PlayStation 3 | Evolving Consumer

Tour de France Rides to the PS4

This year you don’t have to just watch the Tour de France – you can ride it in video game fashion. In fac this year there are two games including Tour de France 2014 and Pro Cycling Manager.

Tour de France 2014 invites you to wear the jersey of the greatest champion cyclists and take part in a 2014 Tour in a game packed with new features. The game lets you enter one of the most prestigious cycling competitions in the world that now takes you through the English countryside, London roads, cobbled sections in northern France, legendary mountain stages and the fabulous finish on the Champs Elysées. The 2014 version of the game will arrive on the Xbox 360 as well as PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in time for the race.

Pro Cycling Manager 2014 on PC is designed to thrill fans of sports management and catapult you to the head of one of the 75 pro teams in a riveting cycling season where you take part in over 200 competitions and 550 stages! This extensive 2014 edition offers meticulously rendered graphics, new off-race management options (R&D, financial management and improved sponsor relations, etc.), a more dynamic transfer market, a more realistic injury system, a brand new and highly intuitive interface and a race gameplay that is full of great features, including consecutive orders and race tactics!

Pro Cycling Manager Official Website

adidas miCoach Game Released

miCoach, the activity monitor from adidas, just got game. That is adidas miCoach was released for Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move on the PlayStation 3. The game offers exercises to help keep you moving toward your goals.

The exercise title offers a sports-specific approach to home console training systems and motion-controlled support. On both systems, the game monitors how you do your exercises. This is done through optical body tracking with Kinect on the Xbox 360. On the PlayStation 3 moves are monitored through the PlayStation Move motion controller. Continue reading adidas miCoach Game Released

The Games Begin on Xbox 360 and PS3

While the Olympic trials are underway gamers can get a chance to go for the gold beginning this week. SEGA of America announced the release of London 2012 – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3.

The game will offer single and multiplayer completion and will feature support for the Kinect for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move.

This will allow gamers to get off the couch and not just watch the events but see if they have the stuff to go all the way. There is even an Online Multiplayer mode that allows players to show their National Pride as points go towards a global leader board.

So if you didn’t qualify for the games, don’t have a plane ticket to London and can’t wait until July 27 to watch it on TV, now is your chance to go to the game.

Video after the jump

Sony Move Bundle for $99.99

If you don’t have a PlayStation Move now you should move on over to the store and pick one up. Sony has announced that beginning this week it will be offering a Move bundle. For about $100 you can get the PlayStation Move controller, PlayStation Eye camera and two Move-compatible titles, Sports Champions and Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest.

Sports Champions remains a classic fan-favorite Move title and includes six challenging events including Disc Golf, Gladiator Duel, Beach Volleyball, Archery, Table Tennis and Bocce; while Medieval Moves is an action-adventure game that has been designed specifically for PlayStation Move. Gamers must help Prince Edmund protect his kingdom against the evil sorcerer Morgrimm and his army of skeletons. And instead of mere button mashing, gamers will use the PS Move motion controller to sword fight, shoot arrows, and fling throwing stars in your epic battles. This one also offers full 3D support, so break out the glasses if got ‘em!

All you’ll need is a TV and the PlayStation 3 of course, but for $99.99 MSPR this is a good way to get your inner gamer off the couch and moving!

MotionSports Adrenaline Gets Momentum on Xbox, PS3

Ubisoft just released MotionSports Adrenaline for the Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation Move for the PlayStation 3. The game takes advantage of the motion-sensing controls to encourage movement. MotionSports Adrenaline has a number of extreme activities such as wingsuit, mountain bike, rock climbing, kayak, kitesurf, extreme skiing.

Continue reading MotionSports Adrenaline Gets Momentum on Xbox, PS3

EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

While many video games these days are getting gamers off the couch, one game will likely get gamers dashing to get a pair of athletic fashion shoes. The upcoming racing game Need for Speed The Run, which will arrive this November for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PC, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS will feature the iconic adidas Superstar shoes. Additionally the adidas branded apparel which will be available at all adidas Originals stores across the United States. Continue reading EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

Hit the Stage and Dance (But Without Any Stars)

The latest trend in video game fitness seems to revolve around strutting your stuff on the dance floor – or basically in front of your TV. This week sees the release of Dance! It’s Your Stage from dtp young entertainment for the Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and PC. It’s your Stage features 20 brand new tracks, recorded exclusively for the game, each with dynamic and exciting choreography from world renowned professional dance guru ‘Detlef D! Soost’.

Everybody dance now with this game, which offers full support for the PlayStation Move, Wii Balance Board and PC via the Xbox 360 controller and dance mat. The game takes place across 8 detailed locations (all of which are expandable through unlockable content) where you can select from a choice of 6 avatars with over 300 unique styling options. With Dance! It’s Your Stage you won’t be dancing with any stars, but at least you’ll be off the couch!

Dance! It’s Your Stage Official Website

Get the Eye of the Tiger for the PlayStation Move

While Tiger Woods may have lost the eye of the tiger a bit this season, you can still play a few rounds with the pro on the PlayStation Move. Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the availability of the limited edition PlayStation Move Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: Masters Bundle, which will tee off in stores this week. This bundle combines the PlayStation Move motion controller, the PlayStation Eye and the thrill of EA SPORTS’ Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters on Blu-ray disc ($99.99 MSRP).

