Kinect Adventures!

Kinect Adventures
Developer(s)	Good Science Studio
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Genre(s)	Adventure / Sports game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer

Kinect Adventures is a 2010 sports video game for the Xbox 360, which utilizes the Kinect motion camera and is included as a pack-in game with the device. It was officially unveiled at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The game is a collection of five adventure and sports minigames and was developed by Good Science Studio, a subsidiary of Microsoft Game Studios.

Gameplay

Kinect Adventures uses full body motion to allow the player to engage in a variety of minigames, all of which feature jump-in, jump-out multiplayer play. Each minigame lasts about three minutes. While most of the minigames are co-operative in two player mode, Reflex Ridge is a competitive game. The game also supports Xbox Live multiplayer. At many points during the game, Kinect's RGB camera takes photos, which are shown to the player(s) and saved to a storage device. These can then be viewed within the game, with the option of uploading these to a private repository on Kinectshare.com and downloaded to a computer or uploaded to social networking sites.

The object of all the minigames is to get the highest number of adventure pins, which are collected in different ways. Adventure pins earn the player(s) medals which, in story mode, affect progression. Medals can be bronze, silver, gold and platinum, in order from least to most pins needed to acquire each.

As a pack-in game, Kinect Adventures also contains features which aid users in proper set-up and use of the Kinect sensor.

Game types

• 20,000 Leaks

In 20,000 Leaks, the player's avatar is in a glass cube underwater. The player positions his or her limbs and head to plug cracks as crabs, fish, and bosses such as sharks and swordfish cause cracks and holes in the cube. As difficulty increases, up to five leaks must be plugged at a time to earn Adventure pins. Each game consists of three waves, which end when time expires or when all leaks are plugged. Extra time left over at the end of each wave is added to the Adventure pin total.

• River Rush

In River Rush, one or two players stand in a raft and work together to pick up the adventure pins scattered throughout the winding rapids. The raft is controlled by stepping left or right to steer, and by jumping to jump the raft. There are many secret places that you can get to by taking ramps. There are considerably more adventure points there than on the river. Crashing into barrels, wood, markers, or rapid markers, causes the player to lose points.

• Rally Ball

Rally Ball is a Breakout clone, but also similar to handball. The player uses his or her limbs and head to hit balls at blocks and targets which are at the end of a virtual hallway. When certain targets are hit, the ball splits into multiple balls which can be handled simultaneously. Each game consists of three rounds, each with a different set of blocks and targets. Rounds end when time expires or when all blocks and targets are destroyed. Extra time left over at the end of each round is added to the Adventure pin total.

• Reflex Ridge

Reflex Ridge is a track-and-field inspired game, but played on a moving platform in an environment similar to a wooden roller coaster or minecart. One or two players (in split screen) race on a platform, jump over hurdles, lean away from obstacles, and limbo to avoid hitting their heads on low beams. Jumping in place makes the platform move faster along its rail. Adventure pins are earned by avoiding obstacles or touching ones scattered throughout the course. The game is timed, with extra time left over at the end of the course added to the Adventure pin total.

• Space Pop

In Space Pop, transparent balls (soap bubbles) shuttle between holes on the walls, floors and ceilings of a virtual zero-gravity room. The player attempts to pop the bubbles by touching them to earn Adventure pins. Space Pop utilizes depth, requiring the player to move toward and away from the sensor. To move upwards, the player can flap his or her arms, and to stay at current height, hold arms out to the sides.

Game modes

Adventure mode

In adventure mode, the player(s) follow a linear progression of pre-selected challenges drawn from the five minigame types. In order to progress, one of three conditions must be met:

• A certain number and quality of medals must be earned in several levels, or
• A certain number of "Treasure Pins" (effectively identical to Adventure pins other than their appearance) must be collected across several levels, with the Adventure concluding as soon as that number is acquired, or
• A certain number of timed mode challenges must be completed.

At the end of each Adventure, the player(s) earn either an achievement, a new timed play mode, an avatar clothing award, or a Living Statue character model which can be uploaded to Kinectshare.com. The player is invited to record several seconds of character movement and vocals (which are then digitally modified to fit the character, such as a high pitch modification for a chipmunk).

Free play mode

Free play mode features the same challenges as Adventure mode, but the player is able to select the game type and difficulty level at will. All levels are initially unlocked, with no need to play easier challenges before being able to play difficult ones.

Timed play mode

Timed play mode, which must first be unlocked by playing timed levels in Adventure mode, is similar to free play mode in that individual challenges can be selected. Adventure pins are replaced by Time pins, which award the player(s) more time to complete the challenge. The time limit is more rigidly enforced, meaning that if time runs out, the game is over. In other modes, the games are timed but play can continue if more rounds or waves remain. Some two-player challenges in this mode allow the two players to share time, meaning that there is only one time limit for both players and actions performed by either one can increase or decrease the time limit. Only Reflex Ridge, Rallyball, and River Rush are playable in this mode.

Pre-Order Bonus

Pre-order Kinect bundles included a card with codes redeemable for two exclusive levels of Rallyball and one exclusive level of Reflex Ridge, as well as a helicopter prop for use with an Xbox Live Avatar.

Reception

Kinect Adventures

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	65.96%
Metacritic	61/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
1Up.com	80/100 (B)
Edge	6/10
Eurogamer	6/10
Game Informer	7.5/10
GameSpot	7/10
GamesRadar+	7/10
GameTrailers	6.6/10
IGN	6.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK)	7/10
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	7/10
X-Play

Kinect Adventures has received mixed reviews from various game reviewers. Video game talk show Good Game's two presenters gave the game a 6.5 and 6 out of 10 saying that it's a good demonstration of what the Kinect is capable of but a pity that there aren't more mini-games however stating that only 2 of the 5 mini-games were worth playing.

Being a pack-in game for Kinect, which has sold 18 million units, Kinect Adventures has sold 18 million copies worldwide, making it the best selling game for Xbox 360.

Sequels

Main article: Kinect Disneyland Adventures

Kinect Disneyland Adventures is a Disneyland based game released on the Microsoft XBox 360 and its Kinect peripheral. It is set in a virtual recreation of the Disneyland Park, featuring mini-games inspired by various attractions.

External links

• "Kinect Adventures official website"
• Kinect Adventures Achievements List
• Kinect Adventures News