Kinect games from E3 - photos

Will the Kinect be worth its launch price? It's hard to tell from the games shown so far.

Scott Stein

June 15, 2010 8:23 a.m. PT

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Kinectimals

Hereafter to also be remembered as "Skittles: the game" by those who saw the keynote, the demo consisted largely of a little girl playing with a tiger named Skittles. This is Microsoft's virtual pet game: 40 animals, 30 "unique activities," and a lush landscape that looked a little bit like Viva Pinata, but more realistic. Virtual hand motions can pet the animal and interact. This seems to make more sense as a download than as a more expensive disc-based game.

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Kinectimals

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Kinectimals

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Kinect Sports

A shameless mimic of Wii Sports, Microsoft's will feature soccer, bowling, track and field, ping-pong, boxing and volleyball. The 200-meter hurdle event seemed impressive, but only required running in place. How will other sports work without a controller?

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Kinect Sports

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Kinect Sports

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Kinect Joy Ride

Last year's free racing game became this year's Kinect kart racer. Virtual car controls seem like a challenge to do well, but the rest feels like Microsoft's version of Mod Nation Racers.

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Kinect Adventures!

The demo featured two players cooperatively steering a raft down arcade-like rapids, standing, leaning and jumping to collect coins. That seemed amusing, but who knows what the rest of the game consists of?

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Kinect Adventures!

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Kinect Adventures!

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Your Shape

Ubisoft's slick-looking Kinect exercise program had a Minority Report feel and a flashy trailer that didn't explain how workouts would function. The body-sensing technology does seem surprisingly robust.

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Your Shape

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Your Shape

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Your Shape

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Your Shape

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Kinect launch lineup

The 15 launch games for Microsoft's Kinect, available on November 4.

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Dance Central

Harmonix announced a new dance game compatible with Rock Band music tracks and using the Kinect. Could this be the next Dance Dance Revolution? Hard to say right now, but Harmonix has a heck of a track record.

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Dance Central

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Kinect Star Wars

Lucasarts' showcase title seemed dangerously close to being a swordplay arcade game, with stormtroopers and even Darth Vader approaching you and your virtual lightsaber. This might be more of a lightsaber "shooting gallery" than a full-flown action game. Despite the pitch, it wasn't as impressive as it sounds.

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Kinect Forza

Microsoft offered a glimpse at future Forza connectivity with the Kinect, showing yet another virtual steering-wheel driving game. Our concerns about accuracy in split-second situations remain unassuaged.