Purchase Xbox One recieve Forza or Titanfall Free

This my friends is why competition is a good thing. Microsoft has seen fit to not only offer the most anticipated Next-gen game, Titanfall, for free but they've also decided to offer a more family friendly option in Forza 5 as well. Both of these fantastic bundles will be available next week for the standard price of an Xbox One at $499. Just in time for the spectacle that will Titanfall's launch.

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MS: Ditch your PS3 for $100 towards an Xbox One

Well things are starting to really heat up now that the launch periods have cooled down. For a limited time Microsoft is giving $100 in trade-in credit for any PS3 to put towards an Xbox One. This deal is available at all MIcrosoft stores until March 2nd. Funnily enough although this applies to all versions of the PS3. Only the Xbox 360 S and Xbox 360 E qualify for this promotion. Leaving original Xbox 360 owners in the cold.

For more details go to www.microsoftstore.com

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25 Minutes of 'Dead Rising 3' plus Kinect Details

If you're an old school Xbox fan you most likely remember the incredible break-out success of the original Dead Rising for the Xbox 360. The franchise has went on to sell millions of copies and even spawned several sequels on the Wii and PS3. With Dead Rising 3 Capcom is returning to their roots and making it Xbox One exclusive. Everything you know and love has been brought over with the addition of some next-gen enabled graphics and features.


For those who care about the story Dead Rising 3 is roughly 10 years after Dead Rising 2 in a city called Los Perdidos, a fictional city based in California that consists of four districts. Los Perdidos is in a state of ruin and under martial law following a zombie outbreak. With no way to leave, the new protagonist Rick, sets out to fix a plane so that he and other survivors can escape before a bomb takes out the city.

The scale of Dead Rising 3 has been significantly upgraded over previous entries in the series. Every store and building is explorable. With the city itself being larger than all the previous games combined. The scale is even more impressive when you take in to account the game has zero load times and 3x times the zombies as the original with much more variety to boot. You can also expect over 100 weapon combinations and over 50 outfits.

Dead Rising 3 also makes substantial use of Smart Glass. Using your tablet or smartphone you'll be able to call air strikes, check your mission list and look up locations such as gun stores or safe points and even add in-game waypoints to help you if you get lost.

Kinect Integration

The Kinect features are unobtrusive and seem to add an extra layer of immersion to the experience. If you want to throw a zombie off just flick your controller and watch him go sailing. There will also be voice related features where you can taunt zombies to follow you by using your voice. You'll also be able to direct survivors to safety. The voice recognition is a double edged sword however. The game listens for any noise in your environment so if you're trying to sneak past a horde of zombies and your phone rings? You're toast.

Check out this exclusive 25 minute gameplay footage of Dead Rising 3 running on an Xbox One:




The game looks incredible despite some screen-tearing and framerate issues which we've been assured will be ironed out before release.

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Kinect 2.0 Detailed

Much of the excitement surrounding the new Xbox can be directly attributed to the next-gen Kinect sensor. Building off what the original Kinect started this takes NUI (natural user interaction) to the next level. From natural speech recognition to more accurate facial recognition and more detailed body motion capture. Kinect has been improved so much it's almost unfair to compare with the original incarnation. In this article let's go over what we know.

All new Camera Tech

 

The new Kinect has a 1080p video sensor compared to the VGA sensor from before. A huge improvement which allows for more accurate facial recognition with much clearer photos and video! Such clear video will surely come in handy for the all new Skype integration. They've also upped the resolution on the depth sensor allowing for more detail to be discerned such as fingers and the orientation of your limbs. All-in-all the new Xbox is processing over 2Gbs of Kinect data per second! Microsoft has also replaced the existing "structured light" method used to read depth on the original Kinect for a "Time of Flight" method that is both faster and more accurate. This method measures the time it takes individual photons to rebound off an object or person for the utmost accuracy.

Complaints Addressed

The original Kinect while a revolutionary product wasn't without it's faults which aliennated some hardcore gamers. Microsoft has taken these concerns to heart and significantly improved the new Kinect to address them.

One such complaint was lag. The time between doing an action and actually seeing it on screen. The new Kinect with dedicated processing and USB 3.0 has latency of only 2 frames per second! That's and imperceptible 66 milliseconds! Most games with a controller have an average lag of 133ms with more sensitive games (first person shooters) having a response time of 67ms! That's a huge improvement! Also your actions will be updated in real-time at 30 frames per second! The same framerate as most games!

