Competitor to Revolution Controller?

Caught this bit off of virgin.net:

The 3motion controller is a wireless device that can detect hand and arm movements. If a person holds it in their hand they can direct a computer to move animated characters on a computer screen by merely waving.

-- New video game controller launched

Sounds ... familiar. This press release from E3 (scroll down a bit) makes it sound equally so:

3motion is a brand new gesture-based system, which allows users to control and interact with console and mobile video games through simple and intuitive actions. 3motion is wireless, compact and incredibly versatile. The system can be used to control a huge range of game genres, from simple puzzle titles to the latest complex FPS games. Players use 'gestures' to control a game. From casting a spell to controlling a car, airplane or even writing letters in the air, the 3motion system is perfect for the mass-market, allowing novices and non-gamers to pick up and play a game within minutes, as well as giving hardcore gamers an entirely new way to play and interact with their favourite titles.

The home page for the product makes it look very gesture, less ... um .... wand? based. Still, the similarity is there. I still question whether developers for the 360 or PS3 would embrace an alternative control scheme, since they'll be busy spending their benjies on big art budgets as it is. Oddly enough, I think that the Revolution's lesser specs may be one it's bigger strengths. Force developers to utilize the schtick. As the DS has shown, it may be gimmicky .... but that doesn't mean it isn't fun.



tagged: game, gaming, revolution

Xbox 360 Launch on Flickr

Actually the third guy to the right is waiting for the next Star Wars flick.

More flickr 360 goodness here and here.



tagged: game, gaming, xbox 360, 360 launch

Once Again, Nintendo's Premature Death

Via Kotaku is this small prediction nestled within a somewhat lengthy and almost impressively uninformative Red Herring column:

Nintendo, the distant third runner in the race, is expected to fall even further behind with its Revolution, likely the last new console on the market next year. Critics say the company has missed the target market of the older, hardcore gamer who plays the bloody first-person shooter games, dominant on the PS2 and the Xbox. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata debuted a TV-remote-inspired wireless controller at the Tokyo Game Conference in September, which could cause more confusion with developers instead of boost the company’s market share. “Nintendo’s Revolution will be its last console,” says UBS Investment Research analyst Michael Wallace. “It’s a two-horse race now.”

-- Xbox 360 Starts Console War

And from that, I'd say uninformed as well. Seriously, can we at least wait to get one in our hands before declaring this console the Dreamcast of it's generation. For my money, right now the Revolution is ahead. I don't have a HDTV to justify the 360. The PS3 is a bit of enigma and possibly expensive as hell. If Nintendo launches the Revolution with a single title that I'd think I'd plop on the couch and play with The Girl ... it's sold.

Nintendo is constantly surprising me. I thought the DS would take a serious hit from the PSP, but it stands it's ground. I thought the Micro was a joke, but it's made some serious cash for the old N. I think anyone making such ominous predictions had better be taking notes that quote more than nameless critics and highly debatble points like "confusing developers". Out of the three console makers, they're one of the more innovative and certainly one of the more profitable.

I'd say they aren't going anywhere dire anytime soon.



tagged: game, gaming, revolution, mark twain

Scathing Sony XCP Overview

This Earthweb article, kinda oddly titled "Where was Sony's Privacy Officer?" (Privawho?) doesn't pull any punches ... deservingly so for Sony's rootkit scandal:

I can understand Sony's desire to protect its artists' music from being illegally copied. I even can understand their motivation for exploring DRM technologies like XCP.

But at every turn, the problems that have come to light are so glaring and so obvious that it's impossible to think that a competent pre-launch review of the privacy and security consequences wouldn't have caused them to shelve the idea until the problems were solved.

Instead, what has emerged in these past few weeks is a picture of a major corporation whose executives neither understood, nor cared, what negative impacts their poor decision making would have.

Ouchie. The next section is entitled "Contempt for Customers". I wonder if Sony is even aware how big their image problem is right now. They should be glad they aren't lauching the PS3 this season.



tagged: xcp, sony, evil corporation

Next Sakkara Episode

Episode Four of the BBC flash adventure, Death in Sakkara, is now online.


tagged: game, gaming,BBC, flash, egyptology

Text Assault

What a strange aspect of modern society.

Tiffany Robison, Maldonado's former girlfriend, said in an interview broadcast Monday on ABC's ``Good Morning America'' that he sent her a text message shortly before noon reading: ``Today is the day that the world will know my anger.''

She said he also contacted her during the standoff.

--Reports Cite Mall Shooting Suspect's Anger

The man who was just apprehended in Tacoma for taking hostages in a mall was apparently text messaging with his ex-girlfriend. What's the right emoticon for that? As our culture gets more and more information on demand, clearly some of that text will take on a creepy angle.





tagged: hostages, crime, text message

Is Mario Kart A Killer App?

