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A walking tour around the Roleplaying realms
Someone named wowgossip on livejournal (though I think her character -- I'm assuming she's a woman, though that might be wrong -- is named Mary Sue, like the lead of so much bad fan fiction) is conducting a pretty exhaustive tour of roleplaying on the servers, both good and bad. As is clearly stated, this is not a review -- it's more of a "state of the game" of Warcraft roleplaying, so the good, the bad, and even the ugly are included. She's already stopped by Argent Dawn, Blackwater Raiders, Earthen Ring, and Moon Guard, and Sisters of Elune.The sights range from the disgusting (you get offered to cyber by just being a lowbie and hanging around Elwynn, apparently), to the boring (there is some really, really bad vampire RP), to the fascinating (some of the character descriptions are very well written, and use some commonplace ingame gear to portray a character's backstory very well). There's no judging involved -- it's basically a (pretty) objective survey of what RP players are doing on RP servers lately. Even if you're not an RPer, it's an interesting read (though some of the images and situations are NSFW, depending on where you work).There's more info in a Q&A on the journal, including a plan to possibly do some group RPing, but just the idea of surveying what's out there is cool. There is so much happening on the realms (in terms of RPing and grouping and PvPing), and even here at WoW insider we can only document so much of it. Definitely cool to get another look inside what players are coming up with (no matter how weird or boring or wild) on the realms.
DS Daily: Walk with Everyone
Nintendo's Personal Trainer: Walking uses its wacky pedometer doodad to tabulate your step count every day and send the data back to the DS. This data goes to Nintendo for use in step count leaderboards. You can compete to top the charts like in many other online games, except the competitive activity here is exercise.Does the idea appeal to you? Do you think vying for the top spot on a leaderboard will inspire you to walk more? Or are you extra awesome at walking and looking forward to the chance to show that off with numbers?%Gallery-33410%[Screens via Wiiz]
Sanyo builds prototype pedometer that powers itself while you walk
These portable power generating options are a dime a dozen now, but we thought you'd still want to know that Sanyo has invented a device that'll let you turn your health obsession into electricity to power your health obsession -- a vicious cycle if we've ever seen one. It's a pedometer that generates just enough energy (40 microwatts) to keep itself ticking when the swinging motion of its health-nut wearer's body causes tiny parts to move around. Sanyo hopes to use the technology for other low-power devices in the future. As for us, we'd rather remain utterly otiose and let our battery slaves do the work for us, though we can imagine something like this might, with some improvements, prove useful to those villagers who have to walk 12 miles to charge their cell phones. [Warning: read link requires subscription]
Stroll through some Personal Trainer: Walking screens
Nintendo has opened a website and released screens of Aruite Wakaru Seikatsu Rhythm DS, or Personal Trainer: Walking, the walking trainer that includes a wireless pedometer and uses Miis. As it turns out, this game, which will probably be somewhat of a flagship product for Nintendo, is being developed by Creatures, Inc., codevelopers of the Pokémon games, as well as the first two Mother games, and current home of Metroid and Kid Icarus composer Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka (he's the president!)Personal Trainer can record walking data and generate all kinds of stats for four participants, which it does at the end of the day. However, it only includes two pedometers. Extras will be available for 1,800 yen ($17.71).%Gallery-33410%
Nintendo unveils pedometer for upcoming DS fitness title
Remember that weird pedometer trademark that came up recently? Well, instead of being something tied to a Wii game, as many thought, it's tied to a DS title instead. During the video presentation showing off upcoming DS titles, the image to the right was shown. We're having a hard time translating the name, so we're just going to call it Lifestyle Rhythm DS for the moment. As you might have guessed, based on the image to the right, this is scheduled for a November release in Japan.Hit up Nintendo's Japanese site for a closer look at the upcoming game. [Thanks, Sonic_13!]
The Daily Grind: Long treks and earned mounts, or easy fast travel?
Long overland quests are a fantasy staple which migrated into the MMO genre. This blogger remembers when World of Warcraft was first nicknamed World of Walking. It may not have been the first MMORPG to use the model, but it's the most famous: have a huge world that players begin by walking around in, eventually giving them the ability to use mounts to travel much faster. Age of Conan follows the trend, providing glorious landscapes and not allowing players to use horses until around level 40, a full half way through the leveling progression. Even sprinting in Age of Conan can only be done in short bursts.City of Heroes took a radically different approach. (It could hardly not do so, what with comic book heroes superspeeding and flying all over the place.) The individual zones were much smaller, and characters could take 'travel powers' at level 14, which would get them from place to place in a fraction of the time it would take to run. Later issues introduced temporary travel powers given out as rewards for Mayhem and Safeguard missions, which allowed characters to fly as early as level 5. The flipside is that the game world feels a lot smaller, with no sense of the long trek into the unknown, far from home.Should games still adhere to the familiar format of walking a long way, taking in the sights, then earning your mount and really appreciating it? Or should characters be able to skip trekking from an early level, and just get to go where they want to go, at risk of missing out on the scenery? Is walking a tiresome chore, or a valid way to ensure players see the world the designers created?
