Skyrim Kinect Mod Lets You Dragon Shout in Your Living Room

Shouting the Dragon Language has never been easier. Youtube user KinectFAAST has created a modified version of Skyrim that works with his Kinect. Using voice and motion, the modder can crouch, swing, block, cast magic, navigate the menus, and shoot arrows. Most importantly, you can shout the actual words of power to activate Dragon Shouts.

The modder uses a bluetooth headset to maximize the capture of his voice commands. Though, even with that enhancement, the voice and motion commands don’t always connect. Still, the concept is mindblowing. Using the system would remove the necessity to access the menu during combat, as you can simply shout “Longbow” or “double fire” to equip weapons or magic. Although not shown in the video, potions and scrolls could be quickly activated the same way. With all that, menus would only be for fussy organization of too much loot.

Check out the video after the break.

The mod also works rather fluidly with the Skyrim system already in place, which already makes assumptions about what’s in your off-hand. If you choose your sword, the game often picks your last used spell or shield, as you’ll probably need it. This works perfectly with the Kinect commands, as FAAST never has to specify the left or right hand when equipping a sword to protect himself when conjuring a flame elemental.

Frankly, this is how I’d like to see motion/voice features like Kinect being used. While I’m not sure I’d like to rely on somewhat imprecise motions to deliver killing blows with my sword, changing weapons and magic spells on the fly without the use of time-pausing menus would really enhance the Skyrim experience. Heck, it would make every game with any kind of menus amazing.

[via Joystiq]