Thursday, February 16, 2012

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Kinect

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is the first-ever Kinect for Xbox 360 sports simulation title, tracking full body movements to create the most advanced and authentic swing to date on the virtual golf course. Controller-free and voice-enabled controls provides for a unique, never-before-seen sports .

Taking its most significant leap forward in swing mechanics in over a decade, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 revolutionizes the virtual golf swing. Golfers will take full control over their swing with all-new tempo, swing plane and shot power controls along with an adjustable shot setup, allowing players to address the ball in a number of ways to create limitless shot types with just one club.


Here is the complete list of 22 players Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Paula Creamer, Rhys Davies, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Natalie Gulbis, Zach Johnson, Rocco Mediate, Edoardo Molinari, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley.

Here is a complete list of the course you get to play, some of the courses are only available on the Collectors Edition.

Atlanta Athletic Club,Augusta National, Augusta National Par 3 Collector's edition, Banff Springs Golf Course, Bethpage On-disc, Collector's edition, Celtic Manor - The 2010 Course On-disc, Collector's edition, Costa Navarino, East Lake Golf Club On-disc, Collector's edition Greek Isles (Fantasy), Highlands (Fantasy), Liberty National Golf Club, Oakmont Collector's edition,
Pebble Beach Golf Links On-disc, Collector's edition, Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course) Collector's edition, Predator (Fantasy), River Course at Blackwolf Run, Royal Melbourne On-disc, Collector's edition, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, St. Andrews On-disc, Collector's edition, Straits Course at Whistling Straits Collector's edition, The Els Club On-disc, Collector's edition TPC at San Antonio
TPC at Sawgrass On-disc, Collector's edition, TPC at Scottsdale On-disc, Collector's edition
Torrey Pines On-disc, Collector's edition, The Old White TPC (formerly Greenbrier) Collector's edition, Waialae Country Club.




Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Zumba Fitness Rush

Zumba Fitness Rush - 8.6 rating from over 90 reviews 
Hot Dance Music
42 new routines and music tracks including hits from chart-topping artists Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup.
Superstar Instructors
Dance and interact with six of Zumba Fitness' elite instructors: Beto Perez, Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant, Kass Martin, Jason Thompson and Erica Pierce.

Huge Range of Dance Flavors

 Choose from 24 different dance styles, from fan favorites Salsa and Reggaeton to new styles including Bollywood, Axe, Latin Pop and Pasodoble.
Customizable Workouts

 Create a Zumba workout that's right for you by choosing your favorite playlist and workout length. Low, Medium and High Intensity routines also cater to dancers of all skill levels.

Exotic Party Venues

 Dance it up in 10 new, dynamic environments, with 5 venues including Rio Carnival and Las Vegas that are exclusive to the Kinect game.


Zumba Ftiness Rush Review

Zumba is back with Zumba Fitness Rush and here is my Zumba Rush review , hope this helps.


Advantages
 

The navigating is great as you can use your hand, voice or controller.
The tracking has improved greatly.
The tutorial in learning the steps has improved as well.
All new music, routines and venues
Routine intensity go from easy to medium to high
The classes are fun and you will sweat your pants off big time.
Your choice of classes are Short Class (20 mins), Medium Class (45 mins) and Full Class (60 mins)
You can create your own playlist of songs (up to 12) and dance away without having to stop (you still have your choice of doing a single song as well).
It has a Dance Central type scoring system (the star system) and there you can get Nice, Hot or Zumba
It also shows the body part that needs work with a red silhouette.


The Dis Advantages

The cue cards are a nice addition, but if you're going add them, then put the whole routine of the move in there. It's like you put the move in but then decide to add something else to it. This option can be removed under settings.

In the manual it has a scale and tells you that you are able to edit, but I have yet to find where the edit option is or see the scale appear. You can only see Time, Technique and Calories Burned right now. If anyone sees the scale, please let me know where it is located.

So with all that said, would I recommend Zumba Fitness Rush? I'll say yes. Despite what it lacks, the advantages outweigh the dis advantages. I can see this being my staple workout for a long time.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Kinect Pilates

Presently there are no kinect pilates games, but there are some Xbox kinect games that maybe just what you are looking for.

