Rumor: Microsoft's Project Natal will retail for $149

Rumors about Microsoft's Project Natal continue to swirl as no one can seem to wait until the big, circus-like event at E3 in a few weeks. Now it looks like that old rumor about a $50 price tag on this gaming system was too good to be true.

Since its introduction at E3 last June, Microsoft hasn't provided many details - or at least not as much as we all may want. Although Steve Ballmer does seem to be getting more serious about the impending release, which will probably evolve into a media blitz whenever that happens.

We'll know much more once E3 gets started in Los Angeles this June, but Edge seems to think they know what's up already. Specifically, they're pointing towards an October release date in the US for $149 as a stand-alone gadget, or $299 as part of an Xbox 360 Arcade console bundle. Just in time to hit the shelves before the holiday season with a reasonable price tag, this theory is plausible.

But is it just me, or are all of these suspicions really tiring after awhile? All of this speculation regarding Project Natal is becoming worse than the lead-up to the iPad and the iPhone combined. Hopefully this all gets resolved at E3.