Hudson showed us some new developments for fans of the Deca Sports franchise, with one game for the Wii and another for Xbox 360 that uses the new Kinetic system. Both games are true to the spirit of Deca Sports, but take very different routes that cater to the strengths of each respective console. The idea seems to be that these games will build on and improve the formula, rather than take Deca Sports in an entirely different direction. We can expect to see releases later this year.

Deca Sports 3 appears to have a nice balance between serious event competition and lighter fare that appeals to the broadest possible audience. We liked the way that this version of the game branches off depending on whether a player has the MotionPlus accessory. It's not that you can't play the casual sporting events with MotionPlus, but the assumption is that players will want to play events that require more precise control. We tried out a fun flying game that has you hold the controller in NES position, but more as a yoke that pilots would use in a cockpit. The challenge here was obviously a bit fantastic, compared to real-world sports you can play and practice. Other sports on offer in the final version will include lacrosse, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, and logging. Yes, we did say logging...

Our play time on the Kinetic with Deca Sports Freedom was a totally different experience than Deca Sports 3. That this version of the game was built for a next-gen console shows immediately; avatars come into the mix, and the overall feel of the game is more polished. It doesn't go for full-blown realism, but it mixes some nice-looking backgrounds with cute character animations that remind you it isn't supposed to be taken too seriously. The mechanics of playing with motion, especially when that motion is controller-free, end up being a great match for the Kinetic accessory. Archery was loads of fun, engaging the entire body, and allowing you to use both hands for readying and aiming the bow before shots. We'll also have boxing, beach volleyball, figure skating, and about 10 events playable when this ships.

Revisiting a familiar franchise is nice, but bringing Deca Sports back with the power and unique qualities of these consoles in mind is even better. What we'd like to see is a final product that addresses any of the issues players had previously, and we can vouch for the good feelings we had testing the motion aspects of these new entries in the Deca Sports line. Getting motion right seems to be a key point for sports games, and the casual audience is more likely than most to appreciate any chance to avoid learning how to use a controller. Especially with Kinetic in the mix, we expect to see Deca Sports build a following.