There's no escape

The Jar Jar Binks of Mobile Apps?

As you may recall from our Kinect Star Wars review, we didn't think that the title did a good job of making Star Wars fantasy a reality. Not a complete disaster, but a missed opportunity.

Despite a poor critical reception this title still surged to the top of the software charts, and Microsoft hasn't finished its flirting with the franchise yet. Now there's a phone app that incorporates your Facebook and Twitter accounts into one convenient place, while surrounding it with imagery from the films and the Kinect game. Available on Windows Phone, iOS and Android, it apparently succeeds in "literally putting ‘the Force’ directly into people’s phones". Oh dear, that and more in the press release below.

London – 19th April – Yesterday saw the launch of a new mobile app from Microsoft taking social networking on smartphones into a new stratosphere, by allowing fans of the world’s most iconic film franchise to view their Facebook and Twitter feeds in the style of ‘the crawl’, the iconic STAR WARS™ opening title sequence.

Free to download on Windows Phones, and launching on iOS and Android mobile operating systems from today, the new app helps mark the recent release of “Kinect Star Wars”, the latest blockbuster game from Xbox 360 that harnesses the Kinect’s revolutionary controller-free, motion-tracking technology to enable players to truly fight like a Jedi.

Synching seamlessly with Facebook and Twitter accounts, the app transforms smartphones into the ultimate social media dashboards by aggregating social media streams into one place. Fans can discover more about the full “Kinect Star Wars” game and even purchase a copy direct from the app, all wrapped up in an experience that gives a taste of the fun the game offers.

Stephen McGill, Director of Xbox and Entertainment for Microsoft UK, comments, “We are literally putting ‘the Force’ directly into people’s phones to help launch “Kinect Star Wars”. Fans will be able to carry a piece of the STAR WARS universe in their pockets and, like the new game for Xbox 360, immerse themselves in the incredible world of one of the most enduring entertainment franchises like never before.”

“Kinect Star Wars” is available now and offers fans of all ages the ability to experience the STAR WARS franchise like never before. Five dynamic modes include Jedi Destiny: Dark Side Rising, Podracing, Rancor Rampage, Galactic Dance Off and Duels of Fate. The game retails for £39.99, while the Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Kinect Star Wars” console bundle is available for £349.99 (ERP). The bundle features an R2-D2 branded console, C-3PO controller, white Kinect Sensor, the “Kinect Star Wars” game and an exclusive C-3PO unlockable for Dance Mode.

The app is available in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden. Visit www.xbox.com for more details.