The other major complaint for Kinect was space requirements. The field of view for the new Kinect has been improved by 60%! Meaning the new sensor can see closer, wider and deeper than it ever could before. No longer should you have to rearrange the living room to play!

Improvements

Microsoft didn't stop by just addressing the complaints. They also wanted to take the experience to the next level. The new Kinect can now track up to 6 people at once! It can also track each Xbox One controller due to the built-in infrared led. For example lift your controller and your character might raise his shield in-game. It will also switch the orientation of split screen games automatically according to player location.

Skeletal tracking has been much improved. Not only can it read more joints and the orientation of your limbs but also the force of your moves. Dashboard navigation will be significantly improved because now it can detect an open or closed hand. No longer will you have to 'hover' over an object to select it. A 'night mode' is built-in that can see players regardless of lighting conditions. And the new Kinect can tell your emotions (happy, sad, etc..) and even read your pulse!

Some other notable improvements are the microphone array. It can now more reliably cancel out background noise and players can use more natural speech to control it. No more guessing what commands the Xbox can understand. Just say what you want and the Xbox should do it!

Wrap Up

All of these improvements are nothing if Microsoft can't get the device into the hands of consumers but don't worry! The new Kinect will be bundled with every Xbox One this holiday. So we should expect ample 3rd Party support! With exclusive games already announced like Ryse from Crytek and more to come in the coming soon. Stay tuned for more Kinect announcements come E3 next week!

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The New Xbox Revealed

It’s been an exciting couple weeks for Xbox fans. The new console was announced dubbed the “Xbox One” and the next-generation Kinect was debuted and detailed. We’ll give a brief synopsis of the new system as well as more in depth analysis of the new Kinect sensor in a later piece.

The new console itself is comprised of an:

·         8 core AMD Jaguar CPU

·         8 GBs of RAM

·         12 CU AMD GPU (with Data Move engines)

·         500 GB HDD

·         Blu-ray Drive (finally!)

·         802.11n Wireless with Wi-Fi Direct (this will come in handy for SmartGlass)

·         HDMI In/Out

·         USB 3.0

Graphics are definitely a focus for the new Xbox with the One offering up to 8x the power of an Xbox 360! Not too shabby! The new Xbox is being position as an All-in-One entertainment box (hence the new name). Games, TV, Internet and Kinect will all be a major part of the system. Some the One’s key features are:

 

·         Instant Switch Multi-tasking

·         Snap Mode (2 apps at once)

·         Skype Voice/Video calls

·         Live TV

·         TV Guide

·         Virtually silent

·         Slot loading drive

·         Same size as current console

·         No external power brick

·         3 OSs including a Windows variant

·         Gaming DVR with editing tools

Xbox Live enhancements

Just like Microsoft paved the way with broadband on the original Xbox they are paving the way again with always online on the One. The new xbox will require you to sign on at least once every 24hours. This gives players the benefits of Harddrive based game installs due to online authentication. No longer will you have to get up and change discs to change a game!  You’ll be able to hot-swap between games and apps at will!

Microsoft is also deploying 300,000 servers, with more power than every computer combined in 1999, to assist with cloud based computing. This is said to increase the graphics and Artificial Intelligence of games on the new system.

You can look forward to your GamerTag and achievements all transitioning over but keep in mind the system does not support backwards compatibility of your existing Xbox 360 games.

 

Microsoft’s commitment to games, games, games!

Microsoft is committing $1 Billion dollars to the development of exclusive titles on the One. This includes 15 titles to be released in its first year on the market. 8 of them being wholly original properties! Forza 5 which is one of these games will be available at launch as well as Quantum Break from the creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne!

The exclusive content doesn't stop there! Microsoft is partnering with EA for exclusive content in their next generation sports games. Fifa, Live, Madden and UFC will all see release on the new console. EA plans to debut their new next gen game engine “Ignite” on the One which allows for 10 times the animation detail. You can check the engine in action below:

Activision has also pledged their support by offering the next-gen version of Call of Duty: Ghosts to the platform with time-exclusive DLC content.

There was also a Game specific DVR mentioned that allows game clip sharing and editing but not many details are available at this time.

