Microsoft made it real this morning: 17 is the magic number. That’s how many titles will be available for Kinect when it launches in a few weeks, on November 4th. Well, okay, so not all 17 will be available on the 4th — only twelve of them will be — but the rest are considered part of Kinect’s “launch portfolio,” aka games available during Kinect’s initial launch window.
It’s interesting to note that there are no less than 4 exercising games, and 2 dancing games.
Here’s a full breakdown.
Kinect Adventures: comes with the Kinect device. Available November 4th.
Kinectimals: $49.99 standard edition, $59.99 limited collector’s edition (comes with a plush toy animal that unlocks a new animal you can play with in the game. Available November 4th.
Game Party In Motion: $39.99. Available November 18th.
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 The Videogame: $49.99. Available November 16th.
Your Shape Fitness Evolved: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Dance Central: $49.99. Available November 4th.
The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout: $49.99. Available November 4th.
DanceMasters: $49.99. Available November 4th.
EA Sports Active 2: $99 including heart rate monitor. Available November 16th.
Zumba Fitness: $49.99. Available November 18th.
Kinect Sports: $49.99. Available November 4th.
MotionSports: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Deca Sports Freedom: $39.99. Available November 18th.
Kinect Joy Ride: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Adrenalin Misfits: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Fighters Uncaged: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Sonic Free Rider: $49.99. Available November 4th.
Yuck. I mean I expected this to be a causal gamer release, but MS sure is dropping the ball for its core audience. I wonder. Gears of War will be concluded with part 3. Halo Reach is the last Bungie Halo title. While Halo 4 is being developed, there is no guarantee that Industry 343 will be able to produce something worthwhile. Fable 3 is now out…and although they plan 5, I can’t seem them pushing one out so quickly. Alan Wake wasn’t too bad…despite outdated mechanics. Alan Wake 2 should be awesome. But Crackdown 2 was terrible. And MS has only been pushing kinect, kinect, kinect. They’ve geared it to a casual audience and have ignored their core audience along the way. What happened to MS internal, 1st party studios? No new IPs? No new exclusives? Crytek is making Kingdoms, but we have no idea what in the world that even is. In the meantime, the PS3 has Heavy Rain, Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid, Demon Souls, Infamous, Resistance, KillZone, The Last Guardian, and now they are getting Mass Effect 2. And all MS responds with is a weak lineup to go alongside unproven technology. Joy.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen of it so far. Some of the games look interesting.
The kinect system is amazing. There can’t be more than a sixteenths of a second delay between my motion and the onscreen response.
It like actually being there.
The technology is sound.:)
I’m wore out from over an hour of jumping, dodging, reaching, etc, that was good exercise but never felt like it. :)