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Microsoft Xbox Kinect: Somehow the Natal connection is made

Kinect is the new name for Microsoft's motion-sensing Natal, unveiled at E3

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm

Microsoft's hand-wavy, movement-sensing gaming technology has a new name. Kinect will be the name on the box when the system previously known as Natal arrives in living rooms. Unlike the Nintendo Wii, Kinect senses gamers' movements even if they're not holding an Xbox controller.

Kinect was unveiled in a lavish performance by souped-up circus troupe Cirque du Soleil at Los Angeles gaming conference E3, after Natal debuted at last year's show. The technology senses motion of the whole body and translates it into movement by your character on screen.

Kinect

Controllers aren't required but can be used, depending on the game, while speech is also recognised for interaction with game characters.

Games set to make a connection include Kinect Sports, Halo: Reach, Fable III, and Gears of War 3. Disney, MTV and Star Wars tie-ins are also in the works, which means, princesses, dancing, and best of all: lightsabers!

There are also rumours of an incoming 250GB, Wi-Fi-capable Xbox 360 'Slim', similar to the trimmed-down Sony PlayStation 3 Slim.

What do you think of the name Kinect? Further details are expected at Microsoft's press conference this evening, but we do know that it will be released in October. If you can't wait for the skinny on Kinect or the slim Xbox, our muckers at GameSpot are liveblogging and streaming the Microsoft presentation.