TV

Microsoft wants to eliminate as many barriers as possible between you and the entertainment you love. The HDMI pass-through will allow you to connect your cable/satellite box and watch live TV through the One. No longer will you have to change inputs and with Kinect integration no longer will you have to search for a remote! Just use your voice to change the channel. How cool is that?

Microsoft plans to augment your TV watching experience with the OneGuide which, with the help of the cloud, pick out shows and movies that might interest you. Making your TV experience more personal. The OneGuide will only be available in the U.S. at launch but will expand to other countries shortly.

Wrap Up

It’s clear Microsoft’s aiming for the widest spectrum possible with this new console. Taking on Google and Apple in the process. Not only will the One be the best Games machine with the most exclusive games and content. Microsoft is positioning it to be the one stop shop for all your entertainment needs.

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Microsoft Announcing Internet Browsing and Cross Game Fitness Tracking at E3?

Tech site The Verge seems to have a pretty strong source at Microsoft. Having recently leaked the announcement that Microsoft are selling the Xbox 360 at $99 with a mobile-like 2 year contract (Xbox Live included), they have since turned to what are potentially two big announcements at Microsoft's E3 conference next month.

First is something called Kinect Play Fit. Microsoft are allegedly working on a heart monitor, codenamed Joust, that will track your fitness not just in one game but across all Kinect experiences. Fitness and tracking information will be sent to the cloud wirelessly, with the 360 keeping track of your fitness in most Kinect games so you can accurately strive to meet your weight loss and strength goals, whether you're doing push-ups in Your Shape or bowling a ball in Kinect Sports (Hey, we all have lazy days).

Perhaps the bigger of the two leaks is the announcement that Xbox will finally being getting full internet browsing with the release of Internet Explorer for the Xbox 360. The source claims that Xbox users will be able to surf the entire web and that Kinect voice and gesture integration will be a big feature. With IE10 Metro available for Windows 8, it's likely a 360 browser would look and perform similarly, and the advantage of voice-enabled browsing is pretty clear.

It's almost certain that if these two announcements are true that they'll be unveiled early next month at E3. Analyst Michael Pachter recently stated on The Bonus Round that we shouldn't expect many game announcements at E3 from Microsoft, but to expect lots of dashboard, multimedia and service announcements. With a new console almost guaranteed from Microsoft next year, first party studios will be busy creating next generation software so it makes sense that Microsoft will be tightening their Xbox Live service, which will carry over to a new console and integrates with Windows Phone and the upcoming Windows 8 OS.

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Microsoft Releasing Kinect For Windows Hardware, Launching Accelerator Program

It's clear that Kinect is going to play a major part in Microsoft's future. They're setting it up to be a major component of the future of computer and home entertainment interaction, and gaming is only the beginning.

Now they're releasing a Kinect specifically for the PC to aid developers in their creation of software. The SDK of course works with the Xbox Kinect hardware, but the Windows hardware differs in a few small but important areas.

Simple changes include shortening the USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers and the inclusion of a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals.  Of particular interest to developers will be the new firmware which enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision, with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters.  “Near Mode” will enable a whole new class of “close up” applications, beyond the living room scenarios for Kinect for Xbox 360.

This is one of the most requested features from the many developers and companies participating in our Kinect for Windows pilot program and folks commenting on our forums, and we’re pleased to deliver this, and more, at launch.

Microsoft are also launching the Kinect Accelerator project, which will see them give 10 start-up companies using Kinect for either Xbox 360 or PC $20,000 after a competitive screening process. The 10 winning companies will also get an Xbox development kit, the Windows Kinect SDK, office space, all the resources of BizSpark, technical training and support, and mentorship from entrepreneurs, investors and Microsoft executives intensely focused on making their business a success.

Any Kinect-enabled application on Windows or Xbox that can be a commercial business is valid to apply, from education to healthcare, art installations to gaming, social to interactive play. The deadline is January 25th, 2012 and you can apply now by clicking here.

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The Kinect Effect - Microsoft Celebrates Kinect's One-Year Anniversary, Announces Commercial SDK

On November 4th Kinect will have its first birthday and Microsoft are kicking off the week by celebrating the "Kinect Effect", the burst of innovative and often unexpected applications for the device spanning an array of industries and far exceeding its initial unveiling as a gaming platform.

