TeamDakota
Latest
Linkin Park's 'remixable' music video created in Project Spark
Musical group Linkin Park is now one step closer to the world of video games thanks to Project Spark developer Team Dakota. The developer created a "remixable" music video for Linkin Park's "Guilty All The Same" in Project Spark, which includes an audio remix station so players can build anything they want in the level. Project Spark is a robust game creation tool currently in beta for PC and Xbox One. The "Guilty All The Same" level isn't the first time an interactive game experience was built around an existing piece of music. Just last month, Radiohead launched an experimental iOS and Android app called PolyFauna for imagery and sounds from its song, "Bloom." Microsoft opened Project Spark's beta version to all Xbox One owners this month and also removed the game's Spark Time microtransactions. [Image: Linkin Park]
Project Spark Xbox One beta opens up to all
All Xbox One owners can try out the game-crafting playground of Project Spark, after Team Dakota opened up the platform's beta this week. A closed beta began earlier in the month, but now players won't need a beta key to jump into the sandbox. One of the biggest strengths of Project Spark looks to be the sheer variety of things you can create in it, and just how flexible its tools are. We've seen in the hands of the developer everything from visually authentic recreations of Limbo to fully working synthesizers, while an Xbox One beta montage trailer shows users are displaying their creative finesse too. [Image: Microsoft]
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 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'.
