Bill Gates Vs. Nintendo Wii

Microsoft is planning to release a camera accessory for the XBox 360 that will create an experience similar to that of the Nintendo Wii. It's called "Project Everyone" and it lets players use a wider range of movements, as well as voice commands, while they play games. According to BusinessWeek, users will be able to play games without even having to touch a controller.

In demos, Microsoft showed the camera using face recognition software to detect individual players and voice commands to launch programs. In one game, players could use any part of their body to smack a ball into a wall of collapsible blocks.

This is their attempt to compete with Nintendo, who to-date has sold more than 50 million Wii units - almost double the amount of XBox 360 units sold.

Ironically, Nintendo must have already been on to this type of technology because they too are planning to release Wii Motion Plus technology, which it says more accurately captures complex motion such as the twirling of a wrist during a tennis match.

Whether or not Microsoft can compete, only time will tell - but they do have a lot of catching up to do. Nintendo practically owns the motion-detecting video game industry, much like Apple owns the MP3 industry.

Interesting though, how our country is in a recession with thousands of jobs being lost every week - but the video game industry is alive and kicking.