Microsoft clearly sees hands-free interaction with computers as an important part of our future, and their plans with Kinect are just getting started. As well as the huge support from TV and entertainment content providers coming later this holiday season, Microsoft are set to launch the Kinect For Windows commercial program early next year.

The commercial program will give businesses the tools to develop applications that not only could improve their own operations, but potentially revolutionize entire industries. To date, more than 200 businesses worldwide -- including Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Razorfish -- have joined a Kinect for Windows pilot program to begin exploring the possibilities of Kinect. While no one knows what the future holds, if the past year is any indication, it’s going to be inspiring.

Kinect has inspired creativity inside the company says Kevin Schofield, general manager of Microsoft Research, which played a key role in developing Kinect. In Microsoft Research alone, several people are working on refining Kinect’s existing capabilities and enabling it to do more. For example, researchers are now looking to build a library of common Kinect gestures that Microsoft can share with developers to help their projects move more quickly.

“These things are just on a steady treadmill, they just keep getting better and better,” he says. “The underlying technology is just going to get better, and having the product out on the market accelerates the whole process.”

Read the full press release on Major Nelsons blog, and check out xbox.com/kinecteffect for a look at the variety of ways Kinect is being used today, and how it will be used in the near future.

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Kinect for Windows SDK Beta Available Now!

As expected, Microsoft have unveiled the Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit, allowing anyone to create software utilizing Kinect on their PC. The current SDK is a non-commercial beta, and can be download by anyone for free here. Check out the full details below!

The Kinect for Windows SDK beta is a programming toolkit for application developers. It enables the academic and enthusiast communities easy access to the capabilities offered by the Microsoft Kinect device connected to computers running the Windows 7 operating system.

The Kinect for Windows SDK beta includes drivers, rich APIs for raw sensor streams and human motion tracking, installation documents, and resource materials. It provides Kinect capabilities to developers who build applications with C++, C#, or Visual Basic by using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.

This SDK includes the following features:

• Raw sensor streams - Access to raw data streams from the depth sensor, color camera sensor, and four-element microphone array enables developers to build upon the low-level streams that are generated by the Kinect sensor.
• Skeletal tracking - The capability to track the skeleton image of one or two people moving within the Kinect field of view make it easy to create gesture-driven applications.
• Advanced audio capabilities - Audio processing capabilities include sophisticated acoustic noise suppression and echo cancellation, beam formation to identify the current sound source, and integration with the Windows speech recognition API.
• Sample code and documentation - The SDK includes more than 100 pages of technical documentation. In addition to built-in help files, the documentation includes detailed walkthroughs for most samples provided with the SDK.
• Easy installation - The SDK installs quickly, requires no complex configuration, and the complete installer size is less than 100 MB. Developers can get up and running in just a few minutes with a standard standalone Kinect sensor unit (widely available at retail outlets).

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One Week to Go: What to Expect from Kinect at E3

E3, arguably the biggest event in the video game industry, kicks off this time next week with Microsoft's conference at 9am PST. This is an updated preview article with all of the latest leaks, rumors and previews. Aside from a handful of releases like Carnival Games, Yoostar 2 and Michael Jackson The Experience, Microsoft has been particularly quiet about their upcoming line-up. With an expected unveiling of Nintendo's follow-up to the Wii, and Sony hosting a strong list of first party titles such as Uncharted 3 and The Last Guardian as well as fully unveiling their new portable console the NGP, what can we expect from Microsoft on the Kinect front?




The only internally developed game currently announced by Microsoft supporting Kinect is Forza 4, which we expect will have a big presence at the conference, as well as a 4 hour event on Wednesday June 8th. Crytek's Codename: Kingdoms, which is said to be a first person melee game utilizing Kinect will likely be fully revealed this E3, and is being published by Microsoft.

Microsoft are also publishing several of the Japanese developed Kinect games announced at last years Tokyo Game Show. Project Draco, the dragon riding action game from the creators of cult hit Panzer Dragoon. Codename D, Suda51's upcoming Kinect exclusive title. Haunt, from the creator of Parappa The Rapper. SEGA's horror survival game, Rise of Nightmares and Capcom's Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, the mech action sequel to the original Steel Battalion. Some of these games may well be saved for this years Tokyo Game Show, but there is certainly a chance that we'll see something new at E3; particularly for games closer to release -- Rise of Nightmares was recently rated by the ESRB and is rumored to be released this August, with a listing on EBGames.com detailing gameplay.