Chris Kohler a la Wired has small review of Mario Kart DS which he declares it to be "easily" the handheld's killer app. I've got no evidence to the contrary, of course. In fact, because of Mario Kart, the DS might slip into my Xmas list well ahead of the PSP ... so anecdotally speaking, it seems accurate.

I would hate to see Nintendo botch this one. Like many others, Chris also knocks the buddy list capacity in Mario Kart, saying "I was disappointed in the lack of options once you're connected. For example, if you want to race against a specific group of friends, you'd have to delete everyone else from your list." I am willing to give Nintendo the benefit of an early release, but it's impossible to overemphasize how important a decent buddy system can be.

I once again remind people of PSO's setup. You could go to the lobby, hook up easily with complete strangers and quest with them. It took about 3 seconds to store their card on your list, which when you returned would give you easy information about where they were and what they were doing ... making it that much easier to setup a pick up game again. Good lobby, easily transferred info, easy to manage games. It's just a requirement these days.

Also, I hope Nintendo can be as innovative about their online strategy as they are with their hardware design. Think turn based strategy, think social games, think coop games. If I end up getting the DS, I hope to see Nintendo really take off with it.



tagged: game, gaming, nintendo, mario kart ds, decent buddy

Thompson Forcibly Removed

Well, that might be a bit sensational ... but fun.

Gamecloud and GamePolitics are reporting that the judge in the Devin Moore civil trial denied Jack Thompson's request for withdrawal. Why? Here's why:

James Moore, rejected Thompson's withdrawl. However, the judge only made that ruling so he could throw Thompson off the case himself, saying he was highly critical of Thompson's public conduct. For his part, Thompson is fighting back, writing a note to the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission that questioned Moore's own ethics.

Yeah. I bet that letter will do lots of good, Batjack. Maybe you should call the feds, have them look into this radical judge who is out to get ya.

Let's see the list. Who supports Batjack these days? Apparently not legitimate scientists or legal eagles. That leaves distraught parents and media whores to go.



tagged: game, gaming, batjack, devin moore

Where is my iMac gaming?

While the commentary on the 360 might be tepid, everyone loves the new iMac. Which is why I still say that Apple is missing a boat or two. Here is this affordable, media friendly, easy to use personal computer that's more suitable for a den or bedroom than the office or study. This is great if you just want to browse the net or watch the occasional DVD ... but who doesn't like a good game on their fancy new toy? Gaming on the Mac needs a firsty party pull, not just the (admirable) port and indie culture it has today.

It's not like the iMac, with any library, could have gone head to head with the 360. But it could have made a hell of a market for those not willing to fuss with pre-orders or are far more interested in casual games than Perfect Dark Zero. C'mon Cupertino ... Apple Game Studio ... it's got a good ring to it. Design a fancy wireless controller and a dozen casual games to go with it. Call it iPlay. Or something. You know you want to...

My begging never does work.



tagged: game, gaming, imac, mac gaming, begging

Are You X-Cited?

The 360 is coming soon, and they hype is getting rather mixed. While there is the usual drool and dropping of jaws one would expect with a shiny new toy, it's not all roses. Microsoft has had to defend the short supply we'll be seeing at launch. Taking a gander at Gamespot's video overview of the 360 seems to confirm Kotaku's suspicions that the 360 isn't well suited for your puny "normal" resolution television set. CNN's Game Over peruses the goods and determines that it's not worth getting one at launch.

So do sharks patrol these waters? Should you pay attention to that day glo orange life preserver?

Well, at the very least Microsoft will be making it's sales early on. While I'd be pretty pissed if I had preordered one of these suckers and wasn't seeing it until December or beyond, Redmond probably won't be worrying about having boxes sit on the shelves for a while. So it will be the darling of the holiday season. The long term fight will come down to a better library, hopefully one that will take advantage of Live and the 360's other features.

In other words, things will be tepid until Halo 3. Then everyone will want one again.



tagged: game, gaming, xbox 360, halo 3

More Lost Questions

These are in no particular order ... nor am I really expecting answers :)

1. What was Desmond's medicine? My best guess is an innoculation to keep him safe from the "disease".

2. How does a ship like the Black Rock get shipwrecked on a mountain? What does that mean for the age of the island? Does this mean that the island was always a magnet for disaster, considering the Dharma project is about 100 years later?

3. Danielle refers to the whispering as The Others, not the actual people. She only had her own crew get sick, not some mysterious population. However, she's been on the island for what ... 16 years? If Ana-Lucia is right about the knife, some of Ethan's people have been around longer than that. Are there two "sets" of others or is the whispering related/a power of the first set?

