Kinect Archives - MomStart

Activision Xbox 360 Better With Kinect ABC Wipeout Create & Crash

December 12, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Activision had an event in New York that I wasn’t able to attend but I did receive a few games to review try out and share with you guys. One of those games is ABC’s WIPEOUT Create and Crash. It’s better with Kinect. The competition begins now! Wipeout Create & Crash brings the fun and excitements of the popular Wipeout TV show inside your living room like never before with the all new Course Creator. Do you have what it takes to conquer the world-famous Big Balls? Go all in or you’ll WIPEOUT!

This game is really fun. You can play with the controller or the Kinect in this one. In Wipeout Create and Crash you can create your own obstacle courses. You can also send those courses to your friends.
There are also 12 episodes you can play through which will take a couple hours. There are over 50 different obstacles the game will throw at you. Some of the obstacles are difficult while some are just too easy. The episodes were pretty fun and you should enjoy it!

Game Features:

Create your own levels, and share them with your friends and family!
Crash the courses as either fan-favorite or all-new character including Patty Popstar and Zombie Zed!
Compete in over-the-top new courses like Prehistoric Panic and Wipeout?s Ahoy with all new themed obstacles!
Challenge your friends to reign supreme in side-by-side or team multiplayer!

Crash the courses as either fan-favorites or all-new characters including Patty Popstar and Zombie Zed!

Wipeout Create & Crash brings the fun and excitements of the popular Wipeout TV show inside your living room like never before with the all new Course Creator. Do you have what it takes to conquer the world-famous Big Balls? Go all in or you’ll WIPEOUT! Create your own levels, and share them with your friends and family!

Wipeout Create and Crash knocks it out of the park with fantastic modes such as Course Creator and Wipeout MAX, along with all new themed courses. I also love how you can compete on the course using either your controller or your Kinect sensor. Highly recommended and one of the best games out there.

Dance Central 3 Xbox 360 Kinect Video Game

November 30, 2012 by Momstart 8 Comments

The #1 selling dance franchise for Kinect is back! Dance Central 3 surprised me with it’s GREAT selection of songs because I know them, I went to school with them, I can sing them and hey, I made dancing them look so fun that Miles took over my game. I’m dating myself by saying I heart Backstreet Boys! I was transported back through time to learn the best dance crazes from across the ages, including disco moves of the 70’s, hip-hop moves from the 80s and the hottest moves on the dance floor today – all set to an electrifying soundtrack of 45 chart-topping dance hits. And you can import your songs from Dance Central 1 and Dance Central 2. More friends can get in on the fun than ever before with a new multiplayer party mode for up to 8 players!! AWESOME! They can jump right into the game and get to dancing! Hot new moves, today’s top songs, and more ways to play. Check him out! He’s a little frustrated but he kept trying and I’m proud of him!

When I first got Dance Central 3 out of the box to play, Miles practically threw a fit because he wanted to play LEGO Star Wars The Complete Saga and I said nope, mommies turn. Plus he hated Dance Central 1 because it was way to hard for him. This one is still hard but that’s because I didn’t change the dance level to easy for him. And I just love his dance moves. Dance Central 3 features great new ways to get the party started! Walk up and jump right in with “Party Time” which keeps the beats rolling and gets everybody dancing! Or team up and go head-to-head in “Crew Throwdown”, featuring new mini-games like “Keep the Beat” and “Make Your Move!” Battle head to head to prove your crew truly owns the dance floor!

We had a few issues with the voice control system but that’s because I was learning what to say. I was trying to change the difficulty setting in the middle of his dancing. You can also use the Xbox glass app to DJ a party with this game, we love that app and have it installed on our phones and tablets. Between voice and the Kinect this game is controller free.

During my turn, I got my heart rate up really quickly, yeah, I’m out of shape and going to work on that more with this game and a few others we have now to play. It’s a great work out while having fun listening to music I love and moving to the beat.

