Since launching in November 2010, Microsoft"s Kinect motion controller camera has been a big hit for the Xbox 360. The $150 add-on sold 8 million units in its first 60 days. Back in March, Microsoft said that 10 million Kinect controllers have been shipped. Previously the stand alone version of the camera also came with a free game, Kinect Adventure. This week Microsoft, via the Major Nelson web site, announced that starting next week stores will begin shipping a new version of the Kinect that adds another free Xbox 360 game, Child of Eden.
The arcade shooter was one of the first games announced that would support the Kinect controller. It was first revealed by its publisher Ubisoft at its 2010 E3 press conference and finally released in June 2011. The game was developed by Japanese-based Q Entertainment and lead by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who previously created the cult hit arcade game Rez. In Child of Eden the Kinect controller allows the gamer to use their hands and arms to fire at the attacking objects on the screen. The highly colorful game also has an interesting audio element; the targets generates music when the player targets and fires on them.
The new Kinect bundle will allow owners to download the full version of Child of Eden via Xbox Live with a download code included in the bundle package. This second free game is not a permanent Kinect add-on; the Major Nelson site states, "This bundle will be available in limited quantities and while supplies last."