Thursday 27 January 2011

Win an XBox Kinect and YourShape

I’ve never got computer games. Never even went on Space Invaders or PacMan. Just don’t get the fun of fiddling with knobs (so to speak). I’ve watched a succession of consoles wander in and out of the house and never felt remotely tempted to pick up a joystick and join in. Okay, so once I let James persuade me to wield a light sabre in Star Wars and actually I did alright – mainly by adopting a wild spinning and slashing action.


I thought I’d like the Wii Fit but it fell short somehow. I didn’t like being confined to the balance board and coordinating nunchuks just got on my nerves. James loved it of course: mainly because he got a kick out of topping me in everything. Except for Zazen. Seems I can sit without moving a single muscle for a very long time. Who knew? 100% every time. Ker-ching.

Then along came Kinect. Some of my mates had been over to LA for the launch of this last year and had raved about it but, even so, it didn’t really register. But James had one for Christmas and I watched him play. No controllers. Just him in front of the TV.
‘You wanna have a go, Mum?’
‘Hmm, mebbe.’ (nose deep in my new Kindle)
‘C’mon. Even you can do this.’

So I stood up and it scanned me. Plotted out all my bones. Shit, do I really look like that?

You know what? It’s huge fun. We played all sorts – ducking, diving, jumping, sliding. My favourite is the one where you wave your arms to fly up to the ceiling (been trying to do that in real life for years).

Then we tried Your Shape and that was a bit of a revelation too. I’ve done aerobics classes for years, absolutely years, and I thought I had pretty good technique. Wrong. Because the Kinect is tracking your actual skeletal structure (actually I don’t want to think about how it does that too much) you can see exactly where you’re going wrong.

Is it perfect? No, of course not. But it’s damn good. I broke a serious sweat on the cardio class and the trainer is kickass on muscle toning – the squats were an absolute killer. Loved the cardio boxing and I’m impressed that it tries to persuade you to end each session with a Zen stretch.

Now, if they could just find a way to get Assassin’s Creed running on Kinect, I might really be a lost cause.


What? Oh, the competition....sorry. If you have an Xbox and would like to try out Kinect, here’s your opportunity. Ubisoft, the game developer, has promised that one of you lovely lot will win a Kinect and a copy of Your Shape. Read on....and good luck.

Here’s the official blurb bit...(not written by me - how did you guess?) 

Diary of a Desperate Exmoor Woman has teamed up with game developer, Ubisoft, to give readers the chance to win an Xbox Kinect along with a copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved.

Your Shape's groundbreaking camera tracking technology completely changes the fitness experience, providing users with an unprecedented level of accuracy and efficiency. Unlike other games, Your Shape’s proprietary Player Projection technology puts your body into the game for the ultimate fitness experience. You will physically interact with virtual environments in ways you’ve never seen before and you’ll be captivated by unique and exciting visual effects that respond to your movements and impact.

To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is view the Your Shape Discover Your Shape (‘Toned Body’) video clip on their home page at http://yourshapecenter.uk.ubi.com/ and then come back here to answer the following simple question:

Question: How many new classes does Your Shape’s Cardio Boxing Platinum offer?

• 3
• 4
• 5

Post your answer in the comments below...

Please note that the Xbox 360 console is NOT included in the prize bundle.  Also, sadly, the prize can only be sent out to a UK address.  The competition will close on 10th February.

40 comments:

Nic's Notebook said...

The answer is 3!! I would love to try this, it looks amazing!!

Exmoorjane said...

Nic: Bloody hell, that was quick! I'm going to keep it open for a while and then do a draw with all the correct answers to keep it fair.

Frannie said...

The answer is 3. Great article by the way - and honestly I'm not saying that to be in with a bigger chance of winning. It really made me laugh - very well written!

Exmoorjane said...

Frannie: sycophancy is always good but I will devise a highly scientific method for extracing the winner...this may involve a hat. :)

Joanne said...

3! My goodness it sounds like fun. We have Wii fit as well but the idea of not having a controller that I can blame for my bad scores... actually, is that a good thing?

I am rubbish at Zazen. Ants in me pants.

Exmoorjane said...

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do note you need to have an XBox already as the prize does not include the console...just the Kinect and the YourShape. Still damn good prize though! :)

Unknown said...

That would be 3 classes.

Nickie O'Hara said...

Answer: 3

Thanks for running the comp - great prize :-D

Unknown said...

The answer is 3. I have already removed all furniture from the lounge in anticipation!

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

3 ... is the magic number

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

3 ... is the magic number

Alex said...

The answer is 3. Say one, progress to two and continue to 3 BUT no further. 3 is the answer, the answer is 3!

Kim Curran said...

Number 3! Love the article, and I'd love to get my hands on one of these. As a bit of a computer game freak, I have every other console but this one.

Jo kelly said...

3 :) Fab prize. I had a go of this in a shop near us, it was awesome!!! Loving your blog x

mumumumumum said...

3 , my Teens have been raving about this and as we have 2 xboxes i would be fab to try, especially as its something i can do aswell

SusanKMann said...

Please enter me. The answer is 3. @susankmann x

simone11 said...

the answer is 3 l would love to win this

Unknown said...

The answer is 3. Excellent competition! x

Jen Walshaw said...

3, I would love this

CherishedByMe said...

It is 3
I really really love Your shape after trying it out and have been lusting after the kinect ever since. Great competition. :)

KJ Kron said...

I got into some computer games - space invaders, pac-man, but I've never been much of a gamer. The Wii, I hate to say, is kind of boring. Sure, it's fun to try. But you've sold me on the Connect - although it sounds a little creepy that the thing scans you.

Jane said...

I'm gonna say - "Three!"

I read you on my google reader.

Keep on blogging

@rudedoodle said...

3
Great to see a normal person review of this!

Neil said...

The answer is 3. Can I win now please?

Big Fashionista said...

The answer is 3. I keep hearing so many good things about this Kinect but never actually tried one :-(

And I would love it forever :-D

Catharine Withenay said...

3!
Please let me win!
(Did I say the answer was three?)

Caroljs said...

3! Looks fab

Catherine said...

The answer is ....3! Great prize and lovely to discover your blog through it ;)

lisanorfolk said...

What a fab giveaway
The answer is 3 :)
Good luck all

Fashion Bandit said...

The answer is three!

I'd love to be entered - found your blog thanks to BigFashionista! x

Marzena said...

The answer is 3.
Fabulous prize

Please enter me

szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk

Jaynebeth said...

Well, the answer seems to be 3.

Hope more Cooers visit & enter.

Wren said...

I think the answer is 3... well i certainly hope so, or we are all wrong. :)
Good luck everyone

LoopyLu said...

The answer is 3. I appear to have turned into a bit of a porkie and am buuuursting for a kinect!!

simone11 said...

ANSWER IS 3 I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS TO GET IN SHAPE

狂狂生 said...

I m only 'ere 4 the coffee, well if I stay long I might take the money as well...

狂狂生 said...

Nice Blog, that remind me to carry on renewing mine!

狂狂生 said...

I would not buy a Wii yet, not B4 I can try one first... anyone lend me one?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like great fun! The children (and me!) would love this. The answer is 3.

Exmoorjane said...

****COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED****

The mathematically improbable system of picking the winner will now commence....