Posts Tagged ‘Xbox 360 Kinect’

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Microsoft Xbox 360: A record-breaking Sales Result

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Microsoft announced that last week in seven days time, Microsoft Xbox 360 sold more than 960,000 Xbox 360 consoles in the U.S. alone in the U.S. during the week of Black Frida, of which more than 800,000 were sold within a period of 24 hours – the biggest week of sales in Xbox history. More than 750,000 Xbox 360 Kinect sensors were sold in the U.S. – standalone and bundled.

Microsoft’s retail partners are equally excited about our sales performance this holiday.

“We have seen tremendous excitement from customers for our hot holiday gaming offers,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment at Best Buy. “Xbox 360 was among the best-sellers at Best Buy this Black Friday, and is a testament to the continued popularity of the gaming category this holiday.”

Besides, Nintendo also previously pubilshed their sales results in black Friday, on last Friday more than 500000 nintendo’s Wii console were sold in one day.

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Microsoft Kinect 2 Can Read Lips, Recognize Emotions

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Xbox 720 isn’t the only new Microsoft hardware on the horizon. Kinect 2 is on the way, and the first rumored details suggest a system powerful enough to read lips！

When Microsoft finally does make the move to the next generation, it won’t be with just a new Xbox console. Xbox 360 Kinect has been a huge success for the company, and when the Xbox 720 is released to the public, expect a revised version of the motion control peripheral to launch along side it.

Now, the first rumored Kinect 2 details have emerged and paint a picture of a device significantly more powerful than the current hardware.

Xbox 360 Kinect games have gained a significant amount of sophistication over the past year, best exemplified by the peerless gestural mechanics of Kinect Sports: Season Two. Kinect voice recognition has seen improvement, too, and is set to be a major feature of the December 6th Xbox 360 dashboard update — players will be able to use Kinect-powered voice search for marketplace items, Netflix and Hulu content, and more. Despite the strides made with Kinect over the past year, Kinect 2 promises to take the technology to bold new places.

Chief among Kinect 2 claims is that the device is so powerful and accurate that it can read players’ lips. As current Kinect owners are well aware, if the games get too loud, Kinect doesn’t always respond to voice commands. With Kinect 2′s ability to read lips, that should no longer be a problem. But there is more than that: using a combination of facial and voice recognition, Kinect 2 can allegedly determine player emotions. Feeling frustrated by a particularly challenging boss encounter in, say, the Gears of War prequel? Kinect 2 will be able to tell — a feature that developers could take advantage of, for instance, to balance the encounter’s difficulty on the fly.The Kinect 2 rumors, as reported by Eurogamer, come from an unnamed “development source

” who singles out the current Kinect’s USB interface as a major bottleneck for the hardware — one that won’t be shared by Kinect 2.

“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?”

Kinect 2 is expected to be bundled with the Xbox 720. Meanwhile, Microsoft has announced an early 2012 launch window for Kinect for Windows, which will feature a PC-specific version of the Kinect hardware. Clearly, Microsoft considers Kinect a vital element of its plans going forward. The question is whether gamers who have so far held off on purchasing Kinect will be swayed by more powerful hardware.

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How to Buy a Xbox 360 System

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Want to know absolutely everything about Xbox 360 before you buy?There are plenty of Xbox 360 accessories that can extend the overall cost of owning the system,If you’re looking to purchase an Xbox 360, there are a few things you need to know. There are several available versions of the Xbox 360 and some essentials you’ll want to pick up at the store.

Microsoft offers two standard versions of the Xbox 360, newly redesigned last year. The major difference between the two options is the amount of hard drive space inside the box. A more expensive 250 GB model exists, which sells for $299.99. Or you can save a few bucks and go with the 4 GB version, which costs $199.99. If you plan on downloading games or add-ons — and there are plenty that you’ll want to if you’re a big gamer — then we recommend going with the 250 GB version. The extra space is worth the money.

In addition to the standard consoles, Microsoft has several unique bundles for sale. This year, a Kinect bundle is available for $399. The bundle includes a Kinect, a 250GB Xbox 360, Kinect Adventures, Carnival Games: Monkey See Monkey Do, and three months of Xbox Live. A second bundle is also available for $299 without a Kinect. Along with a 250GB system, the bundle includes Fable III, a code to download a full copy of Halo Reach, plus a three month Xbox Live Gold trial.

Our Recommendation

If  XBOX 360 Kinect interests you and you don’t yet have an Xbox 360, go with a bundle to save a bit of money on the included games. If you’re not interested in Kinect or bundled games, go with the 250 GB model.

