E3 Takes Video Gaming To Another Level

Electronic Entertainment Expo Features Microsoft's Project "Natal," A Video Game Without A Remote

(CBS)  It's the international gathering of all things game, the Electronic Entertainment Expo

E3 is full of sights, sounds and even some celebrities.

"Are you a gamer yourself?" CBS News science and technology correspondent, Daniel Sieberg asked Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg, who attended E3.

"Yes. Of course I am," Spielberg replied.

Spielberg says his favorite game is "the original Pong."

"To me, this is the next chapter of interactive gaming," skateboarder Tony Hawk said of the event.

"What do you make of the spectacle here?" Sieberg asked Academy Award-nominated actor Mickey Rourke.

"I snuck in the back door," said Rourke, who is the voice of Xbox 360's "Rogue Warrior".

Video games are front and center, even in the current economy. Last year, the industry generated close to $12 billion.

If there's one thing that's consistent when it comes to video games, it's that everything old is new again.

Beyond the sequels, when it comes to guy gamers, there's plenty to choose from.

Whether it's the harrowing turns of "Foza Motorsport," to the ultra-realistic fighting of "Modern Warfare 2".

"It is a hard action kind of guy's game, but it has an element to it where it's very accessible," said Vince Zampella of "Modern Warfare 2."

But this conference isn't just about the boys.

"At this conference we may be surrounded by men, but women are also a big part of the gaming world," said CNET's Senior Editor and Early Show contributor Natali Del Conte.

"I think a lot of times women are more attracted to more cooperative type play," said an expert from Women from Free Realms.

Exploring and making friends is the goal of Free Realms.

Young women can get started on that theme with "Charm Girls Club".

"It's all about friendship, fun and collecting charms. We have four main characters, which we call the 'bffs,'" an expert from the Women from Free Realms explained. "So when you tease hair, you do this and when you want to spray it," she demonstrated to Del Conte.

"So what we're trying to do is make big hair. Those who work in TV know how to do that. I think you'll understand," Del Conte said.

If there is something everyone can agree on - it's making music, like with the upcoming "Beatles Rock Band."

"We love the game. It's fantastic. Who would have ever thought we would end up as androids?" said former Beatle Paul McCartney.

"I like the way I walk. Peace and love. Enjoy the game," added former Beatle Ringo Starr.

Sieberg and Del Conte also chatted about E3 and highlighted some of the fun new gadgets with Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

"What has been the big announcement so far?" Chen asked.

"As much as I like virtual hair teasing, I'm going to say Microsoft's project 'Natal' really stole the show," Del Conte said. "It allows you use your entire body as a controller. You don't need any extra equipment. You wave your hands and it does what you want it to do."

"I got a chance to try it (Microsoft's project 'Natal') out. It's still very much in development," Sieberg noted. "It's not coming out this year. It might be next year. You can see from the video here, you basically are the controller. So it's a very immersive experience and the whole idea is to get rid of the controller in a sense."

Chen points out that there aren't any wires attached.

"It's a motion capture camera that is sort of seeing what you are doing. It's a little hard to get your head around. But it does work," Sieberg said. "I can tell you. I think they've still got some kinks to work out but it's pretty impressive.

"It also has face and voice recognition so you'll step in front of it and it will say, 'Hey, Julie, how is it going?' It knows it's you not your husband that's trying to control it."

"That's cool and kind of spooky at the same time," Chen said.

"There's a little creepy factor to it, we agree," said Sieberg.

Chen, concerned about the sensors that the game uses, says she is even afraid of the radiation from a cell phone, but Sieberg assured her that he thinks it's "radiation-free."

"It's advanced Webcam stuff. These cameras around us are probably about the same," Del Conte added.

"We survived!" Sieberg joked.

Sieberg says to expect Microsoft's project "Natal" at least by 2010.

E3 runs until June 4 at the L.A. Convention Center.

For more on the E3, check out Sieberg's blog post, It's E3 Time Again and CNET'S E3 coverage.