14 DAY TRIAL // The video game development division at Microsoft has announced that it will introduce a new line of products that use the Kinect motion tracking system that straddle the line between interactive television and gaming, with big names like Pixar, Sesame Street and Double Fine working on the development process.
The official concept for the new products is “playful learning” and maybe the biggest announcement came from Pixar, which is creating something called Project Rush, allowing children to interact with characters and backgrounds from such franchises like Toy Story, Cars, Ratatouille, The Incredibles and Up.
Children will be able to use Kinect to scan themselves and create characters that will inhabit these worlds.
Double Fine also announced Happy Action Theater, a number of interactive experiences that will serve as virtual toys powered by Kinect.
Sesame Workshop will create Sesame Street TV, which will see episodes of the television show come to the Xbox 360 but also original programming that is exclusive to the Microsoft console.
National Geographic has also decided to create nature focused shows that will be experienced via Kinect.
Another announced initiative is Project Columbia, which will produce interactive, education focused books.
Phil Spencer, who serves as a corporate vice president at Microsoft Studios, stated when the announcements were made, “Creating amazing games is part of Microsoft Studios’ DNA, and with Kinect, we have the power to transform these experiences beyond what was thought possible. By joining forces with iconic brands such as Disney and Pixar, Kinect and Xbox 360 can bring families together more than ever.”
Since it was launched in late 2010 the Kinect motion tracking system has managed to sell quite a few units but gamers have been complaining that most of the games for it were derivative, so this influx of new content might lead to bigger sales and more use for the new technology.