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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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!

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Pixar's Rush, Sesame Street TV and National Geographic: Expedition Wild Announced For Kinect

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At a New York press conference today Microsoft made several announcements regarding upcoming Kinect titles. As well as the previously reported Happy Action Theater, Pixar Animation Studios have announced an exclusive Kinect title called Codename Rush.

Codename Rush puts players directly into classic Pixar movies such as Toy Story, Up, Cars, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles. A brief trailer was shown that indicates that the game features a collection of mini games for each movie, similar to the upcoming Kinect Disneyland Adventures.

Microsoft also announced new partnerships with Sesame Street and National Geographic to create new interactive experiences for younger children. National Geographic: Expedition Wild will introduce kids to facts about nature and animals, allowing them to play relevant mini-games along the way.

Sesame Street TV, not to be confused with Double Fines recently-released Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster, allows children to become participants of the show, interacting with a variety of games in between pre-recorded show footage.

Also from the Sesame Workshop is Project Columbia which will produce a series of interactive books, bringing stories to life.

Source: Shack News

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