Now it's no longer "Project Natal": Microsoft's new hands-free game controller is called Kinect. That's the news out of the E3 conference in Los Angeles, where Microsoft introduced Kinect with a 45-minute performance by Cirque du Soleil. There's some pretty cool footage here from a "Star Wars" game, with the player swinging a lightsaber for a few moments before being turned into sushi by Darth Vader; other upcoming titles apparently include a driving game, "Joyride," and the Wii Sports-like "Kinect Sports," which includes virtual boxing, bowling, volleyball, track and field, table tennis, and soccer.

In all cases, Kinect uses a 3D camera to register the player's movements, and translates them to the onscreen avatar; with "Joyride," for example, you grip and twist an invisible steering wheel in order to plow your expensive sports car at 200 mph into the nearest ditch--at least if you have my motor-coordination skills.

The rumor mill suggests that Kinect will make its debut sometime in November, with a price point at just under $200. Microsoft's obviously taking a page from the Wii, which sold millions of units based on its innovative controls and easygoing games' appeal for casual gamers, as it seeks to compete against Sony and Nintendo.

As suggested by Microsoft's recent shakeup of its Entertainment and Devices Division, the company recognizes the strategic importance of a robust Xbox franchise, and success in other areas such as smartphones, if it wants to maintain a presence in consumer electronics. Microsoft's revenues from the division are a not-insubstantial contributor to its overall bottom line, which gives initiatives such as Kinect a big-picture importance.