MS: Hybrid control 360 games coming

On the day of Kinect's US launch, Microsoft has confirmed that games that combine motion control with traditional controller input are in the works.

Games that utilise "hybrid" control methods exist, Microsoft told GamesIndustry.biz.

"We'll continue to have controller-only games," said Alex Kipman, the brain behind the development of Kinect.

"We love controller-free games, we love Kinect experiences and we'll continue to grow our set of those as well. What we haven't really talked about, but exist, are hybrid games.

"Games that are using the controller, which we know and love, and pieces, if not all, of the Kinect experiences to again make those experiences more immersive, more fun and more emotionally connected."

Kipman's comments came amid a discussion about the future of traditionally controlled games.

Coming to the conclusion that the controller will not disappear altogether, Kipman predicted "a world which allows all to exist".

"This is where I look at the world, and I know it's easier to look at the world and talk about 'or', but I look at the world and I talk about 'and'. It's about how we take all of these things and fuse all of them together to create unique experiences. This is when I go speak and spend time with creative folk around the industry. I go back and I talk about palette," Kipman said.

"It doesn't always mean using the same colours, the same paintbrushes - the stories you tell are about using the appropriate combinations of all of the colours and brushes to create something meaningful."

In August Rare's Kinect development director Nick Burton suggested some possible Kinect/pad hybrid gameplay mechanics to Eurogamer.

"Camera control without having to consciously control it? At the moment when you play Halo you have to control the camera with a thumb stick. What if you didn't? What if you're shouting grenade? You're not going to find the grenade button. The grenade button's still there, but..."