When we first heard of Kinect, many ideas ran through the collective consciousness of the TSA Team (we have hive mind, much like the Borg). Sports games were the obvious application for the motion controller but we imagined football, volleyball, bowling – at no point did anyone think ‘Hey, what I really want to do is pretend to swim. In the air.’
505 Games, the team behind Naughty Bear, have just announced ‘Michael Phelps: Push the Limit’, the first Kinect swimming game. They have described the game as “one of the most realistic and intense sports simulation video games ever” and “the first controller-free swimming experience to capture your true movements and translate them into accurate gameplay”.
Mr. Phelps has been motion captured for the game and has said,
I’m really excited to help bring a one-of-a-kind swimming video game to the market that is reflective of my competitive nature and passion for swimming. This definitely isn’t your typical video game; much like my training in the pool, Push the Limit is about improving and mastering every race element – from controlling your adrenaline on the block to perfectly timing your finish.
In my world, it takes a lifetime of dedication to get one-hundredth of a second ahead and I believe Push the Limit offers players a unique journey inside swimming that will challenge themselves as much as their in-game competitors.”
I’m a bit speechless to be honest. It could be fantastic but I just can’t get my head round the idea of swimming – presumably fully clothed and standing up – in the comfort of your home.
JoshHood
“presumably fully clothed and standing up”
Only one of those will be true for Tuffcub.
Kamokazi-UK
1st an inflatable dingy… i’m sure somone with put out a Kninect paddling pool for this game.
Kovacs
What’s next? Pole-vaulting? Actually, I’d buy that.
PoorPaddy89
Pole-dancing?
ericzap
Well, I can’t see how this will get repetitive at all. Especially if the Naughty Bear team is behind it [/sarcasm].
JoshHood
Bazinga.
cc_star
I’ll stick to my rubber dinghy thanks
MXZ
Id rather go swimming, and i hate swimming.
PoorPaddy89
This is it though; just go swimming! If you’re so lazy that the only way you could exercise is through a games console, you’re in desperate need of help! And I say that as one lazy mofo!
mugsybalone
A “one-of-a-kind swimming game”. Yeah, it’s probably going to stay that way too – I can’t see many other developers going “Oh my god, why didn’t we think of a motion controlled swimming game, let’s produce a rival title”.
rainydays458
Why not just go to the pool and actually go swimming? Although I can’t wait to see how ridiculous people look doing this. That would be a unique experience.
clank250
So you’ll wave you’re arms around, and do they expect you to do a somersault when you have to go down the other way? That’d be funny shit that I would want see taped XD
Kennykazey
“Only on Kinect” will be the new “Only in Japan”…
4lf13
Say what?