New Microsoft Platforms to Thrust Kids in Popular TV Shows Via Kinect

October 20, 2011 By

At a press conference earlier this week, Microsoft announced two new platforms that will take kids into the world of Sesame Street and National Geographic via the company’s Kinect for Xbox 360.

Launching next spring, Kinect Sesame Street TV invites children to experience the world of Sesame Street alongside their favorite characters, such as Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Elmo. The Kinect for Xbox 360 will allow preschoolers to visually and physically interact with Sesame Street characters on screen while watching Sesame Street episodes. Kids can help characters with tasks, such as finding shapes and counting objects, while playing in areas unique to Sesame Street, such as Elmo’s World. Soho Productions is the developer for Kinect Sesame Street TV.

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Build-A-Bear Enters Kinectimals World

September 30, 2011 By

Build-A-Bear Workshop is working with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 to introduce a new interactive entertainment experience for store visitors. Starting October 11, select stuffed animals sold in all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and at www.buildabear.com can be imported into the new Kinect for Xbox 360 game, Kinectimals Now with Bears.

Each of the four bears will include a special Kinectimals hangtag that features a Microsoft Tag. When the tag is scanned with the Kinect for Xbox 360, the bears are imported right into the game. Kids can then engage in activities, including training, caring for, and playing with their cubs, as well as embark on challenges across two mysterious islands.

Select North American and United Kingdom Build-A-Bear Workshop stores will have Kinect for Xbox 360 stations set up to showcase Kinectimals Now with Bears, along with Kinect-enabled Build-A-Bear Workshop bears.

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Michael Jackson Gets New Singing, Dancing Game

June 15, 2010 By

Ubisoft and The Estate of Michael Jackson have joined together to announce the holiday release of a performance-based Michael Jackson game. The game will feature hits songs, such as Billie Jean and Beat It, as players sing and dance like the pop star.

The game will be available on Microsoft’s Kinect (Project Natal) for the Xbox 360, Sony’s PlayStation 3 system with PlayStation Move support, Nintendo’s Wii, Nintendo’s DS, and PlayStation’s PSP.

This is the first Michael Jackson game to be released since Sega Genesis’ Moonwalker in the early ’90s.

Photo Credit: WiiNintendo

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Get Fit With EA SPORTS Active 2, Microsoft Kinect

June 15, 2010 By

EA SPORTS, a division of Electronic Arts, Inc., announced its latest product, EA SPORTS Active 2 at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, Calif., yesterday.

The game utilizes the full-body motion capturing features of Microsoft’s upcoming Kinect peripheral (formerly dubbed Project Natal) to provide 1:1 movement recognition and voice commands. EA SPORTS Active 2 tracks user’s fitness progress and includes a wearable heart monitor.

PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii version have accessories that attach to various points on the body, while iPhone and iPod Touch versions are also in the works.

EA SPORTS Active 2 will be available in the U.S. on Nov. 16.

Photo Credit: MTV Multiplayer

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