MotionSensitive
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Cheap sensors could enable next-gen mo-cap games
Now that the Wii's thoroughly indoctrinated everyone and their mothers (and grandmothers) into the joy of motion-sensitive gaming, it's only natural to ask what's next -- and a system of cheap accelerometers, gyroscopes, and ultrasonic sound emitters developed by a team at in Switzerland could provide some answers. The sensors are linked up and used like a rudimentary motion-capture suit -- only instead of needing a controlled environment and special cameras, microphones worn on the torso pick up beeps from the emitters to locate your limbs as you flail about. The system is flexible enough to be used during active sports like skiing or bicycling for more accurate motion capture or just to control video games, since no silly ping-pong ball suit is required. The team says the $3000 system is built from off the shelf parts, yet compares favorably to commercial mo-cap systems costing tens of thousands more -- and what's more, they expect the price to fall to "hundreds of dollars" soon. Excellent -- we were thinking it was about time to do some real damage in Wii Boxing. Check a vid of the system in action after the break.
Lair dev berates motion controls ... in other games
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, they say, but what's good for the dragon isn't necessarily good for the jet fighter. At least that's what Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht seems to be saying. In an interview with GamesRadar, the Lair developer said the motion controls in Incognito's Warhawk are, and we're quoting here, "eurgh!!"Eggebrecht explained that while desperately twisting the controller like a goon is a perfectly fine way to control a dragon, it just doesn't work for Warhawk's high powered jets. "I see motion-sensing as a complimentary, additional new step in terms of controls and where it fits you should use it and where it doesn't fit, don't force it," he said. "Please don't force it." Interesting he should put it that way ... while Warhawk's motion-sensitive flight controls can be turned off in the options menu, controller twisting is the only option for Lair's dragon flight. Forced indeed.Eggebrecht isn't just hurling insults, though -- he seems to really believe in this plane/dragon control dichotomy. In a separate GamesRadar story on the vague possibility of a new Rouge Squadron game, Eggebrecht said he didn't think the motion controls would work for the series' futuristic flying machines. "If I was to do a game with an X-wing, I don't know if I'd necessarily use motion control," he said. "It might be [analog] stick, because that is how you'd be controlling the craft - it might be more appropriate." But for dragons? Fuggedaboutit!
In2Games bringing motion sensing to the PS2
Although the battle for next-gen supremacy is in full swing, the best-selling console in the land remains the venerable PS2, so it was only a matter of time before developers tried to cash in on the buzz surrounding Wii by cranking out some motion-sensing titles for Sony's older machine. First up to the plate is In2Games, which will add to its existing motion sensing catalog with the announcement of Realplay Golf, Tennis, Pool, Racing, Bowling, and Puzzlesphere at the Leipzig Games Convention later this month. The $60 games each come with a custom motion sensing controller, enabling players to fill their homes with as many crazy peripherals as possible. We're all for more motion controlled games -- especially if the controllers are as hackable as the SIXAXIS and Wiimote -- but if In2Games really wanted to bring the next-gen experience to the PS2, they'd take out the rumble, no?
Talismoon ready to ship the Tiltboard 360 controller mod next week
Xbox 360 owners feeling left out of all the motion-sensitive fun PS3 and Wii owners are currently having can finally breathe easy... and then break out their wallets. Talismoon's Tiltboard mod is due to ship next week for an estimated $39.99 -- a number that doesn't include a controller or the soldering iron you'll need to install it. The board features adjustments for tilt sensitivity, y-axis orientation, and zero level, but unless there's a setting that ports WarioWare to the 360, we're missing the point.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Freescale unveils uber-thin 3-axis accelerometer
Make no mistake about it, accelerometers have certainly been all the rage of late, and Freescale Semiconductor isn't missing its chance to cash in on the bonanza. The firm has recently announced what it calls the "world's thinnest 3-axis digital-output accelerometer" for use in motion-based user interfaces, and it checks in at around "77-percent smaller" than existing offerings. The MMA7450L is available in a 0.8-millimeter thin plastic land grid array, eliminates the need for a dedicated analog-to-digital converter, includes three g-select sensitivities, and is almost ready to rock in tomorrow's most diminutive controllers, handhelds, and mobile handsets. Currently, only major manufacturers are getting their hands around samples, but general availability of the $2.66 device (when you order 10,000, that is) is expected by Q3 of this year.[Via TGDaily]
Canadian museum to feature motion sensitive displays, personal digital keys
A Canadian Human Rights Museum due to open within the next four years is to include a range of technology not usually suited to museums, including a motion sensitive display wall and a digital "human rights key" which documents the visitor's trip. The details on the technology are a little sparse, although the CanWest News Service likened the motion sensitive display wall to controlling a Wii. As there doesn't appear to be any control device involved, we'd say the implementation will be closer to that of the Precrime program, but as the building won't be ready for another four years -- by which time there'll probably be a whole new console technology for museums to emulate -- we'll just have to wait and see. The "human rights key" is equally vague, and could be as simple as a USB key that downloads information from the exhibits. Not that we've got anything against human rights, but for the sake of the kids visiting the museum, we'd hope that the key is a little more stacked out than just a USB key. Then again, if Engadget ever drafted a piece of human rights legislation, several sections would be put towards appeasing the robot population, so what do we know?[Via The Raw Feed]
Motion sensing controls come to PS2, PC, DS [update 1]
If the video game world were more like the fashion world, motion-sensitivity would be the new black. Accessory-makers and hackers are tripping over themselves to retrofit old systems with gyroscopes in light of the high demand for the Wii and PS3.First up is eDimensional, whose buzzword-laden Wireless Gyroscopic G-Pad Pro used "patented Virtual Reality Motion Sensing Technology" to basically translate the tilt of the controller into a directional button press on PC or PS2 games. A short Flash demo shows the controller being used on a racing game, but it will supposedly work with "virtually any existing game on your PC or PS2." The $39.95 controller also supposedly "reduces hand fatigue," which just sounds dirty to us.The DS homebrew scene is also jumping on the motion sensing bandwagon with the DS Motion Card. Much like the GBAccelerometer before it, the attachment translates the tilt of the system into control data for specially coded homebrew games. Unfortunately, the sensor doesn't seem to work on commercial releases, dashing our dreams of twisting the portable around like an idiot while playing Yoshi's Island DS.Frankly, these grafted-on technologies seem a little unnecessary to us. Would you use a motion-sensitive control made for your legacy systems?[Update: ThatGameBlog brings word of the MotionFX TiltSense Adapter, which adds motion sensitivity to a standard PS1 or PS2 controller.]