USHER EXTRAS

Dance Central 3 has partnered with Usher to bring the global entertainment icon’s talents and passion to the most authentic dance game available! Fans can learn Usher’s routines for “Scream” and “O.M.G.” alongside the other 43 amazing songs on the soundtrack by practicing in “Rehearse”, where Usher himself provides voiceover instruction to help you along! Dance Central 3 and Usher are getting the world dancing this fall!

We received a sample because of our relationship with Xbox.

Activision ABC Wipeout 3 Xbox 360 Kinect Video Game

November 30, 2012 by Momstart 6 Comments

Welcome Back To Wipeout! Except this is my first encounter with the game and as I’ve looked at reviews of the older versions it looks like I’m lucky I started out with Wipeout 3. Of course, being in the tech field, I understand that it takes a while to get the programming with a new technology like the Kinect right. I’ve noticed with a lot of newer games they are a lot more forgiving than the older ones. It’s getting easier and easier for my kids to play, yes they are getting older and more coordinated but I can also see the forgiveness. If the kids can play it without getting frustrated then I’m satisfied and I’m satisfied with Wipeout 3. I love that this game’s activity level is active. It rains so much here it’s nice to have something for the kids to do indoors that keeps them jumping and moving.

Game Play:

You can just use your arms as you would as if you were running. To jump, you lift your hands up in the air. You can tilt your body backwards or forwards to adjust or when you’re in the air to go further or shorter. With the current Wipeout, you have 3 attempts to master that obstacle. At that point, if you failed the game would advance you past that obstacle.

Tackle the craziest courses ever, like Deck the Balls and the Wild west!
Run the Wipeout course like never before with all new, 3rd person camera angles!
Battle your friends to reign supreme in Side-By-Side Multiplayer!
Compete in over-the-top Wipeout episodes and over 50 obstacles designed to test your agility, endurance and abilities!

Product Features

Complete with updated features, more wacky characters, and all-new epic wipeouts
Features split-screen multiplayer and team modes that support up to four players
12 fresh winter and summer course themes

Where things are wetter, wilder and wackier than ever! Wipeout 3 boasts all-new features and effects that catapult players into the most intense, body-contorting action yet! Fans will recognize their favorite obstacles like the Sweeper Arms and the Big Balls, but will be blown away by 12 fresh winter and summer course themes with dozens of obstacles allowing for non-stop fun. Players will be running through wild, over-the-top challenges created exclusively for Wipeout 3, experienced through a fun over-the-shoulder perspective, and with a hilarious “Instant Replay” function that will have families and friends in stitches as they watch and relive their worst wipeouts over and over again.

Sample received from Activision.

Top Hand Rodeo Tour Kinect Xbox 360

November 3, 2012 by Momstart 8 Comments

Top Hand Rodeo Tour delivers all the thrills of being a professional cowboy competing on the rodeo circuit and is available exclusively at 3,400 Walmart stores in the United States and at Walmart.com for the suggested retail price of $39.96.

Top Hand Rodeo Tour is the first authentic interactive rodeo video game where players can hop in the saddle and compete in a number of thrilling rodeo events like Bull Riding, Tie Down Roping, Mounted Shooting, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, and more with up to four players. In addition, players can freshen up their competitive talents back at the ranch with fun skill building mini-games. Offering a complete range of full motion controls with Kinect for Xbox 360; swing your rope, shoot your gun, and ride a bull like a pro using all the exact motions, skills, and technique required to be a Top Hand Champion!

Show your friends and family what it takes to be a true cowboy and compete against the best competition in the world. Post your highest scores on the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network leaderboards in the only video game that offers you a complete rodeo experience.

Live the cowboy experience!

