Check out this proof of concept for head tracking and virtual reality using the Wii remote. Simply awesome! Thanks to AustralianGamer for the link.
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Dec 30, 2007
Sep 12, 2007
Daniel Crowley-Wilson and Luke Drumm (a couple of my Readify colleagues) had a chat at Tech.Ed Australia 2007 about XNA game development for Virtual Tech.Ed. This chat is now online for viewing and gives you a nice 10 minute overview of what XNA development is all about and what it means to the homebrew scene. Hopefully it will whet your appetite to have a go and write your own game and have a bit of fun.
Go and check it out :-)
Aug 16, 2007
OK, so it's no big surprise that there's a new version coming - as announced at GameFest. The good news is that the XBox Live service will be available to all, and that it will work in any version of Visual Studio.
This should make things a lot nicer to work with once it comes out. I'm looking forward to seeing what they finally release, and it should help bring in more developers into the mix. Maybe we'll even see XNA based apps turning up in the business world :-) (It couldn't be any harder than WPF!)
This should make things a lot nicer to work with once it comes out. I'm looking forward to seeing what they finally release, and it should help bring in more developers into the mix. Maybe we'll even see XNA based apps turning up in the business world :-) (It couldn't be any harder than WPF!)
Aug 9, 2007
Luke Drumm has just presented a session on game development using XNA Game Studio Express. It was a very enjoyable session with the presentation shown being built using XNA (Luke actually progresses "slides" using a xbox controller).
XNA looks like a fair bit of fun for doing homebrew game dev, so here's a few things I've picked up.
XNA Game Studio Express needs Visual Studio C# Express Edition. It's a hassle to set it up with VS2005 Pro so it's easier to save yourself the pain and just do a side by side installation of express and pro.
Luke showed how simple XNA dev work is, and how XNA hides a lot of the complex DX9 messy stuff. In fact a simple 3d demo he showed gave no concerns to texturing, lighting, shaders, effects, or anything else.
The speed of XNA is really good and definitely fast enough for most users. If you want to get fancy you can always get down to the DirectX level, but you really shouldn't have to under normal circumstances. In fact the best thing about XNA seems to be what doesn't need doing compared to all the effort that was required before under DirectX.
XNA includes default Effects & Shaders so that you don't need to build them for an OOTB experience which is good as the dev experience for non-default shaders is not the best (it's notepad based for now). Better dev experiences for shaders are available from ATI (rendermonkey) and NVidia but the learning curve is steeep. OSS variants exist (check codeplex).
Free 3d modeling tools can create models in DirectX format. Blender is probably the most powerful, but it's also the most complex and non-intuitive to use. Audacity is good for sound editing.
If you're a lazy game dev - grab a starter kit or sample (spacewar, xna racer, etc) and start hacking.
If you're a really lazy game dev then garage games has torquex for building 2d games. www.blade3d.com does something similar for 3d games.
If you're an unbelievably lazy game dev, then you're best bet is to go to a shop :-)
Oh, Luke also talked a bit about Gears of War and the computing power required. The game logic required about 0.5 gigaflops. The physics and game updates took about 5 gigaFlops and the graphics required a massive 50 gigaFlops of power. Thankfully the GPU and hardware shaders these days are fast enough to keep up with this sort of demand.
For more info on XNA check out
www.virtualrealm.com.au/blogs/mykre
and keep an eye on GameFest for XNA news over the next week or so.
Jun 28, 2007
Now this is a tempting distraction... The Wii is being opened up to the mass market of independent developers who want to write mini-games, tinker or just have fun.
It's called WiiWare and there's a press statement from Nintendo about it.
I'll be really curious to see how this pans out. Oh, and apparently worldwide sales of the Wii have hit 8.5 million - only 1.5 million behind the XBox 360 - it's a huge installed base considering the platforms only been on sale six months.
It's called WiiWare and there's a press statement from Nintendo about it.
I'll be really curious to see how this pans out. Oh, and apparently worldwide sales of the Wii have hit 8.5 million - only 1.5 million behind the XBox 360 - it's a huge installed base considering the platforms only been on sale six months.
May 17, 2007
Well, you could if you used the new Wii interface for the Google Reader. It's _very_ experimental, but if you want to give it a shot go to reader.google.com and try it out.
Alternatively have a look at the blog entry which has a video of it in action.
Alternatively have a look at the blog entry which has a video of it in action.
May 7, 2007
On Friday I toddled off to the nearest EB Games store and handed over some hard earned for a copy of Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS.
This game has been getting first class reviews from various game sites and I've been curious as to how good it really is so I took a (small) risk and grabbed a copy. Needless to say, I'm very happy; and very addicted.
