Lucas arts, Warner Bros. and Gameloft have already announced their plans for bringing the Unreal Engine 3 technology into play. At the ongoing E3 2011 convention, Microsoft disclosed that it has fortified its partnership with Epic Games by employing Unreal Engine 3 for developing Kinect Fun Labs.
“With Kinect Fun Labs we are introducing the newest innovative experiences with Kinect for Xbox 360, and Unreal Engine 3 is a great engine with which to make games for Kinect and Xbox 360,” commented Shannon Loftis, Studio Head for Good Science Studio, Microsoft Studios. “We carefully select the industry’s best game development tools to create these pioneering experiences and we’ve only just begun to show its potential.”
Mark Rein, Vice President of Epic Games, explained, “Unreal Engine 3 has been used for Kinect since day one. Unreal Engine 3 is powering the latest Kinect experiences which enable you to build an avatar in your likeness, play with bobbleheads, animate real life objects onscreen and be creative in the game environment in ways that we couldn’t have imagined a few years ago.”
While divulging information about its collaboration with Epic Games, Microsoft introduced this year’s E3 attendees to various innovative ‘Gadgets’ crafted for Fun Labs. Gamers can select from multiple alternatives including Bobble Head, Kinect Googly Eyes, Kinect Me and Build A Buddy to indulge in innovative interactions. Powered by Unreal Engine 3, these products are said to deliver authentic simulation for players on the Xbox 360.
With this allegiance underway, there could well be some more innovative products up Microsoft’s sleeve. However, the company has not dropped more details about the application of this technology for other products from its lab.