Optional Items

HDMI Cable:

If you have an HDMI port on your TV (and you should if you’ve purchased an HD-capable TV in the past three years), this cable allows for the easiest set-up and the best possible visual and audio fidelity.

Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor:

Microsoft jumped on the motion-controlled gaming revolution in 2010 with a special camera, called Kinect. It can sense your motion in three dimensions, recognize you, and even understand simple voice commands. It costs $150 when bought by itself, and you get a copy of Kinect Adventures in that box at no extra cost. This peripheral is aimed at new audiences, so many of the games being made for it are family friendly.

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Xbox 720 and PS4 Will Reveals At E3 2012

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Only a few week before CES kicks off in Las Vegas, rumors run rampant about Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all unveiling new console hardware, some sooner than expected.

 

We’ve been talking about the yet-unnamed Xbox 720 and the likely-named PlayStation 4 for a very long time now, with contradictory “reports” and rumors surfacing almost monthly. While the only confirmed new upcoming console so far is Nintendo’s Wii U, the latest insider reports claim that Microsoft and Sony will both be unveiling new consoles at this summer’s E3, while Nintendo showcases the final build of their Wii U along with a new model of the 3DS.

Before getting into the latest, let’s do a brief recap of what we’ve heard as of late on the next-gen console front.

•The Xbox 720 could launch anywhere from this fall to early 2014 and we believe Microsoft will show it off at E3 2012. Latest reports have the device potentially doubling as a DVR with the Xbox 360 Kinect 2 system being so accurate, that it can read lips.

•The PlayStation 3 was generally expected to have the longest life cycle of the current-gen systems, but Sony has made it public that they don’t wish to launch their next platform later than the competition, and some analysts believe the PS4 could launch before the Xbox 720.

•The Wii U is coming this year and we’re all waiting to see how powerful it really is, not just compared to the old Xbox 360 console and PS3 but the upcoming Microsoft and Sony consoles.

•The 3DS had a tough start, but is flying higher now with stronger sales and a friendlier price point. Oddly missing the basic feature of a secondary analog stick, Nintendo launched an ugly, large circle pad peripheral which led to speculation of an obligatory improved 3DS Lite.

The latest on these fronts comes first from MCV who are reporting that their “third-party publishing sources” claim that Microsoft has informed their partners that they plan to debut the Xbox 720 at E3 in LA in June. They continue to explain that Sony has done the same, but that while these two consoles will be showcased, their pricing and launch details likely won’t be.

What this does mean however, is that E3 2012 could be the first time the world can directly compare the big three’s upcoming hardware offerings. Such moves from Sony and Microsoft could put Nintendo is a tough spot in launching the Wii U first, later this year, if the competitor products presented are more powerful or appealing.

This year promises to be a big one, and this just on the hardware side. Are you excited to see what’s next or are you okay waiting a while before the next-gen hits hard?

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Xbox Next Generation Could Function As A DVR

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

It seems that gamers are nver fed up with the rumour about next generation video game console.Some details on Microsoft said that Microsoft’s next Xbox are still slim, but an unearthed patent reveals that the next system could be going after the DVR market as well as Xbox 360 games.

Theories and speculation concerning Microsoft‘s next console (Xbox 720 or whatever it may be called) are still far more common than concrete information, but one patent filed by the company is turning heads. If Microsoft achieves its goal of becoming an entertainment hub within the home, that television/satellite DVR you’ve got may become unnecessary.

With the recent success that the Xbox 360 has found both as a game device or Xbox 360 accessories and as a brand new motion control interface, the developers at Microsoft are obviously not taking their feet off the gas. Already claims of an even bigger and better Xbox 360 Kinect 2.0 are being thrown around, but for the average consumer the future of television on the Xbox is far more intriguing.

The recently revealed plan the company has for its Xbox Live TV service aren’t quite as promising as the rhetoric that had been used led many to believe. In all honesty, Microsoft’s press conference at last year’s E3 seemed to imply a vast catalogue of TV shows that could be paused, recorded, and played back at the viewer’s convenience.

Whether this patent is an accurate glimpse at the company’s plans for the next Xbox or a pipe-dream is up for debate, especially considering just how many cable providers would need to take a massive profit cut to hand over their content to Microsoft. Still, the patent shows in far more concrete and plain terms what the developers of the Xbox 720/Next/Loop have in mind for achieving their entertainment monopoly.

What do you think of combining your TV and gaming channels into a single receiver? Do you think Microsoft is onto something big here, or has their previous support of TV and film content left you with more doubts than faith?