EBA is simple in concept - just hit numbers on the screen in time to the music - but it's executed so very, very well. Now I usually play games on the DS during the commute, but with this game I've played it across the weekend, took it to friends and got my wife to play (though I had to wait a while to get it back). It's great fun - even for a rhythmically challenged person such as myself.
If you've got a DS then go get a copy (or find someone to swap with) and have some genuine fun. I'm going to end this post now - the siren call of the Agents is getting loud again and I must answer. .. I cannot refuse...
This game has been getting first class reviews from various game sites and I've been curious as to how good it really is so I took a (small) risk and grabbed a copy. Needless to say, I'm very happy; and very addicted.
EBA is simple in concept - just hit numbers on the screen in time to the music - but it's executed so very, very well. Now I usually play games on the DS during the commute, but with this game I've played it across the weekend, took it to friends and got my wife to play (though I had to wait a while to get it back). It's great fun - even for a rhythmically challenged person such as myself.
If you've got a DS then go get a copy (or find someone to swap with) and have some genuine fun. I'm going to end this post now - the siren call of the Agents is getting loud again and I must answer. .. I cannot refuse...
Apr 17, 2007
Yep, I've aged again. My birthday passed on the weekend and I had a great time. Quite a few presents from my girls, visits from relatives throughout the day, a cake at work today. It's all good.
Being a game player I was quite happy to pick up 2 new titles for my Wii - SSX Blur and Tiger Woods 2007.
I've got to say, I'm really happy with both titles. SSX is lots of fun; a really good game and Tiger Woods was even better - I played against my father in law and he really got into it. The swing motion with the Wiimote in T/W is really good and improves a lot on the controls in Wii Sports. The Wii Sports golf was quite fiddly when it came to short puts and it's sometimes hard to register a small swing without whacking the ball past the hole. On Tiger you just swing normally and never have the troubles of trying to register really small movements with the Wiimote.
Also on the Wii - I saw an article on Bloomberg (thanks to Australian Gamer for the link) talking about game makers ignoring the Wii and now being in a complete panic trying to get titles onto the platform as soon as humanly possible. The thing that surprised me was the sales figures...
US & Japan Sales for Jan/Feb
Wii: 1,470,000
PS3: 604,331
XBox 360: 584,329
The Wii outsold the other 2 platforms combined, by almost 300,000 units!
And as for the statement that the "Wii appears to be expanding the market, rather than stealing sales from rivals"; I can vouch for that. When I see my in-laws playing computer games, having fun and wanting to play more I know it's the Wii that does it - the same game on the PC or XBox wouldn't have any interest to them at all.
Mar 23, 2007
... and almost no one noticed. The midnight launch parties for the PS3 overnight were spectacularly ignored. According to the SMH article the (not so) massive 40 person strong "crowd" that turned up for the launch at the flagship Myer store in Sydney were outnumbered by the press.
Dear, oh dear... What have Sony done?
I posted about Sony ruining their brand in December, but I never thought it would be this bad.
One small positive note, they did supposedly pre-sell 20,000 units (though it might have only been 10,000) and at $1,000 per unit, that's some serious money. Of course, both the Wii and 360 both broke 30,000 units at launch.
Dear, oh dear... What have Sony done?
I posted about Sony ruining their brand in December, but I never thought it would be this bad.
One small positive note, they did supposedly pre-sell 20,000 units (though it might have only been 10,000) and at $1,000 per unit, that's some serious money. Of course, both the Wii and 360 both broke 30,000 units at launch.
Mar 7, 2007
There's been a few reasons:
1. I've been absolutely rushed off my feet at work recently and finish each day mentally drained and not feeling all that bloggish.
2. (This could be the main reason) I bought a Nintendo DS Lite and got Metroid Prime Hunters and Hotel Dusk. Playing with my new toy seems to take up a lot of time...
Damn this portable gaming stuff :-)
Metroid is lots of fun, and once you get the hang of using the stylus to mouse-look it's really cool and intuitive.
Hotel Dusk is obviously a little slower, being a detective game, but it's good fun and slowly drags you in - a bit like quicksand - until you can't leave it alone.
I'll remember to post a little more often even if I have to ignore the siren call of handheld gaming!!
Feb 12, 2007
This is kind of sad, but fairly amusing. There's a list of 10 short movies based on famous video games, including classics like Double Dragon, Tekken, Grand Theft Auto & Zelda.
The Zelda one is really quite cool, especially when the "actor" does one of Links famous whirlwind sword moves (and when he's cutting bushes looking for rupees).
Check it out at the thinking blog.
The Zelda one is really quite cool, especially when the "actor" does one of Links famous whirlwind sword moves (and when he's cutting bushes looking for rupees).
Check it out at the thinking blog.
You've just gone and got yourself a nice shiny new Wii (well done by the way) and you've got it connected to the internet (maybe even using the LAN adapter) and now you want to find someone nearby that you can play with/against.
