In the ever-changing world of video games one company is making a giant leap ahead of the competition. On June 1st 2009 Microsoft announced Project Natal a “controller-free gaming and entertainment experience” for the Xbox 360 video game platform. Project Natal is an add-on for the Xbox 360 by enabling users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without needing to ever touch a game controller.

Project Natal was developed to broaden the users of the Xbox 360 to more casual and new gamers. How does Project Natal work though? More importantly what does this mean for you the gamer and what does it mean for the gaming industry?

First off Project Natal is a video recognition device. This is different to the Wii, because the Wii is a 3D positional device whereas Project Natal is a camera seeing what's going on. With the Wii where ever you move the controller is where the hand or weapon is. With Project Natal whatever the camera sees you do it does. Project Natal provides motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities.

It also allows such things as headset-free chat on Xbox Live. Project Natal even calibrates it's sensing range varying by the type of game play and the player's physical environment (Such as couches or coffee tables). Project Natal may just be the new generation of home entertainment, but how will it really affect gamers?

Every gamer's dream is to be inside the video game slashing his long sword at zombies or throwing the game winning touchdown. With Project Natal casual and hardcore gamers can finally experience this. It may not put you directly in the game, but it lets you control it as if you were actually Brett Favre or a super spy.

An interesting branch of Project Natal could be workout's being entirely done in the living room instead of the gym. Well isn't there already something like that called the Wii Fit? Yes, but again the Wii uses a controller with 3D positional software where as Project Natal does what you do, because of this Project Natal totally eliminates controllers. Now gamers can save money on controllers and accessories and use his hands or household items. This is the beginning of reality games where you are the character.

Project Natal could lead to such things as advanced combat systems of gamer vs. gamer literally physically fighting each other by dodging each other's blows and hacking with their sword. This is a gamer's ultimate fantasy. Although with all the benefits for the gamer are there any for the gaming industry itself?

Most would think that other companies must dread the idea of Project Natal, which in reality might be very true. However with an advance like this being made in gaming it does wonders to the gaming industry itself. Technology like this is only going to get better and better by Microsoft and other companies expanding on Project Natal.

Some companies such as Nintendo might lose some profits as new and existing customers make the switch to Xbox 360, but any company will take Microsoft's innovation and make it better and unique.

I expect that by at least 2015 all video game controllers will be as ancient as what we think wired controllers are now. This brings a new era to video games not only for the Xbox 360, but also for other platforms that will hopefully expand on Project Natal. Not only does this open up new opportunities for the video game industry, but also the home entertainment industry.

With an estimated release date of late 2010 Project Natal will most likely explode on the scene improving Microsoft's already large grasp on the video game platform market. Coupled with the fact that Project Natal will also be usable on the PC makes it even more valuable not just to gamers, but also to businesses conducting meetings and presentations. Project Natal is the new era of video games, their platforms, and home entertainment.