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Touchless music game lets you create jittery drum and bass with your face
If there was one ubiquitous item at NYU's ITP Winter Show, it was the Kinect. Countless projects were built around the Microsoft-made sensor. Max Ma's Touchless, which he built with a ton of help from Tony Lim, originally featured one, but the version that made it to the floor went with an OEM equivalent instead. But the effect is the same: a set of cameras and sensors track various parts of your face, turning your muscle twitches and eyebrow raises into raw data. While Max says this data can be used for a host of different applications, such as unlocking your door with a series of blinks and winks, he focused on bringing joy to people's lives through music creation. The sensor tracks between 16 and 64 points (under ideal conditions) on your face, and uses your movements to trigger and manipulate samples. Truth is, it's hard not to smile while making ridiculous faces, though, I was a little disappointed to find out that the tracker did not play well with my winter beard. The main method of interacting is by tilting your head, opening your mouth and raising your eyebrows, but Max added some depth by turning a Leap Motion sensor into a controller for a software synthesizer. So samples and beats are all above the neck, but you can wave your hands through the air to play a lovely lead melody. Really, the whole thing is pretty self-explanatory and quite fun, as you can see in the video after the break.
Now Playing: December 16-22, 2013
An all-new story of survival starts this week with The Walking Dead: Season 2... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Metareview: Fighter Within
There are games so bad that even trying to review them is a paradox. We simply couldn't do it with Ubisoft's Xbox One Kinect game Fighter Within. At least Aliens: Colonial Marines was sport. Fighter Within is... well, is it possible for a publisher to put out product just for the trolololol? Games Radar (40/100): "Boring fighters, advanced attacks that are horribly imprecise to pull off, and a paper-thin solo campaign add up to a disappointing slog that feels like a punishment" IGN (27/100): "And that's when Fighter Within is working properly. The second it tries to do anything more elaborate, like throws or finishing moves, it trips over its own shoelaces and falls flat on its face." Edge (20/100): "Here is a game that, through its abject brokenness, sets the Kinect cause back considerably, a knockout blow for this style of game before the next-generation of camera-controlled play has even started." Game Informer (10/100): "Fighter Within is garbage. It fails to operate on any level, and the content isn't deep enough to be fun even if everything worked." Eurogamer (10/100): "Ubisoft should be ashamed of itself for trying to peddle more of this nonsense. And Microsoft needs its giant cyborg head examined for thinking this is a great way to show off the capabilities of its new hardware. "
Now Playing: December 9-15, 2013
Become a puzzle master this week with Peggle 2... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Liveblogging the Spike VGX 2013
It's that time of year again. Spike's VGX 2013 video game awards, previously referred to as the VGAs, begin at 6pm ET (3pm PT, 11pm GMT) and we'll be covering the spectacle in force. Join us here for all the news live as hosts Joel McHale and Geoff Keighley, along with their lineup of guests, highlight the video games of 2013. Joystiq will also enable its seldom-used second screen experience functionality throughout the show. While tuning into the liveblog here, you can open this link on another device and watch the VGX 2013 show along with us. Let's do this!
Microsoft Research and University of Melbourne open center to study social natural interfaces
According to Microsoft this will be "the world's first joint research center dedicated to studying and perfecting the social applications of NUI [natural user interfaces]." That's about as incredibly specific as these sorts of claims get, but still, Redmond's new Australian facility is an intriguing one - particularly in light of the company's all-in Kinect investment in the wake of the Xbox One. Of course, the peripheral's applications have long gone beyond the world of gaming, a matter helped along by a seemingly endless parade of third-party hacks, the development of Kinect for the PC and a move toward gesture-based control in the home. The Microsoft Research Centre for Social Natural User Interfaces has a long list of additional spaces it intends to study, including offices, classrooms, museums and healthcare. The research center is a joint project between MS Research and the University of Melbourne, with some help from the state government and Microsoft Australia.
Xbox One controller and voice command tips from Major Nelson
Microsoft spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb walks players through the Xbox One control scheme, covering a few shortcuts and tips involving voice commands and the console's fancy new controller. One major update to the Xbox One is the controller's menu button – the one with the three horizontal lines in the right-center of the faceplate. It's case sensitive, acting as a "right click" to pull up different options depending on which app you're hovering over. Major Nelson also covers a few handy voice commands, such as saying "Xbox, Select" to highlight all of the speakable options on any page. We covered that phrase and a few other gems in our review of the Xbox One, under the subhead "On Kinect."