We had confirmation earlier this year that pre-production of Harmonix's Dance Central 2 was well under way, and a list of proposed features leaked, so we can expect to see that as well Kinect Sports 2 from Rare. We'll also see a full unveiling of LucasArts Star Wars Kinect game, with rumored gameplay features recently leaking.

Expect a range of Xbox Live Arcade titles featuring Kinect to be shown. Twisted Pixel's The Gunstringer was the first to be announced earlier this year, and it'll hopefully be close to release once E3 arrives. Alongside The Gunstringer, Doodle Jump, Hole In The Wall and Fruit Ninja Kinect could possibly show, and the XBLA port of Angry Birds is rumored to feature Kinect Support.

You can see a full list of announced upcoming Kinect games here. Many of them will likely be playable on the show floor at E3




The more exciting prospect of E3 is what we don't know -- the conference will likely be full of surprises and new games. Microsoft recently announced that by the end of 2011 there will be over 80 Kinect games available, which leaves 20-30 games currently unannounced and, according to Microsoft, they're "going to show a lot of them at E3. We're saving a lot of our cards until then." Sources at Eurogamer claim that at least 10 brand new Kinect games will be shown that "serve the hardcore" and are not sequels.


Rare, as well as working on Kinect Sports 2, are rumored to be working on a secret new Rare project which we could see at E3. We may finally see the fruits of Lionhead's Milo project, though it may be Milo in tech only. Rumor has it the game will be part of the Fable franchise, but not necessarily Fable 4. Big Park last released Kinect Joy Ride, and they are hard at work on a new story-driven game as well as Microsoft's new Zipline Studios in Vancouver who are working on a core shooter that uses Kinect, which will possibly be unveiled at E3.

Microsoft have two other new studios, MGS Soho and MGS Family, said to be working on "high quality, highly experimental gameplay for Xbox 360 and Kinect". It is unknown whether the studios have been working on projects long enough to have something to show. Good Science Studio will likely be ready to show off their new project which may or may not be a sequel to Kinect Adventures, with their lead developer, Shannon Loftis, confirming her appearance on stage via Twitter. And "Kinect Fun Lab", "Kinect Me" and "Kinect Googly Eyes", all published by Microsoft, were recently revealed via Australia's Classification Board and are rumored to be unveiled at E3.

Naturally, there will be new third party Kinect titles too. Frontier Developments are working on at least one new Kinect game, possibly a sequel to Kinectimals (a title which is ripe for franchising given, well, the number of cute animal species that exist). Remedy, having hired staff with experience in motion controls and Kinect, are set to unveil an Alan Wake project that isn't a direct sequel, nor DLC for the first game. Alan Wake: Kinect? We'll have to wait and see. And will Epic finally unveil Gears of War for Kinect?

The rumor of a Sims Kinect game looks like it will be coming true this E3, as well as a Kinect shooter from Zombie Studios and a Microsoft published title from Virtual Toys. Ubisoft's upcoming tactical shooter Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will also utilize Kinect in some way and will be shown at the event. We can expect more Kinect titles from Ubisoft including Kinect versions of Raving Rabbids and Just Dance, plus sequels to MotionSports and hit fitness game Your Shape.




Kinect, of course, isn't only used for games, and the tracking software itself has far from reached its full potential. Kinect is an evolving platform, and already since launch we have seen additional support for Netflix and Hulu Plus, albeit with mixed reception, and Avatar Kinect is set to launch in a couple of weeks. Recently Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda hyped E3 as having "Big announcements about not just new types of products, but also new technology features".

We recently posted the rumor that Kinect was finally going to get object scanning, as well as automatic character creation from a body scan. The rumor was recently given even more credence from this patent filed by Microsoft which details the body tracking process for a Kinect-like device, and how it can be used to scan a person, automatically creating a 3D representation in the game.

Kinect can also run at a higher resolution, and Microsoft have talked about improving upon compression and response time (under 5 milliseconds) to ultimately improve the whole Kinect experience. Does the above patent detail the new tracking process and will we see it at E3?

We may also see more of the interaction between Kinect games and Windows Phone 7, as well as a possible Kinect app store which could also be available on Windows Phone 7 and the PC, allowing developers to scale software for use on Microsoft's 3 screen devices. A slew of Microsoft-published titles were revealed via the Australian Classifications Board recently including Build a Buddy, Bobble Head and the previously mentioned Kinect Fun Lab and Kinect Googly Eyes. We're speculating that these aren't retail games, and perhaps not even Xbox Live Arcade titles, but the first apps for a Kinect app store. If not, then some other new service or feature.

