Back in June, Microsoft enticed gamers with pre-orders and pricing details pertaining to the Kinect for Xbox 360. The following month further added to their enthusiasm as the company announced an Xbox 360 Kinect console bundle comprising of the 4GB system, Kinect sensor and a copy of the Kinect Adventures game. Now players strewn across the United States need not wait with bated breath as the controller-free sensor already made its way to over 30,000 retailers last week.
The newly introduced device enables gamers to indulge in various tantalizing titles through the use of voice and body gestures without the need of wielding any sort of controller. The holiday season plays host to 17 Kinect games that covers various genres such as sports, dance, racing and fitness as well as family-oriented titles. At the launch of the Kinect, actor/producer Mark Wahlberg revealed that Microsoft is set to donate the offering to Boys & Girls Clubs located across the nation.
“Kinect transforms entertainment and introduces Xbox 360 to millions of new people — families, friends and people of all ages,†commented Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Years of research and a team of engineers and artists have created something approachable, simple and affordable that everyone can enjoy.â€
“There’s no question that Kinect is going to be one of the hottest holiday gifts of 2010,†stated Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy and content director of TimetoPlayMag.com. “This is active, engaging play that lets the whole family have fun together. Simple for players and elegant in the execution, this is a revolutionary product with something for everyone — games, movies, music — all controller-free.â€
With the inclusion of this device, the living room instantaneously gets transformed into a social playground, sports arena or movie theater, according to the company. Further appealing to Xbox Live members, they can control music, movies and live sports from ESPN with just a flick of the wrist and hand or voice. These players can also connect with friends and family via the Xbox Live and Video Kinect.
The all-in-one Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect can be picked up for $299.99 (approx. Rs. 13,322) while the stand-alone Kinect for Xbox 360 and ‘Kinect Adventures’ game together bears a cost of $149.99 (approx. Rs. 6,661). Already making waves in the US, the device will unveil in Europe tomorrow.
