Microsoft Announce Record Year and More Entertainment For Xbox 360

2011 was a massive year for the XBox 360, and before the console shuffles off to the big trade-in centre in the sky, making way for the surely not-far-off 720 (or whatever they decide to call it), Microsoft have released details of exactly how well the last twelve months went for the console, as well as announcing the next step for the development of the console and Kinect peripheral. Microsoft appeared at the International Consumer Electronics Show to announce that Xbox 360 was the top selling console in North America in 2011. Xbox 360 sold more than 66 million consoles, with nearly 40 million Xbox LIVE members around the world. Kinect sold more than 18 million sensors around the world. Xbox 360 with Kinect was the must-have gift this Christmas, selling almost 800,000 Xbox 360 consoles on Black Friday alone. Delving slightly more into the effect that Kinect, and the new Dashboard system, innovative features and Kinect integration: The hours of video consumed globally on Xbox LIVE increased 140 percent from 2010 to 2011. In December more than 60 percent of U.S. Xbox LIVE Gold members used entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE €“ for an average of an hour a day each. The number of people using entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE increased by nearly 50 percent globally from November to December. All indicators point to a positive response to the evolution, with further partnerships set to be unveiled in the next months, as well as an intriguing collaboration with brands like Sesame Workshop and National Geographic set to deliver a new kind of interactive learning experience that places children inside their favorite television shows and storybooks and allows them to engage, interact and learn in entirely new ways using the Kinect. The next stage of the Kinect revolution has also been announced, with major companies and industries set to use the technology to "reinvent" their industries: Microsoft announced the Kinect for Windows commercial program launching 1st Feb 2012. Through the commercial program, Kinect will reach far beyond entertainment to revolutionise education, healthcare, manufacturing, science, and more. Microsoft is already working with more than 200 innovation leaders including United Health Group, American Express, Mattel, Telefonica, and Toyota to utilise Kinect in revolutionary new ways. Whether the Kinect can make the transition from entertainment peripheral to genuinely widely appealing gadget remains to be seen, but with the might of Microsoft behind it, you have to suspect that some success will be guaranteed. We just hope it isn't at a cost to the gaming community.