XBox 360 Kinect sensor was released on November 4, 2010, with a MSRP price of $149.99 at launch for the Kinect plus Kinect Adventures video game. It sold over 8 million units in the first 60 days of release.
Kinect features an “RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and custom processor running proprietary software”, which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities. The sensor still works with XBox 360 gaming console even though it is no longer produced or supported. It is not compatible with XBox One as the One console has its own Kinect sensor but with way fewer titles released. Here is a complete list of Xbox 360 and One Kinect games.
You can find a used sensor for as low as $14.99 these days on Ebay or your local game store, making it a great buy for anyone who wants to test out the Kinect motion sensing technology. Kinect games are anywhere from $3-$15 so it’s a pretty inexpensive investment for some video gaming fun.
To setup up the Kinect sensor, all you have to do is plug it into the back of your XBox 360, then place the senor in an optimal spot. Remember to mount it higher than your TV set, especially if you have little kids who want to play. Once you fire up the console, it will automatically take you through the setup process.
Once set up, you can retune the camera by going to Kinect settings. Check Tracking to make sure the camera can see you ok. Then select Calibration. If you don’t have a calibration card, you can download and print the Kinect Calibration Card here.
