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Kinect

Today in Gaming News – March 20, 2012

March 20, 2012 By Richard Jacklin In 3DS, Apple, Mac, Microsoft, News, Nintendo, PC, Playstation 3, Sony, Wii, Xbox 360

Rumor: Epic Mickey 2 Heading to the 3DS

France’s Nintendo Magazine has revealed through a tweet that some kind of presentation featuring Epic Mickey 2 will happen next week. The magazine specifically points to a 3DS version of Epic Mickey 2 called Power of Illusion. Those familiar with Mickey’s Sega Genesis/Mega Drive adventures will likely find similarities between Power of Illusion and the two ’90s titles World of Illusion along with Castle of Illusion.

To make things even more interesting, the tweet also points to a “classic” 2D game that will be shown. Epic Mickey 2 has not yet been confirmed to be in development, but various signs have pointed to such being the case.

Dragon’s Lair XBLA set to include Kinect support

According to Digital Leisure, the publisher of Dragon’s Lair on XBLA, the game will feature Kinect support when released. The publisher says that the Kinect will allow players to do things such as jump over pits and reach for ropes. Those who are looking for a more traditional Dragon’s Lair experience can use a normal Xbox 360 controller as well.

There is currently no release date for Dragon’s Lair on XBLA.

I Am Alive comes to PSN April 4

Ubisoft has announced that their previously XBLA-exclusive downloadable title I Am Alive will be heading to the PSN on April 4. For the first two weeks of its release, Playstation Plus subscribers will be able to pick up the game for 20% off the regular price.

Sony has not revealed an official price for the game, but considering it was released on XBLA for 1200 MSP, we can expect a price or around $15.

The Walking Dead priced, pre-order bonus announced

Telltale’s The Walking Dead finally has a release timeframe and pricing structure. The episodic title will launch its first five episodes for $5 each on PSN, PC, and Mac. Those on XBLA will be able to pick up the game for 400 MSP. All platforms will also have the option of picking up the title as part of a $25 season pass from the Telltale Online Store. The action will start sometime in “late April”.

Those who pre-order for PC and Mac through the Telltale online store will recieve the five-episode bundle for 10% off, putting the price at $22.50. Those who purchase this bundle will also be entered into a contest to be drawn into the fourth episode as a human survivor who is turned into a zombie.

Project Draco’s final name is Crimson Dragon, ratings board reveals

February 14, 2012 By Richard Jacklin In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

If the Australian Classification Board is to be trusted, the upcoming Kinect shooter Project Draco now has the final name of Crimson Dragon. The game, which is being developed by Grounding, features the mechanic of riding a crimson coloured dragon, which lends credence to this ratings board revelation.

The game will feature some form of online play and has received a mature rating for “fantasy violence”. Crimson Dragon/Project Draco is a project from Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi. Just like Panzer Dragoon, Crimson Dragon / Project Draco will be an on-rails shooter.

Source: Eurogamer

Microsoft Sells Nearly 1 Million Xbox 360 Consoles During the Week of Black Friday

November 30, 2011 By Richard Jacklin In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

According to a Microsoft press release issued earlier today, the console giant sold 960,000 Xbox 360 consoles last week alone. Even more impressive, 800,000 of those sales were during the single 24-hour period of “Black Friday”.

To go along with all of those console sales, consumers also purchased 750,000 Kinect peripherals over the course of the week. That number includes Kinects sold as standalone units and in console bundles.

With such impressive numbers it is clear that Microsoft is blowing away the competition. What remains to be seen is whether these sales taper off as we get closer to the end of the year, or pick up steam as holiday wishes get fulfilled.

Source: Kotaku

Rumor: Kinect 2 Will Read Lips, Detect Emotions

November 28, 2011 By Richard Jacklin In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

With motion controls already fully embraced and conquered by Microsoft with its fast-selling Kinect, you might be wondering what is next for the console giant. According to rumors from Kotaku, the next Kinect device will be able to do such mind-blowing tasks as reading lips and detecting the player’s emotions.

According to the unnamed source, these improvements are all thanks to a higher-resolution camera and beefier innards.

“It can be cabled straight through on any number of technologies that just take phenomenally high res data straight to the main processor and straight to the main RAM and ask, what do you want to do with it?”

With the blazing fast improvements of technology these days, these improvements may not be that far out of reach. The real question is not whether the Kinect 2 can accomplish the above tasks, but whether we will see the Kinect 2 coming to Xbox 360 or Microsoft’s next console.

Source: Kotaku

Kinect Sports: Season 2 Receives Free DLC Today, More Freebies Throughout the Year

November 8, 2011 By Thomas Mayer In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

The Kinect doesn’t have the greatest library out there, but there’s a few lookers including the newly released Kinect Sports: Season 2. Even though it debuted on Oct. 25th, Microsoft is already dishing out some free DLC for it.

The “Challenge Pack #1” offers “six new Challenge Play activities” which essentially tweaks the rules for each sport, giving you a new gameplay twist on each:

· Baseball: Frantic Fielder – Oil up your mitt and get ready for action! “Frantic Fielder” for Baseball gives all new meaning to playing catch. Fielding an endless stream of balls from a lineup of mascots tests everything from hand-eye coordination to speed. The more you catch the harder it gets – three misses and you’re OUT!