We’ll keep you posted on whatever details arise concerning the Xbox 720, whether it’s TV or gaming-related.

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How to Lose Weight by Using Xbox 360 Kinect

Monday, February 6th, 2012

        How to Lose Weight by Using Xbox 360 Kinect 

When you decided to buy Xbox 360 Kinect for playing, and have noticed that the games increase your heart rate work up a sweat, while also being a lot of fun. Could you use the Xbox 360 Kinect for some real exercise instead of just playing the games?  There are a lot of Xbox 360 Kinect games or Xbox 360 Kinect bundles that include fitness games. Increase your weight loss workout sessions by buying the Xbox 360 Kinect games that have targeted workouts.  

Here are some instructions:

1. Look at the Xbox 360 Kinect games that you already have to see if they have a setting called ‘workout’. For example, Xbox 360 Kinect Dance Central has a ‘workout’ setting that changes the dancing into an aerobic workout. Xbox360 Kinect Sports and EA’s Adventures both have activities that can keep your heartrate up for an extended period of time. While these are aerobic exercise, they do not include targeted workouts, personal trainers that correct your moves or progressively harder workouts. 

2. Buy an Xbox 360 Kinect Fitness game. There are a number that are on the market with mixed results. The ones that were built specifically to take advantage of the Xbox 360 Kinect camera are receiving better reviews than the ones that were made for multiple platforms. The best reviews are going to EA Active, Eye Toy Kinect by Sony, Your Shape Fitness Evolved by UBI Soft, and The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout by THQ. The most consistent reasons that the reviewers give high ratings to these Xbox 360 Kinect fitness games is that they take advantage of the Kinect’s full body camera. The timing of your movements are detected consistently by the camera and the game will correct you if your movements are not correct.

The Xbox 360 Kinect fitness games that are receiving low reviews are, Zumba Fitness by Majesco and EA Sports Active 2. The reviewers point out that the camera syncronization does not detect some movements, requires repeated re-calibration and has problems storing previous workout sessions which require the user to go back to the beginning.

3. Once you buy an Xbox 360 Kinect fitness game, allow yourself at least 30 minutes the first time you use it.  There will be some setup and callibration. You will need to get used to the menu’s and learn how to store customized fitness routines that will make it easier and faster for future Kinect workoutS.

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EA Closes ‘Harry Potter’ Developer Bright Light

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Electronic Arts has officially closed their Bright Light studio in the UK – the developer of several ‘Harry Potter’ movie tie-in games as well as ‘Create’ and ‘Zubo.’

Following the conclusion of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, Electronic Arts has shuttered the doors of Harry Potter game developer, Bright Light.

While the UK studio definitely found success with Harry Potter franchise brand recognition, the actually quality of the games leaves a somewhat mixed legacy for the developers.

Movie tie-in titles are notoriously difficult prospects – even for studios that enjoy a lengthy lead time in production. However, the Harry Potter video game franchise showcased an especially bizarre evolution – as the games, like the movies, attempted to mature with their audience. The result is a mishmash of game experiences ranging from semi-open world Hogwarts exploration to  third-person action shooters with Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation 3 Move support. It should be mentioned that the Bright Light closure will not affect future installments of the LEGO: Harry Potter games – as those titles are handled by Warner Bros. Interactive.

 

Develop reports that EA has confirmed the closing but likely initiated the shuttering process in mid-November (which makes sense given that the final Harry Potter game released months prior) and that various employees have been shifted to other EA studios (such as Criterion and Playfish). That said, it doesn’t sound as though EA simply closed the studio and redistributed resources (which, as of 2007, housed around 100 people) – since a number of employees also appear to have taken jobs outside of the EA system or remain unemployed.

Sadly, this kind of thing happens a lot in the industry – as the over-arcing creativity of a studio is relegated to churning out IP tie-ins. Without any recognizable franchises to call its own and no more Harry Potter installments on the horizon, Bright Light was no doubt an easy studio for a large publisher like EA to throw under the bus.

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Microsoft Sells Over 66 Million Xbox 360 Consoles and 18 Million Kinect Sensors at CES 2012

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

In recently, Microsoft announces that over 66 million Xbox 360 consoles and 18 million Kinect sensors have been sold worldwide.

This year may be Microsoft’s final press conference at the Consumer Electronic Show, but don’t expect the Xbox product line to disappear anytime soon. At CES 2012, CEO Steve Ballmer announced today that the Xbox 360 console has now sold over 66 millions units through the end of December 2011, eclipsing its predecessor by approximately 40 million unit sales. He also asserted that the Xbox 360 was 2011′s best selling console in the world.

