E3: Sony and MS show off their moves

Controllers are the talk of this year's gaming get-together.

Microsoft proudly announced its plans for the mysteriously titled Project Natal the other day for the Xbox at E3 and Sony has now taken to the stage with its very own Wii-like motion controller for the PS3 - both tipped to revolutionize the way we play our games. Mmm, we'll see.

While Sony's is reminiscent of the Wii's popular wand, Microsoft's appears a little more innovative and intriguing.

Where the peripheral market is worth mega-bucks, Microsoft has for decided to dispense with the traditional control pad and instead use the player to control the game (clearly, you'll still have to buy a heftily-priced sensor unit).

Your every movement will be captured and transferred to the game. Sounds great on paper.

Become a star striker in Fifa, a championship driver in Gran Turismo, or the next Tyson in Fight Night...it all sounds great...that is until I remember how shattered and achy I felt after a session of boxing on the Wii.

I'm all for innovation and new ideas, but surely all this is making gaming a little too taxing. I play games to relax, not to do a workout. And how the hell am I gonna win my next bout of UFC with a submission - will I have to writhe about on the floor like an idiot? I'm not too sure whether I could pull off a roundhouse in Virtua Fighter or Tekken either!

Anyone else out there got any views on the matter?

(photo credit: włodi)