Bull Riding: Stay on the bull with one arm up for 8 seconds!
Tie Down Roping: Chase, rope, dismount horse and tie down calf as fast as possible
Team Roping (with second player or AI partner): Two cowboys work together to rope a steer as fast as possible
Mounted Shooting: Negotiate course on horseback while shooting at targets
Barrel Racing: Maneuver around obstacles in course in the fastest time possible without knocking any barrels over

Mini-Games: Add to your points with Speed Roping, Shooting Gallery, and Riding Fences

Multi-Player: Compete against 3 others in turn-based gameplay

“Top Hand Rodeo Tour features all the best in-the-dirt events that the sport has to offer and takes the fun of the rodeo home to players of all skill levels,” said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3P. “Players will get a genuine cowboy and cowgirl experience in the first truly authentic rodeo game and take part in one of the fastest growing sports in North America.”

For rodeo fans, enter the Top Hand Rodeo Tour Writing Contest for the chance to win (4) premium tickets to the Houston® Livestock Show and Rodeo 2013, March 16^th, 2013 (Ticket Package worth $600). One (1) winner will be chosen at random. For all the contest rules and details to enter, please visit http://www.tophandrodeocontest.com/rules/.

Top Hand Rodeo Tour is developed by Panic Button for SFC Rodeo Games and is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and up – Mild Violence) by the ESRB. For more information on the video game, please visit www.d3publisher.us and find Top Hand Rodeo Tour on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TopHandRodeo.

Share Your Wizardry Memories for a Harry Potter for Kinect Giveaway

September 21, 2012 by Momstart 330 Comments

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is about to open its doors and welcome students for another magical year. Owls have been busily sending out invitations to the new students, while the returning students are excitedly packing their suitcases and cleaning their broomsticks as Harry Potter for Kinect flies into your Xbox 360 October 9th.

The title has been rated been rated E 10+ (suitable for ages 10 and older). Harry Potter for Kinect allows players to attend Hogwarts, interact with professors, students and friends, call out spells to cast against opponents, brew potions, and even fly as they race on broomsticks to be the first to catch the Golden Snitch in a Quidditch match.

Product Features

For the first time, create a witch or wizard character in your likeness that will become part of the gameplay through Kinect’s scanning technology.
Experience unforgettable moments from all eight films – from having your wand choose you at Ollivanders and being Sorted as a first-year student at Hogwarts, to battling You-Know-Who in a climactic wizard battle
Cast spells at your opponents by performing the proper casting maneuvers and calling out spell names utilizing Kinect’s controller-free and voice recognition capabilities.
Hone your casting, brewing and duelling skills (among others) in class to unlock even more lessons and challenges
Challenge a friend in competitive mini-games, or join forces against a mutual opponent in co-op games.

Product Description

The all-new Harry Potter for Kinect video game exclusively on Kinect for Xbox 360 allows players to experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the wizarding world like never before! Through the innovative Kinect capability, each player can scan their face to create a wizard avatar in their likeness – and then play as their avatar in the game. Utilizing controller-free and voice recognition technology available only on Kinect, players will attend Hogwarts, interact with professors, students and friends, call out spells to cast against opponents, brew potions, and even fly as they race on broomsticks to be the first to catch the Golden Snitch in a Quidditch match. Harry Potter for Kinect allows players, for the first time, to attend Hogwarts as part of the wizarding world.

What’s your favorite Memory of Harry Potter? My favorite memory is when we found out that Snape wasn’t a bad guy. He really did love Harry’s mother.

Enter to Win:

Harry Potter for Kinect

To Enter:

Leave a comment sharing your favorite memory of Harry Potter

Extra Entries:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends October 8th. Please see the giveaway rules. We received a sample.

