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Re-activateWhile much of the attention at E3 videogame show this week has been focused on efforts to bring 3D to videogame consoles—including updates to Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Nintendo's new 3DS handheld system—for many gamers the real action is in new motion-sensitive game controllers that alter the traditional way we interact with games.
Nintendo, of course, kicked it all off with its revolutionary Wii controller, and Sony previously announced the Move controller for the PS3. At E3, Microsoft finally unveiled its new Kinect Xbox 360 controller, which looks a bit like a TV speaker sound bar. The device, essentially a "controllerless" controller, is an add-on for any Xbox 360 system. The device includes an embedded camera and microphone, and allows onscreen action to be controlled by voice commands or body gestures rather than by a handheld controller. Microsoft says the Xbox 360 dashboard will also work with Kinect.
Kinect, which was originally developed under the code-name Project Natal, will be released on November 4, and there will be 15 titles offered at launch. Though its price wasn't announced at the show, speculation at E3 is that it will cost about $150.
Also during the show, Microsoft took the wraps off a new, sleeker Xbox 360 game console. The system, which features a gloss-black finish, larger 250GB hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi, and quieter operation, costs $300, the price as the current Xbox 360 Elite system. The company also announced a deal to bring ESPN to Xbox 360 owners. Under the deal, Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be able to receive free streams of more than 3,500 live and on-demand sporting events, including Major League Baseball games, from ESPN3.com.
—James K. Willcox
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