Now Playing: December 3-8, 2013
Race around the world this week with Gran Turismo 6... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
PlayStation 4 enjoys most successful launch week in UK history
The PlayStation 4 had the best launch week in the UK of any gaming system to date, and in the words of Chart Track it "eclipsed" the Xbox One's sales from the week before. There's no confirmed numbers, but we know the country's previous fastest-seller is the PSP, and it sold 185,000 units across its debut week in 2005. The long and short: The PS4 done good. British industry site MCV put the PS4's opening week sales at 250,000, according to its retail sources. MCV also pinned the Xbox One's UK numbers at 150,000, but again that figure is unconfirmed. In any case, the good news is both consoles are enjoying successful launches both in the UK and across the globe; Sony announced 1 million PS4 sales within 24 hours of the console's debut in North America, a figure Microsoft also hit when it launched the Xbox One across 13 markets worldwide. As for this week's software charts, there's some predictable shuffling with the console launches. Call of Duty: Ghosts drifted back to the top, after FIFA 14 stole ahead last week with the Xbox One Day One bundles. The rest of the top ten is made up by games available across Xbox One and PS4, with the exception of Grand Theft Auto 5 in seventh, and Batman: Arkham Origins in tenth. The charts don't read so well for the Wii U, though. The system's standout holiday game, Super Mario 3D World, debuted in 14th place, just behind PS4 launch game Knack in 13th.
Joystiq's Black Friday and Cyber Monday Bargain Roundup 2013
It's dangerous to shop alone, so take this – our regularly updated mega-post on the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals: The time of preparation is at hand. As globs of turkey, stuffing and aunt Brandine's weird ambrosia salad battle for dominance in your stomach, you must plan your Black Friday attack. Welcome to Joystiq's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals roundup post, where we've cataloged all the game-related savings we could dig up. Remember that these summaries don't include every last detail of every retailer's deals. We recommend judicious clicking and further scrutiny of your preferred outlets based on personal preference, weather conditions and geographical proximity. You'll find sales for four of the major retailers below, with plenty of other deals after the break. Be frugal, be safe and remember to watch out for aunt Brandine. She stops for no one. Best Buy: New games and accessories for $35 or less, monster Xbox 360 bundle for $190 GameStop: Game discounts, Battlefield 4 (current-gen) for $25, limited edition Zelda 3DS Target: Bonus gift cards, $190 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle, $25 Splinter Cell: Blacklist Walmart: $100 2DS, $40 Skylanders and Call of Duty: Ghosts, $35 AC4: Black Flag and GTA 5
Xbox Live Black Friday deals on now through December 2
Microsoft is heavily discounting 52 Xbox 360 games and add-ons this week on Xbox Live. The games on sale separate out into three categories, a full list of which can be found after the break. The week-long deals, which run from today through December 2, include both Skyrim, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider for half-off as well as Sleeping Dogs (38 percent off) and Mark of the Ninja (66 percent off). Xbox Live will feature two separate one-day sales as well, with games like WWE 2K14 and Diablo 3 being discounted by 33 percent as well as Rayman Legends and the Halo 4 Champions Bundle by 50 percent on November 29 only. Among the games on sale for Cyber Monday (December 2) only are Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Red Dead Redemption, Dark Souls and The Witcher 2 for 75 percent off each and Battleblock Theater for 67 percent off. We suggest you clear some space on your Xbox 360 hard drive, pronto.
Microsoft outlines Xbox One's Kinect voice commands
Microsoft has released a list of recognized Kinect voice commands, helping new Xbox One owners become better acquainted with their all-seeing, all-hearing camera pal. The list documents everything from basics like "Xbox, on," to more specific commands regarding the console's Snap functionality. It also reveals a handful of alternate commands, allowing you to amaze and bewilder your friends by using the more colloquial "Xbox, show my stuff!" instead of "Xbox, go home."
Now Playing: November 25 - December 1, 2013
Celebrate Thanksgiving this week with the Borderlands 2 - The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler DLC... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Apple confirms rumored acquisition of Kinect maker PrimeSense
Apple has confirmed that it has indeed acquired the Israeli 3D sensor maker PrimeSense, reports AllThingsD: Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the PrimeSense deal with the boilerplate comment the company typically provides when news of one of its acquisitions leaks: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." PrimeSense was the company that developed the first Kinect accessory for the Xbox 360 gaming platform, before Microsoft decided to move to house-developed sensing tech for the Xbox One. Since the original Microsoft deal, PrimeSense has drastically reduced the physical size of its 3D motion sensors, which are now able to fit into smaller, mobile products. Its new Capri chip is aimed at the mobile universe, as explained to Engadget's Nicole Lee in a great profile of founder Aviad Maizels. Of course, speculation is in full force now that Apple has confirmed the acquisition, but be wary. Though 3D motion sensing is a hot area right now, it's possible PrimeSense technology could never make it into an Apple product as acquisitions can be as much about talent and patents as the tech itself. If Apple were to include PrimeSense tech in the near future, however, the rumored Apple television set or a next-generation Apple TV with a heavy games focus would be an ideal fit. One relatively recent Apple hardware company acquisition bore rapid fruit: Authentec, which Apple snapped up in July 2012, saw its fingerprint sensing tech make it to iPhone customers as this year's Touch ID home button in the iPhone 5S. Apple's footprint in the burgeoning Israeli tech scene was substantial before this buyout; the company already owns flash memory R&D firm Anobit and operates three research centers in the country.