Victorious: Time to Shine on Kinect for Xbox 360

November 26, 2011 by Momstart 3 Comments

We received Victorious Time to Shine for Kinect Xbox 360 and it’s by D3 Publisher one of our favorite video game publishers. Based on Nickelodeon’s hit live action comedy series Victorious, the games allow players to dive into the world of Hollywood Arts High School where they can star in their very own music video or in a big showcase along with Tori Vega and her wild, crazy, artsy friends! Have you seen the show? I haven’t, so if you’re like me I thought I would include the show’s bio:

Chaos is coming to Tori Vega’s life. The 16 year old is starting at a new high school; but not just any school. This is Hollywood Arts, a performing arts school where crazy talented students learn how to become real artists.. Until now, Tori didn’t think she had much talent of her own, and was content to live in the shadow of her older sister, Trina. Now, that’s all about to change… if Tori can see herself in a new light, even a spotlight! But Hollywood Arts is still a high school, and Tori is still the new kid. She’ll have to find new friends, do homework, and just try to fit in. Will Tori grab a starring role in her new life?

Now, Victorious is a video game for all of us to play.

Game Details:

Take part in crazy adventures with Tori, Beck and all the stars from the show
Explore Hollywood Arts and find hidden items and unlockables around every corner
Create and customize your own character with clothes, accessories, locker decorations, and more!
Exciting and intuitive mini-games using the stylus such as dancing and singing with Tori!

Game Features:

In Victorious: Time to Shine for the Kinect, players create their own Hollywood Arts performance where they act, play an air instrument, sing, dance and star in a music video featuring hit songs from the series!
First of its kind, based on the hit live-action comedy series – The video game is based on Nickelodeon’s hit show, Victorious.
Reach Hollywood Arts stardom – Players will feel as if they are a student at Hollywood Arts High School and the game includes the voices of the Victorious cast, including Victoria Justice, who stars as Tori Vega.
Be the next superstar while enjoying hours of gameplay – The game is loaded with mini-games, activities, hit songs from the show such as "Freak the Freak Out" and "Beggin’ On Your Knees," and players can even wear the same outfits as Tori Vega and the cast!
Exciting family-friendly competition – The perfect game for sleepover parties, family gatherings and more, Victorious: Time to Shine offers multiplayer gameplay so friends can either work together or compete to create the best music video ever! Full body motion tracking with the Kinect™ Sensor for both players makes the game even more fun and active for everyone involved!

In Victorious: Time to Shine, exclusively for the Kinect, players can partner up with friends in co-op or competitive gameplay to create a Hollywood Arts talent show where they can act, sing, dance and more, all to the soundtrack of hit songs from the series. Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, exclusively for the Nintendo DS, takes players right to the heart of Hollywood Arts High School, where they join Tori and the rest of the Victorious gang on crazy adventures throughout the school year.

Victorious: Time to Shine is developed by High Voltage Software; Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut is developed by Behaviour Interactive, and both titles are rated “E” (Everyone – Comic Mischief and Mild Violence) by the ESRB. For more information about Victorious: Time to Shine and Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, please visit www.d3press.us.

Michael Phelps: Push the Limit for Kinect Xbox 360

November 26, 2011 by Momstart 2 Comments

Earlier today I reviewed Twister Mania with a glowing review as a family game, Michael Phelps Push the Limit is MY GAME! I love swimming, it’s my favorite sport. I used to swim so much that I became a lifeguard in college. It was my part time job, I was quite excited to try out Michael Phelps: Push the Limit for Kinect Xbox 360.

Michael Phelps: Push the Limit offers players the chance to compete against each other as well as against one of the most decorated athletes of all time, Michael Phelps. I don’t really know much about Michael Phelps, I just wanted this game so that I could get some exercise pretending to swim. This game is INTENSE. And I have to mention that it’s picky. It’s not easy for the kids or for me because it’s picky about your body position and your location on the screen, it’s not very forgiving and I think Kinect games need to be forgiving, but I still liked this game for me, it’s just not an easy to play as a family game. It’s not easy to compete against each other.

It’s also fun creating your character

You can play in quick matches in the single player or local/online multiplayer against friends or immerse yourself in the challenging and fun Career Mode where they swim their way to the podium through some of the most breathtaking locations across the world, finally facing Michael himself in the final. But it’s a long difficult road to getting there. I knew what I was doing and it took me quite a few times just to get past the first race. Most of the time I didn’t finish fast enough to even qualify. Even though, I really liked playing this game, I think it should have started off a little easier, and yes we were playing on easy mode.