In conjunction with the units sold to date, over 40 million user accounts have been created on Xbox Live. No numbers were released on how many such accounts were tied to one unit or what percentage were Gold Memberships.

The Kinect sensor also had a successful 2011. Observers of the gaming industry have seen Microsoft heavily invest in the Kinect over the past year, and it has clearly paid off. Despite the dominance of the Nintendo Wii and the recent introduction of the Sony Move, the Kinect has sold over 18 million Xbox 360 Kinect sensors in little over a year. With the continued push of the motion controller device, including the requirement that all future Xbox 360 apps offer Kinect support, Microsoft is attempting to make the device an essential part of the Xbox 360 (and perhaps the Xbox 720) experience.

Ballmer also confirmed that the Kinect will soon no longer just be limited to the Xbox 360, but will now be officially supported by Windows 7 and Windows 8 on February 1, 2012. Unfortunately, it appears that the Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor will not be supported. Instead, users will need to purchase a Windows-compatible Kinect sensor for $249.99 at www.link4game.com, which will only work with computers running the Kinect for Windows SDK software.

On the bright side, the Kinect for Windows allegedly will permit the camera to accurately see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device, which is a vast improvement over its predecessor and perhaps another argument in support of PC gaming. For those who are not turned off by the price, you can pre-order Kinect for Windows from Amazon by clicking here.

What do you think of these numbers? Should Microsoft continue to focus on the Xbox 360 and Kinect as its primary platforms rather than turning its attention to the Xbox 720?

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Something You Need to Know About Xbox 360 Accessories

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

As one of the leading video game consoles currently available, the Xbox 360 is delivering a compelling and challenging gaming experience. Its enviable backlist and forthcoming line-up of great titles from the world’s leading games designers means that this games console is still a must-have item, even many years after it was first unveiled by Microsoft. Millions of consoles have been sold worldwide, and hundreds of companies have risen to the challenge of producing accessories for the console to make the gaming experience even more exciting and immersive, whether you are a casual player or a hardcore gamer. Here is your need-to-know guide to Xbox 360 accessories and bundles.

A vast array of accessories is available for the Xbox 360, divisible into wired and wireless devices. The most common accessory is the Xbox 360 controller, which comes as standard in most Xbox 360 bundles. A maximum of 4 wired or wireless controllers can be connected to an Xbox 360 at any one time, enabling cooperative play in different team configurations or as four-person single player. You can also purchase USB-port keyboards for use with the console but these are limited to text inputting functions. The Wireless Comms Receiver enables hands-free communication while gaming, and functions in a similar manner to the main control device.

Particular types and genres of game have specially designed accessories that enhance the particular experience that those games offer by making it more interactive and realistic. Special driving Xbox 360 bundles include the Wireless Racing Wheel for Xbox 360, which includes the normal buttons from the controller, plus an accelerator that mounts on the floor and pedals for braking. For the ‘Scene It?’ series of games, a special bundle of 4 wireless controllers has been produced by a third-party company, each with a buzzer pad and selection buttons for answering a question.

The ‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band’ games have been one of the runaway successes of Xbox 360, in no small part down to the attempt by the games’ designers to produce a controller that makes the music experience more authentic. The wireless guitar for Xbox 360, including functions such as strumming, whammying and a detachable panel on the neck. The controllers can be customized with stickers.

Perhaps the most exciting accessory for the Xbox is Xbox 360 Kinect, which enables gamers to make their body the controller using their limbs, voice or special objects. Released in 2010, Kinect, which is now sold as part of special bundles, promises a bright future for Xbox gaming, enabling the casual and serious gamer to fully immerse themselves in the gaming experience in the comfort of their own home.

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Microsoft Launch Xbox Timeline to Celebrate New Year

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

Microsoft have launched a timeline charting the significant events in the Xbox’s history, from theintroduction of first-person shooters to the console generation with Halo, to online gaming over Xbox LIVE and more recently transforming the way people interact with technology through Xbox 360 Kinect.

The Xbox console was first announced at the Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) in 2001 and Xbox LIVE followed closely behind in 2002. The Xbox 360 launched in 2005, and Avatars were born in 2006. Project Natal, first unveiled at E3 in 2009, became Xbox 360 Kinect in 2010. The timeline looks back at the key products and partnerships along the Xbox’s journey and the milestones that have catapulted the Xbox 360 console into the living rooms of fifty-seven million families around the world.

Looking at the platform’s ten year history, the timeline is live now on the offiical Xbox website.

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