Video game auteur Peter Molyneux, one of gametrailers.com’s ‘Top Ten Game Creators’,  who was responsible for Fusion, Populous, Powermonger, Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods, Syndicate, Theme Park, Magic Carpet, Hi-Octane, Genewars,  and Dungeon Keeper is the man behind Milo, the “virtual human” that reacts to a person’s emotions, body movements and voice.

Milo is designed for use with Microsoft’s hands-free new Xbox 360 motion controller called Kinect.

“I want to introduce a new revolution in storytelling,” he said at TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Global conference in the UK in Oxford.

“Films, TV, even hallowed books, are just rubbish because they don’t involve me,” he said. “It’s a sea of blandness.”

“We’re changing the mind of Milo constantly,” he said.

“No two people’s Milos can be the same – you are actually sculpting a human being. Some of the things you are doing will change the course of his life.”

“After three-quarters of a hour, he recognizes you,” said Mr Molyneux.

“I can promise you that if you are sitting in front of this screen, that is a truly wonderful moment.”

Molyneux said, “His mind is based in the cloud. As millions of people use it, Milo will get smarter.”

Does the new Xbox controller, Kinect, live up to all the hype?

Well, courtesy of Anubis and THE RED DRAGON from battlestrats.com, we get the early impressions from their experience at E3 2010, in Los Angeles.

In an environment like E3, it can be tough to get a true sense of the potential of a device. There is a whole lot of marketing going on. Plus, the place is riddled with distraction from people and bells and whistles, and demonstration personnel in hot pants.

Kinect looks to be quite cool…

Now you can preorder the new Xbox controller, Kinect, that is all the buzz in the video game world.

The showdown over movement-controlled video game playing has shot one more step ahead with Microsoft introduction of the price on its Kinect Xbox 360 accessory.

The firm has put together the system, which connects into the Xbox 360 gaming console, obtainable for pre-orders on for $149 US. The pre-order conditions said the Kinect’s price tag could change prior to its Nov. 4 kick off. The company, however, will honor whichever cost is the lowest.

A spokesperson for Microsoft was not able to officially verify the Kinect’s price, but the suggestion will probably end rumors about the maximum cost. Gaming industry advisors had indicated the Kinect, which delivers advanced voice-recognition and motion-sensor technology, could be priced at up to $399.

Microsoft hopes the new Xbox controller, which makes it possible for gaming and movie playback without any sort of handheld device, will help it grow the Xbox 360′s current audience over and above core video gamers. The gaming system console add-on is to be introduced with 15 games, varying from racing to fitness titles.

The Kinect will be competitive against Nintendo’s Wii, which made popular movement control when it came out in 2006, and Sony’s Move controller, starting this fall. Naysayers have said Microsoft and Sony are taking part in catch-up to Nintendo, which is being victorious the struggle over the present generation of video game consoles. All the while, Nintendo has sold more than 70 million Wii units, compared with Microsoft’s 40 million Xbox 360 consoles and Sony’s 35 million PlayStation 3 units.

Kinect may have an edge over challengers due to the fact it is the only one that doesn’t require a controller of any kind. Microsoft has also done wonders at securing the assistance of third-party developers, something Nintendo has had trouble doing.

“If you look at the innovative experiences we’ve been able to pull off with Xbox Live [online gaming] and third parties in general, we really expect to have some pretty amazing games and some really great support for this,” Craig Flannagan, Xbox Canada platform manager, said at media demonstration of Kinect in Toronto on Tuesday. “Those factors are all going to roll in the most robust support you’ve ever seen for a motion platform.”

Some experts have said that a current slowdown in Wii sales could suggest hard times for Microsoft’s and Sony’s motion-control efforts, while others expect sales to be good. One possibility is that the crowd is waiting (like me), to see what pans out for the Christmas season offerings. Microsoft hopes to sell three million Kinect devices by the year end.

At E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2009 in Los Angeles, Microsoft unveiled Kinect using the code name Project Natal. They announced Kinect’s official name at this year’s E3.

The concept is riveting although it certainly needs a lot of one-of-a-kind top quality software to ensure a great user experience.

Of course, if the Kinect is successful this may be the beginning of a multi-generational product cycle.

You can preorder your own new Xbox controller at Microsoft.com , by clicking here: Kinect

Here is a video of opening and unpacking the new Xbox 360 250 gig, which features:

• New touch sensitive buttons.
• This Xbox is about as heavy as the existing Xbox.
• It seems to be quieter than recent Xboxes.

In this video they discuss some of the new specs and capabilities of the new Xbox including the new sensor controller called Kinect, while they unbox the 250 gig unit at E3 in Los Angeles.

Once known as “Project Natal,” Xbox 360 maker Microsoft has christened their hands-free game controller “Kinect”.  Basically it is a device that lets players be the game controller. The new Xbox controller was hugely popular at the E3 2010 gathering in Los Angeles.

Some games available for Kinect will be Your Shape and Dance Central. Physical fitness is an obvious theme. The bowling game might be interesting. The Kinect requires no controller and is pretty good at recognizing you and what your doing.

New Xbox Controller Kinect at E3 2010

What Kinect needs to be wildly successful is the most compelling game in the world. Can it be done? We will see…

Oh, pricing looks to be $149 come November.