It’s fun hyping up the crowd, achieving the perfect dive from the start which somehow Zoe figured out how to do, swimming at the optimum rhythm, timing the perfect turn, or timing the last gasp reach to the wall, Kinect for Xbox 360 allows the game to accurately replicate those elements in the most fun and accessible way possible, by using simple body and hand gestures.

Michael Phelps: Push the Limit was developed by Blitz Games and published by 505 Games. For more information, including screenshots, movies and gameplay tips, visit www.michaelphelpsgame.com

I received this review as a member of the Game Review Network, no compensation was received

Twister Mania Kinect Xbox 360

November 26, 2011 by Momstart 1 Comment

Growing up I always loved playing Twister. It’s such a fun party game to play with lots of friends and I loved the challenge. Thinking about playing this as a family on the Xbox 360 Kinect left me wondering how is that going to work when we merge into one solid shape as we get all twisted up. That’s where the mania came in turning Twister Mania for the Kinect into a smash hit in our house. The interface of the game gets an A+ because it was so easy for our family to use. This game works quite well for little ones and is an easy to play Kinect game.

This interactive digital Twister® experience allows up to eight players to twist into the action with 16 fun, unique ways to play in a TWISTER- inspired environment filled with iconic, colorful flair. We had the most fun playing as teams, we did two teams of two and it worked out fabulously. Most kinect games with the kids drive me crazy because it’s so hard to tell a 3 and 4 year old how to make the kinect work, but for Twister Mania it just worked and it was fun. I really enjoyed playing it.

To Play Twister Mania you use your body as the game piece. It challenges you to twist yourself in thousands of different ways and the quicker the better.

We chose from 3 main game modes:

Party Play: Twirl the virtual spinner and advance around the Twister® mat with up to four teams of two in Party Play, a metagame that combines all game challenges. Party play was the easiest mode for us as a family. the kids could understand that when the color wheel came up with their color it was their teams turn. So we all jumped in and out of the living room and laughed as everyone tried to do the different objectives in party play.

Play It All: Try your hand at every game challenge from start to finish in this campaign mode for the overachievers. I think my husband spent hours doing this game mode the other night while I was out having a moms night out. It was so funny to come in and see him making more poses, but I wasn’t just laughing at him, I was happy to see him enjoying a game. We haven’t enjoyed a Kinect game like this since it first came out.
Quick Play: Jump right in and directly select any of the 16 ways to play and difficulty level for a quick challenge. Is a great way to just get started.

Now within each of the different game modes there are certain activities within each. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find. (a total of 16 ways to play)

        Shape Frenzy: Mimic the shape (there are over 1800!) that appears on screen and earn points based on how well you fill its silhouette.
        Twist & Fit: Avoid the wall and fit your silhouette through cutouts coming at you on a moving wall. Score points by passing through a wall without touching a thing; the more wall you hit the lower your score.
        Break It Down: Work your way through a stack of colored blocks by assuming their form. When a shape is removed, the wall above will begin to crumble.
      Spot On: Challenge up to three players (or four teams of two) in a game of contortion H-O-R-S-E. Create a shape and see if your friends can match it.
    Team up with another player for cooperative play or go head-to-head in any game mode. TwisterTM Mania supports up to eight players in turn based pairs.

I love how we can all look at the photos at the end of each game session, it’s fun to see who had the best pose, of course, we took actual photos too.

I received this review as a member of the Game Review Network, no compensation was received

Xbox 360 Kinect For Kids Once Upon A Monster Active Video Game

October 29, 2011 by Momstart 3 Comments

Once Upon a Monster is the BEST game we have played so far on Xbox 360 Kinect for Zoe and Miles. They can do all of it by themselves and the game is smart enough to let them leave and come back as they feel like. When you have kids their age they are all over the place game wise. So I LOVE Once Upon A Monster.

