Millions of people download 99-cent games for their iPhones. An increasing number of Web sites offer free online games. And consumer spending is down amid a global recession. Is this the time to be promoting $200 video-gaming consoles and $60 games? But that’s what’s going on this week in Los Angeles, California, where the video game industry will show off its newest hardware and titles at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

As the largest annual trade show for gaming enthusiasts, E3 is where the big players roll out their splashiest releases. Industry experts say Microsoft is expected to unveil new motion-tracking technology that will let gamers use their bodies to act out what their characters do in a video game. The device sounds similar to Nintendo’s popular Wii, but the new Xbox accessory is expected to employ a camera that senses a player’s body movements so it doesn’t require a handheld remote, as the Wii does.

Games that have nontraditional accessories instead of joystick or push-button controllers, like the guitar from Rock Band and Guitar Hero, or skateboards and DJ turntables, which are expected to be part of new games, should also be popular at the show. They appeal to a broader group of users because they’re intuitive, and anyone can see a steering wheel or a guitar and know what it’s supposed to do, but controllers or keyboards don’t translate as well to real-life experiences. Accessories and gesture-tracking technology show that gaming companies are becoming more interested in general consumers than the hard-core gamers who used to be their chief targets.

Source: CNN