May 2008

This could be interesting. Prime Sense, an Israeli company, have come up with a device that “allows a computer to perceive the world in 3D and derive an understanding of the world based on sight, just the way humans do”.

The device includes a sensor, which sees a user (including their complete surroundings), and a digital component, or “brain” which learns and understands user movement within those surroundings.

Prime Sense’s interactive device can see, track and react to user movements outside the computer, all without change of environment or wearable equipment for the end user. The closed device is plug and play and platform independent.

As some observers have pointed out, this sounds much like the Wii controller, but with the added ability of being able to, for instance, hide behind objects, or serve a tennis ball by using a traditional, thrown over your shoulder, serve.

I’d be intrigued to see this in action. The user doesn’t have to wear any kind of device - all the motion is detected by the sensor. I’d also be interested to see how it copes with secondary movement, i.e. what happens if you scratch your nose during a simulated game?

Here’s another one of those deceptively simple looking games. Docking Simulator by Michael Trigoboff, Ph.D lets you try your hand at, well, docking!

Be warned - have a couple of hours spare before you click on the link!

I originally thought this must be some kind of April Fool’s joke, but it seems to be legitimate!

Mastiff Games are to release an eating simulator for the Nintendo Wii under the title “Major League Eating - The Game”!

Developed under exclusive license from from Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating, Major League Eating: The Game features the world’s greatest gurgitory athletes competing across twelve different food types.

Built much like a fighting game, MLE: The Game requires players to show brilliant on-screen eating; a mastery of offensive and defensive weapons including burps, belches, and mustard gas; and of course the technical mastery necessary to avoid emptying one’s stomach in a vividly colored reversal of fortune.

And yes, I also thought there could no such thing as the “Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating”, but see this web site!

I recently found this pretty impressive Java based facial expression simulator:

It’s very realistic and surprisingly addictive to play around with. I think it’s been around for quite some time, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it.

Following on from my earlier post about EA Land - The Sims Online, the service is to close on August 1st, 2008. I assumed there were problems, as the service was getting progressively worse, but this will be a major disappointment to anyone who’s invested some time with it.

The official reason appears to be “The lifetime of the game has drawn to an end, and now we will be focusing on new ideas and other innovative concepts in the games arena.”.

See Techcrunch for further details.