Electronic Arts supports Microsoft’s Kinect in EA Sports Active 2 and Harry Potter games

Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing system is starting to get some interesting support from game publishers. Electronic Arts announced today at the Gamescom conference in Germany that it is adding support for Kinect in EA Sports Active 2 and Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows part 1.

EA also said that soccer superstar David Beckham will be the “brand ambassador” for EA Sports Active 2, which launches on Nov. 2. EA’s first EA Sports Active game sold millions of units, and with Beckham’s participation, it’s clear that EA is stepping up its marketing push for the second game. With the new title, you get off the couch and do exercise routines in front of the Xbox 360 game console. You mimic athletes on the screen, jogging, stretching, or jumping as directed. The Kinect motion sensors can detect your whole body movement; no game controller is required. All the while, EA’s heart monitor records your heart rate and lets you view your improvement performing various exercises over time. If you play this game with the motion-sensing device — which sells for $149 — Kinect will help you get into shape.

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Also, you can use Kinect to control the game play in the upcoming Harry Potter game. Now you can use your full-body motion to cast spells in the sorcery game. You can thus tire yourself out as you play the Harry, Ron or Hermione characters in the game, which is based on the first part of the final Harry Potter novel and the upcoming movie from Warner Bros. You can play with one or two players at the same time. It will make you feel like you’re wielding magic from the palm of your hand.

Both of these titles show that big publishers are supporting Kinect and are coming up with cool ways to entertain gamers with the full body-sensing controls of Kinect. I could actually see myself enjoying both of these games without controllers. Kinect is launching on Nov. 4. Sony is also gathering considerable support its Move wand-like motion-sensing controller as well. The Move motion-sensing system is launching Sept. 19.