Walkers swallow RFID pills for science
It seems like some researchers from Radbound University in The Netherlands took advantage of the recent Four Days Marches of Nijmegen walking race for a little experiment earlier this month, where they convinced ten volunteers to swallow an RFID pill as part of a study to monitor body temperature. Apparently, the pills recorded and transmitted the walkers' core temperature to a receiver in their backpack every ten seconds, which in turn sent the data via Bluetooth to a GPS-enabled phone that then relayed it to the operations center at Radbound. With all that info at their disposal, the researchers were able to monitor each walker and alert them if their temperature was reaching a dangerous level, or even alert others nearby if they weren't responding (which apparently wasn't necessary). As you might have guessed, the researchers are already hard at work planning an even larger test for next year's event, which they hope could eventually lead to the system being used at marathons and other sports events.[Via picturephoning.com]
Garmin introduces waterproof nuvi 500 / 550 for the argonauts
Sure, Garmin's new nüvi 500 series can get you from point A to point G on paved and well-lit highways, but that's not the (whole) point here. Instead, these rugged (and waterproof) navigators are geared up to take to the trails, waterways and sidewalks with one-touch transitions between driving, bicycling, boating and walking modes. The 500 includes road maps and topographic maps for the lower 48 US states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, while the 550 touts comprehensive street map coverage of the US and Canada. Both devices boast a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a removable, rechargeable battery, Garmin's "Where Am I?" feature and geocaching support to boot. As for USers, you'll find the 500 and 550 on sale in Q3 for $499.99, while those across the pond will see the nüvi 550 land this September for £299.[Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich]
TUAW Responds: iPhone Pedometer
One of our readers wrote in asking whether the iPhone could possibly replace the Nike sports kit and work as a pedometer with its onboard accelerometer. Short answer? It already does. The (jailbreak) iPhone pedometer project is open source and available on Google code. The iPhone's three onboard accelerometer sensors allow you to capture force vectors and figure out when the force changes direction as you take a step. None of the iPhone-specific solutions that I've tried from Installer.app seem to work as well as my wiimote does on my treadmill with Wii Fit. I'd imagine that the iPhone will catch up quickly once the AppStore takes off.
Nike+ coming to iPhone and iPod touch
Multiple sources are repeating Stuff.tv's report that Apple is planning to bring the Nike+ system to the iPhone and iPod touch. Nike+ is of course a special kit, originally made for iPod nano, that will record the distance and length of a walk or run -- you stick the little sensor in your shoe, and it works as a timer and pedometer to record personal workout stats.Stuff also reports that in addition to bringing along the sensor system, the new Nike+ system may also be able to take advantage of the iPhone's and touch's wifi by sending stats from the sensor directly to Nike's online database,where a new "Coach" system will help you schedule runs and activities.Sounds pretty amazing. Of course, this is only the beginning of the kind of "life management" software that we'll see coming out of the SDK. Stuff suggests that your iPhone will help you know when go to out and for how long, but of course we know that by the time June comes around it'll be able to do a lot more than that.
Cornell Ranger sets unofficial distance walking record for a robot
Think you could keep pace with Cornell's Ranger robot? Just last week, the robot walker set an unofficial world record by trotting nonstop for 45 laps (that's 5.6 miles, for those counting) around the university's Barton Hall running track. After reaching that mark, the creature presumably fell over from battery exhaustion, but the team of creators are investigating to find out the exact reason it finally collapsed. Although Guinness officials weren't involved due to too much "rigmarole," the team has quite a bit to be proud of -- after all, an earlier version of the creature only made it 0.62 miles before calling it a day. Aside from garnering bragging rights, the crew is hoping to use Ranger to better understand the "mechanics of walking," which could be used to improve rehabilitation procedures or even athletic performance.[Via Physorg]
Collision detection in WAR's PvP
I hadn't heard that WAR would have collision detection (it must be in the whole game, right? can't only be in PvP, can it?), but Hardcore Casual did, and just like him, I'm very interested in the possibilities. He cites it as a problem of premades and PuGs-- premades will know much better how to deal with line-of-sight and positioning and formation problems, while PuGs will trip over themselves trying to get past someone else. Me, I see it more as a problem of pranks and griefing. In World of Warcraft, where Blizzard hasn't implemented collision detection, they're already having issues-- giving players the ability to block space in large numbers just opens up a whole world of griefing.But as HC says, it's all in the implementation-- it may be that some things need line-of-sight, while others (spells and such) don't, and any blockage depends on just where the hitboxes are-- if characters can sneak past each other, or are able to push each other out of the way, then that would change any plans.It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out, however. Collision detection is a minefield for developers, but can definitely lend itself to new types of gameplay. While most MMOs have avoided the issue entirely, we'll have to see if WAR is willing to hit the issue (so to speak) head-on.
