One Geek Nation

E3 2011 (Electronics Entertainment Expo) is here , and along with it, some very exciting announcements regarding the upcoming year in gaming. Typically, it’s only the Big 3 (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) who hold press conferences at the industries biggest show. However, this year they were joined by Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. They all presented new game trailers, game demos, and one even brought a new game system.

Microsoft

Microsofts major announcement this year was the unveiling of third party game developer support for their Kinect gaming peripheral. Developers such as Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Lionhead Studios, and LucasArts will all be releasing games that use the Kinect in new and interesting ways. Case in point, Kinect Star Wars, in which you play through the Star Wars universe as a Jedi, utilizing the Force and a lightsaber as you make your way through the game. The twist here is that “You are the controller”, meaning the player will have to stand in front of their TV, speak commands, and make lightsaber and Force motions throughout the game. Check out its trailer below:

Another great example of third party game developers jumping aboard the Kinect wagon was Ubisofts unveiling of the Kinect-enabled Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Players will be giving the game verbal commands and be making gun firing motions in order to progress. Ubisoft demo of this technology was excellent:

Additionally, Microsoft announced that it will be adding live TV and DVR functionality to the Xbox 360. These new features will be made possible by partnerships with leading cable operators, such as Cox Communications and ComCast in the United States. Microsoft will be releasing these new features as part of the Xbox 360 Fall 2011 Update, and it will allow you to control your television viewing via your voice and the Kinect. Simply say, “Xbox home” to get to the home screen, then “Xbox play Family Guy” and you will be watching the episode of Family that is currently on-air. Unfortunately, Microsoft was light on details regarding how this new TV system would work, but you will find out as soon as I do.

The future of the Xbox 360 seems to lie in the Kinect, which is why it is important that so many game developers will be supporting it and new functionality is being added to it. I personally plan on investing in the Kinect when more Kinect-enabled games make their way to store shelves.