The E3 video game accessories last month gave gamers a glimpse of new peripherals and accessories that promise to make gaming more natural, engaging and realistic. The peripherals build off the success of the Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensing system and Guitar Hero’s guitar controllers, delivering the next generation in interactive entertainment. We take a look at three of the products and how they’ll change gaming.

Microsoft showed off a video game accessory that will register full body movements of up to four players, allowing people to box, drive a car, skateboard or interact with onscreen characters. The system also includes facial and voice recognition software allowing gamers to sign in and interact with the Xbox 360 console using voice commands.

 Project Natal combines a camera with a depth sensor that accurately captures M3 Real series  and can recognize faces. There is also a microphone that will be able to locate voices by sound and extract ambient noise.

The Tony Hawk franchise returns with a new skateboard controller that can register the way a player moves, leans, spins and grabs the board. You can play in vertical, street, free skate, speed, trick and challenge modes. Robomodo, which is making the game, said other titles will be able to make use of the controller.

The skateboard controller includes two accelerometers that register tilts, lifts and rotations. There are also four infrared sensors along the edge of the skateboard, allowing the player to initiate board grabs or propel themselves with a kick.

DJ Hero is the younger sibling to Guitar Hero but has potentially more appeal because of its ability to mix music of all genres, not just rock ‘n’ roll. The game comes with a controller that features a spinning turntable with three buttons along with a cross fader, an effects dial and a sampler button. More than the guitar with Guitar Hero, the turntable allows people to come closer to the real thing.

The cross fader allows you to move between songs when prompted. You can add your scratching at key moments. And with the effects dial and sampler button, you can personalize your song in ways that you couldn’t in Guitar Hero.