610°

IllumiRoom Projects Images Beyond Your TV for an Immersive Gaming Experience

IllumiRoom is a proof-of-concept Microsoft Research project designed to push the boundary of living room immersive entertainment by blending our virtual and physical worlds with projected visualizations. The effects in the video are rendered in real time and are captured live -- not special effects added in post processing.

Old McGroin4141d ago

My first thought when I saw this video was "Holy Crap!". But I think we've all been stung by concept videos in the past so gonna reserve judgement. Still, the idea has a lot of potential.

4141d ago Replies(23)
Outside_ofthe_Box4141d ago

As of right now it's definitely a very impressive concept. Hopefully they'll be able to pull it off. The next step in increasing immersion.

EddieNX 4141d ago

But I thought all hardcore gamers liked to sit down with a controller with no ''gimmiks'' when they got home from work ?

They all change their tune - This thing is like the biggest gimmik ever. It may be fun who knows..

Tr10wn4141d ago

it look fun to me and i got the perfect wall for this.

-Alpha4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Thought this was funny:

http://i998.photobucket.com...

The next step.

Outside_ofthe_Box4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

@Kingofwiiu

Personally I don't see this as any more of a "gimmick" than installing surround sound speakers in your living room. And this can be applied to hardcore games no problem unlike motion controls which we have yet to see a GREAT hardcore game that only uses motion controls. Hopefully next gen we'll finally see one.

I also see it(along with motion controls) as the foundation for technology of the future. This quote from another article sums up my feelings about it pretty well:

http://n4g.com/news/1150374...

@Alpha

lol

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4141d ago
fr0sty4141d ago

OK, for the first time, Microsoft, you've shown me a way to use kinect that I like. I do professional video projection mapping for a living, so to see it and video gaming seamlessly integrate like this is actually really cool. As others have said, however, I'll reserve judgment until I can see this thing in use. I also would like to see more innovative uses other than a limited "wider screen". My second concern would be cost vs. brightness. A good bright projector doesn't come cheap. Toss in a Kinect and an Xbox on top of that... and I can see where these rumors of having to sign up for 2 year service plans of Xbox live to afford the console come from. That doesn't even take the kinect glasses into consideration either.

I'd rather just have VR, but to it's defense it does enable more immersion without the headgear.

doogiebear4141d ago

U have any idea's as to how this can breathe fresh air into the gaming scene? I mean: how can this product introduce new ways of playing games (other than a mere gimmick of an extended width of the tv screen's parameters)

kneon4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Until we aLl start gaming in uncluttered, light colored rooms then this sort of thing is just going to add useless gimicky effects to the game.

They can't project anything useful off the screen because there is no guarantee that it will be visible. If there is a door or window or some dark furniture you won't see the image well enough to be useful.

Wigriff4141d ago

What you are saying, concerning the room dedicated specifically for gaming, doesn't seem viable either. First off, someone would have to own a house with a spare room that they could dedicate for gaming. Then you would have to probably limit seating to 1 chair or small sofa for the gamer. What else would you be able to have in there? Where would drinks, snacks, or even your cellphone sit?

I think the solution to the problem would end up being better spacial detection so that the device CAN properly adjust to your surroundings, instead of expecting the gamer to adapt their surroundings to the device. Regardless, this sort of innovation probably won't be fully realized anytime soon.

Maybe some real creative companies could figure out how to use this current innovation to do some spectacular and unexpected things, though. Or... maybe it will just end up being a novelty, like you suspect. *shrug*

kneon4141d ago

I didn't mean to imply this was a viable solution, it's not at all viable. Ideally you would need no furniture, windows or doors anywhere forward of where you are sitting and have white or very light colored walls.

As for adapting to the room that could be done in some cases but you could still never guarantee that what needs to be displayed can be displayed properly. So because of this it's only extra special effects that are worth doing with this tech.

Abdou234141d ago

The first( Project Natal ) concept videos come to mind instantly when watching this, but for this idea to work best the area around the TV should be blank white wall.

