Xbox One and Kinect at E3 2013

Microsoft kicked off E3 2013 earlier today with a press conference heavily emphasizing games for the Xbox One. While Kinect itself took a backseat to more traditional gameplay, it's expected that it will play some part in most, if not all, first party titles.

Prior to the conference itself Rare unveiled Kinect Sports Rivals, an Xbox One launch title that sees the popular franchise brought to next gen with 6 sports, including some favourites from the first two games. Climbing, Soccer, Wake Racing, Bowling, Target Shooting and Tennis will utilize the new Kinect for advanced motion gameplay, including the ability to scan yourself into the game to play alongside friends via the cloud. Check out the trailer below.
 

There were also glimpses of Kinect in new titles including Project Spark, which allows players to create and design their own game using a combination of Kinect voice control, Smartglass and a controller. The latest game in the open world zombie killing franchise, Dead Rising 3, will have zombies reacting to sounds in your environment as well as allowing the player to control their posse or taunt the enemy using voice. The Witcher 3 is also confirmed to use Kinect voice recognition for spell casting and management.
Two Kinect games previously announced for the Xbox 360 also made an appearance having moved to the Xbox One. The infamous Ryse from Crytek was finally shown and will use Kinect in combination with a controller, and Crimson Dragon from the creator of Panzer Dragoon makes a reappearance, retaining its Kinect controls.

Of course Kinect dashboard integration is ever present, with a new demonstration showing Twitch support allowing gamers to instantly stream their gameplay live across the internet, as well as share their favourite moments using voice control and Xbox One's new Upload Studio.

Other exclusives announced for the Xbox One include Respawn Entertainment's TitanFall, a first person shooter from the creators of Call of Duty featuring mech robots, a new edition of Minecraft featuring bigger worlds and expanded multiplayer support, Rare's re-imagined classic fighter Killer Instinct and Sunset Overdrive, a comical and bright shooter from Insomniac.

Finally Microsoft announced launch pricing for the Xbox One which will be hitting stores this November for $499 in the US and €499/£429 in Europe.

Expect more Kinect and Xbox One news as E3 continues throughout the week, including a look at new third party titles like Harmonix's new Disney-licensed Kinect rhythm game Fantasia: Music Evolved and more.

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No Kinect Support At Minecraft Launch

Minecraft will launch later this Spring on Xbox Live Arcade without Kinect support. Revealed at last weeks Xbox Spring Showcase, Eurogamer has confirmed that the game will launch at version 1.6.6 of the game, and it will gradually be updated via patches to match its PC counterpart. One of these patches will provide Kinect support for the game.

IGN have also confirmed that the game will feature 4 player local co-op and 8 player co-op via Xbox Live.

It's still unclear how exactly Kinect will be utilized, with the developers only saying that they had to make sure that they do not mess it up.

"Minecraft's so dear to so many people that we had to nail it on a controller, and on Xbox."

Disappointing news for Kinect fans, but a developer willing to spend more time making sure they get it right is never a bad thing. Check back later for more news from last weeks Xbox event.

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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"

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Minecraft for Xbox 360 Previewed Next Month

After its reveal at E3 earlier this year, Microsoft and Mojang have stayed fairly quiet about the Xbox Live Arcade version of Minecraft due next spring. Fortunately we don't have to wait much longer to get a peak, as Microsoft will be previewing the game at Minecon next month.

In a blog post, Mojang's managing director Carl Manneh explains how they want to keep the same core PC experience whilst ensuring that the game fits its new platform. The game is being ported by 4J Studios, who previously ported Perfect Dark and Banjo Kazooie to Xbox Live Arcade, under the coordination of Notch, the creator of Minecraft.

Minecraft's Kinect features still remain a mystery, and it's unclear if they'll feature at Minecon next month.

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Minecraft With Kinect Coming Exclusively to Xbox 360

Microsoft announced at their E3 conference today that Minecraft, the hugely successful and much-imitated sandbox block-building game is coming to consoles exclusively to the Xbox 360 with Kinect this Winter.

Although no gameplay was detailed, it was announced that the game will feature Kinect support. Whether that means gesture support for hacking at blocks, full control for movement around the world, or other unique features such as the Minecraft capture Kinect hack seen above is unclear. The game will also support the 360 traditional controller.

Hopefully more details will be revealed soon!

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