The first  kinect game that may interest you is Your Shape and Fitness Evolved- Part 1.You get to choose a personal trainer to help you meet your specific fitness goals, take a Yoga or Martial Arts class, or play fun, family-friendly mini-games.

Your Shape and Fitness Evolved 2012 also has a comprehensive fitness workout, over 90 hours of activities, including Boot Camp, Cardio Boxing, Jump Rope, Yoga, Zen and a medley of Dance classes.  In this kinewct game, it analyzes your limb configuration with a stick figure drawn over your onscreen image, telling you which parts of your body are in or out of alignment. When you've got it right, the white lines turn green, checkmarks accrue and there's glitter and sound effects everywhere up in the HUD. It's a great feedback mechanism and makes exercising feel more like a game instead of exercise. Nothing beats having a human fitness instructor guiding you, but this is about as close as it gets doing it in your own home.

Deepak Chopra's - Leela. This kinect game focuses your attention on certain parts of your body to relax and develop a flow state through seven movements and the ancient system of chakras.

Deepak Chopra, Leela aims to help you develop a healthier, harmonious and more balanced life.

Yourself Fitness is an Xbox kinect game to combine home health and fitness with the power of your Xbox. You'll meet Maya, the interactive personal trainer - she'll help you build an interactive, personalized fitness program for you. She'll keep you motivated and deliver the results you've always wanted.

The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workput also has an entire body including upper body, core, cardio, yoga, and cardio boxing


Monday, December 5, 2011

Big League Sports for Kinect

Big League Sports for Kinect

Big League Sports Kinect brings the six of the most popular professional sports in the world together in one motion controlled video game! The Kinect turns your whole body into the controller with sport specific mechanics. The single player mode tracks stats with a real-time leaderboard and multiple multiplayer modes means there is no shortage of ways to show off your skills. Play with and against friends for an unrivaled sports gaming experience.

  • ace up your cleats, put on your pads, grab your bat and hit the hardwood in six exciting sports with the power of Kinect
  • Step on the diamond and swing for the fences, dribble past your opponent and score the winning basket, go deep on a touchdown pass and more when you become the controller using the body-tracking technology of Kinect
  • Play football, soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball and golf together for the first time ever on Kinect for Xbox 360
  • Put your talents to the test in 18 fun and challenging skills competitions
  • Challenge your friends in thrilling multiplayer action and watch your scores rise up the real-time leaderboards
  • Kinect sensor required to play

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Kinect Yoga

Kinect Yoga Games
There is not an actual kinect Yoga game on it's own, but there are some Yoga Classes incorporated in some of the Kinect Sports Games.

The first kinect yoga game introduced is " Your Shape and Fitness Evolved" and this has a section with yoga in it, there are a good selection of other fitness challenges to choose from.

With this kinect game you get to choose a personal trainer to help you meet your specific fitness goals, take a Yoga or Martial Arts class, or play fun, family-friendly mini-games. This game has a 7.8 rating from over 422 reviews

The second kinect game that is related to kinect yoga is Deepak Chopra's Leela and this is more of a meditation game that gives an experience that brings you focus, energy and balance.This game is very relaxing and focuses your attention on certain parts of your body to relax and develop a flow state through seven movements and the ancient system of chakras. This has a 8.0 rating out of 10 from 48 reviews, you can now pick this up for a very reasonable price.

The next kinect game that has kinect yoga included in it is Your Shape and Fitness Evolved 2012, there are 4 yoga lessons included in this game as well as several other fitness classes, Zen, Cardio and several types of dance classes to give you a good workout.
 In this kinect yoga game , Xbox analyzes your limb configuration with a stick figure drawn over your onscreen image, telling you which parts of your body are in or out of alignment. When you've got it right, the white lines turn green, checkmarks accrue and there's glitter and sound effects everywhere up in the HUD.

It's a great feedback mechanism and makes exercising feel more like a game instead of exercise. Nothing beats having a human fitness instructor guiding you, but this is about as close as it gets doing it in your own home.



