Skyrim + Kinect = FUS ROH MY GOD YES

Look here. Look at this video above. Consume it. 

This is why you bought Kinect - aside from Kinectimals. After mysteriously trademarking "Fus Ro Dah" yesterday, Bethesda announced today via press release that its 2011 Game of the Year will soon enjoy Kinect voice command support for the Xbox 360 version.

According to the press release, the free title update will include over 200 specific voice commands; Shouts are a no-brainer, others could truly accentuate and streamline play:

"Adding a new dimension to Skyrim's gameplay, the Kinect for Xbox 360 integration offers Voice Commands throughout the game including Dragon Shouts, Hotkey Equipping, Follower Commands, and all Menus (Items, Magic, Map, Barter, Container, Favorites, and Skills). With Voice Commands, quickly create and load saves during gameplay and access menus and inventories. Skyrim's Kinect for Xbox 360 Support also adds new functionality including special map functions, additional hotkey options, and the ability to sort inventory items by name, weight, and value."

Now when you shout at your TV in the comfort of your living room, it's not just because you picked up a wooden bowl. No word yet on when Kinect will be ready to help you slay dragons but rest assured OMNIpixel is on it.


The announcement of voice commands is another piece of Skyrim content from the game jam video that was shown during Bethesda's D.I.C.E. presentation. And while we're on the subject, why don't we revisit that video and see what else they might have cooking:

Even though you should watch the video, here's a giant, unnecessary list for reference:

• Seasonal Foliage
• Flow-based Water Shader
• Spears
• Kill Cams for magic and ranged combat (check!)
• Stealth enhancements such as water arrows and assassin's vision
• Paralysis runes
• Dungeon enhancements like hanging structures and moving platforms
• Water currents in dungeons
• Dark dungeons
• New follower commands for combat style, training, distance, equipment, etc.
• Set favorites for followers
• Adoption
• Build your own home
• Spell combinations
• Goblins
• High Level Draugr
• Waygate fast travel
• Epic new mounts
• Mounted combat
• Dragon mounts (!!!)
• Soulbug familiar
• Kinect Shouts (check!)
• Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (check! I think)
• Enhanced Underwater Visuals (check!)
• Snow footprints
• Verlet surfaces for non-rigid objects
• Ice & Fire Arrows
• Werebear
• Lycanthropy Perk Tree
• Vampire feeding
• Become a flying Vampire Lord
• Vampire imp minions
• Mudcrab animation tweaks
• Giant Mudcrab (!!?)

What would you like to see Bethesda bring to the land of Skyrim next? Let us know in the comments, yo.

VIA: Kotaku
SOURCE: Bethesda Softworks