sitting holding a controller are the types of games people want to play in the future. When I say “people”, I mean families and groups. This is largely due to the broad selection of games available for the Wii and the interactive/fun aspect of it.

The Nintendo Wii has sold 70.9 million units (as of March 2010) compared to Xbox 360, 41.7 million (as of July 2010) and Playstation 3, 38.1 million (as of June 2010).

Microsoft’s answer to the Wii was initially named “Project Natal” when it was announced at E3 2009. “USA Today” leaked Natal’s new name, “Kinect” ahead of E3 2010.

Kinect is a motion sensor for Xbox 360 that essentially turns the gamer into the controller. The hands-free device tracks body movements in 3D (unlike previous devices like the Eyetoy that could only ever record motion in 2D). The device also features face and voice recognition technology. Watch the launch video below:

Kinect contains a monochrome CMOS camera sensor that’s paired up with an IR blaster. This depth sensor analyzes light, dark and shadows to build a 3D map of objects in front of Kinect.

There is also a color camera and a multi-array microphone, which can detect the location of voices and cancel out unwanted noise. The base of Kinect is motorized and can tilt, allowing Kinect to track your face moving from one side of the room to the other for example.

Users will be able to access their Xbox menus by moving their hand, control the Xbox with voice commands like “Xbox, Play” and video chat to friends or family using “Videokinect”. Check it out:

The potential for Kinect games is astounding. There are 15 games due to be released when Kinect hits shelves in November.

You can find out more about these games at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/kinect/games.htm

Take a look at the mind-blowing power of Kinect in the demos below.

The new Xbox has a special auxiliary port, which will transfer both power and data to Kinect. The older Xbox’s will require a second cord to power Kinect.

Kinect will launch in the States on November 4th and will hit Europe on November 10th.

Kinect with Kinect Adventures will cost £129.99/$149.99, while a separate bundle including a 4Gb Xbox will cost £249.99/$299.99. We’re VERY excited at Media Lightbox and eagerly await Kinect’s release! Kinect will change the way we play computer games forever. It’s certain to inspire the next generation of consoles. It will be interesting to see how it will do against the Playstation Move, which is due for release in September. Will Sony get a massive head start, selling nearly two whole months before Microsoft? We’ll all just have to wait and see.

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