Vertigo
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Spherica creates nausea-free immersive video
Typically, 360-degree VR video comes in two varieties: static, wherein the camera remains motionless while the onscreen action unfolds around it, and vomit-inducing, where the camera moves but instigates severe motion sickness in the viewer. The San Francisco-based motion picture startup, Spherica, aims to create a third option: immersive VR video that can track, tilt and pan without making the audience lose their lunch.
Disney's robot car drives up walls
As clever as robotic cars may be, they have one obvious disadvantage over flying drones: their journey stops the moment they run into a wall. Disney Research and ETH Zurich have a clever workaround, however. Their prototype VertiGo robot uses two tilting propellers to drive up walls, adjusting its thrust to stick to the surface even if it has to travel over uneven surfaces like bricks. The result, as you'll see below, is uncanny -- all it takes is a quick push from the propellers to have this machine defying gravity.
DC Comics and Vertigo graphic novels arrive on Google Play, Sandman and all
If you've looked up to Google Play and DC Comics and shouted "save us money" without hearing any whispered responses, there's a reason: they were waiting. Today, DC Entertainment announced that it's brought a whole slew of its comics and Vertigo graphic novels to Google's online storefront in the form of collected editions. This "extensive lineup" is available now and includes Watchmen, Sandman and a chunk of the recent DC Universe. ComiXology is getting the same deal, but unlike Google Play's previously sparse selection, a lot of what's listed after the break was already available within the digital comics app. It may not be as comprehensive of an offering compared to what's available on other marketplaces, but hey, it's a start.
Modern Warfare 3's July content for Elite PS3 and Xbox 360 subscribers
Call of Duty Elite members on Xbox 360 will get a new content drop in Modern Warfare 3 on Tuesday, July 17: three new multiplayer maps and a Spec Ops mission.The multiplayer maps include a graveyard of derelict ocean liners called Decommission, an oil rig built for sniping called Offshore, and the remake of Modern Warfare 2's Terminal map, available to Elite members on Tuesday and free for the rest of Modern Warfare 3's Xbox 360 players the following day. In the Spec Ops mission, Vertigo, players must take down enemy troops and helicopters while perched atop the Oasis hotel.On Thursday, July 19, Call of Duty Elite subscribers on PS3 get to tussle with three new Face-Off maps and a Spec Ops mission, content released on Xbox 360 back in June. Multiplayer maps include a tornado-rocked town called Vortex, a dilapidated middle-eastern highway in U-Turn, an urban NYC-based map called Intersection, and the Spec Ops mission, Arctic Recon, which tasks players with assaulting a Russian warship.%Gallery-160351%
Alter-Ego: Update 3 and more in store
Good things are on the horizon in DC Universe Online, heroes, and villains! After having the chance to sit in on a roundtable discussion with Jens Andersen, Mark Anderson, and Lorin Jameson on Thursday, I am confident that the team in charge of the game's development is taking a good hard look at all the feedback it's been receiving from players. Aside from getting a chance to hear more about the soon-to-be-released Update 3, we were able to get a handful of answers for some burning questions that players have been asking about recently -- and some screenshots in the gallery below to give you a sneak peek! Additionally, we managed to get a hint of things to come, as we're certain anyone who was watching Thursday night's DC Universe Online stickam chat noticed. For those who didn't make it, don't worry -- I'll be running down several interesting points from that event too since it meshes well with the roundtable discussion. All you have to do to get the super-scoop is join me behind the break! %Gallery-50201%
Vertigo tumbles into retail June 16
We haven't heard about Playlogic's Vertigo, the weird racing/Monkey Ball/labyrinth game, at all since last September. Today, Playlogic announced that the Balance Board-compatible "futuristic racing puzzle game" will be available on PC and Wii June 16. In a weird coincidence, this "futuristic racing puzzle game" will come out the same day as Let's Tap, Sega's "future tapping game" for Wii. This trailer reminds us of a 3D Marble Madness more than Monkey Ball, with its future theme and precision jumping, but even that doesn't quite capture it. The levels seem a lot longer and more platformer-like. Vertigo also features four multiplayer modes: "Time Trial, Xorb Football, Death Match, and 10-pin Xorb bowling," as well as single-player time trials. For our own sake, we hope that the time trial grades you on how quickly you fall off the side.%Gallery-32555%
Conceptual self-heating Vertigo container makes Philmont infinitely more bearable
We won't say precisely which Engadget staffer can speak from experience, but suffice to say, having the Vertigo whilst out and about in the New Mexico mountains would've made the epic Philmont adventure a much, much more delectable trek. Dreamed up by Nicolas Bernal, this self-heating container is theoretically constructed from Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) and features a high performance dynamo that heats up food within minutes. Naturally, there's a LED on board that lights up when the contents are ready for consumption, but sadly, we highly doubt this will land in your local R.E.I. / Camping World within the next few years.[Via Engadget German]
Vertigo: Super Person Ball
Racing. Sci Fi. Labyrinth levels. Balancing. Upgrades. Balance. Human bowling. Playlogic's Vertigo doesn't look like the greatest game ever or anything, but it's damned weird. "Upgrade your Xorb, seek hidden shortcuts and collect power ups to help you survive, to become the fastest and most envied Xorber in the Universe!" How can you not get excited? They pretty much just told us to get excited.Games like Vertigo, which is slated for both PC and Wii before the end of the year, raise interesting questions. If the controls are decent, particularly with the Balance Board -- which Vertigo supports -- does it become worthwhile? What does something like this really need?%Gallery-32555%
Today's most vertigo-inducing video: Portal Lvl. 13 Time Challenge
All we can say is, don't stand too close to the edge while watching this video. You'll slowly lose your equilibrium and tip over, falling into the void without a Portal gun to save your ass. In fact, we just watched it a second time, but made sure that our seatbelts were securely fastened, and that our tray tables were in the full upright and locked positions. We survived, and have now ordered a cocktail and another packet of peanuts with which we can calm our jittery nerves. Portal continues to stick out of every corner of The Orange Box as one of the coolest, and shortest, titles we've ever played. We'd love to see some new levels made available on a regular basis, as well as some FPS that will let us use the Portal gun on unsuspecting foes. Bring it on.
More DC figures coming this February!
As if somehow sensing that there might be some meager amount of money in my pocket left over from the holidays, DC has released the proofs for the next series of World of Warcraft figures for us all to covet and add to our Wish Lists! Pictured from left to right are: Human Warrior - Archilon Shadowheart Night Elf Druid - Broll Bearmantle Troll Priest - Zabra Hexx Additionally, the site lists a Gnome Warrior named Sprocket Gyrospring as being part of this next set of figures. Sadly, I couldn't find an image of him out there as yet. I suppose he's either lost somewhere behind all that Druid gear, or the Troll made some Gnome stew. In any event, these fantastic new figures are set to go on sale on February 20th, 2008. Luckily, this gives me more than enough time to clear off some shelf room in my office for them -- and Illidan! [via Action-Figures]
