Microsoft Kinect ships November 4 with 15 games [U]
updated 04:10 pm EDT, Mon June 14, 2010
MS dates Kinect controller
(Updated with price leak) Microsoft at its E3 conference put a date on the Kinect motion controller. The add-on will ship on November 4 and will be accompanied by 15 games when it launches. Some of these are first-party games such as the virtual pet Kinectimals or the multi-game Kinect Adventures, but others will be third-party titles such as Ubisoft's Your Space exerciser and Harmonix's Dance Central; Konami's Metal Gear-themed Zan-Datsu and a Star Wars game are also in the works.
The controller works both for games and for the overall Xbox UI, including a special Kinect Hub. Gamers can load titles as well as play Netflix or Zune movies, make updates to Facebook or Twitter, and plan music from Zune again or from Last.fm. ESPN's live and recorded shows -- 3,500 in the first year -- will be controllable as well. Video Kinect provides video chat with talk over either Xbox Live or Windows Live that encourages sharing news, music or videos together.
It will work with all Xbox 360s, ranging from the 2005 original through to the completely new redesign. The console maker has yet to provide a final price for Kinect, but it may come bundled with new Xbox systems as well as separately.
Update: Gamestop has a page claiming the stand-alone will cost $150, in sync with previous leaks.