We'll keep you up to date with the latest announcements, as well as exclusive info and footage directly from the show itself. What would you like to see from Microsoft at E3? Leave us a comment below.

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Microsoft Publishing "Build a Buddy" and "Bobbly Head" -- Kinect App Store Speculation

Yet more unannounced titles have been revealed thanks to Australia's Classification Database. This time, two titles called 'Build a Buddy' and 'Bobble Head'. Although we can't say whether they utilize Kinect, they stand alongside Kinect titles recently revealed from the same source such as Kinect Me, Kinect Fun Lab and Kinect Googly Eyes.

We're still unsure what these Microsoft-published titles might be, but they don't strike us as retail games. Could these be the first titles for a to-be-revealed Kinect app store, or just simply upcoming features, services and/or Xbox Live Arcade titles?

With several Kinect-enabled Xbox Live Arcade titles already unveiled, it only makes sense for Microsoft to create a Kinect-only section of its marketplace, especially once the upcoming Kinect SDK allows for XNA and commerical opportunity in the near future.

Could this be one of Microsoft's E3 announcements? We'll find out in just over a week! Keep checking Inside Kinect for the very latest news as it comes!

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"Kinect Me" and "Kinect Fun Lab" Revealed at E3?

Some new names have popped up on Brazil and Australia's Classifications Boards -- Kinect Me, Fusion Genesis and Crimson Alliance. The latter two are Xbox Live Arcade games, with Crimson Alliance being developed by Age of Booty developer Certain Affinity. There was also further confirmation of Hole In The Wall and Fruit Ninja Kinect, both also Xbox Live Arcade titles.

There is no indication as to what Kinect Me is, though it could be related to the rumor that Microsoft will announce the ability for Kinect to create an in-game character based on a body scan. It's unclear whether this means auto-creation of an Xbox Live Avatar or a more realistic model of the players actual body.

A source at Siliconera also claims that 'Kinect Fun Lab' will be a Microsoft E3 reveal. Again, we don't know what it is, whether that's its final title or if it relates to Kinect Me. At a guess, it could be a bunch of fun tools packaged as a Live Arcade title including the painting software which we haven't seen since Kinect's unveiling as Project Natal in 2009.

Not long to wait now until all becomes clear. Microsoft open this years E3 with their conference on June 6th at 9:30am PST.

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Microsoft to Reveal 10 Brand New, Non-Sequel Kinect Titles at E3 that "Serve The Hardcore"

According to sources at Eurogamer, Microsoft will announce 10 new non-sequel IPs at E3 next month. The games are said to "not be obvious" serve the hardcore gamer, so we can assume they're not fitness, dancing or sports games.

Speaking of which, Eurogamer also revealed that in addition to the new announcements, Microsoft will be revealing sequels to Kinect games such as Kinect Sports and Dance Central. Rare are also said to be working on a secret project alongside Kinect Sports 2 that isn't based on an old character. Both Kinect Sports 2 and Dance Central 2 are due to launch Christmas 2011.

This comes days after Microsoft announced that they're planning to triple the amount of Kinect games on the market this year, and with a healthy list of games already announced including Kinect Star Wars, The Gunstringer, Project Draco, Codename D and Steel Battalion 2, it looks like Kinect is going to have a very strong end to the year.

What new games would you like to see at E3? Leave a comment below!

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Microsoft: Steve Ballmer's CES 2011 Keynote

Itching for some new Kinect news? Steve Ballmer is scheduled for a CES keynote tonight and will cover all manner of things Microsoft from Windows 8, Windows Phone 7 to Xbox 360 and Kinect. This is where we should get more details and possibly a demonstration of Avatar Kinect. Stay tuned as we'll keep you updated on all the new details. In the meantime check out a preview of the Kinect keynote below:



You can watch the Keynote yourself live here or here. Starts 9:30 Eastern and 6:30 Pacific time.

