Microsoft's IllumiRoom Brings Games Outside the TV

[Akimoto]

I don't get it. It looks like they've aimed a low quality projector at a good quality TV.

If you want an immersive experience, ditch the TV and get a big projector. There are 1080p 3D projectors under $2k now.

Agreed.

Looks like Microsoft is really gunning for the immersive factor by pumping money into flashy stuff. I like the idea don't get me wrong, but I strongly feel something is off when we have to depend on external factors like the kinect and it's appendages for a immersive experience.

On one hand, it can be argued that big is really nice and the tech is great, but like Narcogen said, go get a good projector. And as for tech, I'm a cynic on that aspect as these sort of things tend to get abused as a cash cow - I'm looking at you, Armoured Battalion.

Good writing and gameplay design should be the focus. I'm very sure the Escapist community can name more than I have played that not only engaged the player, but allowed us to be part of it.

We have a brain. Let's use it.

Captcha: good grief. Indeed.

 

[Elithraradril]

This is just a somewhat expanded rip-off of the Philips Ambilight [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambilight] technology that's been around for over a decade now.

But count on Microsoft to try and patent an idea they stole from someone else.

I don't get it. It looks like they've aimed a low quality projector at a good quality TV.

If you want an immersive experience, ditch the TV and get a big projector. There are 1080p 3D projectors under $2k now.

Agreed.
On one hand, it can be argued that big is really nice and the tech is great, but like Narcogen said, go get a good projector. And as for tech, I'm a cynic on that aspect as these sort of things tend to get abused as a cash cow - I'm looking at you, Armoured Battalion.

Ok, so you simply don't get it. Projector or ambilight simply puts 2D image on the wall, and because of furniture etc. it will look like sh!t. Now this lttle thing scans the room, and projects image accordingly to how furniture etc. is placed, so you get 3D like effect.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

That is absolutely amazing. Other recent ideas like motion controls and 3D hold no interest to me. They add nothing worthwhile to gaming, beyond looking like a pillock and cheap "oohs" and "aahs" at the expense of headaches, respectively. This on the other hand takes the game world, and immerses us further into it. The little things like the projectiles and snow in particular looked incredible.

Credit to microsoft on this one; they might be thieving arseholes who allow hackers to steal money from their customers and with whom I shall never again spend a penny on Live, but I would invest in the hardware for that experience.

This is just a somewhat expanded rip-off of the Philips Ambilight [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambilight] technology that's been around for over a decade now.

But count on Microsoft to try and patent an idea they stole from someone else.

They aren't even remotely related, except insofar as both technologies project light. Philips Ambilight is simply to soften the edges of the image to save eye strain when watching in a dark environment. This apparently brings the game world out of the rectangle and adds a huge level of immersion, incorporating the physical room and space into the virtual ennvironment.

Technically speaking, Ambilight provides a small array of colour extending from the on-screen image, projects from the back of the TV and requires a wall behind to even provide its functionality (whose merit and worth one can fairly question). This uses a projector over an entire room whose geometry is mapped and effects are reportedly rendered in real-time.

The Microsoft tech has as much in common with Ambilight as does using a torch to project hand shadow-puppets on the wall.

 

[Skops]

Let alone the fact that this obviously needs to be used in a DARK room: This is likely going to lead into some eye health hazards.

 

[surg3n]

It won't be a fraction as effective as they are trying to show here, in fact, it'll be Kinect all over again.

So stop throwing money at the screen and being surprised that nothing is happening. You will only be disapointed, and the human race will be disapointed in you for throwing money at another microsoft gimmock.

1. Projectors would shine on your TV/Monitor, most displays can't deal with a bit of sunshine, never mind thousand lumens projectors.
2. Every particle of dust in your room will be highlighted, and that'll be more distracting than the actual effect they're going for.
3. Projectors are expensive, projectors that can effectively produce the necessary viewing angle at an acceptable distance are damn expensive.
4. We'd have to have a projecter dangling above our heads, like the sword of Damocles, just waiting on our dodgy roof-mount DIY abortions giving out... We laughed when Wiimotes got thrown into TV screens, we won't laugh when a projector splits our fricken head open.

Peripheral vision might be best kept for what nature intended, avoiding cats and spotting big fuckoff spiders.

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice idea, it's just a shame that technology and reality get involved. Also, was that freaking MarioKart!, are Microsoft trying to suggest that this will work with any game, on any console? - if so, for shame Microsoft, preying on the weak of mind yet again.

 

[CyborgGinger]

Wow, that looked amazing. Even if you would find it distracting during an FPS or somesuch, I think it would be incredibly immersive when used in more story-focused games, when trying to re-create a cinematic feel:

- sad event happens in story, rain starts to slowly poor... on your living room wall, with the sad music playing.
- It's snowing in the game, it's snowing on your wall

Just great for little visual cues like that, if anything.

Hell, you could probably full out extend that to films too.

 

[Bindal]

Also, was that freaking MarioKart!

No, it was another Kart-Racer. It was just there to show that it is not only for FPS.

 

[Entitled]

You know what other technology would grant gamers peripheral visions? Head-mounted displays.

You know what technology wouldn't leave furniture-shaped shadows all around your peripheral vision? Head-mounted displays.

You know what doesn't need you to darken a whole room to surround yourself with a video game space? Head-mounted displays.

Seriously, Microsoft, stop playing around with projectors and start making some virtual reality helmets, or you will get left behind by Oculus and Valve in the field of fully immersive VR, and by Google in the field of "plastering shiny pictures over your living room" kind of AR.

 

[Fasckira]

You know what other technology would grant gamers peripheral visions? Head-mounted displays.

