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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EA Show off Kinect Integration in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13

EA are introducing Kinect to their 3 major sport franchises this year - FIFA, Madden and Tiger Woods. This week they're showing off how you can swing like Tiger using Kinect in what looks to be a deeper implementation than one might expect from motion control in an otherwise controller focused game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 allows Kinect players to fully experience the game of golf with no half hearted mini-games in sight. Unlike Kinect Sports Season 2 players stand facing the TV so that Kinect can track your swing more accurately, looking at the whole body's stance, as well as the speed and power of the swing. You can also take a closer look at the hole using a similar hand-above-the-eyes gesture as the one found in Kinect Sports Season 2. From here the player can put a hand out and control the aim of the shot with much finer detail by dragging an aimer in any direction.

Players can also use voice to select any option on screen using EA's "see it, say it" feature. Change shot, select a club and ask the caddie by simply speaking.

EA have previously stated that last years sports titles lacked Kinect integration as they didn't want to do it until they felt they had it right. Thankfully that dedication and patience looks like it's paying off! Check out the footage below.

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EA Sports Bringing Kinect Support to 4 Franchises

EA Sports have announced that they are bringing Kinect Support to Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Fifa, Madden and another unrevealed franchise.

Although the extent of the support, and how the games will be played has not been revealed, we can expect to find out more information at EA's E3 conference later today.

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