This week Microsoft kicked off the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles with the announcement of the Kinect Hub, which could possibly forever change the way you play games and access content in the living room. The new system, which allows players to pause video, selecte screens and of course play games simply by waving their hands will be further integrated into Xbox Live, as well as Windows Mobile 7. Things will get Kinect-ed November 4, 2010.
The fun won't be limited to just games either, as Microsoft announced that it will be partnering with ESPN to bring more than 3,500 live sporting events, most of them in HD, to the Xbox 360 video game console through the Xbox Live service. This will also take advantage of the Kinect support, where fans can ask to see replays and pause action, simply by voicing the commands - ala, "Xbox: replay." Fans will also be able to access scores, statistics and video highlights from ESPN.com without the need to leave the live broadcast. This service will be available to all Xbox Live Gold members with no additional cost.
Game On
On the game front Kinect will also offer players the ability to control the action sans any actual controller. During the press conference a variety of types of games were shown, including Ubisoft's Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, the latest fitness game. This game uses the Kinect camera to provide a rough image of the user's body along with a virtual trainer to let gamers actually get their butts off the couch and get a little more fit! Harmonix, the developer of the popular Rock Band series also showed off its latest music rhythm-based game, Dance Central. While plenty of games have let you bust a move, this one - which takes advantage of the Kinect technology - actually tracks your full arm movement, rather than just having you bounce on a mat. More than 15 titles will be available for the Microsoft Kinect platform this November.
And for the uber geek, Microsoft could only offer a sneak peak of what was yet to come. Microsoft's Phil Spencer announced that the company has an exclusive arrangement with LucasArts to bring a Star Wars game out for next year. Players will be able to make their Jedi-like motions in the comfort of their living room - let's just hope they don't try any of those crazy back flips (they might slip and break their Xbox).
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