projectspark
Latest
Xbox's lack of compelling games won't be fixed next year
Microsoft's 2017 started six months early. At E3 2016, Xbox chief Phil Spencer closed out the company's keynote by teasing the "most powerful console ever." At this year's show, he finally revealed the Xbox One X, and in November, the hardware was at retail. In the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, Microsoft addressed one of the internet's loudest complaints about the Xbox One: that it wasn't powerful enough compared to the PlayStation 4.
The sun sets on Xbox's 'Project Spark' game creation tool
Starting today, Project Spark, Microsoft's quirky game creation game, is no longer for sale. And come August 12th, the servers will be shut down, Thomas Gratz of developer Team Dakota writes. As a consolation, anyone who bought the retail version "starter kit" will get a credit to their Microsoft account. If you redeemed the code inside after October 5th of last year (when the game went free-to-play) and prior to today, you'll get a credit to use in the Xbox or Windows stores. Gratz says that the credits will be automatically applied for eligible customers.
Microsoft's 'Project Spark' game creation tool will be completely free
Microsoft's Project Spark game creation tool has embraced the free-to-play model for a while, but that has still meant paying a fair chunk of change to build the experience you really want. However, even that cost is going away soon. As of an October 5th update, Project Spark is switching to a completely free model where all downloadable content will be accessible. You'll get refunds if you bought either content or a retail disc from July 28th onward. Microsoft is also handing over the keys, in a manner of speaking -- rather than focus on adding content and features, it'll spend more time on highlighting user-made material and opening things up.
Someone made a parody of 'P.T.' in Xbox One's 'Project Spark'
The absolutely terrifying playable teaser for the next Silent Hill game might only be available on PlayStation 4, but if you have an Xbox One you might be able to play something close to it. Someone has gone ahead and recreated P.T. in Redmond's game creating game, Project Spark. The familiar sights are all there: a never-ending hallway filled with horrors, a ghoul waiting just around the corner, Nic Cage screaming in terror. Wait, what? Well, the trailer is intercut with clips of Nic Cage's performance from the 1999 film about snuff movies, 8mm. Because watching him watch... well we aren't going to describe what he's watching, but let's just say it fits the theme of P.T. pretty spectacularly. Need to see the horror for yourself? Jump past the break and prepare for a descent into madness -- don't say we didn't warn you.
Microsoft's Project Spark beta now open to all wannabe game makers (video)
If you haven't had the chance to make the Flappy Bird or Minecraft clone of your dreams just yet, Microsoft is removing the final barrier to Project Spark's entry. The game-creation title's been in open beta for a bit, but now you can download it directly from the Xbox One dashboard -- no waiting required. Should you need something to, ahem, spark your creativity, the embedded trailer's montage of user-creations set to a Linkin Park song might do the trick. If that somehow doesn't help, Major Nelson will be joining the dev team on its Twitch stream this week, and you can pick his brain for ideas there. Or, maybe just kick back while Xbox's blogger plays the game (where he'll presumably make a game) on your game console. It's all up to you!
Xbox One's Project Spark available to everyone starting today in beta mode
Project Spark is pretty, encourages creativity and incorporates Kinect directly. The sandbox/game-creation tool became available for Windows 8.1 users back in December, and today it's entering beta on the Xbox One as well. "Does that mean there's a new, free thing on my Xbox One?" you might be asking. Yes, yes it does. Hot dog! Project Spark isn't in the XB1 store, so how do you get it? The announcement points to a still-active beta sign-up page, so it seems that interested parties still have a few hoops to jump through before getting in. (If you're already in the Windows 8.1 beta, you're in the XB1 version.) Interestingly, there are already several entries on the store for "Spark Tokens" in 500 token increments ($4.99 equals 500); beta or not, it looks like Microsoft's interested in monetizing Spark from the jump. For the full FAQ on the beta, head right here.
Microsoft begins sign-ups for its Project Spark open beta
Reckon that you could do a better job of building console games than the pros? You now have your chance to prove it. Microsoft has started taking sign-ups for Project Spark's open beta; as long as you're running Windows 8.1, you could be among the first creating homebrew beat'em-ups, platformers and other titles for the Xbox One. You'll likely have to wait until January to use the beta, but it won't hurt to apply today. Check our eyes-on with the game development tool after the break.
Daily Roundup: Xbox at Gamescom, Project Spark, Hot Watch hands-on, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Project Spark lets you build the game, add character with Kinect (eyes-on)
Here at Gamescom -- as you might expect -- you're gonna see a lot of games. Not all of them are finished, but even the beta versions come with complex worlds, and shiny new physics engines. Amongst all of these creations, jostling for our attention, was something a little different. Something we heard about back at E3 initially, and something we've been itching to see in action ever since -- Project Spark. We made sure we got to have a look at how it works, and some of the new features. So, click past the break if you want to know too.
Project Spark, Kinect create mini mocap studio in your living room
Up next from the "could be cool but will inevitably get real creepy, real fast" research team at Microsoft comes the news that Project Spark will be able to use Kinect to bring your likeness and even your voice into the game. Speaking at Gamescom, Team Dakota demonstrated how Kinect can accomplish facial motion capture and have it applied to an in-game character, how full-body captures could create new animations, and how audio could be recorded and modulated in a number of ways. You can just go on ahead and start counting the minutes until this is used for a particularly nerdy marriage proposal and/or breakup. (Though, breaking up by animated cutscene? Almost worth it.) Team Dakota also revealed that invitations will by flying out to Project Spark's registered beta participants at the end of October for Windows 8 devices and in January for Xbox One owners. You can register for the beta here. Revealed at E3, Project Spark is a user-creation driven game that Microsoft has described as an "open-world digital canvas that allows you to create your own games, stories, worlds, and share them with everyone." You can check out 40 minutes of Spark in action here.
Microsoft shows off next-gen Kinect motion and voice capture in Xbox One's Project Spark
Microsoft just flaunted some of Project Spark's gaming powers at Gamescom 2013 in Cologne: motion and voice capture. If you'll recall, the platform enables gamers to create their own digital spaces for games using the Xbox One's integrated Kinect sensor and the upcoming SmartGlass. Microsoft's Team Dakota group showed how to use facial capture, body motion capture and voice and sound to create animations, dialogue, cut scenes and more. You'll be able to try it yourself on Windows 8 at the end of October 2013, or by January 2014 for the Xbox One. Check the video after the jump to see the fruits of their labor, but maybe turn the volume down a hair. Just sayin'.
Project Spark lets users build game worlds with Kinect voice control and SmartGlass
Hoping you'd get to do some casual game building on the Xbox One? Microsoft Game Studios' newly revealed Project Spark may be for you. It'll allow users to craft their own digital spaces using Kinect Voice controls to add topographical features like mountains, plains and rivers, while fine tuning things with fingers through SmartGlass. Of course, the look of the world isn't all you can manipulate, as Project Spark also lets you create logic and rules for the objects and characters in your personal digital utopia. Oh, and if you aren't planning on grabbing a One right away, the game looks to be coming to PCs running Windows 8 as well. Update: Check out two preview videos embedded after the break. Follow all of our E3 2013 coverage at our event hub.