Games4M - Rob4141d ago

That was exactly what I thought, and we all know what a crock of bullshit that turned out to be.

majiebeast4141d ago

More smoke and mirrors by microsoft all their concept video's are fake remember the natal 1 yeah same as this.

chrispseuphoria4141d ago

Yeah, talking to characters within games would have been cool. Think of the Milo demo but within a world like Skyrim or Fallout. That would be insanely immersive - much more than this projection technology, I can tell you.

wishingW3L4140d ago (Edited 4140d ago )

I was going to write a similar comment because seriously why is that people are so naive all the time as to fall for these kind of stuff? You can bet that IllumiRoom will be nothing like this vid and most of it looks totally fake.

Anon19744141d ago

That looks really cool. I'd setup a cheap projector with a TV for this. Looks perfect for a basement, den setup without a lot of competing light.

Megaton4141d ago

My first thought was of the kid uploading his skateboard, or Milo.

chukamachine4141d ago

Are you kidding?

Potential to do what. Dance in your frontroom.

Just put up a discolight, another awful gimmick.

OMFG Microsoft are becoming Nintendo.

miDnIghtEr20C_SfF4141d ago

this thing looks like it could be really awesome if it works like that. i'd love to play COD, BF, Halo, Gears, Madden, 2K Basketball, Batman and all the rest in those modes. that's just awesome looking. love the time we're living in.

Oh_Yeah4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

This is going to cause seizures on an epidemic level..That was my first thought.

monkpunk14141d ago

OMG, it's like having an epileptic fit whilst holding flashlights in your living room! Either that or it will bring on more seizures!

4141d ago
mcstorm4141d ago

I really do wish the Fan boys ect would just give it a rest. This Is this site full of kids? Sony has an idea and MS has an idea get over it. Everyone has there own vision for products that are the same.

This looks a really good idea and if MS can pull it off with there next gen console it would be impressive but I don't see it being done for next gen consoles.

I said when Kinect came out that this was just the start of what the device can do and ech version that comes out will offer more and more and I think over the next 10 years we will see some good changes in the device.

Looks a good idea by MS and will be interesting to see where it goes.

Really like a lot of stuff Microsoft are doing in terms of hardware and software. MS now need to get there products pushed onto the public to get there ideas selling.

Jaces4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Seems neat but I found myself being constantly distracted by the surrounding projections taking place, don't know if I'd be able to concentrate on the game when I have stars whizzing by my head.

I don't know though, it's only a concept vid so it's hard to judge exactly what it'll be like. Cool idea though.

TekoIie4141d ago

Depends on how its incorporated to be honest.

I mean wouldnt it be badass if your playing dead space and walking down a corridor. A light is shining behind you and a necromorph walks in fronnt of that life and and IllumiRoom will display the shadow!!! That IMO would be freaking terrifying seeing a shadow in the room and for minute thinking "dafuq's that?"... And insanity ensues!

Thats a way it could be incorporated well :)

morkendo234141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Is microsoft serious???? with this crap. projected images??? if they think for one minute this will beat ps4 offering they mise well pick up their final check now. thought this thing had excitement to intice me to the DARK SIDE of the force. jadi knight will reign supreme (ps4)

4140d ago
3-4-54140d ago

be cautious....

Remember all the Cool commericials in the 90's and how when you got the Toy or Game it was nothing like in the commercial.

This could be like that.

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 4140d ago
Cocozero4141d ago

Xbox 720 will certainly be something special

pandaboy4141d ago

yep, RIP ps4 unfortunately.

DEATHSTROKE-cro-4141d ago

yeah, maybe it will have more than 3 games and not just Halo, Gears and Forza XD

at least I know Guerrilla Games (Killzone), Sucker Punch (inFamous), Media Molecule (LBP), Santa Monica (GOW) are having 2 teams and one of them is making new IP. and on top of that, we, PS4 owners, will get sequels to already great games on PS3.

000014141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

cool idea non the less, this is the concept i believe for the kinect and Augmented Reality glasses that were in those leaked xbox720 documents discussed with having plans for this tech to launch in 2014.

pixelsword4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

I thought we hated wearing glasses... ;)

At any rate, it looks nice to play; a 3d type of thing I guess.

