Microsoft reveals 'Project Natal': Sensor-based Xbox 360 control

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Microsoft reveals 'Project Natal': Sensor-based Xbox 360 control

Todd Bishop on Monday, June 1, 2009, 9:26am PDT

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Microsoft | Nintendo | Video games | Wii | Xbox 360

Microsoft demos Project Natal at E3. (Credit: GameTrailers.com)

At the E3 video-game convention in Los Angeles just now, Microsoft confirmed plans for a sensor-based Xbox 360 control system being developed under the "Project Natal" code name. The system uses full-body motion sensing and voice commands to let people control the action on screen, without requiring traditional video-game controllers.

"What Microsoft is doing is not about reinventing the wheel -- it's about no wheel at all," said producer Steven Spielberg, who appeared on stage to promote the technology.

Such a system has been rumored since Microsoft was reported to be in talks to acquire 3DV Systems, a startup that specializes in three-dimensional gesture recognition. Intuitive video-game control systems have been the hot trend in the game industry since Nintendo introduced its Wii video-game console with a motion-sensitive controller.

Microsoft demonstrated the system live on stage at E3. We watched via the GameTrailers.com video stream, and the full-body action looked impressive, but it will be interesting to hear the reaction from people who were there. The company says it's making the technology available to video-game developers to incorporate into games.

Stay tuned for more details as they're available.

Follow-up: Video: Microsoft 'Natal' in action

About Todd Bishop

Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.

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