Microsoft's Kinect motion-tracking system for the Xbox 360 looks perfectly okay for gaming. Maybe it's a Wii-fighter; maybe it isn't. But beyond gaming, Kinect might be Microsoft's chance to own the living room—and everywhere else we live.

The new Xbox. Oh dear. It's like if Sony designed the Wii. And it even feels a little 2006! Jet black, shiny, glossy, fingerprint-y, except for the Aliens-ish vent on one side. I think I miss the old white Xbox.

Cameras? IR emitters? Natal? Kinect? Xbox 360? WTF? Give us three minutes. We can explain everything.

Backstage at the Fern Gully acid trip spectacle that was Microsoft Kinect's (nee Project Natal) coming out party, we got to see Kinect up close. It's elongated black and shiny plastic, like a PS3 accessory. Take a look.

Well, the leaks were right. At tonight's E3 kick-off party, Microsoft officially pulled the curtain off Kinect, formerly known as Project Natal. Kinect! Like "connect" and "kinetic" and "Kin." Among the first games to be shown off: Kinect Star Wars.

Microsoft President of Entertainment and Devices—that's Xbox, Zune, Kin, Courier, et al—Robbie Bach announced his retirement today. And in his exit interview with TechFlash, he holds forth on the once and future Microsoft. So Robbie: what happens now?

A pre-Christmas launch date was always known for Project Natal, but October sounds quite early. Perhaps Microsoft has seen what happens with the Wii every Christmas and is taking measures to ensure they don't sell out, making kiddies worldwide disappointed?

Oh hello, pretty. This appears to be Microsoft's upcoming Project Natal, complete with instructions, as seen by someone hired to test its speech recognition.

We know the secret technology behind Microsoft's Project Natal motion controls. But this is what it sees, what you look like to it. Which is not unlike a Predator's prey. [NextGN]

Obviously you're going to need some space to flail your arms and legs about, but 4m? Seems like quite a bit just to play video games—even if Project Natal is the most anticipated gaming add-on this year.