Kinect might not be the best Microsoft product from the business side of things, but it certainly made tens of millions of people worldwide happy for many hours. The company sold over 35 million devices over the span of eight years of its existence (2010 – 2017).
Let’s first have a look at what you will need in order to play Kinect Games. You’ll need one of the following devices:
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
- Microsoft Windows computer
Besides that, you’ll need the Kinect device itself; of course the one that is compatible with the platform you are playing on. Connect all the wires, go through the first set-up process, and make sure to follow the guidelines you can find in the manual to avoid any unnecessary complications. However, to play the Kinect Sports game, you’ll need the Xbox 360 console. Unfortunately, Microsoft decided not to optimize it for the other two platforms.
Kinect Sports
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular, if not the most popular, Kinect game ever to be made. It was released the same day as the device itself, and Microsoft managed to sell over three million copies in under six months. Just like any other Kinect game, it has a purple border on the package, meaning that it is a Kinect-exclusive game and that you are not able to use your controller during the actual gameplay.
In fact, all you need is to move your body. Kinect is a motion sensor that registers every movement in front of it, specially made to project in-game where your body, legs, and arms are placed at any given moment. The response rate is 30Hz, which provides real-time reactions. The best distance is six to ten feet away from the sensor, but make sure not to step too much to the sides. Losing the connection is extremely frustrating, especially if you are in the middle of a match against other players.
Controls
You’ll be using your hands for selecting different options, from the very beginning until the game starts. Begin by raising both of your hands to make sure both are recognized by the device. As we have already said, all you need is your body, so make sure to wear some comfortable clothes and make enough space around you, as some games might require sharp movements and swings!
Games
What makes Kinect Sports different from other Xbox and Windows games is that it actually includes different sports. Although the graphics and the fundamentals remain the same for each sport, it truly feels as if you were playing a brand new game each time you switch up the sports. You can play soccer, bowling, track and field, boxing, beach volleyball, or table tennis.
You can start by playing in the single-player mode so as to improve your performance, but nothing stops you from joining an online game and finding an opponent. The mode that came out to be the most played one is the one where you play every single sport available against an opponent, and the winner is decided by the number of individual sport wins.