LaserGames mouse emulator: more fun than blinding a 747 pilot

LaserGames is a mod for projectors allowing up to two players to interact with a game using a run-of-the-mill (red or green) laser pointer in place of a mouse or controller, minus the precision response. Developer Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios isn't giving any hints on how this thing works, but we imagine it uses sensor technology similar to interactive projections -- you know, the ones where a video is projected on the ground and you get to kick around a soccer ball and then watch some tacky Nokia ad at the end. If you're up for trying this out first hand, Kasal's prototype will soon be on public display for some wild and crazy retina burning action -- no word yet on when or where. Check out his video after the break.

[Bogaty @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:36AM]

Lame. Wow how lame can you possibly get?

[Extinction @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:16PM]

I find it ironic they claim this is like a mouse without the precision considering it's more accurate than the Wii that they praise so annoyingly often

[Darth Lord @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:39AM]

Nothing is more fun than blinding a 747 pilot...unless you use that 21 mega pix cam to record the whole process

[NHAnimator @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:27AM]

"Nothing is more fun than blinding a 747 pilot."

You sir are a fargin icehole. Morons like you should be castrated.

[Molson @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:44PM]

Whatsamatter, NHAnimator -- has the Patriots' losing streak ruined your sense of humor?

[Gert @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:39AM]

I want this, way more fun, and no need for a ugly picturebox.
How to? Please?

[Hush @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:48AM]

Ever heard of a Wii?

[Ethan @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:56AM]

Probably works like Graffiti Research Labs' L.A.S.E.R. Tag (much different than normal laser tag)

http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?page_id=76

[EdgeOne @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:52AM]

How cool is that?! Thanks for the link - that was much cooler than video games on a wall in a living room.

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 22nd 2008 9:31AM]

No better news ???

[oneup @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:43AM]

been there, done that. ^__^

http://soup.graffitiresearchlab.at/?search=pong

cool to see this concept getting traction.

[BobSaget @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:51AM]

Whats that top scrolling shoot game hes playing?

[Bob Baddeley @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:02AM]

I've done this before at home just for fun. Projector, web camera, and a laser pointer. The setup works surprisingly well, and the algorithm is dead simple.

I've got a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mz0AiU98ls

The software is written in Java, and I have a few applications for it. It's event-driven, and the api is as easy as using the mouse api in java. There's a mouse emulator for the easiest stuff, and an api for having your own events take place. One of the neater parts is that the camera captures outside of the projected area so that you can switch modes or do other things outside of the screen.

It also turns out that the camera only has to capture at 320x240 to be able to resolve to 1024x768 on a 100" screen. It's surprisingly accurate.

There's also no reason you can't have multiple laser pointers tracked simultaneously, especially if they're different colors, like red and green.

[Damian Tarnawsky @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:47PM]

Been there done that at Burning Man projected onto the ground without the laser pointer but with sonar acoustic sensors:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBGo537pcBw

[a random John @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:22PM]

I do this in my driveway for Halloween. You have to shoot stuff to get candy. http://insightvr.com has some YouTube videos up of three different games that I've got running. I use a MacBook with an iSight to "see" the laser and project onto a bedsheet in the garage. Kids stand in the driveway and shoot at it.

In fact, Endgadget covered my PyCon presentation that integrated the laser stuff with wiimote headtracking a few months ago.

[BigMoe @ Oct 24th 2008 10:34AM]

All i wana know is where do these banging sounds come from! that's a playlist and a half! someone tell me how to get them pleaseeee???!!!