Microsoft is pulling out all the creative stops for the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360. On Wednesday night, New York City’s Times Square hosted a star-studded party for the Thursday launch of the much-anticipated controller-free gaming experience. The Kinect is now available at more than 30,000 retail stores.
Kinect for Xbox 360 lets Xbox players use their body and voice to control games and entertainment. Essentially, the body becomes the controller. The high-tech sensors learn how players move, how they play, hears their voice, and makes them one with the game. The system debuts along with 17 compatible games spanning dance, fitness, sports, racing and family titles.
“Microsoft has seen how well the Wii has done, and they want a little bit of that action,” said Brian O’Rourke, an analyst at In-Stat. “Wii has been the dominant (video-game) console in this generation. Sony and Microsoft have been battling for number two. It appears to me that over the last few years, Xbox sales have dropped off a little more than (Sony PlayStation 3) sales. The Wii is a warning to Microsoft that they need to refresh the console.”
Plenty of Hype
The Kinect for Xbox 360 aims to do more than refresh the console through an Experiential Tour. The tour pulled into Times Square on Wednesday morning, opening its doors to thousands of passersby who experienced the Kinect’s cool factor. Actor/producer Mark Wahlberg then joined in to get millions of kids into the action with an announcement that Microsoft will donate Kinect for Xbox 360 to thousands of boys and girls clubs across the country.
Wednesday evening, hundreds of dancers took to the streets with best-selling recording artists Ne-Yo and Lady Sovereign for a surprise concert tribute to Kinect fans. Finally, at midnight, the flagship Toys”R”Us in Times Square joined thousands of retailers across…