A few nights before the grandest video games extravaganza (E3) on Earth commences, Microsoft has popped the cork early and unloaded “Project Natal,” now (sadly) named “Kinect,” for a press event.


The black and glossy rectangular box that encloses the Kinect has changed little from the prototype. Microsoft used the “Cirque du Soleil” inspired presser to showcase Kinect’s simple interface with social networking icons and a few of its games, including the requisite generic sports title, a Star Wars demo, Kinectimals, a yoga game, and a dancing title too.

Disappointingly, Microsoft was tight-lipped about Kinect’s release date and price, which some rumors have at over $100.