What to do? What to do? Well, you could always go doorknocking in nearby streets, hang around at the local ebgames store and ask people to play as they enter or leave the store (though you might get into trouble with the law) or you could put an ad in the local newspaper claiming how lonely you are and that you just want some meet some new Mii's, but they're probably not the best options you could choose.
Then again, there's always MapWii. MapWii is a pretty cool little mashup that links people with Wii's together. You can register your location (as imprecisely as you like) and you'll turn up on their search page allowing you to be found by other people. It's pretty cool and quite useful. So, what are you waiting for - get to it!
What to do? What to do? Well, you could always go doorknocking in nearby streets, hang around at the local ebgames store and ask people to play as they enter or leave the store (though you might get into trouble with the law) or you could put an ad in the local newspaper claiming how lonely you are and that you just want some meet some new Mii's, but they're probably not the best options you could choose.
Then again, there's always MapWii. MapWii is a pretty cool little mashup that links people with Wii's together. You can register your location (as imprecisely as you like) and you'll turn up on their search page allowing you to be found by other people. It's pretty cool and quite useful. So, what are you waiting for - get to it!
Dec 30, 2006
I'm on holidays at the moment, which is why my blogging is a little slow. At the moment I'm kicking back on the Gold Coast and having a very relaxing and lazy time. For instance today I've been out on a boat for a while, watched Happy Feet with the kids, played a bit of Zelda, read a bit of "Into a Dark Realm" and basically done not much of anything.Last night, the family went to the Outback Spectacular near Wet 'n Wild - and it was a fantastic night. Great food, top notch show, and some awesome equestrian skills on display. If you get a chance to go, I'd recommend taking it.
This holiday I've also taken along the Wii so I could have a play with some of my Christmas presents. As it turns out, the rest of the extended family has gotten hooked on it. Wii Sports in particular has really hit the sweet spot for people - from my kids through to their grandparents; everyone is playing and everyone is having a great time. Normally I'm the only one who plays games, but with the Wii not only can everyone play but everyone wants to! So much so that I've gone out looking for two more remotes so that we can have 4 player games and one of the other people has decided to get one for themselves as soon as they get home.The holiday continues for another week and I'm off to Dreamworld and Sea World in the next few days, as well as catching the fireworks for New Years Eve tomorrow.
2006 has been a big year, and I'm sure 2007 will be even bigger! Happy new year to all!
Dec 19, 2006
I got home tonight and my Wii had a blue glow around the disk slot. Curious I turned it on and saw I had a mail message indicating that the forecast channel was live. I clicked the update button, waited a few minutes and lo! and behold! there it is - weather forecasts on my Wii.
I simply had to tell it where I lived and I could then see the weather. It shows the UV index, current temperature, todays forecast, tomorrows forecast and a 5 day view. You can also have a look at global weather. It looks a bit different to what is shown on the web site but you can get the idea.
It's kind of cool, but I think the most pleasing thing about this update was the way the WiiConnect 24 service works. It's very unobtrusive with just a simple visual indicator that there's an update available. I don't need to to check web sites, subscribe to mailing lists, or any of that business - just do the update and it's done.
I'm guessing the same thing will happen when the news channel becomes available and that it will be another painless update.
I simply had to tell it where I lived and I could then see the weather. It shows the UV index, current temperature, todays forecast, tomorrows forecast and a 5 day view. You can also have a look at global weather. It looks a bit different to what is shown on the web site but you can get the idea.
It's kind of cool, but I think the most pleasing thing about this update was the way the WiiConnect 24 service works. It's very unobtrusive with just a simple visual indicator that there's an update available. I don't need to to check web sites, subscribe to mailing lists, or any of that business - just do the update and it's done.
I'm guessing the same thing will happen when the news channel becomes available and that it will be another painless update.
Dec 18, 2006
The launch of the Wii this month in Australia has seem it take the crown as the best launch of a game console. According to a Nintendo newsletter:
"32,901 units sold in the first four days
Nintendo is pleased to announce that in the first four days of sale, 32,901 consumers have purchased Wii.
This means the Wii has officially broken the Australian record for the biggest launch of a video game system in history."
I can't find the equivalent figures for a comparison but the XBox 360 has sold 100,000 units in it's first 7 months.
Update: The figure for XBox 360 sales in the same period is 30,421 according to the SMH web site
Dec 8, 2006
Yes, my Wii has arrived!! I stayed up until 2 in the morning playing on it and trying out the various games I've got, and I've brought it to work today for others to play with as well.
My initial impression is WOW!! The new controller is truly amazing and a pleasure to use. Nintendo have done a great job with this thing and it's going to change the face of gaming.
