I think it is obvious Microsoft has seen Nintendo as the future. They have seen Nintendo take the lead and have chosen to follow suit rather then be left behind. Microsoft knows that Nintendo is always the leading company pushing new hardware.
As for the Mii's I think all Microsoft means is that they will be creating a personal avatar and likely making an online world the likes have been seen all over. A virtual world with property and everything is likely the way Microsoft is planning to go. The Mii's will likely also be ultra realistic and not cartoony like Nintendo's making them far more for the hardcore audience that Microsoft is appealing too. A create a character much like has been done in Tony Hawk and sports games for years. Just think about Microsoft making a standard avatar amker where you can take your character from Tony Hawk and play with him in Madden or Halo.
The motion sensing controller was obviously going to happen. Sony copied it in less then a year's notice coming out with their six axis controller. I suspect Microsoft's new controller will likely have similiar principles or maybe even more so then Sony. However I don't think it will be as good as Nintendo's own controller. The graphics combined with the new controller could give them a small edge on Nintendo but Nintendo's cheap price would keep it the casual gamers game console. Since casual gamers don't spend as much time and money on games as hardcore gamers do.
So whats going to happen, Microsoft is going to roll out a new mimick control system that will probubly fall between six axis and full motion sensing. We already knew shortly after Nintendo unvieled the Wiimote that Microsoft was experimenting with its own controller. It was only a matter of time before Microsoft followed suit.
Next generation 2011 I expect to see more motion sensing utalized on all consoles. It will likely be standard or availible as an option on all three platforms. Its undeniably the future of gaming!
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
