Sega Backs Kinect With Sonic Free Riders

Sega is joining the wave of publishers supporting Microsoft's Kinect with its classic mascot: Sonic Free Riders, a hoverboarding game featuring the hedgehog and his friends, is set to launch for the system this holiday season. In their joint announcement, Sega America and Sega Europe described it as "an extreme fast-paced boarding game" designed specifically for Kinect's full-body controls. Sonic Free Riders -- apparently a Kinect-configured refresh of prior-gen racer Sonic Riders -- lets multiple players use customizable hover boards and bikes to race each other -- players can play as Sonic, one of the other franchise characters, or as their own avatar. Race courses will also feature pick-ups and usable items on the course; players can use them and launch them at one another by "throwing, shaking or swinging" with their arms. It's also playable in single-player mode against AIs. "Sega is immensely excited to be a part of Microsoft’s line up for Kinect for Xbox 360," says Sega America and Sega Europe marketing senior VP Gary Knight. "The full body motion control is an innovative avenue allowing for complete immersion in the game. This is a whole new way to play as Sonic!"