Augmented Zombies & Skittles
June 17, 2009
My next post about game-asset-inspired real objects is being kept in the drafts yet, but I will post it sometime soon. Hmmm, define “soon”…
Yesterday Ricardo pointed out this video to me, which seems to be an evolution of the Invisible Train from the Graz University of Technology (TUI). The TUI Graz seems also to be involved into this mobile, augmented zombie goodness. And you can use Skittles. Not any other colored spherical objects, Skittles. Sponsoring deal, anyone?
Without further addue, here is the video of Arhrrrr from the Augmented Environments Lab of Georgia Tech.
Zeemote? Seriously…
June 4, 2009
In late 2006 I began working on the Gauntlet. I remember when, back then, I came to know about the upcoming Nintendo Revolution controller – nowadays known to children, adults, seniors, hardcore and casual gamers alike as the Wiimote.
I still have to accept the fact that I will never beat the Japanese to a great idea, although I get to be constantly reminded of that fact. For instance, by Ichiro Katsumoto’s Amagatana. But hey, this seriously rocks! I can say at the very least that I was happy to play with it and to say hi to the man himself. As I will hopefully be when wielding a sword in Red Steel 2 using the Wii Motion Plus, when it comes out later this year.
Amagatana by Yuichiro Katsumoto
Red Steel 2 swordplay using Wii Motion Plus, via IGN
Where is my Sheep?
April 7, 2009
News about Wolves and Sheep (WAS now, for short)!
Taking the footage that Dolo Piqueras so patiently shot during Ars Electronica 08, Thomas put together a really fun video of WAS. The video was uploaded on Vimeo, hopefully we’ll have it on Youtube too!
]Noon V2.0 video in the works
March 31, 2009
It’s been a long time since I posted the original video from Noon. It is made up from very bad footage I hurriedly shot during the exhibition at the Campus 2.0 Exhibition during Ars Electronica Festival 2007.
As new version of Noon has been produced and shown at the Long Night of Research, or whatever it’s called – in German it’s Lange Nacht der Forschung and the homepage seems not to have any info whatsoever about Linz.
Anyway, this new version uses a projector and loudspeakers for audiovisual output, a smaller Gauntlet interface and some proper candlestands. So finally I took some time to shoot some footage of it and in a couple of weeks it should be assembled together with a moody soundtrack made by yours truly. This should be an improved version of what is heard throughout the original video.
Many thanks to Lisa for being my model! Besides having made the perfect choice of clothes from your wardrobe, you make everything look prettier 🙂
Once more, (always) with feeling!
March 22, 2009
Third time is the charm. Or so they say.
So we got the camera rolling and shot some footage to assemble a documental video of Headbang Hero
Featuring (free!) music from Kevin MacLeod and Slow Death Factory!
Coming to an Open House not so near you…
March 8, 2009
…are the highly popular (coughs) Headbang Hero and a revised, trimmed-down version of Wolves and Sheep. Why trimmed-down? Well for starters we have only got two phones for running it and also the tangible map table is getting ditched this time for a traditional screen-and-mouse setup.
With all the attention these require – and I was stubborn enough to write an A* algorithm from scratch for WaS – plus giving a course on C++ and OpenFrameworks and the inescapable project for 80+1 what is left of me, I ask, to sit down and read the numerous books I ordered?
I like having work to do, even if most of it are projects and not income sources, but I’m once again way over my head. What happens to the PhD then? And A Red Fable? And I’m sure I’m forgetting something… my health maybe?
Wait, it’s Sunday, let’s not think about that now… I gotta go clean the bathroom, it’s my turn 
Headbang Hero at Dorkbot Linz
March 3, 2009
What a great evening! I guess these Dorkbot meetings should happen more often. Big thanks to Mika Satomi and let’s see if we can keep the spirit alive.
Here you can see Headbang Hero, but you should have seen the other projects… 🙂
Game Objects I
March 1, 2009
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In line with the previous post, let me attempt to start a small catalogue of real-life objects in which we may perceive influences of video games. This is the first attempt and let’s see if I can keep it up. Since my research interests lie in this direction I can only benefit from pinning down references to these manifestations of gaming culture.
An Aspect of Videogame Influence in Real-life
March 1, 2009
“There are already various forms of pervasive games. One approach is to reinterpret classic computer games, mapping them onto real-world settings” – Benford et al. Bridging the Physical and Digital in Pervasive Gaming
Taking a classic video game and transforming it into a mixed-reality/ubiquitous game is a popular approach in research as Benford et al. have pointed out. A good (and now almost classical) example of this would be Human Pacman by the Mixed Reality Lab Singapore. Other good examples abound, such as ARQuake (which interestingly enough has it’s own Wikipedia page) and PacLan.
It is interesting to see how this conception is also present in TV game shows, comedy sketches and even Art. A few examples follow.
Headbang Hero Revealed!
February 8, 2009
I am happy to announce my latest project together with Andreas Zingerle and Ricardo Nascimento… Headbang Hero.
Details will follow but let’s say (at least for now) that it’s a tribute of sorts the headbanger culture and also to the whole Guitar Hero phenomenon, as both come together to provide high-scores and nasty neck injuries galore!
And the first time in history that a wig is used as a wearable game controller 😉
Update: thanks to Owen Good from Kotaku for bringing news of our headbang-goodness to the masses!
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