The launch lineup for the Kinect for the Xbox 360 has finally been confirmed. 17 titles await your purchase soon after the system’s release on November 4th, and here they are:
Adrenalin Misfits
(Konami) – Adrenalin
Misfits thrusts gamers into unbelievable fantasy worlds with
exciting, sideways-stance boarding battles in amazing environments. It’s
not just a race, it’s a battle!
DanceMasters
(Konami) – The pioneer of the franchise that started
the dance game craze, Konami introduces a brand new way to experience
music and rhythm. The next generation in full-body dancing is finally
here.
Dance Central
(MTV Games/Harmonix) – From the creators of Rock Band comes the next great music
experience: Dance
Central, the first controller-free, body tracking, fully
immersive dance video game that helps you take your moves to the next
level. Featuring more than 90 routines and 650 dance moves, every
routine has authentic choreography for beginners and experts alike to
master, alongside a killer soundtrack that spans today’s current pop,
hip-hop and R&B artists. You won’t just learn the dance moves —
you’ll own the dance floor.
DECA SPORTS FREEDOM
(Hudson Entertainment) – Hudson Entertainment is taking sports
to the next level with 10 sporting events you play using your own body
in DECA SPORTS
FREEDOM. No controller necessary — just move yourself as if you
were playing the sport in real life. Spin, throw and smash your way to
victory across all of the included events: tennis, boxing, archery,
paintball, beach volleyball, dodge ball, kendo, mogul skiing, snowboard
cross, and even figure skating.
EA SPORTS Active 2
(EA SPORTS) – EA
SPORTS Active 2 with Total Body Tracking will combine motion
tracking from Kinect and heart rate data from the included wireless
heart rate monitor to provide true fitness results. Users will be able
to track and share their workout data online through automatic uploading
from their online connected Xbox 360 consoles to their personalized EA
SPORTS Active profile.
Fighters Uncaged
(Ubisoft) – Charge head-first into the vicious world of illegal
free-fighting tournaments, where you will use every muscle in your body
to battle your way to the top. Forced into a secret tournament, Simon
must use what he learned from his father, an ex-boxing champ, as he
faces off against violent combatants who will brutally unleash a range
of mixed martial arts attacks to take him down. No guns. No blades. Your
body is the deadly weapon.
Game Party: In
Motion (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) – The popular
party game value series comes to Kinect for Xbox 360. “Game Party: In
Motion” lets players engage in true-to-life motions with 16 games
appealing to people of all ability levels, ranging from sports such as
Hoop Shoot and Darts to arcade and party games, including Rootbeer
Tapper, Table Hockey and more.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 The
Videogame (Electronic Arts/EA Bright Light) – Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows — Part 1 The Videogame is the most challenging
yet, packed from start to finish with action and combat. Playing as
Harry, you are on the run from the opening sequence, fighting for
survival on a desperate and dangerous quest to locate and destroy
Voldemort’s Horcruxes. And with 22 exclusive Kinect challenges, conjure
the weapons of magical warfare where your motions make the magic, only
on Xbox 360.
Kinectimals (Frontier
Developments Ltd./Microsoft Game Studios) – Kinectimals invites
children, their parents and animal lovers of all ages to build lasting
friendships with some of the world’s most exotic creatures. Just like
real pets, your feline cubs will come running when they hear your voice,
respond to commands such as “jump,” “roll over” and “play dead,” and
purr with joy when you scratch them behind their ears.
Kinect Adventures (bundled with the Kinect sensor) – Float in outer space. Experience the thrill of roaring rapids. Tackle mountaintop obstacle courses. And dive into the deep sea to save a leaky underwater observatory — all from your living room. With Kinect Adventures, you are the controller as you jump, dodge and kick your way through exciting adventures set in a variety of exotic locations. “Kinect Adventures” is designed with something for everyone to enjoy and will be available with every Kinect sensor and Kinect bundle sold.