There is one more kinect games that I have discovered that also has a section of Kinect Yoga included and that is " The Biggest Loser - Ultimate Workout" , this kinect game has a workout that includes warm ups, cool downs, new cardio boxing, yoga, circuit training (upper body and lower body), as well as core exercises, and allows players to create a custom fitness program or choose from ten preset fitness program.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Self-Defense Training Camp

Self Defense Training Camp is a kinect sports game with a difference. This kinect game builds confidence, empowerment and strength. You will get a great workout while learning proven self-defense skills.

Through a variety of self-defense drills, fitness workouts, and fun mini-games, you will learn secrets to escaping dangerous situations. Get empowered while you get in shape!   

                            Self Defense Training Camp Features

  • Reduce Your Risk Of Being A Victim - The game will feature more than 30 real self-defense moves that are taught by real-life self-defense coaches with years of experience.
  • Become Confident In Your Abilities - Utilizing Kinect's superior tracking technology, the game will follow your movements and give you immediate feedback that make mastering self-defense moves more accessible to everyone.
  • Enhance Your Stamina- Stay physically fit with cardio exercises inspired by martial arts and kickboxing.
  • Stay Calm Under Stress - Learn how to stay calm under stressful situations with Tai Chi exercises.
  • Sharpen Your Reflexes - Inspired by boxing techniques, test your reflexes with a variety of fun mini-games that will keep you on your toes.



                              Self Defense Training Camp Review
Self Defense Training Camp doesn't replace getting real self-defense instruction from a real trainer, nor does it really pretend to (one of the many random tips it presents throughout the game is to enroll in a physical class to continue your learning). But it is definitely a good introduction to a very important skill all woman (and men) should have.

When you start up, you'll see a number of menu options in this order:

1. Cardio Workout
2. Options
3. Profile and Extras
4. Balance Practice
5. Self Defense Rehearsal
6. Reflex Training

Oddly, #1, #4, and #6 are all locked until you complete a certain number of classes in #5 (which begs the question, why didn't they make that one #1?). There are a number of user interface oddities like that.

You start with "Self Defense Rehearsal". This is a bit of a misnomer. It's not so much "rehearsal" as it is step-by-step training instruction. Specifically, this section is broken into 5 different classes.

1. Wrist Grab situations
2. Arm and Shoulder Grab situations
3. Attack from Behind situations
4. Choke Hold situations
5. Frontal Attack situations

Each of these classes are further broken down into a number of very real and practical scenarios that a would-be victim of an attack may encounter. For example, for Wrist Grab situations, it goes through six scenarios.

1. Crossed Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs your left wrist with his right hand or vice-versa)
2. Parallel Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs your right wrist with his right hand or vice-versa)
3. Double Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs both your wrists)
4. Double Wrist Grab from Behind (when the attacker grabs both your wrists from behind)
5. Side Wrist Grab (when the attacker comes from the side)
6. Choking (when the attacker grabs your wrist with one hand and tries to choke your neck with the other).

The four other classes all each have 6 similarly practical scenarios. Each scenario consists of two phases: a Learning Phase and a Timed Phase.

In the Learning Phase, you start out by seeing a demonstration of the defense technique. Two animated male figures will act out the scenario, with the narrator explaining what's going on step-by-step.

One of the very first things you learn, which is repeated over and over again, is to how kick an attacker in...his most vulnerable spot. Admittedly, it's hard not to snicker the first few times you see the computerized "attacker" get kicked there over and over again. But of course, at the end of the day the point is a serious one--if you're the victim of a real attack, be prepared to use whatever you have at your disposal in any number of situations. Aside from this universal tactic, you do learn important other techniques.

After seeing the sequence played out once, it's broken down into smaller components. You'll see each component demonstrated again by the two male trainers. Then, you (as a female character) can try it yourself. To help guide you, you'll see a white silhouette of yourself in the upper left hand corner, as well as a red silhouette reminding you of the next move you need to make.

The Kinect does a mostly good job of detecting whether you're doing the moves correctly. In some cases I was pleasantly surprised at how accurately it was able to distinguish between subtle movements--for example, the correct move to disarm a wrist grab is to rotate your arm at your elbow. I tried to "trick" the system by just flailing my arm, but it wouldn't take it until I did the proper technique. Having said that, it's not perfect--there were a few cases where I was doing the right moves but the system failed to register it. Similarly, in other cases, I would just twitch and the narrator would exclaim "incredible!" But I'd say for the majority of cases the system is quite accurate.

