Controller-less Gaming

With the new Xbox 360 Kinect technology (formerly Project NATAL) , we will take on a differenct approach on how we comunicate with games.

Because Kinect is controller-less and uses the human body itself as a controller, novice players already have a heads up on how to play the game; since a person already knows how to use their body, we can safely assume they can move their arm in a certain direction or make a gesture to trigger something in-game. Sure enough this new method of interactivity with games will appeal to non-gamers, such as older generations and non-hardcore gamers. Someone with no gaming experience can quickly pick up the motions of the game and in no time be playing like a pro. 

But like all things new, things don't work, it comes with bugs, or it needs to be patched. I usually am optimistic about such technologies but throughout my personal experiences, the more it sounds too good to be true, the more it is too good to be true. One example is the Wii Remote. Like a politician, it promised many things that did not come true, mainly the accuracy of its motion sensors. The cursor regularly shakes and most of the complex motion inputs do not deviate from "shake the wii-remote to perform function". Until recently the Wii Remote has had an update. Another innovative attempt was the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller for PS3. It works occasionally and for the most part, users turn off the feature because it frequently hinders gameplay from accidental user motions and like the Wii Remote, most input from it is "shake the damn thing like it owes you money". It also is getting an update. I'm actually glad Microsoft never decided to go the motion controller route and instead, motion capture. But like I mentioned earlier, with new things there are false promises. I don't think it will be as accurate as they make it. I think the motion detection may be delayed, and the facial recognition will fail most of the time. Another thing that will happen is that the first batch of games will be a liking to the Wii Sports games; Billards, Tennis, and Bowling. 

My major concern is the lack of feedback, force-feedback that is. A lot of information can come from the feedback the player gets from the controller; perhaps rumbling can notify the player of a nearby enemy, or in Legend of Zelda : Ocarina of Time, it can let the player know about secrets that are nearby. But besides that, the lack of matter in my hands makes me feel like rowing a boat, holding a tennis raquet, or shooting M16 very empty. The lack of weight might detacht me from the gameplay or make me feel like "am I doing this right?" Only time will tell, once I get my hands on it and try it out.

Another concern is for the Hard-Core gamers. Being controller-less means there is no Analog Stick for motion. I'm sure some math can be done to find the vector between your left and and right hand to make a cross-hair appear on screen for aiming but motion will be limited. Perhaps running in place is a signal for moving, and the direction the body is facing for where to run to, turning could perhaps be a quick motion of the torso or arms (which would be in the pose of holding a rifle.) All of it seems like too much work for little effect. Hard-core gamers might not get the full effect and experience of Kinect.

The future of gaming looks promising with new ways to interact with games. I can't wait for Star Trek style VR rooms.. yes!

Some links after the jump.

Android Game Development

Mobile gaming is taking new heights with improved technology and software. With iPhone being pioneers into good mobile gaming, others take a look at this and see this as an opportunity to seize new territory and expand their horizons.

One such technology is the Android platform. Android itself is a wonderful thing, a platform where you can put anywhere, PC's, phones, printers, monitors, toasters? And with the Java based language , it's "Write Once, Run Anywhere" which is convenient , seeing as how the OS takes itself.

There are some problems with the platform however. The biggest one ,I think, would be the community itself. I'm not saying that the community is terrible and no one is willing to help, far from it. What I am saying is that it's full of hopefuls. People who want to make something rather than actually doing something. A lot of the software on the Android market is sub-par and not quite polished, especially in the field of gaming.


The resources on developing games is also quite sparse as there is no real basis to create your game. The API demo that SDK comes with is buggy and is a terrible example to base ones game upon i.e "Lunar Lander"/"Snake"

I hope to figure out all this mess and create a simple document that can be used as a basis/foundation for game development on the Android. It is much needed.


Links :

• AnDev.Org
•  Android Development

New wave of controllers?

Eye-Tracking web-cam-glassesmaggigers.
Students at London Imperial College are developing new input devices that use your own eyes as the controllers.

As of now they have developed the tech to match eye movement with the movement of a paddle in a classic game of pong. The potentials for other uses are what make this contraption ... juicy.

Imaging a game where you can actually focus in real time, reading something up close then taking aim down the sight of a rifle. Eye tracking can provide cursor input for computers (but considering the technology needs to right-cick, middle-click, left-click and even scroll now a days, it would need some tinkering). If they work it out, FPS's will be more accurate and more about who spots who first. The disabled get a win for their side too , since sometimes they are not able to use their hands, this way they are provided with a means of playing games they could otherwise never play.

The best part is that its somewhat affordable. At about $37 USD for developing the glasses, it doesnt seem too bad.


Impulse Controls
Microsoft is developing tech that uses muscle impulse for controller inputs. As of now its a series of wires connected to your arms that allow your muscles to dole out raw data to computers that other developers can use as inputs. So playing guitar hero is as simple as holding your thumb to your index finger for the green button then strumming your right hand for the strum bar (think Air Guitar!). Other applications include snapping fingers for car doors or changing ipod songs while on the move. This device can also aid the disabled that do not have hand movment to bypass conventional controllers.