A brand-new gesture-based motion control system from Microsoft was unveiled on June 1st at E3. Known, right now, as  Project Natal this new XBOX controller makes use of an advanced camera and microphone system to grease the wheels of three-dimensional motion tracking, facial and voice recognition.

The high tech device was used to demonstrate new game experiences, including a facsimile of a virtual character that relayed one’s own movement in action games, interacting with an Artificial Intelligence character by passing real items into the XBOX world. Users have interface options that allow movement through menus with the wave of a hand.

The concern for Project Natal is that this technology will not be inexpensive. Although Microsoft has not released pricing, the company will be unlikely to include Natal in each Xbox 360 sold and keep its current pricing.  They do say, however, that the new controller will work with all XBOX360. For peripherals this will likely be an expensive (and essential?) option.

Using the new XBOX Controller

Project Natal hands-free controller and the Playstation Motion Controller both have to battle it out with  the Wii Remote, which has gone main stream and made some of the most unlikely people into gamers. The new technologies will make for an interesting competition in the video gaming console wars.

Microsoft’s new xBox controller is a giant leap into the future?

Project Natal – Interactive characters you forget is are just characters.

Milo and Claire are xbox360 characters that can recognize faces and voices and even emotions in us. You interact in their world with no gear attached to you. Amazing if it’s real…