Freespace
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Easy-to-use mods brought me back to ‘Freespace 2’
Game genres can wax and wane in popularity. It's a sad truth that two of my favorites, real-time strategy and space simulation games, have been on the decline since the glory days of Tie Fighter and Warcraft. We may never see the likes of Warcraft 3 again, but in recent years there have been some valiant attempts to revive the space sim, with releases like Everspace, Rebel Galaxy, and Elite breathing new life into the genre. But I haven't been playing any of those, because all my free time has been completely consumed by Freespace 2.
Stick and Rudder: Ten space sims to fill your Star Citizen void
This week I'd like to throw around a few ideas for enjoying yourself in Star Citizen's absence. Yeah, there's the hangar module, and it's pretty spectacular for what it is. But after dorking around in cockpits and doing a few I'll-be-in-my-bunk Jayne Cobb impersonations as I wedge my avatar into my Aurora's sleeping compartment, I ache to spool up those engines and go somewhere. Fortunately there are a ton of worthy space sims that we can use to while away the next couple of years. Or the next couple of months, because dogfighting alpha!
Hisense picks up Hillcrest Labs' gesture and motion control tech for TVs
Following LG and TCL, Hisense is now the latest TV manufacturer to adopt Hillcrest Labs' Freespace technology. According to the agreement, Hisense, the world's fifth largest smart TV brand (as of Q1 2013, according to NPD DisplaySearch), will be able to add in-air pointing, gesture control and motion control -- all via a remote control -- to its future smart TVs and set-top boxes. This also means TCL now faces a fellow Chinese competitor with the same set of Freespace features. While there's no time frame just yet, we've been told that Hisense will eventually sell these next-gen devices in the US and China later this year, so stay tuned.
Interplay retrieves Freespace IP from THQ for $7,500
Freespace, the interstellar combat series developed by Volition and published by Interplay, is now back in Interplay's library, fully and officially, following a stint at THQ. Interplay paid $7,500 to snag the Freespace rights in a THQ bankruptcy sale this month. THQ was bound to find some emotionally rich items in the back corners of its closet eventually – but Freespace wasn't going to save the company, it seems. Interplay never lost the right to sell Descent: Freespace and Freespace 2, even after THQ bought Volition in 2000, when Interplay itself neared bankruptcy. Let the rampant sequel speculation begin.
Intel launches Media Server Reference Design to speed up set-top box creation
It's no secret that Intel wants more of a presence in the living room, even if it's sometimes less than welcome. The chip giant's new Media Server Reference Design might be key to getting that foot in at least a few doors. The kit combines both Atom CE5300-based hardware with software tools, the combination of which should fast-track media hubs and set-top boxes for those who don't want to start from scratch. It's more than just the expected media and TV engines; Intel also bundles in Hillcrest Labs' Freespace engine to simplify motion remote control. MSRD kits should be available in April, although it's likely to be months later before we learn whether or not home theater companies want to follow where Intel takes them.
Hillcrest Labs takes its TV motion control system to China, becomes TCL's new best friend
It's only been a few days since Hillcrest Labs open sourced its Kylo web browser for TVs, and now the company's back with yet another announcement. Well, this time it's more about TCL who's just declared its top TV market share in China. Much like the Roku 2 and LG TVs with Magic Motion remote, Hillcrest's Freespace engine has been outted as the enabling technology behind TCL's recently announced V7500, a 3D smart TV series featuring a heavily customized Android 4.0.3 and a 7.9mm-thick bezel. This means users can interact with and play games on this slim TV via motion and cursor control on the remote (there's also voice control here but it doesn't look like Hillcrest has anything to do with it). There are no dates or prices just yet, but TCL better be quick as Lenovo's got something very similar ready to ship soon.
Hillcrest Labs open sources Kylo web browser for TVs, hopes the people want one
We didn't hear much from Hillcrest Labs' Kylo web browser for TVs after it launched in 2010, but now the company is apparently turning its fate over to the community. A Mozilla-based browser, Kylo will work with any mouse but is designed specifically for its Freespace pointer controls. It's available under the Mozilla Public License which means others can use it for commercial products, but so far web connected products have been slow to take off and even Google TV has had trouble pushing a typical browser experience on HDTVs. Interested devs can snag the code at Kylo.tv or GitHub, we'll see if anyone builds anything with more market impact.
GOG selling Interplay titles for half off, including Freespace and sequel
GoG.com has announced a big half-off sale on a bunch of older Interplay titles, allowing you to pick up some titles of serious quality for just a couple bucks apiece. There are some real gems in there, including the Descent games, the classic Giants: Citizen Kabuto, Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics, and the great Sacrifice, all for just $2.99 each. We'd be remiss as well if we didn't point out that the much-loved space combat game Freespace is also on sale, along with its sequel, for the same ludicrously low prices. Three bucks for a bunch of must-play titles from video gaming's days of yore? Deals don't get much better than that, people.
Someone had to go and bring up 'Freespace 3' again
Having your Google Alerts calibrated to detect the faintest murmurings of never-gonna-happen sequels -- like No One Lives Forever 3, Anachronox 2 and Shenmue 3 -- is a form of self-torture that's unique to the internet and acute within the games press. That's why it's a common flippin' courtesy, NowGamer, to avoid the tragic topic of Freespace 3 when you interview someone at Volition. "You have no idea," Volition producer Jim Boone says. "There is a group of people that would commit murder to do that game. The biggest problem that we have is... oh man, that game is so beloved. I did a bunch of missions for both games and it's so dear to my heart I can't even tell you. The problem we had was Freescape 2 didn't sell as well..." And the selfish problem we have now: Volition is doing good work on Saints Row and Red Faction with owner THQ, which hasn't dared to touch the Freespace rights. To be fair ... they must reek by now, having been pinned under the immobile body of Interplay since 1999. Boone is less direct in attributing failure, theorizing that the celebrated (and still supported) space sim lost out due to widespread adoption of keyboards and mice, and the accompanying dereliction of standalone joysticks. (The first game in the series, Descent: Freespace, was once included as a freebie with a couple of PC joysticks.) "So people just stopped getting joysticks. They were just gone," he says. "And then you still had console, but it was all digital - so my theory has been, ever since we've got analogue as a standard controller for consoles no one has done a heavy-duty, top, top quality space sim on console." If you missed Freespace 2 (despite the fact that it had ROBERT LOGGIA), you might find more relevance by ignoring the question of sequels and licenses, and considering why the space sim genre hasn't found good representation on modern consoles, outside of a few oddities like Project Sylpheed. Our controllers are complex enough to give impetus to simpler, motion-enabled alternatives, and we certainly haven't grown tired of shooting aliens. Also, how about you just call it Darkspacers? (Note to people arriving here from Google Alerts for No One Lives Forever 3, Anachronox 2 and Shenmue 3: welcome to the cycle of misery.)
Hillcrest Labs intros embedded motion control system for TVs, hopes for the best
PrimeSense had a feeling this kind of revolution would take over the television world when we spoke with them last March at GDC, and sure enough, said revolution is happening. LG's already integrated motion controls into its sets with its Magic Remote, and now Hillcrest is providing a solution just in case the rest of the world wants to buy in. Hailed as a "turnkey solution," the Freespace MotionEngine is now integrated with Broadcom's BCM35230 digital TV SoC and BCM20730 single-chip Bluetooth solution. That's a lot of technobabble, for sure, but the long and short of it is this: by integrating this into televisions, Freespace / BT-enabled remotes that are equipped with the right sensors can allow TV viewers to control channel switching, volume levels and who knows what else with just their hands. The outfit will be busting out a demo here in Vegas, so we'll be doing our best to catch a glance.
GoG holiday sale includes Freespace, MDK and much, much more
GoG.com is having its biggest sale ever. Many of the good old games still hold up, even as we stand on the precipice of a new decade. The site's entire catalog (excluding December releases) of 171 games is discounted 25 to 40 percent -- and don't forget, you can still pick up two Tex Murphy games for free. The sale ends January 3, but don't dawdle. Once your brain is filled with the fat globules of your holiday bird of choice, it may be hard to remember the special is going on. Highlights of the sale are ... well, almost everything. But, let's say that both MDKs for $8 and Freespace 2 for $4 is a good deal. Seriously, Freespace is less than a jar of Nutella. At that price, it's almost worth playing Freespace while sucking microwaved Nutella through a straw. Bliss.
Hillcrest Labs Loop combines Wiimote, mouse, and Ouroboros
Hillcrest Labs has taken a few moments away from its bitter patent dispute with Nintendo to finally release its $99 Loop controller, a Freespace mouse intended primarily for use by those with some sort of HTPC setup. It's the latest in bangle-inspired design, sporting four buttons and a scroll wheel, compatibility with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, and lacking any sort of chunky sensor bars or the like, detecting hand movements to glide the cursor across the screen. We hear it also makes a great accessory for geek-chic parties.
Nintendo's Wiimote tapped for patent infringement by Hillcrest Labs
Nintendo just can't seem to keep its nose out of patent troubles, with its highly successful Wii now the target of a new patent lawsuit from Hillcrest Labs, which claims that its patents for "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device" and the gloriously vague "navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television" which apparently predate Nintendo's own. At least we're not dealing with a complete patent troll here: Hillcrest Labs does have a product based on its technology, called The Loop remote (pictured left), based on what it calls "Freespace" motion control technology. It's fairly clear Freespace is a much different beast than the Wiimote, and we'd like to believe something so vague as a handheld 3D pointing device (a very un-new concept) isn't enough to best Nintendo in a court of law, but naturally Hillcrest is requesting Nintendo stop shipping Wiis to the States (that shouldn't be hard, huh Nintendo? Yuk, yuk.) and reward Hillcrest with unspecified monetary damages.
Universal Electronics licenses motion control, hopes you don't put your eye out
Ask us what we think about voice control of A/V gear, and you're likely to get a laugh. Gesture-based control, however, is a different kettle of fish. Despite the knocks we give it, simply waving your hands through the air does make you feel more powerful than pressing a designated button. Universal Electronics (UEI) is on the same page, and has licensed motion-control technology from Hillcrest Labs to deliver more of that omnipotent feeling in its remote controls. Hillcrest's Freespace tech has already found its way into the Logitech MX Air, but we'll have to wait and see what kind of usage UEI will incorporate into its products. Creating a successful "10-foot" experience isn't going to be solved by hardware manufacturers alone, though -- optimizing the graphical side of the design is necessary as well.
Logitech's MX Air Mouse: a witches brew of lasers, MEMS, and RF geekmagic
Oh hey, that little fella looks familiar. Sure enough, the rechargeable Logitech MX Air Mouse we spied last month is getting real this morning. Touting Logitech's "Freespace" motion control, the Air Mouse combines MEMS sensors with DSP and 2.4GHz RF technology for both gestural motion-control and traditional laser mousing about. The Air Mouse attempts to bridge the gap between mouse and remote control with a touch-sensitive scroll-panel (instead of a scroll wheel) and dedicated pause/play and volume control buttons positioned down the center of the device. Push the volume button and flick the mouse right or left to increase or decrease the volume, respectively, at distances up to 30 feet away from your PC. Niiice. Better yet, it's shaped to impress when toted about in the trousers... gaRowl! Ships in the US and Europe for $150 sometime in August.%Gallery-4779%[Via Notebooks.com]
