_Kinect Sports_ is one of the launch games for Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral
for the Xbox 360 where movement of the players using their body and limbs, not
a physical controller, is translated onscreen through their Xbox 360 Avatars.
All included games are simulations of real-life sports. There are three main
game modes: a main event for one or two players locally or over Xbox Live,
Party Play for multiple players in a single room, and Mini-Games where the
included sports are presented with a variation in the gameplay. Not all games
share the same free-for-all or cooperative options. For AI opponents the
player can also determine the difficulty level. Party Play consists of
variations of the main sports as well, for up to six players divided over two
teams. A session generally lasts fifteen minutes with six rounds. A game is
chosen by turning a wheel and then each team has to appoint a player to
compete.

The included sports are:

* Beach volleyball
Teams of two characters play games of beach volleyball in a race to reach
seven points first, but only when there is a two-point difference. There are
different serving options and the player can also jump and hit to smash or
block. Extending an arm left or right in the direction of the team player is
done to pass, build up an attack or return a ball. Passing can also be done
with two hands for more accuracy and the game registers a small touch to land
the ball close over the net. In the first mini-game you return balls on a
field filled with distractions and in the second game you can only return the
ball with a specific body part, highlighted on the screen. You have to return
the ball with your head, feet or hands as indicated.

* Bowling
Players extend a hand left or right to pick up a ball and then swing it
backwards and immediately forwards, releasing it on the lane. By stepping
around and leaning in you can give the ball more momentum. Effect can be
applied by crossing your arm over your chest after swinging. In the mini-games
there is a survival mode where you need to hit all pins in a single throw,
with different positions for each challenge. You can miss five times before
the game is over. In the second mini-game you need to hit as many racks of
pins as possible against a time limit, quickly picking up balls left or right.
A new rack only appear when all pins have been thrown over.

* Boxing
A boxing match is done from a see-through first-person perspective. Players
can hit and block high and low and the game registers the strength of the
punch. A game is won through a regular knockout, a technical knockout or a
judges’ decision. When you are knocked down yourself, you need to hit the
stars circling above your head to get back up before the count reaches 10.
Throwing punches wildly is discouraged as multiple blocks allow an opponent to
counter with a hard strike.

* Football
In this game of soccer players need to reach the opponent’s goal through
passes. When the ball is in possession different passing options are shown.
The pass is given by kicking in one of the available directions, while the
opponent can intercept by blocking the path or tackling. When close to the
goal you can shoot. In a defending position you attempt to stand in the ball’s
path or perform a tackle. As the keeper you can sidestep and use your hands,
feet or body to block the incoming shot. There is no free movement otherwise.
The referee can award penalties and free kicks and calls a fault when the
player takes too long to pass. Using a corner, a throw-in or a cross-pass into
the center a style shot can sometimes be performed. There is a cooperative
mode to play with another local player in your team taking turns whenever an
action is performed. The two mini-games involve blocking many consecutive
shots as a keeper or switching places and doing target shooting with a keeper
in the goal.

* Table tennis
Games of table tennis are played as singles or doubles. The first to reach
eleven points wins, but only when there is a two-point difference. To serve
players pick up the ball, throw it in the air and hit it. Returning the ball
is done by extending the arm and swinging left or right. The strength and the
direction of the shot is picked up. Effect can be applied by raising your arm
up and down while returning to introduce topspin or backspin. In the first
mini-game you have to return a constant stream of balls quickly and the second
one is a rally that goes on until you miss.

* Track and field
This event consists of multiple sports: Hurdles, Sprint, Javelin, Discus Throw
and Long Jump. Each one is played using the motions you would perform in real-
life. For instance while doing hurdles you need to actually run at a fixed
position to gain speed and jump whenever you approach a hurdle. All of the
events can be played one after another as a pentathlon. In the two running
events there is a technique to gain extra boost while running.

The game incorporates the Show Off & Share functionality of Kinect Adventures.
There is an option to allow Kinect to record video highlights of yourself
while playing the game. These are shown when an event is finished. They can be
shared locally or posted online to kinectshare.com – where it is possible to
download the video to a PC or share them directly through Facebook.

In the singleplayer mode the player earns experience by competing in events.
Certain amounts of points are rewarded with badges and avatar items.