Microsoft Launches Kinect SDK, Making Hacks Official

There haven't been many games worth playing for Kinect since the hardware launched, but hackers have found plenty of reasons to mess around with Microsoft's device. Trying to capitalize on what's been happening in the community, Microsoft's today released the official Kinect software development kit (SDK) in beta form, providing an official outlet for Kinect creations.

Right now, the SDK isn't meant for commercial creations--Microsoft says that will change. In other words, you can't charge for what you're making on the SDK, unless you're an official developer.

Microsoft describes the SDK as "starter kit for software developers, to make it easier for academic research and enthusiast communities to create rich experiences using Kinect."

Want to download the SDK for yourself? Have at it.

Tired of Kinect. 

Penis technology will evolve immensely.

Interesting things will come from this.

Finally.

The Kinect will allow me to use my penis as a controller.

But you can still make money on existing open source sdk so why would people use the "Official" sdk? 
 
Example: http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/21/kinect-admits-itself-to-hospital-treated-for-gesture-control-of/

Does this count for Brad to eat his hat?

Good for Microsoft, being a cool bro like that.

Should be interesting to see if someone can create the next casual indie title from such a humble beginning

Tired of Kinect. 

Smart move.

New comment system wut?

Good stuff. Hopefully this is increase the already interesting stuff we're seeing with Kinect from the open source crowd.

yeah I feel like a lot of the kinect sales were from people who wanted to do these hacks

 Great news for budding Kinect developers and tinkerers.
 
 
Also, say what you will about Kinectimals, but man it is such a pretty game.
 
More games with this art style, please. >_<

Too late to include Kinect support in Windows 8. Damn youse, Microsoft!

as a game developer, this sounds great to me. 
 
as a student game developer with no money to buy a kinect, this frustrates me a little bit.

Good to see Microsoft validating the one interesting development with Kinect.  Example (ignore the preview picture): 
 
    

Butt recognition software will make huge improvements.

Sounds like the right move on Microsoft's part.

Hurray, more crazy Kinect ideas to be viewed on Youtube!

Thumbs up to Microsoft.

Good on them, but I kinda don't care? Do something interesting on Kinect, please.
 
That thing sits on top of my TV, looks me up and down, stares into my soul, then judges me.

Bring on the porn games!

The future holds promise.

A lot of PC games support head tracking using TrackIR. It would be possible to make Kinect do the same thing.

surprising

this has promise. i really dont think the Kinect's main focus should be as a game device. the coolest things i have seen for kinect are not games.

Can't wait to see what comes of this. Should be interesting to watch for.

Wow, that's pretty cool. SDKs usually cost like thousands and thousands of dollars. Hats off to Microsoft for, if nothing else, realizing where the excitement of Kinect really lies right now and playing to it.

That's cool of them.

I need to set my Kinect up again, I used Your Shape for about a month and haven't touched it since.  That was 4 months ago!

I am sure lot's of cool things will come out of this.