Last summer Microsoft was presenting a concept to the world, an accessory for the Xbox 360 that was meant to make the popular gaming console more interactive. This accessory would allow gestures, much like the Wii. Upon launch the Wii gained some massive interest from almost any kind of consumer. Gamers found it interesting because it was fun, other users discovered they could use it for working out indoors. For short, it was the perfect gaming console for a family, compared to the Xbox and Playstation that were more focused on hardcore gamers. Microsoft found this exceptionally interesting and decided to invest some time and money into implementing such technology into its own product. Originally known as the Natal Project, the accessory has recently been announced under the name of Kinect. Making use of several video cameras with movement sensors and a processor that can interpret all the gestures the cameras detect, the Kinect can offer pretty much everything that the Wii could, with one pretty important difference.
Games for Wii couldn’t be found in large numbers and the titles you could play were more often than not based on sports or more simple games. The advantage of Microsoft is that it already offers quite a few titles for Xbox. The complexity of Xbox games, now also supporting Kinect will obviously give Microsoft’s gaming system a serious advantage. Microsoft has also recently announced that it will place a $150 price tag on its new Kinect motion-sensing gaming system. It will also be offered in the package of newly acquired Xbox 360s. Kinect will start selling on November the 4th. It will come with an included game called ‘Kinect adventures’. By adopting this strategy Microsoft is sure to keep its existing Xbox 360 users, and draw the casual players that used to stay away from a ‘professional’ gaming console.
While Microsoft will have the Kinect, and we all known the Wii pretty well, don’t be fooled in thinking that Sony is going to skip this battle. Sony has plans of its own to launch a motion-controlled feature for Playstation 3, called ‘Move’. The launch is scheduled for September the 15th. Like the Wii, the ‘Move’ system is also based on a wireless remote control that you can swing through the air in an attempt to move the things that you see on the hopefully large LCD screen in front of you. For short, the end of this year will bring some interesting new features in terms of gaming consoles. As for the Kinect and Xbox 360 bundle, Microsoft already announced that its price is going to be around $300. This will include the Kinect unit as well as the Xbox 360 with 4 GB of internal memory. If you’re very interested to get your hands on a Kinect, Microsoft already has it up for pre-order here.
