If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Nintendo should feel very flattered by Microsoft’s press conference that kicked off today’s E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles. 

Our video games reporter Kemp Powers points out similarities. 

One of the major announcements at the press conference was a planned overhaul of the Xbox 360 console interface. The new suite of features will include a community games channel to showcase (Warning: media buzzword) user-generated titles.

More interestingly, Microsoft heavily plugged the addition of cartoon-like personalized avatars that can be inserted into a number of upcoming casual and family game titles.

Yes, just like the Mii, the customized cartoon avatars that can be found on Nintendo’s popular Wii console. The avatars on the Xbox 360 will have a deeper level of customization than Nintendo’s Miis, and users will be able to select from a wide variety of clothes, accessories and hairstyles, Microsoft said.

Microsoft also unveiled a number of casual and family games to capitalize on the popularity of the Wii, such as “Lips,” a karaoke-style music game that employs a motion-sensitive wireless microphone.

Motion sensitivity. Cartoon avatars. Peripherals and accessories. Games for the entire family. Sound familiar? It’s Nintendo’s playbook, but hey if you can’t beat them….

(Photo: Microsoft)