Once you master the one component properly, the process will proceed to the next one. You'll keep going until you've mastered all five components of the entire sequence.

Then comes the Timed Phase. After you've learned the sequence, you then need to try to execute the whole thing by yourself, remembering what the moves are and in what order to do them. If you execute all the moves, you'll get five stars for the scenario. It's not challenging at all to get five stars, but again it's not supposed to be; again, this is more of a class than a game.

Overall, I found the "Self Defense Rehearsal" section to be helpful, if a little drawn out and tedious. But again, if you approach it like a class and not like a game, it's definitely helpful. And what makes it more powerful than a video is the ability to perform and practice the moves yourself. .

The "Cardio Workout" section, has ten sessions of progressively more intense aerobic fitness exercises that incorporate boxing moves. This part of the game was reminiscent of Gold's Gym Boxing Workout for the Wii. Your trainer will do boxing moves and you need to mimic the moves to a beat. Each move you have to make is both announced by the narrator and shown in timeline of icons to the left of the screen. Overall this provided a decent workout, and of course the motion detection is spot-on. What I wasn't crazy about was that the workouts were all under 4 minutes. And once again you need to "unlock" each lesson one at a time. I would much rather them have provided complete set of cardio boxing routines that each lasted a good 20-30 minutes. As it is, your heart rate is barely elevated after one or even two of these sessions.

The "Balance Practice" section of the game are essentially yoga exercises. You're taken outside the training camp to a beautifully designed garden scene with cherry blossoms, running water, and relaxing bird chirping. Your first session takes you through yoga moves with names like "young deer", "spreading the wings", "buddha pose", and "circle of chi". As with the Cardio section, you mimic an on-screen trainer's moves, while each move is announced and shown in a timeline of icons.

The "Reflex Training" section contains various reflex games where you punch and kick or you try to dodge and block punches and kicks with your virtual trainer. Again, the motion controls are adequate on these, but the exercises themselves are fairly repetitive and uninspired. It's what we've seen in many other games--do a jab, hook, or upper cut in response to instructions from the on-screen trainer, or dodge punches to the left and right.

Overall, I had the same impressions of all three of these "unlockable" sections. They're not horribly executed, but they all feel somewhat incongruous in this particular title. There doesn't seem to be any obvious connection between these activities and the self-defense training. In addition, all of these sections just felt far too short and shallow. I get the sense that the developer was trying to make this a comprehensive "martial arts instruction" title. But it falls a bit short of that. (In fact, after progressing through some rudimentary exercises, you start to earn different colored "belts", which was quite misleading).

It's hard to rate this game, because as I said it's not really a "game". From the perspective of the self-defense training content alone it's very good; in fact, I think it's material that every woman should know.

But in terms of its quality as an interactive game, I'd say there's a lot of room for improvement. For example, it would have been interesting to have a section where you can be "quizzed" where you face a virtual attacker in different scenarios and have to choose the right defensive techniques for the situation.

Something else I found a little disappointing is that your on-screen character doesn't have freedom of motion. In other words, when you go through the exercises, you don't really control the on-screen character directly. Rather, the system will show a still image of the character, and it will only respond once you perform the exercise correctly. I think the title would have been much more powerful if they used real "video game technology" (like the kind you see in fighting games) to let you control your character in a more fluid and dynamic way.

Something else I found a little disconcerting was that the developer invented yet another way of selecting items from a menu--you need to "swipe" to browse through menu options and then "punch" with your right hand to select it. Once again, it's a shame that Microsoft never enforced consistent user interface guidelines to its developers, resulting in dozens of different UI behavior.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Winter Stars

Gather your team – face the challenge!Winter Stars brings the thrill and fun of winter sports to the player's home and lets them compete with friends and family for trophies and medals.

 Offering multiplayer or single player, the latest motion controls on all consoles, beginner-friendly family & fun party modes or harder-to-master career/story mode, Winter Stars offers high replay value and arcade fun for everyone!  


* Full winter sports championship experience at home
* Full Kinect, Move & Wii Balance Board support
* Addictive multiplayer and party mode arcade style fun for the whole family in a beautiful winter setting
* Online multiplayer for up to four players
* State of the art graphics