An even better use than games will be for small time filmmakers who want to do motion capture. What took millions of $ only a few years ago should be possible using low cost graphics programs like iClone, Poser and others combined with Natal and the inevitable clones.

Inside Xbox, Tsunoda noted that Natal can be useful for more than gaming. He noted that for many first-time console users, the controller itself can be intimidating, even when trying to do things like navigate through menus. Oftentimes people get their first experience with the Xbox when they are at the house of a friend or family member who has an Xbox and they are handed a controller with lots of buttons.

“For a lot of people that can be intimidating,” Tsunoda said. “You don’t really know what to do and you’re starting to feel stupid and everyone is looking at you and you are not being successful. That’s really not a good first way to interact with our console.”

Tsunoda and Entertainment Unit President Robbie Bach both said they are confident that Natal will also have great appeal for the core gamers already spending hours a week playing on the Xbox.

“Even the folks who are hard-core Halo or Splinter Cell players, they are also going to want to play Natal games,” Bach said in an interview.

Here is Microsoft’s site for Natal.