Kinect Joy Ride
(Big Park/Microsoft Game Studios) – Kinect Joy Ride, the first controller-free
racing game, will take you and your friends on the ride of your lives —
no driver’s license required. Kinect Joy Ride combines wild kart-racing
excitement with the effortless fun of full-body gaming possible only
with Kinect for Xbox 360. Go solo or compete with up to eight players
over Xbox LIVE to take on the world.2
Kinect Sports (Rare/Microsoft Game Studios) – The first full-body, controller-free sports game that lets you physically compete with friends over Xbox LIVE, Kinect Sports is so real, you will almost feel the wind in your hair as you fly over hurdles and the sand in your toes as you set, bump and spike your way to volleyball victory. With six full sports — Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Track & Field, Boxing, Bowling and Table Tennis — Kinect Sports is the only title with a Team vs. Team mode, allowing the whole family to play in a fast-paced tournament style competition.
MotionSports
(Ubisoft) — $49.99 ERP(U.S.) – Nov. 4. Grab your friends and rush the
living room, it is time to catapult into the wide world of MotionSports. Race
down the slopes of a Super G slalom, score a mind-blowing penalty kick,
duck-and-run your way to a game-winning touchdown, or throw punches at
the champ as you test your skills in more than 40 awesome sports
challenges. The MotionSports
live in-game commentary will follow your hits and misses, as you
compete to go from local hero to a global sports phenomenon.
Sonic Free Riders (SEGA) – Sonic is speeding onto Kinect for Xbox 360 in an action-packed experience unlike any other. Become your favorite character as you jump on your board and compete in adrenaline-fueled races against tough competition. For the first time use full-motion body control to twist and turn your way through a range of stunning courses.
The Biggest Loser
Ultimate Workout (THQ) – Based on the hit television show, The Biggest Loser
Ultimate Workout comes to Kinect offering the ultimate workout
experience. Complete your fitness program using the interactive motion
control sensors providing real-time feedback. From a body analyzer and
recipes to personalized tips and a video diary to track your journey, The Biggest Loser
Ultimate Workout fitness game has it all to drop the weight and
change your life.
Your Shape: Fitness
Evolved (Ubisoft) – With Kinect for Xbox 360 and Your Shape: Fitness
Evolved, you will experience the most advanced fitness technology
available, your way and on your schedule. The advanced feedback system
detects when your body is out of alignment and coaches you to correct
your form. Personalize your workout, challenge your friends and share
your progress while achieving real results.
Zumba Fitness
(Majesco) – Join the party with Zumba Fitness, a one-of-a-kind, dance
fitness workout set to sexy, high-energy Latin and international music.
Find your rhythm and let go as “Zumba” instructor fan favorites Gina
Grant, Tanya Beardsley and “Zumba” creator, Beto, guide you through 30
routines that will work you into a sweat and make you forget you’re even
exercising.
These games are all generally a bit cheaper than regular titles at around 50 bucks a pop, and all come in a distinctive purple case. Of course on top of these you’ll be getting the Kinect itself, which will give you a few new ways to interact with your Xbox 360 console- allowing you to log in via facial recognition, browse your Netflix queue with the wave of a hand, video chat, etc. The idea of a hands-free system that can map your body, listen to your voice and read your expressions is certainly an interesting one, but none of the first titles seem to be taking advantage of the best features. The Milo demo was a good example of stuff we’d love to see, but will undoubtedly take a lot more development time to pull off.
As for the competition, the Playstation Move is a fine little product with some great technology behind it, but its launch lineup was pretty lackluster. Sadly, its even more innovative Microsoft competitor looks to have many of the same types of games- namely, fitness and mini-game titles. But at least the Kinect at least has a few showstoppers at launch- Harmonix’s Dance Central is clearly the most exciting of the bunch, and Kinectimals might be destined to be the next pet simulator that your kids go nuts for. It will also be interesting to see how Harry Potter and Sonic implement their controls and what they add to the experience. But like the Move lineup, a lot of these games seem to be titles that have been available for the Wii for the last few years. Will the promise of innovative titles to come be enough for you to plop down $150 for it?