Your Shape 2012 Promises New You in the New Year

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Microsoft and Ubisoft have provided a few more details for its Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, which will officially launch tomorrow, via the new YouTube video (above). The fitness/sports game looks to build on the past success of the Your Shape Fitness franchise and once again promises to help gamers get off the couch and get a little more fit via the Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 360. Never a bad thing.

Your Shape Fitness Official Website

Rush To Fitness From Zumba in 2012

Winter can be a good time to tone up for spring, and Majesco Entertainment Company looks to get gamers fit for the New Year. The company announced this week the sequel to its best-selling fitness video game for Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 360. Zumba Fitness Rush will get gamer’s hearts pumping this coming February with another controller-free dance workout game.

Zumba Fitness Rush promises to offer 42 hot new music tracks, sizzling choreography and a huge variety of new dance styles and arenas, which invite players to dance their way into shape with a fun and proven program. Six Zumba instructors get you moving to the beat, including celebrity instructors Beto Perez, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant, plus new stars exclusive to the Kinect game: Kass Martin, Jason Thompson and Erica Pierce. Each star instructor personally guides players through choreography that ranges in style from Merengue and Samba to Bollywood and Latin Pop. Dance hands-free as Kinect for Xbox 360 accurately tracks your every move. Continue reading Rush To Fitness From Zumba in 2012

EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

While many video games these days are getting gamers off the couch, one game will likely get gamers dashing to get a pair of athletic fashion shoes. The upcoming racing game Need for Speed The Run, which will arrive this November for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PC, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS will feature the iconic adidas Superstar shoes. Additionally the adidas branded apparel which will be available at all adidas Originals stores across the United States. Continue reading EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

Twister Goes Digital With Kinect for Xbox 360

That silly family game Twister has long been a way to get people off the couch, and now Majesco Entertainment looks to do it again, this time with a new “twist.” Majesco has announced a team up with Hasbro to bring Twister Mania to Kinetic for the Microsoft Xbox 260 this holiday season.

“It’s hard to think of a more popular, cherished and culturally significant board game than Twister. I myself have fond memories of the laughs and outrageous fun I’ve had when playing with friends and family,” said Jesse Sutton, CEO, Majesco Entertainment.”Our game introduces a brand new play pattern that is perfect for what Kinect was designed to do. Twister Mania for Kinect is as much fun to watch as it is to play and it’s shaping up to be one of the most contagious Kinect party games released.” Continue reading Twister Goes Digital With Kinect for Xbox 360

E3 2011: Michael Phelps: Push the Limit Let’s You Swim in the Living Room

There are some games that just make instant sense, and then there are the games like Michael Phelps: Push the Limit. In this one players get to try to go for the gold and beyond in a swimming game – pool not required, not included and not compatible.

A swimming game for the living room? That’s right. The idea behind this motion control game is that players simulate swimming, moving their arms to simulate the motion of swimming in the water. The upcoming game utilizes Kinect for the Xbox 360 and from the scenes on the show floor it could get gamers’ hearts pumping. It features a variety of unique settings – but it isn’t exactly the career path that Phelps took. We figured he swam in school pools, city pools and Olympic pools, not in outdoor pools on icy mountain ranges. But that’s artistic license.

This is one that could be hit or miss, or dare we say sink or swim. Michael Phelps: Push the Limit is out now exclusively on Kinect for Xbox 360 from 505 Games.

Video after the jump: Continue reading E3 2011: Michael Phelps: Push the Limit Let’s You Swim in the Living Room

E3 Preview: 2011 Kinect Games (Announced and Expected)

This could be the year of the Kinect for the Xbox 360. 123KINECT has compiled a list of the games we hope to check out at this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

E3 2011 Kinect Games Announced:

Champion Jockey
Forza 4
Hulk Hogan’s Main Event (Over the Top Wrestling?)
Michael Phelps: Push the Limit
Mind ‘n Motion (Left Brain Right Brain?)
Rise of Nightmares
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster
Star Wars Kinect
Take Shape (Harley Pasternaks Hollywood Trainer?)
The Gunstringer (XBLA)
The Sims 3 Pets
UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System
DaVinci Kinect (Microsoft Surface application ported to Kinect) NEW

 

Continue reading E3 Preview: 2011 Kinect Games (Announced and Expected)

TV Show Inspires Game That Will be on TV Show

In a unique twist, THQ’s popular video game The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout video game will be actually make it’s the show that inspired it. The game will be featured on tonight’s episode of the hit NBC series, with an all-new, downloadable endurance challenge. Following the episode, owners of the game will be able to download the “TV Show Challenge” content for free for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect.

During the episode, five contestants will participate in four challenging rounds of exercise moves, lasting five minutes each, taken directly from the TV Show Challenge. Contestants’ scores will be based on how well they perform the exercises in the time allotted.

As an added bonus, for 24 hours following the May 10 episode, the “Pilates” pack will be available free (a $4.99 value) on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout.

The Biggest Loser Official Video Game Website
The Biggest Loser Official Website

Get Moving with Kinect

Today Microsoft released the Kinect for Xbox 360 in stores. This is the device that uses motion capture to maneuver within games, replacing the controller. This means you pretty much have to play games standing up and in many cases pull off full body movements to play.

Here are a group of games that are also now in stores in conjunction with the release of Kinect.

  • Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (Ubisoft)
  • MotionSports (Ubisoft)
  • Dance Central (MTV Games)
  • Adrenalin Misfits (Konami)
  • Game Party: In Motion (Warner Home Video Games)
  • Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Majesco)
  • Sonic Free Riders (Sega)
  • Michael Jackson The Experience (Ubisoft)
  • Kinect Sports (Microsoft)
  • Deca Sports Freedom (Hudson Soft)
  • EA Sports Active 2.0 (EA)
  • The Biggest Loser (THQ)
  • Dance Masters (Konami)
  • Michael Phelps: Push Limit (505 Games)
  • Get Fit with Mel B (Deep Silver)
  • Kinect Joy Ride (Microsoft)

Microsoft Kinects with Exercisers

The Xbox 360 and Kinect get you moving without picking up a controller.

Don’t call it a controller. At E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) last week Microsoft widely showcased its controllerless motion interface previously called Project Natal. This means games will continue to get active. Even more than with the Nintendo Wii remote, games using Microsoft’s Kinect won’t be played sitting down. The Kinect is a hands-free controller that captures your moves and sond through a camera placed in front of the TV. Its mount follows your movements so if you’re playing a really active game, it will still keep up with you. There’s plenty of games in development for the device due out by holiday season.

One category expected to excel is fitness games. EA Sports Active, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Kinect Sports and Zumba Fitness are just a few. In addition, you have Kinect Adventures where you’ll do activities like block oncoming balls, and steer rafts on water rides, which involve full-body movements. Dance Central from MTV and Harmonix is another one that will have you moving to the beat. We’re on the lookout for heart pounding cardio and strength training fitness games using the Kinect on the horizon and will report here.