Looks like I've got a few more late nights coming :-)
My initial impression is WOW!! The new controller is truly amazing and a pleasure to use. Nintendo have done a great job with this thing and it's going to change the face of gaming.
Looks like I've got a few more late nights coming :-)
Dec 4, 2006
The SMH has an article about Sony and their late entry to the Australian market. It's quite an interesting article in that Sony get all hot about their Blu-Ray compatibility.
After reading it though I had to wonder what Sony was really up to with the PS3.
Here's a few comments that made me wonder:
"The Wii-type functionality is more just a sub-element of what the PlayStation 3 offers"
"Wii is a core gaming device. It's a more fun, intuitive sort of product to pick up"
So I guess that the PS3 is not a "core gaming device" anymore. Then what on earth is it meant to be - it's not a home theatre system is it? or a HD Set top box? or a TiVO? At the price it might as well be, but try this quote:
"You have a whole suite of other applications ... such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PlayStation Portable"
Oh, gee, thanks - that makes it so obvious - it's a camera/mp3/blu-ray/PSP Docking station thinga-me-bob. I assume we can still play games with it, right?
Or how about this little quote:
"Gamers are extremely aware of what they're after and what they want"
Yep - and they want something to play games on, and NOW! Oh, and they want it for less than the price of a new PC too! Why would I shell out $830+ for a PS3 when I can buy a new PC from Dell for the same price. And guess what - a PC plays music and lets me access photo's too, plus it has "a whole suite of other applications" as well.
I'm sorry Sony, but what are you really trying to do? I suspect you're trying to use the power of the PlayStation brand to make Blu-Ray the next gen DVD platform so that you can make a squillion dollars from all those new Blu-Ray players people will buy and from the licensing costs of the technology. It's not like DVD is a problem - I'm sure there are absolute millions of people picketing Sony offices crying out for an answer to their viewing woes because of all the pixellation and colour washout they have when watching movies. And I'm sure that Blu-Ray is the answer for the man on the street, right? ... No?! I thought not.
So the PS3 really isn't about competition with core gaming devices like the XBox 360 or the Wii - it's about using a brand that has dominated the gaming industry as a lever into trying to dominate the home entertainment market, and to try and rort their customers along the way.
At least Microsoft show some thought for their customers by giving them choice. Xbox with HD DVD or not? Then there's skinning options, accessories, add-ons. The customer has choice and control. Not so with Sony.
But then again Sony is also a major music label and a strong member of the RIAA right? The same guys that sued 15 year old girls for downloading a handful of songs from the Internet a few years back. I'm sorry for being a little cynical about their motives, but their track record doesn't help.
And what does the consumer think of all this? Japan pre-sold 400,000 Wii's and sold 600,000 in the first 8 days in the US, Sony has sold 154,000 PS3's in Japan and about 200,000 in the US. The XBox 360, which has had several months head start has sold over 6,000,000.
I think the customer knows what they want, and I think Sony knows how to kill a brand.
Nov 29, 2006
Only one week left until the Aussie release of the Wii.
The SMH has an article about it and how in the US the Wii sold at a rate of about 1 per second in it's first 8 days (600,000 units), and sold about 3 times as much as the PS3.
I'm pretty sure it'll sell more than 3 times the PS3 here at launch, but that probably because Sony couldn't be bothered trying to get any units to Australia until sometime in March. Thanks Sony - nice job! (not).
P.S. There's more Wii videos on the UK Wii site if you're interested.
The SMH has an article about it and how in the US the Wii sold at a rate of about 1 per second in it's first 8 days (600,000 units), and sold about 3 times as much as the PS3.
I'm pretty sure it'll sell more than 3 times the PS3 here at launch, but that probably because Sony couldn't be bothered trying to get any units to Australia until sometime in March. Thanks Sony - nice job! (not).
P.S. There's more Wii videos on the UK Wii site if you're interested.
Nov 23, 2006
Now that the Wii has made an appearance in the US there's a bunch of "unboxing" posts showing what's "inside the box".
Here's a few links
Paul Thurott's Supersite for Windows
That Tech Chick (shows what's under the top flap - gamecube connectors!)
Come on December 7 - hurry up!!
And of course there's some wally smashing one just after he bought it, and in front of the store line up as well.
Nov 16, 2006
Nintendo UK has been keeping the steady stream of videos coming of people playing on the Wii (and Zelda in particular).
Recent updates include people protecting carriages, fishing, goat herding and doing horseback combat. Way cool :-). The US site also has people trying out excite truck.
3 weeks to go until the Australian release. Time goes so slowly... :-)
Recent updates include people protecting carriages, fishing, goat herding and doing horseback combat. Way cool :-). The US site also has people trying out excite truck.
3 weeks to go until the Australian release. Time goes so slowly... :-)