James Delahunty
14 Jun 2010 0:09
Microsoft has reportedly confirmed that the Project Natal motion sensing system for the Xbox 360 console, first announced at last year's E3 event, will retail as "Kinect". The new name surfaced online on Sunday night with most sites pointing back to a USA Today article that was taken offline but it has since been confirmed.
In addition to the new name for the motion sensing system that Microsoft has asserted will be as fundamental to the Xbox brand as Xbox Live, a short list of Kinect games was also revealed. Kinectimals is a title that will allow the player to train and play with 20 different feline members of the animal kingdom, including lines and tigers.
Kinect Sports is basically an answer for the popular Wii Sports titles with boxing, bowling, beach volleyball, track and field and soccer activities included. Joyride is a kart-style racer title where the player grips an imaginary steering wheel while using his/her feet for accelerating and braking.
Kinect Adventures features a river raft simulator and obstacle course for up to four players. Dance Central is a motion-controlled dance title produced by MTV, and both Disney and Lucasarts have announced Star Wars and Disney characters will be appearing in upcoming Kinect games.
More details of the Kinect motion control system will spilled by Microsoft at the Microsoft Press Conference later today as part of this year's E3. Rumors have put a price tag on Kinect at about $149 on its own, or $100 when included in an Xbox 360 console bundle.
While Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer referred to Kinect (then Natal) as a "New Xbox" at a speech for the Executives' Club of Chicago, the company has continuously emphasized that it will be compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles, and that the life cycle of Xbox 360 is expected to last through 2015.
A slimmer Xbox 360 design is also expected to be unveiled at E3 with leaked pictures of a smaller console and new motherboard doing the rounds. The unit is expected to feature a 250GB hard drive with built-in WiFi.