000014141d ago

it may have changed since you notice neither one of the demo actor/actress wore glasses lol, who knows

konnerbllb4141d ago

Projector behind the player

pixelsword4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Yeah, I noticed them not wearing glasses; I also noticed they didn't show exactly where that image is coming from, or where the console was, either :D

We're assuming it's a projector when they didn't show a projector or an image coming from the back. Is the projector a part of the console, or kinect, or an independent part from both? How will the image carry over to the projector while the disc is in the console?

You have to assume the scanner is at least on your face (impressive if it is), and at the most behind you to scan in front of you, so does kinect now have to be in the back? How does the projector get the image from the xbox? will there be lag between the two like kinect's lag?

It's just that concept and final product may have many differences, so I'm not writing off the glasses or projected image as of yet.

Rainstorm814141d ago

A projector to augment your surroundings?? My first question would be cost, this seems like it would be at least the price of Kinect ifself

3GenGames4141d ago (Edited 4141d ago )

Projector bulbs are the price of Kinect it's self, you can expect this to be a pretty expensive add-on.

Double_Oh_Snap4141d ago

Very cool, and probably a pretty penny as well.

Show all comments (138)
290°

More Job Losses At Xbox, “There’s More To Come”: Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott in a recent episode commented on the on-going Microsoft fiasco hinting at more job losses and that "there's more to come".

Read Full Story >>
spieltimes.com
Sonic18811d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future . Xbox has to pay Microsoft back. It might take two decades to do that.

sagapo1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

I don’t understand what you’re saying. Xbox IS microsoft so there’s no “paying back “.
And MS gross profit in 2023 was over 140 billion dollars so forget your 2 decades.

Unless you mean the money MS invested in Xbox (acquisitions included) and the time it will take for xbox as a brand to gain that money back on it’s own, then yeah, that could take a while.

romulus231d 3h ago

The better term to use might be return on investment, xbox is simply a division of Microsoft one that MS can easily do away with if profit margins are not met. So in that regard he's right, if xbox isn't showing the expected return on investment the higher ups are expecting than it's unlikely Microsoft will acquire any other studios any time soon, especially if they are spending billions buying developers just to shut them down in the end.

MrBaskerville20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

Xbox is a division that they discussed shutting down but doubled down on after Gamepass was pitched.

It needs to make money at some point. Big money.

rokos18h ago

According to Statista the net income of Microsoft is about $72.4 billion dollars which is a bit lower than last year profit. That is almost as much as Activision's acquisition but I assume that would be a one off since it costs so much plus I see how their focus has been shifted to AI, thus any major future investments will probably be in that area.

Markusb3317h ago

i think you are really missing the point

VariantAEC8h ago

@romulus23
That is not why MS buys studios. They might continue to buy because it's about taking that sweet sweet IP out of the corporate husks of their acquisitions.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 8h ago
SonyStyled1d 9h ago

“There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future”

No bro, there do be is for Microsoft not acquiring for what is now if not what it be is 😂

1d 7h ago Replies(2)
ChasterMies21h ago

Xbox isn’t a separate company from Microsoft. It’s all Microsoft.

Abear2116h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Let’s be real, this is the media spinning all the acquisitions and liquidations of said developers and spinning it to make M$ the villain.

This was bound to happen, a bigger slice of pie and cut costs, when the games come they stand to make more and that’s their agenda—it was the writing on the wall when the sales went through and legally all those who approved the sale and mergers knew this would happen.

Snowflakes need to realize business is ugly and you can cry all you want but this is how capitalism works. And it works.

That said, M$ needs to steer the narrative and grab hold of all this, make their plans known, hype the hell out of all those dead IP’s they plan to revive, and be honest about the timeline. This is likely to involve mobile and IP on other consoles, and most people realize that.

The problem is this company is incapable of being transparent and seems to often want to dissuade and confuse is customer base. The lack of E3 has hurt Microsoft and I don’t think they know how to properly or effectively market their brand anymore.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 8h ago
jwillj2k41d 13h ago

There really needs to be a class action lawsuit here. You buy these companies just to put people out of jobs. And it’s not like something happened to derail their plans this WAS the plan. Microsoft has no business in this space at all.

franwex1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Microsoft has been doing this for years. They simply want the IPs. Look at Nokia. Look at Skype. This time it simply expanded to games. Gaming is not as important to Microsoft’s executives as it was to the founders too. Bill Gates was willing to sell the og Xbox at a loss. Steve Balmer approved the red ring of death fiasco. This CEO isn’t really a gamer.

