Tue, Feb 22, 2011 | 12:57 GMT
Microsoft confirms Kinect PC SDK release for next month
Microsoft has reportedly confirmed it’s to release an SDK for Kinect in March. The software will initially be limited to non-commercial use.
The move confirms a previous rumour that the company was preparing to officially open up the 360 motion camera to PC developers.
Microsoft said today that a commercial version of the SDK – which will allow people to make Kinect-based apps and games for profit – will follow at an unspecified date.
The initial release will be a starter kit “to make it simpler for the academic research and enthusiast communities to create rich natural user interfaces using Kinect technology,” said Microsoft in a statement.
“The SDK will give users access to deep Kinect system information such as audio, system application-programming interfaces, and direct control of the Kinect sensor.”
The software will be runable on Windows 7.
Microsoft games boss Don Mattrick made the announcement on Monday during a session with journalists on the firm’s Redmond campus.
“Microsoft’s investments in natural user interfaces are vital to our long-term vision of creating computers that are intuitive to use and able to do far more for us,” added Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer.
“The fruits of these research investments are manifesting across many of our products, Kinect for Xbox 360 among them.”
Microsoft has previously said that it shipped more than 8 million Kinect units in 60 days from launching the device last year.
14 comments
#1
daytripper
21/02/11, 6:37 pm
apologies for being very stupid but what does “sdk” mean?
#2
LePlatypus
21/02/11, 6:39 pm
@1 software development kit. Basically so third party/indie devs can work on it.
#3
OlderGamer
21/02/11, 6:39 pm
^^No clue either lol.
#4
OlderGamer
21/02/11, 6:40 pm
Makes sense.
#5
daytripper
21/02/11, 6:41 pm
cool, cheers. when i saw the title i was a little bit “wtf”.
#6
LePlatypus
21/02/11, 6:47 pm
I’m surprised that Microsoft don’t create a indie games thing specifically for Kinect and integrate it into the Games Marketplace.
#7
ManuOtaku
21/02/11, 6:50 pm
The most important thing how much it will cost?, if it is dirty cheap , i will apply also. 8D
#8
Patrick Garratt
21/02/11, 7:00 pm
The software will be free, probably.
#9
pukem0n
21/02/11, 8:22 pm
kinect will cost the same for pc and xbox, since its the same thing?
#10
Patrick Garratt
21/02/11, 8:32 pm
Updated with the announcement statements.
#11
blackdreamhunk
21/02/11, 11:04 pm
you know I may pick this up.
#12
Bond James Bond
21/02/11, 11:23 pm
New DRM which matches your physical appearance to your game install.
#13
HauntaVirus
22/02/11, 7:08 am
@12
LOL, I wouldn’t doubt it.
#14
russdude13
22/02/11, 11:18 am
MS should have done this along time ago, because Kinect for gaming sucks, but the hardware itself it good.