Tag Archives: Microsoft Kinect

Kinect, hacked.

December 29, 2010Technology, Videodevelopers, hack, hacker community, hackers, Kinect, Kinect for Xbox 360, Kinect hacks, Microsoft Kinect, open source, open source community, Video gamesScott Meisner

Since its North American release date on November 4, Microsoft’s Kinect controller-free motion accessory has proved to be a boon for the open source community. Over the last month or so I’ve collated the most intriguing Kinect hacks and today is the day I’ve decided to let them live free inside this post. Tinkerers are constantly throwing up their latest creations online, so expect Kinect, hacked to become an ongoing series.

First up we have Yankeyan‘s Super Mario Bros. Kinect hack. Using OpenKinect drivers and NES emulation he’s figured out how to make the plumber’s on-screen movements mimic his physical jumps and arm flails. It doesn’t match up perfectly, but that doesn’t make the hack any less impressive.

Now go on, hop after the break to browse oodles of Kinect hack videos; I promise they are all super inventive! Continue reading Kinect, hacked. →

EPIC WIN & FAIL for Kinect owners

November 15, 2010Hilarity, Technology, VideoEpic Fail, fail, hack, hackers, injury, Kinect, Kinect for Xbox 360, Microsoft, Microsoft Kinect, video game injuries, Video gamesScott Meisner

Kinect for Xbox 360 released earlier this month. And when new super cool tech such as the motion sensing Kinect hits the mass market, you expect some astute attempts at hacking and laughable attempts at practicing to hit the interwebs at some point. This very post presents you with these videos. Let’s start with the hackers. Visualization researcher Oliver Kreylos has discovered a way to turn the Kinect into a 3D video capture tool. He describes the hack: “By combining the color and the depth image captured by the Microsoft Kinect, one can project the color image back out into space and create a “holographic” representation of the persons or objects that were captured.” Kreylos’ demonstrating is embedded above (left); is your mind blown yet? A man who goes by AlexP managed to hack the Kinect’s built in accelerometer in an interesting way; check out his batch of demos after the break.

And on to the wacky EPIC FAIL videos you’ve been oh-so patiently waiting for. Or maybe you haven’t and you already watched my personal favorite Kinect fail in the video embedded above (right). Salivating for more embarrassing moments like this? You know where to find ’em. Ahem, they’re sitting after the break.

Update (11/17): Hacker Chris Rojas has managed to make the Kinect communicate with an iPad. Click here to see the action.

[Via Engadget, here, here & here, here] Continue reading EPIC WIN & FAIL for Kinect owners →

Project Natal is ‘Kinect’, 5 casual games leak too (Update: Xbox 360 Slim TBA?)

June 13, 2010Images, News, Technologyad, commercial, Kinect games, Leak, Microsoft, Microsoft Kinect, Microsoft Xbox 360, Project Natal, Video games, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 slimScott Meisner

With only a few hours left until Microsoft’s press conference at E3, USA Today managed to get a hold of (and leak) the final name for Project Natal. It’s called (drum roll please…) Kinect. Microsoft’s Major Nelson confirms it via Twitter. A number of casual games have been outed, too. Kinectimals lets you play with over 20 different virtual animals; Joyride lets you race with your avatars, controller-free of course; Kinect Sports features boxing, bowling, beach volleyball, track and field, soccer and table tennis; Kinect Adventures is a river rafting game with various obstacle courses to flail your arms and legs through; and MTV Games will make Dance Central. Disney and LucasArts are planned to unveil games featuring characters from their arsenal. In addition, the LA Times outed four games this morning (including Richochet, River Rush, Obstacle Course, and Living Statue) and spilled that “about a dozen more” Kinect-supported games will be unveiled by other developers during E3. It look like release date and pricing details will have to wait until tomorrow’s press conference.

Update: What appears to be a legit Italian Microsoft ad is boasting a new slimmer Xbox 360 console. It was originally spotted at Console-Tribe. The thirteen second spot lists features like a 250GB HDD, built-in WiFi (woot!), and compatibility with Kinect. That last sliver of info makes this ad feel all the more authentic. How could an imposter know about the Natal-to-Kinect transition when news of it just leaked out from USA Today? Interesting, I know. Well good news is that we won’t have to wait too long to see if this manifests itself into something tangible. Look after the break for the commercial.

Update #2: Official press shots of Kinect are out! So sleek and black and shiny. Go ahead, take a closer look in the gallery below.

[Via Joystiq, here, here, here & here; LA Times] Continue reading Project Natal is ‘Kinect’, 5 casual games leak too (Update: Xbox 360 Slim TBA?) →