XboxFitness.org

Well, it’s been a busy few days at the E3 Conference in LA. There have been a slew of announcements about what’s new and exciting in the video game industry.

The coolest announcement on the Xbox Fitness front by far has been the (to me) surprise announcement that Microsoft has teamed up with Nike to create something called Nike+ Kinect Training. Here’s the video they put out with typical frenetic music and half-second glimpses of actual gameplay (we don’t get longer clips no doubt because they’re probably in the middle of coding it as we speak).

Nike+, of course, was popularized with the sensor for iPod and iPhone that fit into your shoe) and would transmit workout information to your iPod. They’ve since expanded to create the NikeFuel, an accelerometer that you wear on your wrist that measures your movement.

From early reports, it appears that Nike+Kinect will work with the NikeFuel (which given the price tag will probably be optional and sold separately). It’s unclear whether support for the shoe sensor will be built in. They also talked about a Windows Mobile app that’ll integrate with the game, but it’s unclear whether there’ll be iPhone and Android support.

Early glimpses into the gameplay make the game look at lot like other games we’ve seen such as EA Sports Active and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved; in other words, it looks like the typical calisthentics-type exercises and not much in the form of “sports simulation” which I’ve been waiting a long time for. On the other hand, the advanced graphics and performance of the Xbox, combined with the accuracy of versatility of the Nike+ sensor should make a pretty good combination.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because Nike+Kinect will be going head-to-head with miCoach by Adidas, which is slated for release on July 24, 2012. Since Nike+Kinect will be launching during “Holidays 2012”, that gives Adidas at least a three-month lead.

There were other announcements at E3 which I’ll share once the dust settles. But this definitely was the biggest one so far.