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From SIGGRAPH 2009: All Your Old Toys Are New Again (56k LOLWTFBBQ)
Occulus
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I did a search for this and couldn't find any prior references to it, or other posts. From Five Futuristic Interfaces on Display at SIGGRAPH, via Technology Review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXIkOmXo1d8
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to SCOPE. We'll start with the basic concept (I'll spoiler all of this for ZOMGHUEGPOST):
SCOPE consists of a system integrating real toys, printed game grids, and a VR system that uses Augmented Reality to make your toys come to life before your eyes.
Gameplay takes place across a battlefield composed of both real and virtual objects, allowing the battlefield to be customized in any way imaginable, using any obstacles the players care to put into place. This can range from simple books, blocks, and random household objects to a complex terrain using miniatures such as trees and models buildings.
The VR system projects movement and target ranges onto the battlefield, and that information is displayed on SCOPE's VR goggles to the player that is making the move (but not the opposing player).
Now let's look at the system in action:
SCOPe recognizes the printed matter on the game piece, probably by using optical character and pattern recognition techniques. By focusing the targeting reticle on specific printed icons, the player gains access to menu items, weapons, attacks, camouflage, and other functions. Those items are highlighted in VR by the SCOPE system and projected onto the real object by the goggles.
The system also is able to recognize the opposing player's game piece, allowing for attacks and other functions.
When a new weapon is selected, that weapon is projected into position next to the chosen game avatar (in this case, a Legoman). multiple weapons are programmed into the system, each with its own range, damage, and attack type. Want to arm your Cthulu plush toy with a bazooka? No problem.
Once so armed, the range indicator is projected. The target must lie within the red area to be affected by the selected weapon.
Once in range, the player holds their targeting reticle on the opposing player's real-object avatar. After a short time to lock onto the target, the weapon fires.
Other functions, such as a shield (I think that's what this is) are also possible:
Movement on the battlefield is accomplished using a special "movement" tile. The player selects the movement option from the menu, moves the piece into place as indicated:
And then moves the large game piece. A ruler extends between the movement hex and the game piece, and shows in that way the movement range (the line turns red when the range is exceeded):
It is also possible to have pieces at differing heights.
---
This system, although somewhat clunky at the moment, has some serious gaming potential. "VR Command & Conquer" or "Final Fantasy Tactics VR"? Yes, please. I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one want. Badly.
There's no word when this could possibly hit the shelves, but the system seems sufficiently advanced for it to potentially be seen in stores in the next few years. Here's to hoping it hits the shelves as quickly as possible.
Augmented Reality for Ordinary Toys
Frantz Lasorne, a student at L'École de Design in France, has invented an ingenious way to breathe new life into old toys.
Lasorne's Scope display automatically recognizes ordinary toys that have been mounted onto platforms covered with hexagonal patterns. Viewed through the augmented reality display, these patterns become interactive buttons and can be used to make virtual modifications to the toy. As the video below shows, a Lego person can, for instance, be instantly armed with a giant virtual bazooka.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXIkOmXo1d8
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to SCOPE. We'll start with the basic concept (I'll spoiler all of this for ZOMGHUEGPOST):
SCOPE consists of a system integrating real toys, printed game grids, and a VR system that uses Augmented Reality to make your toys come to life before your eyes.
Gameplay takes place across a battlefield composed of both real and virtual objects, allowing the battlefield to be customized in any way imaginable, using any obstacles the players care to put into place. This can range from simple books, blocks, and random household objects to a complex terrain using miniatures such as trees and models buildings.
The VR system projects movement and target ranges onto the battlefield, and that information is displayed on SCOPE's VR goggles to the player that is making the move (but not the opposing player).
Now let's look at the system in action:
SCOPe recognizes the printed matter on the game piece, probably by using optical character and pattern recognition techniques. By focusing the targeting reticle on specific printed icons, the player gains access to menu items, weapons, attacks, camouflage, and other functions. Those items are highlighted in VR by the SCOPE system and projected onto the real object by the goggles.
The system also is able to recognize the opposing player's game piece, allowing for attacks and other functions.
When a new weapon is selected, that weapon is projected into position next to the chosen game avatar (in this case, a Legoman). multiple weapons are programmed into the system, each with its own range, damage, and attack type. Want to arm your Cthulu plush toy with a bazooka? No problem.
Once so armed, the range indicator is projected. The target must lie within the red area to be affected by the selected weapon.
Once in range, the player holds their targeting reticle on the opposing player's real-object avatar. After a short time to lock onto the target, the weapon fires.
Other functions, such as a shield (I think that's what this is) are also possible:
Movement on the battlefield is accomplished using a special "movement" tile. The player selects the movement option from the menu, moves the piece into place as indicated:
And then moves the large game piece. A ruler extends between the movement hex and the game piece, and shows in that way the movement range (the line turns red when the range is exceeded):
It is also possible to have pieces at differing heights.
---
This system, although somewhat clunky at the moment, has some serious gaming potential. "VR Command & Conquer" or "Final Fantasy Tactics VR"? Yes, please. I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one want. Badly.
There's no word when this could possibly hit the shelves, but the system seems sufficiently advanced for it to potentially be seen in stores in the next few years. Here's to hoping it hits the shelves as quickly as possible.
Occulus on
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKpiH0A1ONg&feature=channel_page
Another, longer video showing SCOPE gameplay possibilities (it's on Vimeo, which I don't know how to embed)
Sort of like that Warhammer table, with some crucial differences. One difference here is that you would be making your Warhammer movement and attack choices without the other player at the table knowing what you were doing. Another is the ability to apply augmented reality to the existing, physical game token.
I
Think of a Magic: the Gathering game, where the unique symbols for each summon, instant, sorcery, and so on actually come to life while you and your real-life opponent play, or a new Command & Conquer turn-based game.
Or Civilization. Or Diablo running on a packaged physical hex tileset, like in tabletop games, but in 3D; you walk around the table to view it from different angles. For example.
Better yet, think of using this system with your little plastic army men. We played that both "for real" and as a video game Once Upon A Time, and now, we can see it all in 3D on any terrain we can imagine (that idea, at least, actually works in the context of this prototype).
How else could this system be used? Could it be used for things beyond "just" games?
Edited to add: this obviously isn't pie-in-the-sky speculation; the hardware as demonstrated is the "Atari step". We'll move into the "NES step" and on up to the "PS3/360 step" soon enough. With enough speed and graphic power behind this (even if it needs a wireless connection to your video card), we could see augmented reality games appear from franchises we already know and love.
I want one, and I'm 34.
edit: It occurs to me that this would give the drinking game "quarters" a whole new dimension.
OOohh, it's the bestestest thing!
/barbie
Speaking of which, who among you didn't want a GI Joe to shoot a flamethrower at your sibling's Barbie when you were a kid? Or the other way around?
You can now, without making Mom mad or burning the house down.