Good start for Microsoft´s Kinect gaming system by Zuzana Zelenakova

Controller.free Kinect gaming system developed by Microsoft for Xbox 360 was launched in North America on November 4. The company hopes for significant revenue increase for this quarter due to Kinect. According to Microsoft´s projections 5 million units should be sold by the end of the year. So far, 1 million gaming systems have been sold. "It's a strong start," said Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft's game unit. "Consumers are loving it." The device which costs about $150 allows Xbox gaming users to play games by using only gestures and voice commands. Apart from the revenue increase, Microsoft also hopes to challenge Sony´s Move and Nintendo´s Wii gaming ! consoles. First projections for the new product predicted 3 million units sold by the end of the year, however, Don Mattrick was confident enough to raise the number to 5 million. "Presales have exceeded expectations," said Mattrick. "People are coming to us and saying this is must-have holiday item." So, the only problem that could emerge is shortages. "We're anticipating that some of our partners will be sold out at points of time this holiday, and that's something we'll do our best to work through," said Mattrick. Kinect´s main innovation as compared to Nintendo Wii and Sony Move is that you have to push no buttons nor hold anything in your hands. Three camera sensors and four microphones is what enables Kinect, thin black box that plugs into the back of the Xbox by the way, to offer user a wholy new playing experience. "We wanted to transform entertainment where technology understands you," said Alex Kipman, director of incubation for Kinect, during a Kinect demo i! n Washington. "It was our goal to merge really amazing tech wi! th a rea lly amazing experience." "Kinect looks at 48 points on the body to figure out what it should do. It always knows who is in charge," he said.

related story (sgx18616): http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101115/tc_nm/us_microsoft_kinec...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with telecommunications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface coupled with free phone calls. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers.