Microsoft India, today announced the launch of the much awaited— ‘Kinect’ for Xbox 360 – a revolutionary sensor that lets you do things that come naturally and gets your whole body into the game. With Kinect: You are the controller!

The last barrier to gaming — the controller — is gone. It lets you use your body and gestures to play your favorite games. Kinect sensor is the world’s first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, Kinect tracks your full body movement in 3-D and responds to your direction.

Kinect with Xbox LIVE also connects you to the largest online gaming community of 25 million members. And lets you share your experience with friends and family over Xbox LIVE and through Video Kinect — a video chat experience that can be enjoyed couch to couch or with Windows Live Messenger.

Accompanying the launch of the sensor, there are 11 Kinect games available across genres: Kinectimals, Kinect JoyRide, Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports from Microsoft Game Studios and 3rd party games like Dance Central, Your Shape™: Fitness Evolved, MotionSports, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Fighters Uncaged, Sonic Free Riders and Game Party: In Motion.

The all-in-one Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures,” is available at an estimated retail price of  22,990.   For those who have an Xbox 360 console at home, the stand-alone Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures for Xbox 360 is available at an estimated retail price of  9,990. The Kinect sensor works with the 45 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in homes worldwide.

Let’s take a look at some features of Kinect:

Key Features of “Kinect”:

• Full body gaming: Controller-free gaming means full-body play. Kinect responds to how you move. So if you have to kick, then kick. If you have to jump, then jump. You already know how to play. All you have to do now is to get off the couch.
• It’s all about ‘YOU’: Once you wave your hand to activate the sensor, your Kinect will be able to recognize you and access your avatar. You can then jump in and out of different games, and show off and share your moves.
• Something for everyone: Whether you’re a gamer or not, anyone can play and have a blast. And with advanced parental controls and movies for the family, Kinect promises a gaming experience that’s safe, secure and fun for everyone.

Here is a video of how Kinect will change the way you play:

Kinect also has 11 game titles:

1.     Kinect Adventures – Players make their way through 20 adventures, navigating roaring rapids and ducking and dodging through mountain-top obstacle courses and other exotic locations.

2.     Kinect Sports – You are the athlete, now you can play 6 full sports games, just as you always have, using your entire body. There’s table tennis, track and field events, soccer, and bowling too!

3.     Kinectimals – Embark on a journey across the mysterious island of Lemuria and build a heart-warming bond with the world’s most adorable cubs — Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger, Cheetah, Leopard, and Black Panther.

4.     Kinect Joyride – Kinect Joyride brings the thrill of stunts into the world of racing, all without using a controller. There are five different game modes: Race, Stunt, Dash, Trick, and Smash mode.

5.    Dance Central – Connect with the Music You Love, from the creators of Rock Band comes the next great music experience: Dance Central. Take your moves to the next level in the first controller-free, body tracking, fully-immersive dance video game.

6.     Your Shape: Fitness Evolved – With Kinect for Xbox 360 and Your Shape Fitness Evolved, you can experience the most advanced fitness technology your way. You’ll be able to personalize your workout, challenge your friends, and share your progress online while achieving real results.

7.       Motion Sports – Race down the slopes of Super G slalom, score a mind blowing penalty kick, duck and run your way to a game winning touchdown or throw punches at the champ as you test your skills in over 40 awesome sports challenges.

8.     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 – Playing as Harry, you are on the run from the opening sequence, fighting for survival on a desperate and dangerous quest to locate and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. There are no more lessons. No more training. This time the danger is real. It’s time to fight your life.

9.     Fighters Uncaged – Become The Ultimate Fighting Weapon! Charge head first into the vicious world of illegal free fighting tournaments, where you will use every muscle in your body to fight your way to the top.

10.  Sonic Free Riders – One of gaming’s greats on the most innovative hardware brings hi- octane fun for ‘riders’ of all ages. This is extreme fast paced boarding action you won’t want to miss!

11.  Game Party: In Motion – Lets players engage in true-to-life motions, using their whole bodies to mimic the actions and gestures of real-life activities. Players will need to make a throwing motion to hit targets with a football while quickly stepping left and right to avoid getting tackled or rush from table to table serving root beer to thirsty customers.

Kinect will be available at 150 large format retail stores across 7 top cities in India (Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune). So, rush to your nearest store or go online at www.microsoftstore.co.in and BUY IT NOW!