New and Upcoming Kinect Games Shown at Xbox Spring Showcase, 2012 Xbox's "Biggest Year Yet"

Over a 48 hour period earlier this week Microsoft held a private event to show off some of their 2012 lineup of games for Xbox 360 and Kinect. Unfortunately the event is under embargo until this Monday when details will flood the internet, but what we do know is that several upcoming Kinect games were on display, as well as some new titles that may or may not feature the peripheral.

Vox Games have confirmed that Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, Fable: The Journey, Kіnect Rush: A Disney·Pixar Adventure, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13, Kinect Star Wars, Diabolical Pitch and Minecraft were present at the event. A leaked trailer unveiled a new Forza title for 2012 from new developer Playground Games, Forza Horizon, which may carry some of Forza 4's Kinect functionality too or use it in new ways. And Halo 4 is being shown off for the first time. Likely with a controller, but there's no doubt Microsoft will make sure its biggest game of the year will feature Kinect in some way.

Speaking to Gamasutra Steve Beinner, Microsoft's director of global marketing first party games, says that "Without a doubt 2012 will be a bigger year than 2011".

"It's early in 2012 and we're just peeling the curtain back, but stay tuned," he says. Kinect is something that Microsoft is "committed to and very proud of," and that when it comes to traditional controller and Kinect hybrid titles "the opportunities for us are big in 2012."

Blog TechTalk has teased the event, stating that what they saw "gave us goosebumps"

"It is the development of Kinect that has impressed us on how immersive game play will be going forward"

Read more »

Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure Revealed

Back in October Microsoft held a press conference in New York City unveiling Double Fine's Happy Action Theater as well as new interactive TV experiences from National Geographic and Sesame Street. A Pixar game codenamed Rush was also mentioned, but no real details or footage sprung up. Until now!

In Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure, players play their way through some of the most memorable moments from 5 of Pixar's biggest franchises. Race against time as characters from The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up!, Cars, and Toy Story to solve challenges by becoming a superhero, driving cars, flying and much more.

The game is set to launch March 20 2012. Check out the debut trailer below!

Read more »

Kinect Disneyland Adventures Review Round-Up

Kinect Disneyland Adventures features a fully realised and explorable virtual Disneyland. Players can walk around the park meeting and interacting with 40 Disney characters, collecting autographs, getting pictures taken, earning badges and finding all of the hidden objects and secrets.

There are 12 worlds featured in the theme park with a total of 18 attractions. Each of the 18 "rides" contains several Disney inspired mini-games, and with other attractions that players can take part in such as the Sensational Parade and the Night-time Fireworks Spectacular, this could very well be the most feature and content packed Kinect game yet.

The much anticipated game launches in the US today and Europe this Friday, and early feedback indicates that it could well be the most acclaimed Kinect game of the year.

Disneyland Adventures ambitiously takes Kinect games to the next level. Presentation and controls combine to offer a truly compelling and open world adventure - Telegraph, 4.5/5

The game contains everything you could ask for. Kinect Disneyland Adventures really does make you feel like you are at the most magical place on Earth, so transport yourselves there with this wonder of a game - God Is A Geek, 9/10

I have been overwhelmingly surprised by how well made this game is. I was fully expecting Disney themed mini-games with about 5 hours of gameplay, and now I can honestly say that if you have children and are looking to get them a Kinect game, especially with Christmas coming up, this is the game you should buy them - VGRevolution, 8.5

Kinect Disneyland Adventures is packed full of polished little aspects that make this game a winner. A highly entertaining, well-polished hive of interactive entertainment. It beautifully encapsulates the essence of the beloved theme park NZGamer, 8.2/10

Read more »

Rumor: Kinect Disneyland to be Revealed at E3 Update: Confirmed Disneyland Adventures

Last year at Kinect's E3 reveal, a brief teasing of a Kinect Disney game was mixed in amongst the montage of other Kinect titles. Although very little was revealed about the game, it was allegedly a collaborative project between Disney Interactive and Microsoft Games Studio. 

The project was since thought to be dead, but Twitter legend Superannuation has once again prematurely revealed the games existence thanks to, like yesterdays rumoured reveals, domain registrations. 

We haven't got much to speculate what kind of game it might be, nor what it is even called as Disney and Microsoft seem to be covering all bases but thus far Kinect Disneyland Adventures, Kinect Disneyland, Kinect Disneyworld, Kinect Magic Kingdom, and Disneyland Kinect have been discovered. Superannuation is also insisting that this game will be an E3 announcement, which seems very likely if it exists. 

Check back tomorrow and we'll have all of the scoop from the conference!

Update: The game has been confirmed to be Disneyland Adventures, probably Good Science Studios Disney themed sequel to their Kinect pack-in title Kinect Adventures. The game looks to allow the player to wander freely around Disneyland, entering attractions which start a unique Disney-themed mini game. Gameplay footage can be found here!

Read more »