Perhaps the worst-kept secret of this year’s E3, Microsoft’s motion controller for the Xbox 360, has now been officially been demoed. Dubbed “Project Natal”, the sensor-bar-cum-webcam allows facial recognition and voice commands as well as the traditional motion control. Unlike the Wii, which requires a Wii Remote and/or nunchuk to function, and Sony’s rather rubbish SIXAXIS-based tilt control system, Natal doesn’t need any controller whatsoever to operate.

Apparently the unit can be used for video chat, trying on clothes (!?), and navigating the NXE Minority Report style, as well as for controlling games. It features full 3D motion capture and there are a few demo games that use it already – a squash-like ball whacking game called Ricochet, and a 3D art game called Paint Party, which Microsoft have demoed at their pre-E3 press conference today.

They also announced that Natal devkits are being shipped to Xbox 360 developers starting today. Let the 360 shovelware party game revolution commence!

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