4. Kelvin, Desmond's partner, came running out of the jungle to bring him to the bunker. How did he know a boat just wrecked onshore? Where is Kelvin's body now?

5. One thing I don't get about the number button: if you kept entering it right away ... would it just reset the timer continously? It's curious because it changes its possible use. If they are supposed to re-enter something about every 108 minutes, then maybe something else is counting down and needs to be refreshed. If it is only a deadline, then it's only important that someone is at the terminal, with the right code, making it seem like a deadman's switch.

6. Walt's had two messages (spoiler alert). One essentially saying don't press the button. The other saying that the Others were close. This seems contradictory. Pressing the button, we're to believe, is good. Others being close, is bad. Now, Walt could obviously just be subtle or cryptic for reasons all to his own. But if we're to assume that Walt is either trying to be helpful or is now, like, possessed ... the difference doesn't make sense. So which is it?

7. How do you tattoo a shark?



tagged: lost, television

Game Dev: Bigger and Badder?

Games that are based on content owned by others such as movie studios or are sports based have traditionally been a safer bet for developers than original content titles which have either sold extremely well or flopped completely.

-- Cost of making games set to soar (thanks gamedev.net)

By badder, I don't necessarily mean that in the vernacular ironic "good" way. A whle back I got into a lengthly debate about why it's not surprising that the next generation games will be $10 more than current generation games. Lots of people cried conspiracy, but for one thing ... the numbers don't support that. Development costs have soared in recent years and will continue to soar. I tried to explain to people that even simple asset management was becoming a major cost for developers, which some suggested the developers were incompetent (which is funny, since I was referring to professionals who have worked on major titles).

The other side of the coin is licensing. While it's long been argued that creating your own franchise is far more valuable ... which is undeniable ... it's also far more risky. Plus, it's costly to create the next Sonic. You're not just advertising your game, you're advertising your character or your mythos.

I stepped out of that debate saying we'd see a rise in "epic" games. By epic I mean major franchise titles with enormous production budgets that would use overwhelming graphics and assets to justify their cost. These would be titles with track records and a lot of polish. Looking at the 360 launch lineup, I'd have to say we're seeing it slowly. The majority of the games that Microsoft has for it's best foot forward are sequels and quite a few are heralding their graphics as major selling point. The two major ones are PGR and Perfect Dark Zero. And those are just the start.

Course on the flip side, you see things like Live Arcade. Cell phones are becoming a major market. So is it possible we aren't seeing the complete Hollywoodization of gaming, merely a schism in the market itself?



tagged: game, gaming, xbox 360, game development

Lost ARG = HaX0r

The Disney Blog points out some changes to the Hanso Foundation website, a fictional site for the show Lost which some have compared to ARG style marketing. The short version is that if you enter the right word into a form, you get access to this letter, with some interesting tidbits. Clearly, spoiler alert.

What's funny is the HTML comment that appears on the Hanso site before the form field:
<!-- LOL H4x0r3d!!1 -->

Mebbe there's a someone that Hanso should be keeping an eye on? Course, we should hope they don't...



tagged: Lost, television

Doom Radio Drama

Thanks goes to insert credit for finding this gem ... a radio drama based on the cult classic Doom comic book. Done by the same guys responsible for Bodythumper ... the for-charity video game based on Jack Thompson's uberviolent fantasy, I'm sure it's a crowd pleaser. Being at work though, I'll confess to not having had a chance to listen just yet.

Bonus ... I just listened. It's f'n hilarious. GG to the guys behind this.



tagged: game, gaming, doom, radio

You Have Died

I had a pretty decent night last night on the IF. Cleared up a lot of "interface" issues ... for what constitutes an interface in this case. For the most part, I'm trying to maintain the top portion of the page for really interactive information and the rest to maintain the ongoing description of the current location. So if you pick up a lantern, the top part would affirm that you've picked it up while the bottom would reflect the change with the location in terms of the lantern not being there.

It gets a lot more complicated with some of the "conversations", since some of them can be triggered by picking up items, etc. I had this more or less going to a new page, but now all the information is displayed at once. I'm trying to maintain the feel that the player/reader is in control of the text and to keep them from getting too lost or disconnected.

My latest quandry is in simple design. I haven't decided if I'll kill off players yet. Clearly there are game mechanics to give reason to do so, but when was the last time a book made you reload? Which is more important ... narrative flow of gameplay tension? Not sure.

Technical quandry which goes alongside that is being able to save your place. Haven't decided if I'm going to try and cookie enough information to save anywhere or go with a chapter system, which would be more or less literary savepoints.




tagged: gaming, interactive fiction, Zork