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If you had a choice, would you prefer playing video games with a controller or just using your hands?

Or is that beside the point? That video game companies need to focus instead on making better games?

That's a huge question facing the big three video game system makers — Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony — as they battle for control of your wallet.

Nintendo's Wii ($199) remains the most popular video game system on the market. Yes, it's carved a niche by focusing on family-friendly games. And, yes, it was the cheapest video same system on the market for a while ($150 cheaper at one time compared to the next cheapest console. A lot of families couldn't justify spending $400 or $500 on a video game system.).

But you can't underestimate the appeal of Wii's innovative motion controller.

That gets you and your family off the couch because you get to move your hands and arms to mimic characters and objects on the screen.

I had a lot of fun playing some Wii bowling with my little nephews, trying to throw that perfect curve. But if we were all just sitting on the couch pressing buttons? Yawn.

But what if you didn't have to hold a controller? That a good thing? Bad thing?

Microsoft is taking a big gamble in announcing in June that you would prefer not having to use a controller. Nothing official yet, but expect to shell out around $200. That doesn't include the cost of the Xbox 360 itself, the cheapest version being $199.

The Xbox add-on, called Project Natal, would let you move your hands and arms to mimic the swing.

Sony, however, is taking a different approach. It's unveiling something that still requires a controller for its PlayStation 3 but works when you move around like the Wii controller.

Used with the existing PlayStation Eye camera, the controller can track players' voices, faces and body motion. Don't believe the price has been set. (PlayStation 3s start at $299.)

Today, Sony announced it has postponed the release of the motion controller to the fall.

Microsoft, meanwhile, is expected to release Natal in time for the holidays.