· Darts: Smart Shot – Exercise the brain and throwing arm simultaneously with “Smart Shot” for Darts. If hitting the bulls-eye wasn’t challenge enough, try competing against the clock with mathematical puzzles that require a sharp mind and even sharper aim.

· Football: Crazy Kicker – As the star kicker in “Crazy Kicker” for Football, you’ll discover the challenge of making a 40-yard field goal with all eyes watching. Account for factors like distance and wind to line up your shot perfectly and score! The crowd and mascots will cheer you on with every amazing goal.

· Golf: Champion Chip – “Champion Chip” for Golf takes the short game to a new level. Chip shots become increasingly challenging from different surfaces, distances, and with natural obstacles like wind steering the course.

· Skiing: Cool Ringings – Swoosh down the slopes with a license for speed, dodging mascots and ringing the cowbells for extra points in “Cool Ringings” for Skiing. Five different courses help players build their ski legs just in time for ski season.

· Tennis: Rapid Returner – Breaking a sweat is easy with “Rapid Returner” for Tennis, where mascots serve up a variety of zingers at increasing speeds to the forehand, backhand, net and baseline. If you’re looking for the ultimate Tennis training game, grab your racquet for and get ready for action.

It’s worth noting that this DLC is sponsered by Braun which is undoubtedly how it’s being offered for free. Future DLC will be offered each month until Spring of 2012, with each release “including some kind of free content.”

Source: Major Nelson

New Kinect Holiday Bundle Contains Downloadable Gunstringer and Fruit Ninja

November 1, 2011 By Richard Jacklin In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

Microsoft hopes you’ll be giving a Kinect to your friends and family this year with the announcement of the Kinect holiday bundle. This bundle will pack together a Kinect and three games for the standard price of $150.

North American bundles will include Kinect Adventures, The Gunstringer, and Fruit Ninja Kinect as its three titles, but the games are said to possibly vary by region.

Source: Joystiq.com

Twisted Pixel Purchased By Microsoft

October 12, 2011 By Thomas Mayer In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

Twisted Pixel has been a great asset to Microsoft, pushing out great titles like ‘Splosion Man on XBLA and the The Gunstringer, an actually good Kinect game. Microsoft saw their potential and has outright purchased the once independent studio.

Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Spencer spoke on the acquisition:

“Twisted Pixel has an incredible track record of innovative, critically acclaimed, and most importantly, fun, games. Microsoft Studios is home to cutting-edge entertainment experiences, and the incredible creativity of the Twisted Pixel team will help drive further innovation around Kinect and Xbox LIVE.”

Twisted Pixel certainly seems excited about the purchase. CEO Michael Wilford states “we look forward to bringing even bigger and richer experiences to Xbox and Twisted Pixel fans around the world.”

It’s hard to imagine that this small indie studio from a few years ago is now part of Microsoft. It feels like yesterday that I was downloading ‘Splosion Man for the first time. Cheers to their future success.

Source: IGN

Suda51′s Diabolical Pitch Gameplay for Kinect (Off-Screen TGS Footage)

September 16, 2011 By Craig Hart In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture revealed that the project formally known as Codename D is officially “Diabolical Pitch”. The title will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 Arcade and feature Kinect functionality. The game takes place in a crazy amusement park with mascot-esque enemies. Players will muster their inner Derek Jeter and use their baseball prowess to take out the enemies. Using the Kinect support, players will throw baseballs, swing bats, catch and dodge projectiles, and various other baseball themed gestures. The game will feature two-player gameplay and is slated for a 2012 release.

Someone smuggled in a camera to the press event at the Tokyo Game Show for a very shaky look at the game.

The Gunstringer Launch DLC Free For All XBL Members Sept. 20th

September 15, 2011 By Thomas Mayer In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

Leave it to Twisted Pixel to make the Kinect worth a damn, but double props to them for this move. The Gunstringer’s launch DLC, ‘The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles’, is currently free for all XBL Gold members. Not in this privileged circle? No problem. It will be free for all XBL members on Sept. 20th.

The news broke via Twisted Pixels official Twitter:

So right now DLC is free to gold members only but don’t let that discourage you (or call us assholes yet It goes free to Silver next Tues

Hard to complain about free. Please don’t try.

Source: Twitter
Via: Joystiq

New Kinect bundle packed with a Child of Eden download code

August 30, 2011 By Craig Hart In Microsoft, News, Xbox 360

Microsoft announced a new Kinect bundle for the Xbox 360 that will include a full game download.

For a limited time (and while supplies last), the new Kinect bundle will still include Kinect Adventures but will also come packed with a download code for Child of Eden. Child of Eden was released as a full retail game in June of this year for $49.99. The game is Kinect enabled but you may also use a standard controller to play it as well.

The retail price for the new bundle is unchanged from the previous bundle and will remain at $149.99 (you get an extra game though). The new bundle will arrive starting next week and will be made available in all Xbox LIVE regions except for Japan, as Child of Eden has not yet released in the country.