Study investigates relationship between walking and talking
In of the less glamorous studies we've seen, a team of researchers from a variety of universities came together to study the possible link between walking and communicating via cellphone. In essence, researchers reckoned that by rigging up a Windows Mobile-based handset to vibrate slightly to the rhythm of one's footsteps, the other participate would simply fall in line (and have a more enriched experience) without actually being near the other individual. In testing, however, it was noticed that although the vibrations did help synchronize participants' steps when they were reciting scripted dialogue, a fair amount of subjects managed to mimic each other's gait sans assistance when carrying on a genuine conversation. If you're not snoring by now, feel free to hit the read link to view the research in its entirety. [Warning: PDF read link][Via Textually]
Multiple Sclerosis patients walk faster thanks to VR technology
Using virtual reality technology coupled with sensors, scientists at Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology have developed a system to enable people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis to walk more effectively. The virtual reality tech takes the form of a small screen attached to glasses which projects a moving, virtual ground computed using sensors that measure the user's eye and body movements. This "virtual floor" apparently improves the walking ability of MS sufferers, and helps them to remain stable. The device even improves walking performance after it has been taken off, so patients won't have to look completely awesome with their goggles on 24/7.[Via TFOT]
Moonwalk treadmill trains brain-injured patients to walk
Though there's been plenty of inventions that help brain-injured individuals regain a somewhat normal gait, a split-belt treadmill that oftentimes "pushes people into sloppy versions of Michael Jackson's moonwalk" is certainly one of the most bizarre. The device enables one foot to move up to four times faster than the other or throw one leg into reverse whilst the other moves forward, essentially forcing one's brain to make an "unconscious adjustment" in order to keep him / her from falling down. The goal, now, however, is to figure out how to make the temporary fixes instituted by the moonwalk machine permanent -- without forcing the disabled to live out their lives with Thriller running through their headphones.[Via ShortNews]
Get serious with new DS Style screens
We're expecting a load of news when the Square Enix Party starts. For now, we've got new screens from the DS Style series, which is obviously too serious for parties. Specifically, new screens were released of Flower Blooming DS: Gardening Life, Shall We Listen to Classical Music on the DS?, and three World Walking map programs: Italy, France and Taiwan.We could kind of see picking up a DS map program instead of a guidebook when we go on vacation, since we tend to take the DS with us anyway. We are definitely feeling a strong urge to buy the classical music "game" as well, since it's being developed by iNiS. Smart move, Squeenix.
Here comes Beefiness Training
From Dorasu, developers of Duke Saraie no Kenkou Walking Navi, comes the very latest in awkward-looking health training programs for the DS. Nobuaki Kakuda's Kaku-chan Type Muscle Train-Navi will use exercise descriptions and animations of the very big and tough-looking karate champion Nobuaki Kakuda to teach users how to bulk up. Users will be able to choose what bulk-related issue they need to work on, with exercise programs based on specific goals, like looking good in a tank top. Then they'll get to watch Nobuaki performing the exercises in a fake living room, sometimes using chairs as props.Stuff like this is precisely why we love reporting on the Nintendo DS. We can't wait to see what the other four games in Dorasu's series are.
Take an actual walk in virtual reality with String Walker
SIGGRAPH has certainly been the home of many virtual reality demonstrations, and this year yet another contraption that (partially) removes us from the world we know will be on display. Similar to the Powered Shoes and Virtusphere seen in years past, the String Walker is a "locomotion interface that uses eight strings actuated by motor-pulley mechanisms mounted on a turntable" in order to let users walk through virtual landscapes. Proprioceptive feedback allows the VR system to translate actual footsteps into the digital world, giving participants a reason to stroll around rather than just twiddling their thumbs. Reportedly, the biggest challenge was mastering the floor, which enables omni-directional walking that simple "treadmill-like" surfaces don't offer and in a simpler fashion than the "complicated" CirculaFloor. Next-generation DDR, here we come.[Via Gizmag]
Head-mounted display helps disabled walk
Although we've seen gait monitors and even prosthetic feet that assist individuals in regaining a more natural stride, scientists at Technion Institute of Technology in Israel have resorted to a head-mounted display for its rendition. This virtual reality device combines "auditory and visual feedback to improve walking speed and stride length in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease," and provides the wearer with a "tiled-floor image" that apparently assists them in navigating nearly any terrain. The device is meant to take the place of normal muscle feedback mechanisms, and to provide said feedback to these disabled individuals so they can make adjustments and improve the efficiency of their walk. The HMD has already made its way to several medical centers and has purportedly yielded positive results, but there was no word on when this device would be commercially available.[Via MedGadget]
DS Style details emerge-- screenshot-style
The first screenshots of Square Enix's DS Style series of nongames have shown up, and they look ... well, functional. The problem with nongames is that it's impossible to build hype for something that is used just for looking at a map of France, or teaching yourself yoga, even if the software in question is extremely well-designed.These screens answer the biggest question we had about the series: how could a game about listening to classical music possibly fill two screens meaningfully? The answer: dog animations and quizzing you on your feelings about the music.
