Xbox 720 Going Outside The TV

[Wyank]

That Linkity Link

On Sunday Patently Apple detailed a Microsoft patent just recently published by the US Trademark and Patent Office that describes technology that would transform your entire living room into a game environment. The patent reads: “An immersive display environment is provided to a human user by projecting a peripheral image onto environmental surfaces around the user. The peripheral images serve as an extension to a primary image displayed on a primary display.”

Put another way: You’re playing a motion-controlled Gears of War. If you scan ahead for enemies, they might be taking cover behind broken walls not just on your TV but maybe to the right on your walls. You might be able to see an attack from the air on your ceiling. A locust soldier could sneak up behind you and you could literally turn around to face them.

[Inimicus]

And that's the definition of too far in my book.

Sounds like a HORRIBLE idea if you ask me. With no way to control or predict the environment the gamer will play in, if you expand the game beyond the screen you potentially create a massive disparity between players. A player in a dark 10x15 windowless home theater would have massive advantage over a player in a 20x35 great-room with a wall of windows and skylights.

I can see it now. Along with ESRB ratings the games will come with environmental requirements - AR - Suitable for all rooms; MLG- Game only playable in rooms specifically designed for XBox gaming.

[Wyank]

Yeah I'm not sure how I would like this either. Probably would be better just to develop a cheap good VR headset that works with the Xbox 720 instead for those that would even want that.

[Niner National]

That Linkity Link

Yeah this is the first thing that came to my mind.

My Xbox is in my bedroom and I have very dark blue walls. Nothing is going to project onto those very well.

[SZ James (banned)]

probably just patent trolling

[Inimicus]

Yeah I'm not sure how I would like this either. Probably would be better just to develop a cheap good VR headset that works with the Xbox 720 instead for those that would even want that.

Many years ago I ended up with one of those (at the time) bad ass VR rigs. Helmet that tracked head movement and managed to render 1024x786, flight stick in the right hand - throttle control in the left, and foot petals for rudder controls. I was unkillable in Mechwarrior and a game called Descent.

The problem was that it caused the most unbearable splitting headaches after about 2 hours of play. Something to do with the need to interlace the images to create a seamless image at that short of a viewing distance. With the two screens (one for each eye) only being 2 or 3 inches from your face they had to work some weird scheme where the right eye only saw the odd lines and the left eye the even ones and left it to your brain to stitch it all together. The result was it looked great but it was like wearing glasses that were the wrong prescription.

Its my understanding that they have not overcome that hurdle yet.

[Guild]

Descent was awesome and I can only imagine how playing it with that rig made it even more so.

[stankowalski]

Sounds like Microsoft is trying to patent LSD

[stankowalski]

Sounds like Microsoft is trying to patent LSD

[mmmbeans]

Sounds like Microsoft is trying to patent LLLLLSSSSSSDDDDDDDDD

[Guest Irv]

[SZ James (banned)]

BWOOOOOOOOOONG