Microsoft wows at E3

With this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in full swing in Los Angeles, a large number of gaming developers have announced their latest games to hit the market later this year, while a small number of titles have been announced for release next year.

Although the expo just started, the big winner on the first day was Microsoft as they announced some really exciting additions to their motion-controlled Kinect system. One announcement that visitors never expected was the addition of voice to the system.

During their demonstration, Microsoft showed off the possibilities for players to select options and change settings in-game, such as merely saying “change clubs” in the recently-announced Kinect Sports Season 2, to change their golf clubs.

Various other titles will also get voice support, like Electronic Arts’ Mass Effect 3 – which will enable players to say the conversation options, instead of selecting them with a controller. BioWare’s Dr. Ray Muzyka confirmed that the voice commands can also be used while in combat. For fans of other games, they announced that Forza Motorsport 4, Grand Slam Tennis 11, Minecraft and Top Angler: Real Bass Fishing will all support the device, while a new Kinect-enabled Star Wars was also shown off.

Another first for the voice-command functionality, Microsoft announced Xbox Live TV. Essentially what the service will provide, is allowing users to say out loud what they want to see on their televisions. It will first launch in the US, and will then be rolled out to other territories this Spring, while Sky TV, Canal and YouTube were announced as partners.

The Android and iPhone title Fruit Ninja will also be given a Kinect make-over, but instead of adding voice, players will be able to slice the flying fruit with a wave of their arms.

In terms of other titles and additions, Microsoft announced another instalment of the hugely popular Halo franchise. So far titled Halo 4, visitors at E3 were treated to a special reveal trailer which showed main character Master Chief fighting his way towards a space station in zero gravity. For die-hard Halo fans, Microsoft also announced Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

To round off their presentation, the company also released details for Kinect Fun Labs – an application for Kinect which they have called “a fun new app” with “crazy, cool new gadgets” which will be available for free to every user of Xbox Live.

By Charlie Fripp – Consumer editor