Voice control looks set to be the next big thing to really wow the gaming world this year thanks to a UK-based game developer that recently demonstrated an innovative games kit that allows an entire game to be controlled by your voice.

According to an article on bitgamer Mutant Labs gave a demonstration of the new kit at the Media Sandbox event in Bristol on February 18. It could potentially open the door for game and app developers to incorporate voice control into their products.

The tool-kit, which is code-named Operation Sonic Boom, breaks down ‘complex sound recognition and pattern algorithms into an easy-to-use set of tools and instructions’.

The development team were apparently keen to point out that the kit is not targeted at bringing language recognition to games, but more to use abstract noises to control the on-screen game action. They believe this will have more ‘cross-cultural appeal’.

While the initial design looks to be aimed more for use with the iphone and ipad, Mutant Labs managing director Alex Ryley, believes that this exciting software could be ported to other platforms such as the Xbox 360!

Combined with the Kinect controller this would mean that games could not only be motion-controlled, but sound-controlled at the same time!

This tool-kit is still in development, but looks set to be released to developers later this year….so, what do you think about the future of voice-controlled games?

Source:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2011/02/22/plymouth-based-developer-sets-sights-on-voi/1

Costume change! Selecting the right outfit to showcase those smooth moves is a must for lovers of DanceMasters, the popular game for the Xbox 360 Kinect.  

A recent post on mygamer.com revealed that KONAMI has released new downloadable content for DanceMasters. There are brand new outfits to download for the game characters, including two new outfits in one pack that transform depending on the song that you have selected to bop along to.

DanceMasters has been teamed with Kinect’s motion sensor unit to give users the ultimate virtual dance experience. Players are tasked with copying the dance routines that are performed on screen to the best of their ability.

Kinect motion-sensing technology accesses the standard of the players dance moves through timing and positioning. Hot moves equal high scores.

According to mygamer.com even more downloadable content is due for release in the near future so watch this dance space!

This is a partnership we would recommend that you don’t try out due to the fact that it could ruin your Kinect device…but it does have interesting implications for the future!

Device Magazine has featured a bizarre story about a YouTube user called ‘HirotakaSter’ who has uploaded a video clip showing the Microsoft motion sensor controller for the Xbox 360 Kinect working with an Android device.

We are always on the look out for reports of the weird and wonderful things hackers can do with Xbox 360 Kinect, but according to Device Magazine this concept is a FIRST with ‘nobody in their knowledge’ hacking it to work with an Android device.

So is this the early beginning of a potential partnership between giants Google and Microsoft…?

Rather than try this with your Kinect motion sensor kit, check out the YouTube video at Device Mag.

Do you remember Sesame Street? Well, all your old favourites – Big Bird, Grover, Elmo and the Cookie Monster – are being brought back to life this autumn in a new interactive video game on Kinect for the Xbox 360.

Pitched as ‘innovative, engaging and funny’, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced on February 15, that they would be transforming the cult TV show into the new game called ‘Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster’.  

The game has a living storybook concept which allows youngsters (and adults alike) to join their favourite characters on a journey into the ‘Once Upon a Monster’ world. During a game journey that is filled with an exciting combination of adventures, problem solving, and virtual friendships, young players also learn key life skills.

Parents and children become a part of the magical story adventure through Kinect, getting active through a series of minigames that entice the player to dance, jump, fly and much, much more!

The ‘social and emotional curriculum’ for the game is taken from the Sesame Workshop, a non-profit educational organisation behind Sesame Street. Spliced together with high-quality gaming from award-winning Double Fine Productions, the developers of the new game, ‘Once Upon a Monster’ could be a winning combination.

Are we looking at a second time around big hit for Sesame Street? All will be revealed this autumn when kids and families can look forward to playing together in Sesame Street.

For more detailed information visit: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110215006009/en/Warner-Bros.-Interactive-Entertainment-Announces-Sesame-Street

As regular readers of this blog, we know you are all Xbox 360 Kinect experts, but it never hurts to have a few extra gaming tips and tricks up your sleeve!

When you received your new Xbox Kinect sensor, it would have come complete with Kinect Adventures – the default game Xbox 360 title. It is filled with five action-packed mini-games that can either be played in single or multi-player mode. 

The aim of all these mini games is to rack up as many points (or ‘Adventure Pins’) as possible. Bronze, silver, gold and platinum medals are then awarded depending on the ‘pin’ score achieved.

Well, we all want that gleaming platinum medal, so we are highlighting an interesting article submitted by a ‘contributor’ to the Yahoo Contributor Network that offers some interesting tips and tricks to ensure those high scores!!!

If you want to hit the top in Rally Ball, 20,000 Leaks, River Rush, Reflex Ridge and Space Pop…check out this latest link…

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7704483/tips_and_tricks_to_kinect_adventures_pg2.html?cat=15

It was also revealed that Zune launches in Japan this fall.  We use the Zune HD exclusively here at KinectBlog, does this mean a new touch like Zune HD player or just the services bundled with Xbox, that was not specified?

Fans of the King of pop take note, prolific game house Ubisoft recently revealed a new Kinect title “Michael Jackson the Experience”.  According to their press release the game will allow players to feel a bit of MJ magic by recreating his most popular performances through the players own singing and dancing.

Ubi’s Player Projection technology places the player on-screen and into the game itself, where their body will be tracked so they will see their true movements and steps reproduced in the game. According to Ubisoft this level of immersion has never been seen before.   The game also features a combination of dancing, singing and freestyle moves.   

Some of the Jackson titles included in the game include:

• Bad
• Beat It
• Billie Jean
• Earth Song
• The Girl Is Mine
• Who Is It
• Workin’ Day And Night

Engadget today tells the story of a strange Kinect like console coming from none other than Lenovo.  For those who don’t recall Lenovo bought the entire PC business from IBM in the early 2000′s and is one of the leading PC producers worldwide.  Note the interesting product logo appears to look line an electric stylized human hand.  Look for Eedoo to hit showroom floors early next year.  Will this represent a real threat to the Xbox Kinect?  Only time will tell but we don’t see anyone  trying to copy the Plaaystation Move.  Good sign for Microsoft we think.

An image of the new Kinect Retail packaging has been revealed by top gamer site Kotaku.  This photo reveals a colorful purple and green display which will greet customers this November.  We know that Microsoft is pulling all the stops out and wants to connect Kinect to as large an audience as possible.  What do you think of this display?  Will it help sell Kinect?