-Foxtrot1d 12h ago

Maybe it's time though to put a stop to it and use a big giant like Microsoft as a huge example to the rest of these big companies.

There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

People like the FTC and the like went against Microsoft yet their Actvision deal was still allowed to go through yet look what's happened...it's not even Acitivisions studios aswell, it's Bethesdas.

VariantAEC8h ago

Years?

Try several decades, and in the gaming space 2.3 decades.

Jon6158616h ago

You do realize this happens in ALL industries? Or are you just saying this because it is Microsoft? In any case I feel for those that are being let go but the trch industry is suffering right now.

jwillj2k412h ago(Edited 12h ago)

This absolutely does NOT happen all the time. Let me know the last time 1 company with a terrible product track record spent 100 billion onto acquire MULTIPLE successful companies in under a year only to shut them down and stop making their products regardless of how successful they were. Not merge them, completely shut them down.

And you can’t use Microsoft in your example.

Notellin12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

Class action lawsuit? The law is on their side and protects them at all costs. There are no rules to protect the people at the bottom.

jwillj2k412h ago

Not true when it comes to mass layoff do your research.

RNTody1d 12h ago

Ninja Theory, Perfect Dark, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Wolfenstein 3, Dishonored, Prey, Doom, Quake... something tells me that bad things are going to happen to these entities under Microsoft.

MrDead1d 2h ago

ID software, the makers of Doom and Wolfenstein that have been with us since 1991 could be gone and MS will keep the IPs.

I hope some of these studios can buy their freedom from MS otherwise this is going to be even more devastating for the industry and gamers.

Yui_Suzumiya23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

That's exactly what I'm worried about. I've been a fan of id since Wolfenstein 3D and I'm honestly afraid.

lodossrage19h ago

Toys for Bob saw the writing on the wall and bought themselves out.

Wouldn't be the first time a company did that under MS either. Bungie and Twisted Pixel did the same. Considering what just happened, I can see some other devs trying to buy themselves out too.

anast1d 11h ago

Good thing the bosses of all those small studios made their money.

glenn19791d 11h ago

they cant do it right now they will get burned

XiNatsuDragnel1d 3h ago

Phil and his team need to be gone

lodossrage19h ago(Edited 19h ago)

Won't make a difference.

The whole structure needs to be overhauled. Anyone that replaces Phil will be no different than him, Mattrick, or anyone else.

Until the company changes how they go about business, nothing will change

glenn197916h ago

I just don't have any idea what they would do , they have done sooo much damage on their xbox brand, they have a show at July or June I think, but will it even matter even they show amazing games, idkn

lodossrage19h ago

True,

But they may as well get it over with. Whether it happens now or later, the burning is going to hit the same.

Reality is the ONE move that can alleviate a lot of this is the one move they can't make. Remove day 1 from gamepass.

Show all comments (68)
90°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead3d ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel3d ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

Show all comments (7)
210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel3d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow3d ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo1822d ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie2d ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

1d 22h ago
Hereandthere1d 18h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 18h ago
Notellin1d 23h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

1d 22h ago
Hereandthere1d 18h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

ApocalypseShadow1d 4h ago

Lying to yourself is unbecoming.

Article link tells you all you need to know in Sarah Bond's own words.

Hereandthere1d 18h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

ApocalypseShadow1d 4h ago

At least you and others get it. Note drank the Kool aid and asked for seconds thinking it was refreshing.

Most don't even know how it all played out but it's there in black and white for all to see. Microsoft brought it up for years until the MLB forced Sony's hand. It was a win win for Microsoft. Kill one reason to buy a PlayStation or kill the game by dropping it in a cheap service to kill Sony's sales numbers on PlayStation.

OtterX2d ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

Cockney23h ago

They chose well, Sony gave them the backing to pursue their dreams with no restrictions even tho their games especially dreams have very niche appeal. Media molecule and Sony deserve respect for this in an age of risk averse publishing.

RNTody2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno2d ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Inverno2d ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

1d 22h ago
fsfsxii1d 23h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno1d 22h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

Show all comments (29)