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Tag: Xbox Kinect

  • New Kinect Features Previewed in New Video

    Microsoft is betting big on its next-generation version of its Kinect motion sensor. The device has been packed in with every one of its upcoming Xbox One consoles, ensuring that all Xbox gamers will have a Kinect.

    This has caused more than a grumble in some segments of the gaming community. Kinect games of the current generation were, in general, embarrassingly bad. In addition, the new Kinect has obviously contributed highly to the Xbox One’s $100 price premium over Sony’s PlayStation 4.

    Regardless of whether gamers will want to use the Kinect to play games or watch TV, the tech displayed in the device itself is impressive.

    Microsoft Research today put out two videos demonstrating the capabilities of the new Kinect sensor. The first demonstrates the higher fidelity 3D vision, larger field of view, and new “active IR” mode that come with the device.

    The second shows the new wireframe skeleton the Kinect can create to sense motion, which now has two hand point to detect claw-like motions. In addition to movement, the device can use a blocky shape to detect the orientation of different body parts or a blobby shape that depicts how much force is being applied to various muscle groups in the body. The much-touted heart rate monitoring capability of the new Kinect is also demonstrated. It uses color video and IR sensing together to detect a pulse rate through subtle color change in faces:

    Though the tech might not be right for gaming or replacing a TV remote, creative PC developers will undoubtedly find some futuristic uses for the new Kinect.

  • New Dead Space 3 Kinect Support Details Released

    New Dead Space 3 Kinect Support Details Released

    Last week it was announced that Dead Space 3 will be getting Kinect integration for the Xbox 360. This is in addition to the drop-in, drop-out co-op multiplayer that will be present throughout the game, completely shifting from the lonely, fearful tone set by the near-solitude of the first two games in the series.

    Whether these features were natural expansions of the series’ gameplay or mandates handed down by a social gaming-focused EA, it’s caused plenty of concern among fans that Dead Space may be going the way of the Resident Evil series and abandoning the very things that made it popular.

    The Kinect support, though, isn’t going to ruin a gaming experience. Gamers won’t have to wave their own limbs at their screen to de-limb necromorphs. Instead, through voice commands players will be able use items, switch weapons, or exchange equipment with their co-op partner.

    In a new promotional interview video released by EA, Visceral Games’ Executive Producer Steve Papoutsis states that “reload” and “roll” will be voice commands, among others. There isn’t much more info provided, though the video does provide a good look at the action in Dead Space 3 through clips. Forewarning: it also contains dubstep.

    Two interesting trivia facts are revealed, though. Papoutsis states that Visceral had considered including a Kinect-specific achievement for swearing. The developer also considered using the Kinect to take photos of the player at the moment of Dead Space 3‘s inevitable jump scares. That sounds like the best use of the Kinect yet devised, though the potential for abuse of such a feature is obviously high.

  • Kinect 2 Preview Photo Leaked Online

    The gaming industry is experiencing the first console cycle change-over to happen in the age of Twitter and other powerful social media outlets. Where in the past gamers had to wait for hardware manufacturers to announce upcoming console features, now they only have to wait for the leaks to occur.

    Just this week, a Microsoft job posting implied that the next generation Xbox console will be released within 18 months. 18 months is just enough time for game developers to ready a respectable launch title, and there is no doubt that major game developers already have access to early software development kits for the next Xbox. And with developers receiving SDKs for next-gen consoles and accessories, leaks are bound to happen.

    This week, Twitter user @superDaE posted a photo that is claimed to be a demonstration of what the next generation Kinect accessory will be capable of. Below is the original tweet and photo, which shows the demonstration taking place within an application called “Microsoft Xbox Studio for Durango.” Durango is a well-known code name for the next-generation Xbox console.

    The picture is not interesting simply because it confirms that a new Kinect is on the way. A different leak months ago clued gamers into the fact that the new Kinect would be launched alongside the next-gen Xbox. What is fascinating about the picture is how much more precise it looks than the current Kinect. It appears to have a much greater ability to separate players from background noise, and the fidelity of the device looks good enough to pick up individual fingers. Sign language-type commands could make the next generation of Xbox gaming very interesting.

  • Kung Fu Superstar, an Xbox Kinect Fighting Game, Announced

    Finally, a game for what Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral was really intended: learning kung fu. Kinesthetic Games today announced it is developing an action game for Xbox 360 that will use the Kinect to teach players to fight using kung fu techniques. Players will take on the role of Danny Cheng, a young martial artist who’s ambition is to become a martial arts movie star.

    Though Kinesthetic Games is looking at making the game for different platforms and playable using classic controllers, it is clear that Kung Fu Superstar has been designed with the Kinect in mind. The game studio has released an announcement trailer, seen below, which demonstrates the concept. From the video’s description:

    In a ground-breaking rethink of fighting games, players will use their full body and/or a controller to learn authentic martial arts techniques and level up Danny’s fighting abilities, as they improve their own knowledge of Kung Fu. Players then put their skills to the test on the movie set, where Danny takes part in dramatic fight choreographies and performs in explosive action sequences. With multiple movie sets and plots to explore, colourful characters to be met along the way, Danny’s own overarching storyline, as well as a platform for learning real martial arts in a fun and engaging way, Kung Fu Superstar will open up a world of possibilities to players of every background.

    According to a EuroGamer interview, Kinesthetic Games was founded one year ago by Kostas Zarifis. Zarifis previously worked at Lionhead studios and was part of development on Fable 2, Fable 3, and Fable: The Journey. Kung Fu Superstar is currently in early development, and Kinesthetic is looking for a publisher for the title.

    Though this game is still a long way off, it’s clear that the idea behind the game came from a true fan of kung fu cinema. Hopefully the game will start the player off in low-budget movie projects with horrible dialogue, and by the end of the game have them in blockbuster sci-fi/kung fu crossover movies. Using the Kinect for magic or martial arts seems to be common sense. The only worry is that the developers stray too far from their original idea and end up with an over-broad disaster such as Star Wars Kinect.

  • Tiger Woods Says He’ll Be Ready For The Masters

    Tiger Woods is making the media rounds this week, appearing on ESPN’s network of mediums and ABC’s Good Morning America in an effort to help promote EA’s upcoming PGA Tour 2013. While Woods showed off the game on Xbox’s Kinect interface, the subject on people’s mind concerned his hamstring and whether or not Woods will be ready to resume golfing in time for The Masters.

    Woods, while talking to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi, addressed this directly, saying he has every intention of competing at Augusta:

    Woods’ GMA appearance was captured on web video as well, this time, courtesy of Hollywood.tv. The focus of this clip is Tiger playing Kinect with Robin Roberts: