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ICYMI: Bot is my co-pilot
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: DARPA's autopilot system for military planes is being tested, this time in a Cessna Caravan turboprop plane. It's made up of a robotic arm and tablet with speech recognition, so communicating with the mechanical brain is supposed to be even easier. Meanwhile, ping-pong fans will want to know about new paddles that set the music based on the pace of the rally. A new product designed for gamers with haptic actuators is here, while just for kicks, the Price is Right celebration is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Northeastern University's haptic ball-racket system is one pricey game of paddle ball
We had the chance to check out a couple of student projects at Northeastern University's fantastically-named Action Lab during a trip to Boston this week. On our quick tour through the facilities, we were shown a haptic controller being used to simulate the act of carrying a cup full of coffee, in order to monitor how people adapt movements to deal with the fluid dynamics of a hypothetical hot beverage inside the equally theoretical cup. The team had all sorts of strange and fascinating controls bandied about the facilities for the purpose of monitoring reactions to movement, but the one that really caught our eye was the ball-racket system. The controller uses a hacked up ping pong paddle connected to an encoder that feeds its real world vertical position into a computer, so test subjects can participate in what looks like rudimentary Atari game of paddle ball. Also on the bottom is a breaking mechanism that applies force to the paddle when the "ball" makes contact, so it feels like the real thing. There's a video of the system in action after the break, and more information about the studies can be found in the source link below.
Hyper Ping Pong is like real table tennis, only without the ball, table or opponent (video)
Microsoft and Nintendo might already have the motion-based table tennis simulation market locked down, but there's one thing their consoles need that the new Hyper Ping Pong paddle doesn't: a TV. That's right, this motion sensor-equipped bat lets you play without the superfluous need for something to look at -- it comes with a speaker that plays back the sound of a rally and all you need to do is "go with the rhythm." A button integrated into the handle lets you put a little extra sauce on your volleys and accurate timing will win you points, awesome sound effects, and the admiration of all your friends. The Hyper Ping Pong kit will start selling in Japan this October for ¥2,000 ($25).
Evigroup debuts Windows-based SmartPaddle tablet
It hasn't been all that long since France's Evigroup upgraded its "Paddle" tablet the Paddle Pro, but it's now already back with another model: the SmartPaddle. This one packs the same Atom N450 processor as before, along with an 11.6-inch capacitive screen, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, WiFI and 3G connectivity, and Windows 7 for an OS -- plus a Microsoft Arc keyboard, apparently. You'll also get the same head-tracking capabilities seen on the Paddle Pro, as well as a new 3D interface for Windows dubbed "Scale," which promises to make things a bit more tablet-friendly. Head on past the break for a video, and look for the tablet itself to set you back a hefty €1,290 (or about $1,820). [Thanks, WMax]
Evigroup Paddle tablet goes Pro, gets cursor-controlling, head-tracking webcam
Some day, in the distant future, we'll be activating windows, clicking buttons, and playing Farmville with our minds. Our minds. There have been attempts to get us there, none fully comprehensive, though the Evigroup Paddle Pro tablet is taking an interesting alternative approach: using head tracking to control the cursor. Apparently its front-facing webcam detects your front-facing mug and as you look about the screen it moves the cursor appropriately. Staring rudely at any button or control for a half-second equates to a click and, while we don't yet know how you'll double-click, we'd like to think a spasmodic twitch will be required. Evigroup is also launching a curvy keyboard to go with the Paddle Pro and is promising the ability to play video and audio wirelessly courtesy of a "small station" that connects to your TV. The internals, meanwhile, are perfectly predictable: a netbook spec Atom N450 struggling with Windows 7 Home Premium. No word on price or availability.
Wii Ping Pong paddle reviewed, loved, unavailable for purchase
We've seen our share of downright silly controllers for the Wii (we're looking at you, CTA), and we were expecting more of the same, but we'll be darned if no less an authority than self-avowed Wii Sports Table Tennis addict Paul Govan (from Gamepeople.co.uk) hasn't given the Wii Sports Table Tennis Bat high marks all around: it's weighted like a proper paddle, the build quality is decent, comes with a battery and a charger and, most importantly, it "replicates all the features of [the] Wiimote and MotionPlus perfectly." Unfortunately, the reviewer states that this is a prototype from an as yet unnamed Chinese manufacturer, and has no idea when they might become available. Way to harsh our buzz, man.
First Look: Ping Pong Battle adds video-out, Killerspin
A few weeks ago, when we first looked at the hybrid iPhone/iPad game Ping Pong Battle, it wasn't quite ready for prime time; one of the marquee features, video-out from the 'table' iPad, wasn't finalized. With an update to the apps due to hit the App Store sometime today, PPB achieves that milestone and adds some key table tennis industry branding. PPB delivers a ping pong experience by making the iPhones into motion-sensitive 'paddles' and putting the table onto the iPad screen. Building a hybrid game for iDevices is tricky business. First of all, your market is self-limiting to those folks who have both iPhones and an iPad -- although in the case of PPB, you can play in 'finger mode' with just the iPad if you want. Secondly, you have to make sure the devices can talk to each other consistently; the PPB developers at LIME found that if one iPhone was using WiFi for connectivity with the iPad, and the other was using Bluetooth, things didn't go well. The update now warns players to pick one connectivity method or the other for all three devices, and to turn off the unused service; the developers have discussed this limitation with Apple engineering and they are looking for a workaround. With this version, the PPB paddles allow you to put spin on the ping pong ball, and give you feedback ("too soft!") on your hits. In my testing, I got the best results by shaking the iPhone gently on the swing, which you time by listening to the audio cue of the ball sailing towards you. Practice mode lets you play volleys against the computer opponent, but once you get another human player involved the fun really begins. You can also pick a custom table or choose from a list of available paddles. It's not particularly easy to get the hang of PPB, but with the video-out enabled (VGA only) and a big screen in play, it's got some real party potential -- that's probably why Killerspin is teaming up with LIME to put some table tennis muscle behind it. Killerspin is an up-and-coming US table tennis equipment brand, which aims to bring "youth and innovation to one of the world's most beautiful sports, table tennis." The app will soon feature KS-specific paddles and content. Ping Pong Battle for iPad is US$4.99; the iPhone paddle apps are free but don't do much without the mothership. If you've got the gear, and you're interested in seeing a tech-demo curiosity evolve into a playable, engaging game, check it out.
eviGroup Paddle gets specced and splayed, now available from €599
This is far from the most flattering angle from which to view eviGroup's multitouch tablets, but it shows off an important facet of design -- should you buy the pricy Paddle (pictured at left), you'll be able to swap the battery, memory and hard drive. Units ship today with yesteryear's netbook specs, including a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 160GB hard drive, 0.3 megapixel webcam and 1GB of RAM, but also the ports many tablets lack, including three USB jacks, VGA-out, an SD card slot and wired LAN. 802.11a/b/g WiFi comes standard while 3G connectivity costs an extra €150 (roughly $186), and if you'd rather not tinker with operating systems or hardware upgrades yourself, the factory will handle both for €50 ($62) and €79 ($98) respectively. The questions remaining are if the hardware can handle your applications -- and whether you're willing to pay iPad-plus prices for a device with just three hours of estimated battery life. Video after the break, full specs at the source link.
Evigroup Paddle shows up in manufacturer-provided picture gallery
Man, we've been talking about the JooJoo so much lately, you must be sick to death of that thing. Just to balance things out, here's a look at the first functional production units of Evigroup's Paddle tablet. Running on a good old fashioned Atom CPU, this promises Windows 7's limitless functionality (and battery strain) plus an extra-special 3D interface called Scale. It's curious, therefore, not to see a single screenshot featuring said UI. We're treated to vanilla Windows 7 throughout, suggesting that maybe somebody woke up to the fact that the processor inside this machine wasn't exactly designed for heavy lifting and the Scale idea was mercifully shelved. Either way, this 10-incher doesn't look all that shabby at all and the gallery at the source is well worth a quick perusal. We've got one more pic of this upstanding French gentleman after the break.
EviGroup's Paddle is the more advanced, more expensive Pad (video)
Remember the eviGroup Pad, the 10-inch tablet with 3G and a creepy looking AI slave built-in? We won't blame you if you forgot it, but maybe its more advanced cousin will be more memorable. If anything its name will be: Paddle. It's the same basic design as the Pad, a 10-inch keyboard-free tablet with netbook internals, but this one gets a swankier LED-backlit multitouch display along with SSD storage -- though a paltry 32GB max on flash is hardly an upgrade over the 320GB you can get on platters. Also new is an optional WiFi antenna to boost range and a new layer over Windows 7 called Scale that looks a little like being trapped on the inside of a paddlewheel of content (video below). How much would you pay for such decidedly evolutionary steps? For eviGroup's sake hopefully your number is somewhere around €699 ($945), because that's the MSRP when it starts shipping this summer -- a rather steep increase over the (already pricey) €500 Pad.
DS Daily: Most recommended?
Today, over on Wii Fanboy, we thought we'd discuss the worst games of the year. Here? We want to hear about some of the best, but with a twist: we want to know what games you recommended most often. Did you tell all your friends that the paddle controller made Space Invaders Extreme the business? Did you sing the praises of N+, despite its free counterparts? What did you recommend?This blogger's most recommended, of course, was the extremely excellent Professor Layton. If I passed you on the street, I might have told you to play it.
Space Invaders Extreme: DS vs. PSP
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Space_Invaders_Extreme_DS_vs_PSP'; Space Invaders Extreme has been out in the U.S. and Europe for about a month now, so if you haven't bought this gem yet (and according to certain chartz, most of you haven't), we can only assume it's because you're still deciding which version to pick up.As you probably know, the game released for both the DS and the PSP. One of the reasons that certain bloggers (namely, this one) were so excited for the U.S. release of Space Invaders Extreme in the first place was because its downloadable demo for the PSP was nothing short of awesome. You can imagine, then, how torn we were when it came to choosing between the DS and PSP versions of the game. We only figured that some of our readers were going through the same dilemma, and thus we ended up trying out both just so that you don't have to.If you want to see how Space Invaders Extreme DS and PSP stack up against each other, just click on past the break for a pretty chart and in-depth category breakdowns. %Gallery-14613%
Fanswag Reminder: Taito/SE gear to fill your hours
We're bursting with opportunities for free stuff right now! Not only can those of you in the Santa Monica area swing by the Joystiq Network End-of-E3 meetup next week, everyone else (in the U.S. or most of Canada) can enter right now to win Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid DS, and an import paddle controller (in white). See, we kinda like you. Do you like us: Y/N? Oh, just go enter the contest already.
DS Fanswag: Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid, and a paddle to play 'em with
We've got an ultimate game pack up for grabs with this latest DS Fanswag! One lucky reader is going to walk away with Space Invaders Extreme ($19.99), Arkanoid DS ($19.99), and an import paddle controller (in white; $29.99), and all for the low, low price of a comment.What do you need to do to win? Well, since it's almost time for E3, tell us what you hope will be announced at the show! You may enter once per day and the contest will run through Sunday, July 13th; that night, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, entries will close, and we'll choose one winner in a random drawing. To enter, you must be 18 or older, and a current legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). Have questions? Check the official rules.
DS Fanboy Review: Space Invaders Extreme
Anticipating a game can be a very dangerous diversion. If you have high hopes for a title, it's easier to find yourself disappointed than satisfied. This is what I was afraid of with Space Invaders Extreme; after drooling over the renovated Taito classic for months on end, I was worried that my expectations would set the bar too high. Basically, if it didn't completely blow my mind, the game was going to be a letdown.Consider my mind blown.%Gallery-14613%
DS Fanboy Review: Arkanoid DS
I love Arkanoid. I purchased the NES game, with its included paddle controller, as soon as it came out in 1987. I still play it. It's still really hard, and I still think level 3 -- level 3! -- is one of the most devious and challenging video game levels ever devised. When Taito revealed that they were updating Arkanoid for the DS, I was beyond thrilled. I have been waiting for the American release of this game since last year. While I thought Space Invaders Extreme looked like a more creative update of its source material, Arkanoid DS had Arkanoid as its source material. It's pretty good. It fails to hold up perfectly to the original, but it's pretty good.
WRUP: Paddle-tastic edition
This weekend, the DS Fanboy staff will likely be knee-deep in conflict. Whether it's against invaders from space or gigantic blocks, we'll be armed with one weapon that will aid us in defeating these threats: Taito's paddle controller. Seriously, it's all Arkanoid DS and Space Invaders Extreme for us this weekend.What about you all? Going to be playing the same games as us? Playing something else? What will you be playing?
Metareview: Arkanoid DS
We've already seen critics rave over Space Invaders Extreme, but how about Taito's other redone classic, Arkanoid DS? Well, not so much. Reviews on this game range from good, to bad, to mediocre:IGN (45/100) felt that the developers took everything that was great about Arkanoid and flushed it down the toilet: "But once you played the game it's easy to see just how bad of an 'Arkanoid' game it is. The Paddle peripheral is absolutely fantastic: the knob has great weight and interfaces with the system and game extremely well. But the gameplay is so far away from the original Arkanoid. The sound effects and power-ups may have matched the arcade game but the same action is nowhere near the original."Gamespot (80/100) was on the other side of the spectrum, and thought the game had a lot to offer: "There's more than enough fun to be had with Arkanoid DS to justify its budget price tag, and the multiplayer content and online leaderboards that compare your performances in the single-player Clear mode ensure that there's no shortage of replay value if you're the competitive type. Arkanoid was a great game in 1986 and it's still a great game in 2008. Arkanoid DS is even better."Nintendo Power (65/100) found the game to be fun, but not on par with Space Invaders Extreme: "Though not as glossy as Space Invaders Extreme (another Taito update from Square Enix), brick-breaker Arkanoid DS takes advantage of the DS hardware more than its classic-reborn cousin by offering a vertical playing field and a touch-control option." [July 2008, p.89]%Gallery-19376%
Metareview: Space Invaders Extreme
For us, the release of Space Invaders Extreme carries the same weight as a world-altering event. Mainly because our own world has been altered to include such an inspired recreation of the original Space Invaders, which we never could have imagined possible. It's like finding an extra $20 in that jacket you have in the back of the closet, only that bill somehow managed to reproduce asexually and gave way to a whole colony of legal tender. Oh, and the money also talks and calls you "God." That's how blessed we feel just knowing such a game exists.How do the critics feel? Well, let's dive in, shall we? 1UP (A-) says "Space Invaders was never intended to be a graphical powerhouse, and with its solid, pick-up-and-play action and an easily digestible $20 price point, Extreme makes for a perfect summer gaming distraction." IGN (90/100) found the DS game to be better than the PSP version: "Space Invaders Extreme is a certified hit and easily the company's best effort in contemporizing its classic property. The game's an absolute steal at 20 bucks on either the Nintendo DS or the PlayStation Portable, but if you want the definitive version of this fantastic classic revisit, the Nintendo DS version is it." GamesRadar (80/100) thinks it's a solid title: "[...] for quick-to-play, compelling arcade action - complete with a two-player head to head mode - it's hard to imagine a better package. Don't miss this one." Game Informer (83/100) said it's almost a stroke of genius: "It takes some clever thinking to take something this old and make it feel new again. Square Enix has done exactly that by maintaining the core "shoot the aliens" gameplay while dramatically expanding the strategy and skill required to succeed in the endeavor." [July 2008, p.95] %Gallery-14613%
Essential Extras: Taito's paddle controller
Let's just get this out of the way first thing: the import paddle controller works on the U.S. versions of Arkanoid and Space Invaders Extreme in both the DS Lite and Phat. But with that answered at last, the question that remains is: should you go to the trouble of importing the Japan-exclusive peripheral? We've been test-driving both titles, with the paddle and without, and it definitely adds to the experience. Arkanoid without the paddle is fun, but not terribly engaging, and seems like the kind of game that would work only as a temporary diversion. For a budget title, that's fine! But with the addition of the paddle -- which turns the purchase into something decidedly not budget -- Arkanoid really comes to life as an exciting way to spend some time with your DS.%Gallery-25232%