“PlayStation Move was designed to enable experiences that put players directly in the game. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters is a title that takes full advantage of the realistic and immersive feeling PlayStation Move provides,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA “We’re always looking for ways to offer more value to our consumers and we’re very excited to be partnering with EA SPORTS to deliver this comprehensive bundle.”

The bundle will be available while supplies last, so you might want to get your Move on!

(Video after the jump) Continue reading Get the Eye of the Tiger for the PlayStation Move

E3 2011: UFC Personal Trainer – This Time Its Personal

Enter the Octagon, where two men enter – and eventually both men leave after a serious workout. That’s sort of the idea behind THQ’s UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System. We at KineticShift take a bit of offense at the idea that a video game would be the “Ultimate Fitness System,” but this upcoming game features more than 70 MMA and NASM-approved exercises, including moves from disciplines including wrestling, kickboxing and Muay Thai.

Basically this is a bit of shadow boxing, shadow kicking and the like. There are 51 routines, and users can focus on specific fitness objectives and even target specific muscle groups. While we also don’t think this game alone will get you in ultimate shape, we could see that this could be part of a well round workout that is anything but routine.

Video after the jump:

Continue reading E3 2011: UFC Personal Trainer – This Time Its Personal

E3 2011: adidas Teams With THQ

Trade shows such as the Electronic Entertainment Expo are known to get gamers up and running – that is running to see games and to get to appointments. The rest of the time gamers need some urging to get that much activity, but now adidas is set to team up with THQ to bring the popular miCoach interactive athletic training system to video game consoles.

The new collaboration is set for release next year, and will allow gamers to train using the miCoach hardware, including heart rate monitor (or any ANT+ compatible monitor), which will connect to the THQ’s new video game title for the Kinetic for Xbox 360 or PlayStation Move via miCoach Pacer and miCoarch mobile app.

“We’re taking our successful miCoach line and broadening its reach to an even larger audience, who we hope will find motivation and inspiration from adidas and our roster of star athletes,” said Simon Drabble, Director of miCoach BU for adidas. “In simple words, this combination of console technology and training for sports supports everybody to become better athletes, regardless of their fitness level.”

Players will get an onscreen trainer to guide them through hours of on-screen training and motivating game experience. The system will get gamers toned up beginning next year.

miCoach Official Website
THQ Official Website

KineticShift Heads to E3

This week KineticShift will be reporting from the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 (June 7-9) in sunny Los Angeles. We expect big news on the video game front from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony – and we hear this will include more fitness games and activities that will help encourage gamers to get off the couch.

Check back all week for the latest from E3. This is one show we’d hate to miss.

E3 Official Website

Lenovo Brings Motion Controlled Game System to China

Strange as it may seem some video game technology is actually not available in China. This is because of a combination of technology that is banned for export to China, as well as a ban on the importation of the systems by the Chinese government. And let’s not forget that there are no doubt fears that it will result in mass pirating.

The latter is no doubt a concern, as has been seen in recent years just about any technology can be reversed in China, and we pretty much known that the Blackhawk helicopter that was destroyed in the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden will likely be studied very closely by the Chinese military. This could jump start China’s attempts to get stealth technology for rotor aircraft, and area where the country has so far lagged behind.

Another area where China is already looking to jump ahead is surprising enough in the aforementioned video game space, and now Lenovo, China’s largest PC maker, has introduced a console to rival the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360, complete with motion control.

Originally known as the eBox, the console has reportedly been renamed the iSec, which stands for “Sports Entertainment Center.” It will include motion sensing technology that works much like that in the Microsoft Kinect, suggesting that this could be used for a range of gaming styles – allowing players to take part in Chinese style martial arts action adventures and of course fitness games.

There is some irony in all this. The Chinese government had banned the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 as there were concerns it could harm the country’s youth – and of course there had been bans to export some hardware to China. But now the Chinese are looking to get in on the game, and the computer gaming market is on the rise Chinese seems to think if you can’t keep it out, embrace it. The final question will be whether China attempts a US invasion with the iSec.

[Via PC World: Lenovo-backed Video Game System Unveiled in China]

Nintendo to Wii 2

Sony and Microsoft have reaffirmed their commitment to their current generation consoles, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectfully, and made it clear that it will be 2014 before either company brings out a next generation console. Both Sony and Microsoft gave their current hardware significant makeovers, notably the PlayStation Move and Xbox 360 Kinetic respectively; both of which came out last fall.

Nintendo’s Wii, which was released in 2007 – just days after the Sony PlayStation 3 arrived at retail – hasn’t seen the similar upgrade. While it dominated the gaming arena thanks to its innovative motion controller system, the hardware was far less cutting edge than either the Sony or Microsoft consoles. The Wii doesn’t support HD and doesn’t provide the same streaming opportunities as the PS3 or 360. Likewise, Nintendo has been hit on the handheld front too, as Apple’s iPhone and more recently the iPad have stolen some of the Nintendo GameBoy’s thunder. Continue reading Nintendo to Wii 2