Home Gaming Avatar Kinect turns your Xbox Avatar into an online chatting marionette

Avatar Kinect turns your Xbox Avatar into an online chatting marionette

1 min read
11

Let’s face it: Microsoft is not going to let Kinect lose momentum. The sensor got released in November last year and has already sold over eight million units worldwide. Over the next couple of months we can expect a ton of applications and features that make use of the peripheral. One such online application is Avatar Kinect, which just got announced at Microsoft’s keynote during CES 2011.

Balding Microsoft boss, Steve Ballmer introduced the application through his own Xbox 360 Avatar, which is also balding. The application allows Xbox 360 users to chat online with numerous friends in a virtual reality setting. The chat program will come with fifteen different sets, but that’s not the exciting part. The best bit is that Kinect will track facial expressions and hand gestures, which means your Avatar really does turn into an online puppet. Full video after the jump.

[Youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DujMF_zJqPc[/Youtube]

The Kinect application will be free to download but will require an Xbox Live Gold membership to make use of. No word on whether or not it will be available on local Xbox Live, but if it is then we can expect it around our autumn 2011.

Last Updated: January 6, 2011

11 Comments

  1. This reminds me of the 70’s Show and if the Kinect can pick up had gestures and real world items it would be really interesting.

    Reply

  2. Gavin Mannion

    January 6, 2011 at 14:25

    Most of that doesn’t interest me at all… but the fact that it can track facial expressions is exciting.

    Reply

  3. NiteFenix

    January 6, 2011 at 15:23

    Aweskims!

    Reply

  4. Kohana

    January 6, 2011 at 21:42

    Cool! I’d like to try that. First to get a Kinect, then I just might. ^_^

    Reply

  5. lans

    January 6, 2011 at 23:55

    I KNOW WHAT THIS FORUM NEEDS

    Reply

  6. lans

    January 6, 2011 at 23:55

    I WILL GIVE YOU JUSTICE!

    Reply

  7. lans

    January 6, 2011 at 23:56

    TOMMOROW WE LAUNCH THE GREATEST MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN OUR HISTROY

    Reply

  8. lans

    January 6, 2011 at 23:57

    THE GAMING WORLD IS IN DISSARY!

    Reply

  9. lans

    January 6, 2011 at 23:57

    VIVA KILLZONE 3
    WE’VE COME….TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED!!!

    THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!
    FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      January 7, 2011 at 05:55

      And here I was worried that you would disappear once GT5 was released. Glad to see you are back

      Reply

  10. Banana Jim

    January 7, 2011 at 11:19

    And the avatars are glued to their seats (irony) to stop you from dry-humping the air and causing a scene on Avatar Kinect 🙁 This could have been awesome, if they just copied PS Home and allowed you full control of your avatar.

    This is as disappointing as their arcade room offering…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Microsoft Replacing 1 vs 100 With Full House Poker

Remember how 1 vs 100 was going to revolutionise the way people spend their evening as wel…