I completely agree with Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. She said, “Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a very engaging title, which provides families with young kids a quality experience unlike anything they have seen before”. It’s engaging because the kids want to make Cookie Monster and Elmo do the right thing. See I took a photo of Zoe and Miles trying to imitate the screen.

And they kept trying until they got it. You see, they had to make Cookie Monster and Elmo do that the brown monster was doing, (I already forgot the brown monster’s name.)

Samantha Ryan also said Once Upon A Monster is “Full of life lessons, like building friendships and overcoming fears, the game combines the values and appeal of the beloved Sesame Street brand with Double Fine Productions’ talent for creating lush and exciting worlds while delivering a fun game that parents can feel good about purchasing.” I would totally buy this game. It’s perfect for them and gets them off the couch and dancing. Check out Miles grooving to some Disco fever music

Once Upon a Monster has six enchanting chapters to explore with multiple activities. They “turn” the page by pulling out. No I take that back, they jump into a chapter by pulling out and they turn the page by swiping. They know how to swipe, as the Xbox 360 dashboard is full of swiping.

As I sorta mentioned above it has drop-in/drop-out co-operative modes that work really well. This game is REALLY REALLY good at it. They can both leave and then the game pauses. When they return it picks them back up. Having played quite a few Kinect games, I really can tell you that this feature hardly ever works as well as it does in Once Upon A Monster.

My favorite feature of this game is that the kids are active. It actually gets them moving.

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster on Kinect for Xbox 360 is rated “E” and available now at retail stores nationwide at a S.R.P. of $49.99.

We received samples.

Miles and Michael Jackson The Experience Kinect

May 1, 2011 by Momstart 2 Comments

There is nothing cuter than watching my little man dance to thriller while playing Michael Jackson The Experience on Xbox 360’s Kinect. I love to dance and Michael Jackson has some of the best music known to man for dancing. We’ve been really enjoying the Kinect as a family, the kids know how to move their hands over the controls to choose their own games and we were impressed that Michael Jackson The Experience was easy enough for them to get from one screen to another, now the dance moves, that’s another story all together. Moving like Michael Jackson does is HARD. But that being said, the scoring is very forgiving, compared to Dance Central the kids can actually score on Michael Jackson The Experience verses playing Dance Central where they don’t even get one star. So they are encouraged to keep trying with Michael Jackson The Experience. Zoe even earned a purple crown for some of her dance moves and she was quite excited about that.

There are different stages of play. You can practice the moves, put a lot of moves together, but I felt like once I actually caught on to a move then it moved on to a new one. I think it will just take us a lot of practice to get the moves right. Then you can move up to another stage of play and you dance and sing. I was much better at the singing portion because it was just like karaoke, I was really worried the singing part was going to be completely from memory and I am a Michael Jackson fan but I’m not uber fan if you know what I mean.

The song selection is not as large as I thought it would be but there are quite a few songs that I know and love including “Beat It, “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal.” You will find new additions to the Kinect song library “Blood on the Dance Floor” and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” For families who feed off competition, parents can challenge their kids to dance-offs using the multi-player game modes!

We used the multiplayer game mode where we worked as a team to earn points because the kids love to watch their silhouette on the screen. Whenever the number changed letting them know it was someone else’s turn they would jump up to center stage and start dancing.

Other Michael Jackson The Experience Kinect Features:

Feel the thrill of performing like Michael Jackson as never before – through XBOX 360 Kinect technology, you can immerse yourself in his universe and live The Experience of a lifetime!
With innovative full-body tracking, take center stage with a crew of expert backup dancers.
Trigger effects, visuals, and even the music itself as you move around the digital environment.
Play with up to 4 players in Jump-in Party modes.
Learn how to pull off Michael’s most iconic moves (such as the Moonwalk) thanks to the Michael Jackson School!

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.