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The announcement of NBA Baller Beats<\/em><\/a> for Kinect may seem like a postdated April Fool’s gag, but I assure you it is not. As actual gameplay footage won’t be unveiled until E3, I’ll let the press release description paint an early mental picture:<\/p>\n

Aspire to perform like a pro in NBA Baller Beats as you train alongside your favorite NBA franchise unlocking songs, difficulty levels, and over 100 posters and trading cards showcasing NBA players\u2019 greatest moves. The music is your guide as you master ball handling skills, dribbling, and baller moves with a real basketball as Kinect technology tracks your every crossover, pump fake, behind-the-back, around-the-world and more! Become the ultimate baller and increase your stamina in single player mode, break it down and practice different skills in Move School mode or show-off in multiplayer mode and go head-to-head against up to 8 players \u2013 the highest score wins bragging rights. No matter the level of your skills, players of all abilities will enjoy getting off the couch and raising their game with NBA Baller Beats.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So basically, it’s a rhythm game crossed with basketball. That’s actually kind of a cool, totally unexpected idea, and the licensed soundtrack Majesco has lined up is pretty impressive. Kanye West, Run DMC, Gorillaz, Them Crooked Vultures, Common, Tiesto and other artists to be announced will provide the beats and lyrics for players to show off their mad ballin’ skillz to. I can only applaud the developer’s bravery and originality for concocting this idea.<\/p>\n

However, the main concern is obvious: how exactly is everyone going to be able to dribble a basketball in their living room\/bed room\/game room\/man cave\/dorm room etc? My upstairs game room is carpeted, and besides making a horribly loud noise that would surely disturb anyone on the first floor, there’s no way the ball would bounce very well. Then there’s the fact that most parents often harp on their kids to NOT play basketball in the house. How’s this game going to fly in that scenario? This game better come with some form of property assurance, because I can see a lot of accidentally broken lamps and TVs waiting to happen. Maybe Majesco will be wise enough to bundle the game with a nerf basketball tethered to a wrist strap, learning a lesson from the early Wii Remote accidents.<\/p>\n

NBA Baller Beats<\/em> dribbles exclusively onto Xbox 360 Kinect this fall. I still don’t own a Kinect yet, but I am strangely curious to see how this game comes together. Rapper\/actor Common narrates the debut teaser trailer embedded for your viewing curiosity below.<\/p>\n