I'm sure that Microsoft has some very bright people working on Natal. They have the money to throw around to get the creative people to help.

Only thing that got me excited was the new metroid game. i do hope that it is better than Metroid Prime series. Overall M$ won by a long shot.

I think that Video games can be forms of art. Movies can be as well.

The game design field is getting more and more like Movie production. First I would decide what area I wanted to go in. There are many aspects of game design like: Programming, Art, Design, Producer, Writer, Music, sound, etc.

Now if you want to program, it is a plus to be able to draw as well. I would start learning C# or C++ programing languages.  There is a tutorial that shows you have to develop a tetris type game on the web.  Do a google search on game development tutorial. It will take you a few years to get confortable with programming. As you begin to develop more complex things, start you a website with a portfolio of the things you've created.

Enrolling in a school that has a game design degree would be a big help. Programming is not for everyone, and you will know right away if it is for you or not.