Kinect Launches, Receives Lukewarm Reviews

From DailyTech: Microsoft's long-awaited motion sensing accessory for the Xbox 360, Kinect, is finally here. Ex-Microsoft employee Robbie Bach, who helped design the device, previously stated that Kinect (formerly Project Natal) represents a "mid-life" kicker for the console. It also represents a not-so-subtle admission that Nintendo's Wii motion controls stole the show when it came to the latest round of console wars.

While clearly an attempt to steal the Wii's thunder, Kinect's closest competitor is the recently launched Sony Playstation 3 Move. Kinect costs $149 USD as a standalone device -- the same price as a Move bundle and extra controller. You can also get a Kinect as part of a new $299 4GB Xbox 360 bundle (Sony's Move bundle, with two controllers is $460 USD).

Unlike the Move or Wii Microsoft's controller has no buttons. It relies on a 640x480 central VGA RGB camera and two adjacent cameras to "see" you and track your movements. Lighting is important -- Microsoft recommends dimmer lighting. The system also has four microphones to properly pick up whatever grunts or groans you happen to make.

In order to ...err connect Kinect, so to speak, you can conveniently plug the device into the new Kinect port on the revised Xbox 360 hardware which provides it with power and a connection to the console. On older consoles you must plug-in an AC adapter for power and a USB connector to attach the console to the device.

Wii has Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, Playstation 3 has Sports Champions, and the Xbox 360 now has Kinect Sports. (Note a trend?)

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