One of our favorite iPhone games is Touchgrind. Sure, we're terrible at it, but at least we
feel like we're accomplishing something "totally street" and "badass" with the multitouch input that the iPhone allows. Well, Illusion Labs is looking at bringing some of that magic to the Mac. They've got a demo up of the game running in a jumbo manner on a multi-finger-friendly MacBook. It looks pretty much like a straight port at this point, but hopefully the added horsepower and screen size of the Mac can make this into something a bit more magical -- and maybe even trick us into thinking we're decent fingerboardists, if only for a moment. Right now this is just a tech demo, and there are no firm plans of a release. From the noodlings of Illusion Labs' Twitter account, it looks like they also wouldn't mind porting it to an "iSlate" if the opportunity presented itself. Hear that, Cupertino? You might be able to get someone to build an app for this
mythical device! Big sigh of relief, we're sure. Video is after the break.
posted January 22nd 2010 5:40PM
You want to play iphone style games even though you have a keyboard a fast processor and nice big screen? Sure, why not....
D:
@newreformation Kind of a negative way to come at it, don't ya think? The game is a blast on the iPhone, but hampered by the orientation. This game could actually be way better if the developers would change the viewing perspective so you can actually see what's in front of you. Cool stuff.
@mehughes124 cmon now, this gameplay would become boring in ten minutes, its a cellphone game, not something you play on a $1000 computer.
You'd really have to think hard choosing between spending your time playing this or Mass Effect 2 on your expensive laptop?
@newreformation I know what you mean but the point is that they are using the multi-touch (WHICH MORE DEVELOPERS SHOULD START DOING) seriously, it's there, it's awesome. Use it.
On another note, I really don't like the birds-eye-view that is used in that game. I wish it was more like a Tony Hawk style view of third person. That way I can see what it coming up ahead of me ad steer towards it rather than just coming across it suddenly.
I want more iPhone games ported this way!!
@Ducman69
You're right, this isn't something you play on a 1000 dollar computer, you play it on a mac.
@sweet greggo
right, then it would be a 2000 dollar computer
It's a teaser for their upcoming tablet version. Job's wouldn't let them show it on the tablet ahead of next Wed so they used a MacBook instead.
=)
@jeremymc7
you know what.. thats not a bad guess at all !!
@jeremymc7
Good Observation!
What an interesting way to take advantage of the touch pad on a computer kudos to these guys.
Finally something other than inkjet and multitouch gestures that uses multitouch for my Macbook Pro!
For the love of all that is holy, ship this!
I want that app on my mac!!! Looks pretty awesome!!!
Please Illusion Labs, release that app for Mac!!!
I look forward to getting some sort of leaked game like this ipod game such as touch grind
what a kinky name~
Dude...I love TouchGrind. Seriously, this game is just great.
@N900 Needs a view point change to third person (over the shoulder) then it would be awesome.
What's the name of the song in the youtube video?
@omashhour
btw I tried shazaming but no luck
thats game is the s---
@blackspaces with Mass Effect 2, Modern Warfare 2, the Sims 3, Dragon Age, Bioshock 2, Batman, Starcraft 2, GTA 4, Left4Dead 2, Assasin's Creed 2, and so on out or releasing soon.... you can really get excited about THIS?
Really??? xD
@Ducman69 How many of those games will have input through finger friendly multi touch trackpad. Obviously its not as good a game as those you mentioned but its something new, which is why its worth mentioning.
@werty1432k I wasn't arguing its not an interesting tech-demo article. =)
I was only responding to the comment about it being "THE shit" as a game, as it isn't at home on an expensive computer that can run much more w/ a full keyboard and micro-bluetooth mouse in the laptop bag (which lets face it, is still far easier to use than an oversized trackpad whenever a suitable surface is available).
@Ducman69 Let's face it - the incredible success of the Wii and gaming on the iPhone and iPod touch prove that the vast majority of people would rather play this game than any of the ones you mentioned.
@robjennings You are comparing this to the success of the Wii? Excuse me? LOL! Parties don't gather around a laptop like they do your living room TV, and if you think this is close to the caliber of Super Mario Galaxy, Guitar Hero, Legend of Zelda, Brawl, or Metroid Prime, you are sorely mistaken. xD
@Ducman69 lets rephrase that duncan, he means with the success of the wii and itouch/iphone, people are willing to try something new seeing how simple and easy the interface is.
@Ducman69 360 and ps3 aren't for everyone.
@blackspaces What does the 360 and PS3 have to do with anything?
@Ducman69 "@blackspaces with Mass Effect 2, Modern Warfare 2, the Sims 3, Dragon Age, Bioshock 2, Batman, Starcraft 2, GTA 4, Left4Dead 2, Assasin's Creed 2, and so on out or releasing soon.... you can really get excited about THIS?"
@blackspaces Those are all computer games.
@Ducman69 looks like your losing your marbles.
windows is depresssing :( and no multitouch (droid or laptop)...
@errorrat
Have you been to best buy lately? There are a TON of windows laptops with multi-touch trackpads (lenovo, asus, dell, etc...)
@errorrat
Most laptops have multi-touch track-pads. Just no default driver support.
If you have a Synaptics touch-pad in your laptop you can install a hacked driver to enable multi-touch support.
lol this is just like fingerboards from high school. I wasted a lot of time doing finger kickflips off my textbooks senior year.
@(Unverified)
Haha same here. Good old teck decks and using binders, text books and more to grind :P
product spamming fail.
Yeah that makes Mac gaming not look pathetic at all compared to PC gaming. Way to go.
Is it me? or do touch specific things like Touchgrind and Bumptop come out for mac a week before a major tablet release?
crap laptop, crap game.
FAIL
I so want! :)
I despise Touchgrind.
Who cares about a multi touch mouse?
Let me know when the screen is touch.