Motion control video games are being taken to the next level thanks to Microsoft. While Nintendo revolutionized how video games are played by introducing the Wii, allowing you to move the controller around in order to control the on-screen action.
Microsoft is taking it a step further by introducing an accessory for the Xbox 360 called Kinect. Instead of actually using a controller to push buttons or to move around, your body becomes a controller.
Thanks to a group of cameras that combine thanks to intelligent software, it can see all of your body movements and translates into the game. You can even speak out voice commands because of the voice recognition software.
Obviously, with this new type of technology, we’ll be seeing all kinds of new types of games. Obviously not every video game will start to become Kinect games, but there will be a whole new type of games. Here are some of my predictions for the types of Kinect games we will see:
- Exercise games – Kinect exercise games will probably become popular, and here is why. Unlike a fitness or exercise DVD, Kinect exercise games will be able to not only teach you how to do something, but also give you real time feedback on how well you are doing the exercise. When doing exercises, it is important to be doing them properly, but when you’re just using a DVD, you can’t get any feedback on how well you are doing.
- Party Games – While serious gamers are not big fans of party games, there is a large crowd of people who enjoy being able to play party games. Their friends aren’t gamers and they aren’t big video gamers either, so it’s nice to be able to have games that most people can just pick up and play. Since all you need to know how to do to play Kinect is to move your body, everyone will love being able to join ion and play these games.
