Slashdot Mirror
Augmented Reality Shaping the Future of Games
Slatterz writes "Microsoft's Natal can recognize a player's skeletal structure, and also perform some sophisticated translation of body physics into in-game movement. As a control mechanism this is fascinating, but the next step is to merge the game graphics with the real world. Now, basic examples of augmented reality (AR) are being shown using a mobile phone, unlike previous demos which have involved walking around with a large backpack strapped to your body. A game titled Arhrrrr blends live-action video overlaid with game graphics. The processing is taken care of by Nvidia's new Tegra platform, while the game's 'maps' are generated by pointing the phone's camera (in this case 5MP) at a 2D drawing/printout lying on a table. The end result is a 3D world which seems to spring forth in real time, with buildings popping up as players move around the game 'map.' This story shows two other interesting videos demonstrating AR, including the ability to add real-life objects into the virtual game world and have the gameplay respond and react accordingly."
As far as I know, Natal is still vaporware with some sexy CGI and PR. The live demonstration seemed crude when compared to the promising, albeit slightly ambitious CGI-movies.
I realize that the technology to enable such a contraption as Natal are already available, but I doubt that Microsoft is ready to develop for such a system, and I also doubt that most of Xbox's fanbase is ready for this change in how people play games. Not sure if Microsoft should be betting all it's money on Natal.
I'm playing an Augmented Reality game right now. I'm driving my car, with my laptop on my lap, and my cellphone tethered to my machine. Uh oh, here comes another playe
This tech has huge potential. Just yesterday I was watching the video for the Gizmondo 'Catapult' Game. Very cool. I've been looking at virtual reality glasses, and the Vuzix VR920 is a stereoscopic headset that has 3d compatibility with some games as well as head tracking. Attach a couple of webcams and connect it to a portable computer and you can walk around viewing an augmented version of reality, such as having a Terminator-style red overlay with scrolling code and primitive object recognition as shown here. You'd look like a complete dork walking around with it in public, but it's neat tech nonetheless.
A co-worker and I were discussing how you could take a normal laser tag arena, paint all of the walls with patterns that can be recognised by intelligent systems, and combined with headsets you could have an augmented reality laser tag. In one round everything could be decorated in a futuristic theme with metal panelling, neon lights, another could be stone castle walls or a dusty Wild West theme. If the players are wearing patterned jumpsuits, you could overlay them with different skins so they appear to you as terrorists, zombies, whatever you want. You would need some pretty good tracking to calculate location so that people don't run into walls that appear further away and are able to shoot eachother with accuracy, but if implemented well it could be awesome.
Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
Microsoft's Natal can recognize a player's skeletal structure
No it can't. It identifies a few joints.
and also perform some sophisticated translation of body physics into in-game movement.
If by sophisticated, you mean "primitive", sure.
As a control mechanism this is fascinating,
Not really, we've had this shit for ages, and it's never really taken off outside of fixed machines (arcades, real sports, etc.)
but the next step is to merge the game graphics with the real world.
I'd say the next step is launching the damned thing.
Now, basic examples of augmented reality (AR) are being shown using a mobile phone, unlike previous demos which have involved walking around with a large backpack strapped to your body.
And...?
A game titled Arhrrrr blends live-action video overlaid with game graphics. The processing is taken care of by Nvidia's new Tegra platform,
Ah, so this is just a slashvertisement for Tegra. Tegra is a fucking dog turd.
while the game's 'maps' are generated by pointing the phone's camera (in this case 5MP) at a 2D drawing/printout lying on a table.
So it takes a picture of a map and makes a ... map?
The end result is a 3D world which seems to spring forth in real time, with buildings popping up as players move around the game 'map.'
I've seen this before and it was nothing but a poorly executed gimmick.
This story shows two other interesting videos demonstrating AR, including the ability to add real-life objects into the virtual game world and have the gameplay respond and react accordingly.
Again, nothing new. We've had "take a pic and put it in the game" shit for ages. It's never anything more than a gimmick. When you let users make the content, it's just crappy designs with dicks everywhere. When you have companies make the content, it's all just fucking advertising.
Seems to me people play games to get away from a lot of the bullshit in the real world.
Vinge is a damn genius. If you haven't read it yet, check out Rainbow's End. For my book tastes, personally, it was a bit on the touchy-feely side (but I really don't like character development at all - I'm in the very small minority), but the science and concepts are really second to none.
How soon until we see these augmented reality games embedded in our contact lenses and we wear "smart" clothing on a regular basis? I'm just waiting for the self-driving cars!
If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
Augmented porn! Walk into a bar, every person in the place is absolutely stunning! Plus you could have NPCs walking around. Never had a gorgeous babe / hunk living across the street? Now you can! I sense a new movie coming on: "How Shallow Hal Got His Groove Back"