E3 2008: You're In The Movies First Impressions

At their press conference at E3 '08, Microsoft announced a new family-friendly game using the Xbox Live Vision Cam called You're In the Movies. Actually, it looks more like two products rolled into one: a minigame collection, in which players follow in-game instructions while the vision cam takes footage of their actions; and a movie-maker mode, which compiles footage from these activities, and combines it into a single, hysterical B-movie reel. In order to demonstrate how this functions, Microsoft's Shane Kim demonstrated some of the game's finer points, with the assistance of Microsoft's own Don Mattrick, John Schappert, and Genevieve Walter.

Mattrick, the first guest, was tasked to run in place using exaggerated motions. In turn, the game used live footage of his movements, but pictured him wearing clown pants as he ran through a series of colorful, stylized environments. After this short but exhausting series of movements, the game provided him a score, and Schappert took his place. In his minigame, the player is required to act as though he was swatting wasps. The game pictured Schappert batting at cartoon wasps and scored him based on his prowess in hitting the buzzing insects.

Walter was up last. She performed the most active minigame, which required her to dance to a bass-driven beat and perform hand movements to match onscreen prompts. The game also included freestyle sections, which allowed her to dance to her heart's content using moves of her own creation. When done, You're In the Movies provided her a score--but the best was yet to come.

Once the minigames are complete, You're In the Movies takes the footage it has filmed and inserts it into prerendered film templates. In this specific case, it created a movie called Cold Blooded, a hilarious B-movie trailer in which the players were shown reacting to an invading mastodon as it wreaked havoc throughout the city. The film featured a cheesy, '50s-style announcer and showcased awesomely gaudy environments that would have been at home in any cult-favorite monster flick.

If you enjoy getting together with your friends and family in the hopes of making them look silly (and having them do the same to you), You're In the Movies seems to be another casual way of encouraging them to do just that. We'll bring you more on this entertaining-looking title as we learn more.