You know what technology wouldn't leave furniture-shaped shadows all around your peripheral vision? Head-mounted displays.

You know what doesn't need you to darken a whole room to surround yourself with a video game space? Head-mounted displays.

Seriously, Microsoft, stop playing around with projectors and start making some virtual reality helmets, or you will get left behind by Oculus and Valve in the field of fully immersive VR, and by Google in the field of "plastering shiny pictures over your living room" kind of AR.

I'd much rather have a projector somewhere on my wall so I can sit down and play as opposed to having to fit a headset over my head.

 

[Frontastic]

It still isn't going to convince me to get a Kinect (unless they drop dramatically in price) but this is a pretty cool little gimmick. It certainly makes a better case for immersion than 3D. That is, if it looks anywhere near as good in reality as it does in that video.

 

[mad825]

It looks good but in practice I believe it's going to be more trouble that it's worth.

 

[Tarkand]

I'm really interested in this.

I usually HATE first person shooter because to me it has always felt like you're running around with blinders on - the human eye doesn't work the same way as the TV does, it's obvious... and because of this, I always found FPS game to be highly un-immersive.

This could really help with that.

 

[charge52]

This is just a somewhat expanded rip-off of the Philips Ambilight [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambilight] technology that's been around for over a decade now.

But count on Microsoft to try and patent an idea they stole from someone else.

I don't get it. It looks like they've aimed a low quality projector at a good quality TV.

If you want an immersive experience, ditch the TV and get a big projector. There are 1080p 3D projectors under $2k now.

Agreed.
On one hand, it can be argued that big is really nice and the tech is great, but like Narcogen said, go get a good projector. And as for tech, I'm a cynic on that aspect as these sort of things tend to get abused as a cash cow - I'm looking at you, Armoured Battalion.

Ok, so you simply don't get it. Projector or ambilight simply puts 2D image on the wall, and because of furniture etc. it will look like sh!t. Now this lttle thing scans the room, and projects image accordingly to how furniture etc. is placed, so you get 3D like effect.

You assume it will work exactly as intended, big mistake. It's highly likely they only recorded the footage at certain angles where the "3D" wasn't fucked up, and sliced out ALOT of footage that most people will get most of the time. This is probably going to end up like the 3DS all over again, good 3D in the advertising, but in practice you need to have your head at one exact angle for it to work and I doubt it will really add to the immersion to see outlines of the area you are in.

OT: If there's one thing that bothers me it's that it looks improperly balanced in the FPS(game, not technical), you have his normal sized TV showing what matters(read: the screen that is most important), and you have the huge fucking hologram showing some fancy effects that will probably distract rather than help.

 

[Elithraradril]

You assume it will work exactly as intended,(...)

Not really but I believe the idea is right and even if MS doesn't pull it off, than maybe other companies will bring better implementation as a high-end gamer accessory for example.

 

[charge52]

You assume it will work exactly as intended,(...)

Not really but I believe the idea is right and even if MS doesn't pull it off, than maybe other companies will bring better implementation as a high-end gamer accessory for example.

A lot of people thought the same thing about the Wii's motion controls, Nintendo's didn't work, Sony's didn't work, and Microsoft's attempt was just a reattempt of the failed Sony Eye toy which doesn't work either. The technology required is no doubt expensive as hell, and programming would take forever because it has to adapt to the room no matter how it is decorated. So even if someone improves the idea, it probably won't be happening for quite a while now. No matter how I look at this, this is going to fail, technologically at least. Sales will probably be great since there are going to be a lot of people who don't research stuff they see on TV who will buy either way.

 

[Entitled]

You know what other technology would grant gamers peripheral visions? Head-mounted displays.

You know what technology wouldn't leave furniture-shaped shadows all around your peripheral vision? Head-mounted displays.

You know what doesn't need you to darken a whole room to surround yourself with a video game space? Head-mounted displays.

Seriously, Microsoft, stop playing around with projectors and start making some virtual reality helmets, or you will get left behind by Oculus and Valve in the field of fully immersive VR, and by Google in the field of "plastering shiny pictures over your living room" kind of AR.

I'd much rather have a projector somewhere on my wall so I can sit down and play as opposed to having to fit a headset over my head.

I would much rather just put on a pair of goggles so I can sit down an play, as opposed to having to set up a projector system on my ceiling, and to flawlessly darken my whole living room every time I want to play.

See, I can also make technologies sound bothersome by adding entirely unnecessary loaded terms to them.

Shall I also throw in a futuristic picture with a photogenic 30something guy in a suit confidently smiling while looking through a sleek, lightweight VR visor, next to an amateur Holodeck prototype with experimenters tripping over wires while trying to align motion sensors and projectors with TV screens?

 

[FFP2]

This seems really interesting. It could enhance games in a crazy way. And the Kinect finally has a good use!

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well I got to give them one thing, they really do know their target audience is just craving that new flash gimmick instead of anything to better the games.

 

[Narcogen]

Ok, so you simply don't get it. Projector or ambilight simply puts 2D image on the wall, and because of furniture etc. it will look like sh!t. Now this lttle thing scans the room, and projects image accordingly to how furniture etc. is placed, so you get 3D like effect.

No, no. THAT part I got.

Why you'd bother is what I don't get, because the effect is really not that impressive at all.

As for furniture... yes, to have a very large image projected on a wall it should be blank, and sure, maybe not everybody has all that room... but this is Kinect we're talking about, isn't it?

Right. So if you've got a room big and deep enough for Kinect to work correctly anyway, you probably don't need this gimmick.

Perhaps it's just more impressive in person. That video did nothing for me whatsoever. Then again, I use a projector for gaming, so perhaps I'm just already used to having an immersive, big picture feeling when I play.