''Kinect Joy Ride'' is a
racing game
Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a motor racing, racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more re ...
for
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...
and a launch title for its
Kinect
Kinect is a discontinued line of motion sensing input devices produced by Microsoft and first released in 2010. The devices generally contain RGB color model, RGB cameras, and Thermographic camera, infrared projectors and detectors that map dep ...
hardware in 2010. The game was developed by BigPark and published by
Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, fo ...
.
Gameplay
Playing as a person's
Avatar
Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...
, the game is controlled by the player holding their arms out as if they are grabbing an invisible steering wheel, and turning them in such a manner to steer. Pushing hips forward allows the player to drift, while pulling the 'wheel' towards the player and then pushing forward produces a chargeable turbo boost. While airborne, players can perform various tricks such as twists and spins for extra points. As players progress, they will earn fans, which unlock content, such as new tracks and game modes. Game modes include Races, Battles, Stunt, Trick modes and more. The game can be played with either two players locally or up to eight players online via Xbox Live (internet connection required for Xbox Live Multiplayer). Two free
downloadable content
content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can be added for no extra cost or as a form of video game monetization, enabling the publisher to gain ad ...
packages are available which provide players with stylized versions of the
Chevrolet
Chevrolet ( ) is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM). In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks. Due to the promi ...
Camaro,
Cruze,
Corvette
A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper (or " rated") warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloo ...
and
Volt
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of electric potential, Voltage#Galvani potential vs. electrochemical potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force in the International System of Units, International System of Uni ...
.
Development and release
Formerly known simply as Joyride, the game was initially announced at
E3 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 (E3 2009) was the 15th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 2, 2009, and ended on June 4, 2009, with 41,000 total attendees.
Majo ...
with the intention of it being released as a free
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade (or XBLA) was a video game Digital distribution in video games, digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox (console), Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publisher ...
title later that year. However it was eventually moved to 2010 and was made into a full retail title for the
Kinect
Kinect is a discontinued line of motion sensing input devices produced by Microsoft and first released in 2010. The devices generally contain RGB color model, RGB cameras, and Thermographic camera, infrared projectors and detectors that map dep ...
hardware.
Reception
The game has received mixed reviews from critics. The game received a rating of 6/10 from
IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
, criticizing the loose controls and inconsistencies with the boost mechanic.
Most reviewers agreed that, although Kinect Joy Ride offered lightweight fun, it was not a very satisfying game compared to the other launch titles, and easily forgettable. Video game talk show ''
Good Games two presenters gave the game a 5 and 4 out of 10 stating that the steering felt too unreliable and that it would be a lot more fun if were played with a regular controller and it is an experiment gone wrong. As well saying "You can have SOME fun pretending to drive, but I don't want to have to pretend to have fun too."
See also
*''
Joy Ride Turbo''
References
External links
"Kinect Joy Ride" Xbox.com page*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinect Joy Ride (Video Game)
2010 video games
Kinect games
Microsoft games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Racing video games
Video games developed in Canada
Xbox 360 games
Xbox 360-only games