Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360

For all of the foreboding talk I have about 'the Future,' and what it will do to our bodies and minds as humans, this is honestly some of the coolest shit I've ever laid eyes on. I thought that we'd reached somewhat of a plateau in terms of interactive gaming when the Nintendo Wii came out in 2006, where we were actually controlling the game with ourselves, rather than using a 'controller' in the traditional sense. Microsoft has shattered that mold at E3 (the world's biggest gaming conference) with the unveiling of Kinect for Xbox 360. Last year, I previewed Kinect, but it was known as Project Natal at that point. It still talked about motion sensing, as well and motion recognition, but less than a year later, Kinect has surpassed everything I could have expected.

Microsoft describes it as a 'controller-free gaming and entertainment experience' that boasts 'a natural user interface using gestures, spoken commands, or presented objects and images'. It uses cameras and infrared light emitters to 'see' what you're doing and transpose it with what is going on in the video game or application. In laymen's terms, that means as you move and act and speak and interact with other players, Kinect is able to track those actions and translate them into a gaming experience. The possibilities for such technology are endless!! The new hardware will be like a virtual touchscreen, where you can access all of Xbox 360's functionalities. In addition to that, new home theater software will come with Kinect, enabling you to access ESPN (see below), movies, and TV shows all from the 360. Last but not least, we've got to discuss the games that come with this new technology. First up is Kinect Adventures, which is like a virtual obstacle course (see below). They're also developing Kinect Sports, DDR for Kinect and Kinectimals (see below), which is like a Tamagotchi for the 21st century. Kinect, and the new, slimmer Xbox 360 will be available starting this Novemeber. I, for one, will be copping because this is simply epic. Check out some videos and look out for more titles coming for the Microsoft Kinect...

ESPN for Kinect


Kinect Adventures


Kinectimals

Microsoft Laughs at the iPhone in 2007

They say (can we point these 'they' people out one day?) he who laughs last, laughs best. It's painfully ironic that Steve Ballmer laughed at the iPhone in 2007. When the Man fools himself into thinking that he's smarter than he really is, the masses usually reap the benefits. In this case, mankind got the iPhone. That said, I wonder how hard Steve Jobs has been laughing for the past two years...