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What's Next: A Preview of Kinect in 2011

Kinect has been on store shelves (or perhaps not) for more than a fortnight now in North America, and with its final launch today in Japan, owners can begin to look ahead at what is in store. Microsoft typically keep their cards close to their chest with regards to the up and coming years software line-up. Just 6 months ago the public had no idea what software would be available at Kinect's launch. We didn't even know the final name of Project Natal, as it was known at the time. That said, there are already a fair number of titles announced covering a variety of genres that should satisfy both the skeptical hardcore and the coveted casual markets.

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Kinect Impressions from the UK

Having been optimistically looking forward to owning Kinect since its initial unveiling back at E3 2009 as Project Natal, I felt it both beneficial and frustrating to be, as usual, an outsider looking in on the official launch in North America. With almost a full week of reading and watching reviews, impressions and videos before buying the hardware myself, I got a pretty good sense of what software worked well and what didn't. It was also somewhat refreshing to see sites and forums not overflown with rampant negativity and pessimism because, lo and behold, Kinect actually works!

Upon first setting Kinect up I was instantly relieved to find that I could comfortably fit into the 'Best' area of Kinect Adventures basic set-up procedure. If there is one criticism that has repeatedly reared its head in article after article it is that Kinect needs a lot of space. Some have blown the issue way out of proportion; others have just been unfair. Yes, Kinect needs space, but isn't that a given? You're talking about a system which requires you to play games using your entire body. Not only does that mean that you have to be far enough back for the camera to physically see your body (and I found the recommended 6-8 feet to work perfectly), but you'll need space to bounce around and lean or step sideways every so often. That is the fundamental idea behind Kinect.

With size worries at bay, I soon found myself actually surprised at how well Kinect works. There is no consistent hardware to map into motion on screen as there is with the Wii, and there is no consistent and easy-to-track bright ball as there is with the Move. Kinect has to recognise and guess, and do it very, very quickly! And given that it is a sensor watching an entire room, with every room being different, trying to find and keep track of one or two human bodies, of which come in various different sizes, shapes and colors, and then translate that movement onto a rendered avatar, it does it really well. Better yet, it is fast and smooth. There is no calibration before every game -- there isn't even a mandatory body calibration when you first turn the system on -- you just stand in front of the sensor, give a wave and you're there. You can drop in and out and swap players with ease which, given the complexity of the hardware and software, is pretty refreshing after using Wii Motion Plus and Move, both of which require calibration quite frequently.

The full body tracking works to varying degrees of success, ranging from good-but-janky to great based on the games I have played. Kinect Adventures, as a pack-in demonstration of the tech, is oddly one of the more laggy experiences. The full body tracking works well, but there is a slight stiffness to the movements that isn't apparent when playing Kinect Sports, which appears much smoother. With such differences at launch, it quickly becomes apparent how reliant on software Kinect is, and how much better it can be in the hands of a great developer. Kinect Adventures is still a heck of a lot of fun, and the lag isn't anything close to game breaking. If anything, such differences at launch fill me with confidence with regards to Kinect's future potential. If this is the starting point, I honestly can't wait to see what Kinect will be capable of in one or two years time when developers have truly got to grips with the tech and Microsoft will have upgraded the Kinect firmware and it's ability to track bodies. I already have found it to be consistently accurate and reliable in various lighting conditions, a couple of different rooms and with a dozen or so users.

Does Kinect live up to its promise at present? As a piece of technology, absolutely. The body tracking works, and it works well. It doesn't have to be unresponsive and laggy and it can genuinely give a sense of magic and immersion rarely felt elsewhere. It is fresh and new and the best of the launch games, whilst uninventive for the most part, demonstrate Kinect's capabilities well and most importantly for Microsoft, the titles do deliver to a new market. Having spent a number of evenings with casual and hardcore gamers over the past week, everyone came away impressed and it almost always gave that wow factor. It is different enough from the Wii whilst still delivering what made the Wii so popular and, launching with the Kinect equivalent (and some would say superior versions) of Wii Sports (Kinect Sports), Wii Fit (Your Shape) and Just Dance (Dance Central) has made this a must buy for some of those that played it alongside me.

I can see this being a pretty common occurrence this holiday season. With word of mouth and people actually getting to play Kinect, I expect it to do very well. Even many hardcore gamers that previously scoffed at Kinect have found it to be not only fun, but potentially important for the games that they typically play. With plenty of titles that cater to both markets already announced for 2011 and many more to come, I genuinely look forward to seeing Kinects potential unfold.

Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at several of the key launch titles.

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