Xbox One can be controlled with Logitech Harmony remotes
The Logitech Harmony series of universal remotes just became a little more universal, thanks to the added ability to control the freshly-launched Xbox One. A post on the Logitech blog reveals that the company has been working with Microsoft to ensure Harmony remote compatibility, and that all users should be able to control their system with the universal remotes from day one. Previous-gen consoles (are they officially previous-gen now?) like the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii could be controlled by certain Harmony models in the past. The Xbox 360 was controlled via an IR sensor, while the PS3 and Wii were controlled via Bluetooth. The Logitech website doesn't specify how the Xbox One and Harmony remotes communicate, but each new Microsoft console does come with a big rectangle that blasts IR signals. We'll let you do the math and speculation from there. The Xbox One currently lacks a first-party remote such as the Xbox 360 Media Remote, but in the meantime, the Harmony remotes will get you around your dashboard if, say, you don't want to talk to your console, wave your hands or use the controller.
3D indie adventure The Secret Castle examines Kinect from every angle
Sure, a lot of games have 3D graphics, with fully rounded character models and everything, but their playgrounds are essentially flat – Avatar in 2D. The Secret Castle is reach-through-the-screen 3D (without the glasses), letting players manipulate the setting to see around objects, new solutions popping out from behind pillars and stashed under toys. The Secret Castle launched on iOS from Platronic Games earlier this year, using motion controls that allowed players to tilt their screens and peer behind things in the game's environment. It's free to try, like a lot of games in the App Store – and that last part is one of its problems. "The game has sold a couple thousand copies since launch," Platronic Games founder John Francis tells Joystiq. "The reason I'd say that was poor is because even with a modest budget we never really recouped all sales. Everyone on the team was very passionate about the game and working for free on their nights and weekends. "Also, our sales model was largely traditional in a growing free-to-play and socially media-driven market. Without Facebook plugins or a pre-established hardcore fanbase like you might find with platformers or tactics games, telling people you reinvented the hidden-object genre was a tough sell." Platronic wants to give The Secret Castle one more shot at success, this time with a different kind of motion control: Kinect.
Review: Xbox One
We'll be rolling out Xbox One review coverage all the way through launch on November 22. Read all of our news and reviews right here! Some of the close-to-final functionality of the Xbox One was only made available this week, so this review is a living document for our thoughts on the platform. Stay tuned for more updates from now until launch! Update 1: Added additional content on game installation, Kinect features and gameplay clip editing. Update 2: More writing about Smartglass, Skype and system favorites. Added a terrible joke. Update 3: Conclusion ... concluded! Xbox, On(e) With the Xbox One, Microsoft trusts that today's living room configuration is still set around a dominant television, a large window into games, movies and long-form storytelling. This is a games machine in the vein of the successful Xbox 360, complete with online games and Achievements as always, but Microsoft is looking to provide a platform for all your entertainment this time, whether it's from Hollywood or HBO. This glut of content and features is hard to corral, especially when players and consumers want to be unhindered in their demands. The interface can't just be aimed at those who identify themselves as gamers. With more processing power, an enhanced Kinect camera and an interface designed around surfacing and serving content of all sorts, the Xbox One serves as a strong backbone for the living room, though it requires some patience and effort from the people seated in front of it.
YouTube app arrives in time for Xbox One launch
YouTube will be available on Xbox One at the console's launch this Friday, November 22. You'll be able to download the app for free just as soon as you get that day one update out of the way first. The YouTube app on Xbox One will fully incorporate gesture and voice commands. You can use motion to scroll through pages and select videos, while the green phrases in the image above are voice shortcuts – simply say "YouTube" followed by the appropriate phrase for the preferred action. The Xbox One will be available in 13 different markets on Friday. Feel free to check out the Xbox One launch event page for our latest coverage and be sure to read our in-progress Xbox One review for our thoughts on Microsoft's next-generation console.
Report: Apple in talks to purchase co-creators of original Kinect tech
Apple is currently in talks to purchase PrimeSense, the original suppliers of Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing technology, according to All Things D. The acquisition was first reported by Isreali publication Calcalist, which indicated that the purchase will amount to $345 million. Founded in 2005, PrimeSense contributed its 3D sensing technology to the Xbox 360 version of Kinect. Microsoft since went with in-house developers for the latest iteration of the Kinect for Xbox One, the company's latest console set to launch this Friday. Apple may be allegedly targeting PrimeSense for the company's Capri technology, a newer form of its 3D sensing tech used in mobile devices such as Google and Samsung's Nexus 10 tablets.
Now Playing: November 18-24, 2013
Bring the Xbox One launch to full speed this week with Forza Motorsport 5... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
