iBuyPower's Magic makes any game playable through multitouch (video)

So, you just sprung for a multitouch-enabled Battalion CZ-11, eh? Too bad there's hardly any software out there for you to take advantage of. Er, was out there. iBuyPower -- a company most often associated with new hardware -- has just flexed its software muscle by creating a new system that will enable any game to played via multitouch, regardless of whether the game's creators gave it so much as a thought. Magic, which is short for Multitouch Advanced Gaming Interface and Control, is a proprietary piece of code designed specifically for the company's own touch-enabled laptops, and it works by linking a multitouch gesture to a command the game already understands, emulating multitouch commands by mapping keystrokes or mouse clicks. Best of all, it's available now as a gratis download, and we have little doubt that the hackers in attendance will have this working on Dells, Alienwares, Lenovos and HPs before you can spin around twice and add another smudge mark to your LCD.

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iBUYPOWER Launches Customizable 'MAGIC' Software Allowing Any Game to be Played Multi-Touch

MAGIC ships with Battalion CZ-11 Multi-Touch Gaming Notebook

El Monte, CA – July 1, 2010 – iBUYPOWER, three-time winner of Intel's Most Innovative Desktop Solution award, is excited to announce the Multi-touch Advanced Gaming Interface and Control (MAGIC), proprietary multi-touch software designed exclusively for use with iBUYPOWER's line of multi-touch gaming notebooks. Developed in the iBUYPOWER Labs, MAGIC software allows users to play any game with multi-touch, creating a unique and completely customizable gaming experience.

MAGIC links a multi-touch gesture to a command the game already understands, emulating multitouch commands by mapping keystrokes or mouse clicks. Gamers simply create a customizable profile for each game assigning Tap, Pan (Drag), Rotate, and 2 Finger Tap actions to existing game commands.

"Multi touch is one of the fastest growing PC gaming interfaces," said Darren Su, Executive Vice President of iBUYPOWER. "Our motivation behind creating the Multi-touch Advanced Gaming Interface and Control-MAGIC-is to instantly expand compatibility of multi-touch interfaces to nearly every application you can imagine."

MAGIC Software is available for free download on http://www.ibuypower.com/magic/download.aspx and is usable with iBUYPOWER's newest multi-touch gaming notebook, the Battalion Touch CZ-11. The cutting edge notebook features an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, a DirectX 11 compatible ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics card, up to 8GB DDR3 Memory and a breathtaking 15.6 inch LCD with Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. The Battalion CZ-11 is available for customization now starting at $1,249exclusively at www.ibuypower.com.

[TareG Posted Jul 3rd 2010 5:58PM]

My arm hurts just watching this. I don't know about you but my strategy gaming sessions last between 2-6 hours, so that may "look nice" but it's hardly practical.

[petercyr Posted Jul 5th 2010 12:12AM]

@TareG I'm sure one could get used to it without trying too hard. Plus its not like you can't rest your hands somewhere every now and then.

[cryptkeeper Posted Jul 3rd 2010 6:01PM]

a single tear rolled down my cheek....

[MarkPharaoh Posted Jul 3rd 2010 6:04PM]

Although cute, 1. fatigue will happen VERY quickly and 2. no where near fast enough APMs for any serious gamer.

I think it would of been much better to demo this in an RPG game, or some popular casual game like Sims.

[Ali78 Posted Jul 3rd 2010 6:11PM]

Isn't "i" a trademark of Apple's...lawsuit??!

[sweet greggo part deux Posted Jul 3rd 2010 9:00PM]

@Ali78

It's bad enough they've let Steve copyright the most popular fruit in the world, let's not let him start owning individual letters too, hmm?

[ohnoitsaspider Posted Jul 4th 2010 1:48AM]

@Ali78 Don't forget Cisco, the creator of the iPhone and iOS.

[Ducman69 Posted Jul 4th 2010 7:37AM]

They picked the wrong game to demo, but this is still bad ass.

For something like CIV or SC, you'd be going back to resting your arm comfortably on the table with a mouse and keyboard in short order.

Awesome for quicker light gaming. =)

[Wubby Posted Jul 4th 2010 11:22AM]

This could be very useful for the upcoming 12" Eee Pad with the Culv processor and Win7. Might not be able to play the latest and greatest but if it can be made to work with older games such as Homeworld, C&C, Age of Empires and what have you then gaming on Windows tablets just became much simpler.

[Shadowganon Posted Jul 4th 2010 5:16PM]

wow that's pretty cool can't wait for an hp hack :p

[aliennr9 Posted Jul 5th 2010 4:51AM]

Nothing new, we developed multi-touch with those frames since 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNH2b1IWV1Q for windows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyC_XphsAWo for games (SC1)