Microsoft Unveils Smaller Xbox 360 Model, Kinect Details

E3 kicked off today, and Microsoft took advantage of its early keynote presentation to show off a ton of new games and features for the Xbox 360. The biggest news for the very near future is that they're releasing a smaller, revamped version of the console, with immediate availability. It's black, it comes with a 250GB HDD and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi support, and it's priced at $299. Microsoft also put a release date on Kinect, the motion control scheme formerly known as Project Natal: November 4 in the US. It will launch with 15 games, mostly casual-oriented, several of which were demonstrated on-stage. Many new Kinect features were shown as well, such as the dashboard interface, video chat (with support for playing movies both parties can watch), and a partnership with ESPN to provide live and on-demand sports, all controllable with hand gestures and voice commands. (It presently includes college football and basketball, soccer, the NBA, and MLB.) Also notable is a partnership with LucasArts for a Kinect Star Wars game, a fitness game from Ubisoft, and a Forza racing game that uses Kinect and allows players to inspect the cars with an impressive level of detail. Engadget's liveblog of the event has a bunch of pictures from the demonstrations, or you can read a more detailed play-by-play at Ars.

Re:They should've doubled the RAM, too

[Midnight's Shadow]

Who couldn't use more RAM?

And switch out the dvd for a blueray player.

Re:ESPN

[Anonymous Coward]

What is this NHL you speak of?

Is it better use of ice than curling?

Two weeks after Kinect release...

[Anonymous Coward]

Rob Jones, AP Wire. A new health crisis is sweeping the nation as gamers struggle with pulled groins due to the new Microsoft Kinect video camera game controller. "You know, it's really hard to teabag people over and over in real life," said Gary Wachinstein, 22. "I used to do it to all my victims in games, but now my doctor says not to do it more than once a week, or I may never be able to humiliate anyone physically again.". Microsoft has, so far, refused to comment, but sales of Thighmasters are reported to have increased over 7500%.

Re:ESPN

[Anonymous Coward]

What? You're no Canadian! A true Canadian could BOTH put a stone in the house AND cross-check anyone who gets in its way!

Re:ESPN

[RabidOverYou]

> since I live in the midwest now, and I don't get to see my glorious Ducks rule the Pac 10

Maybe you can watch Masoli play at Kansas City Community College.