Here’s a idea I’ve been kicking around that maybe an iPhone developer out there might find useful. I was thinking about how racing games might be controlled on the iPhone and the most obvious answer is that you would tilt the iPhone from side to side like a steering wheel. However, when you do this it makes the game a little awkward to play because the screen and visual would tilt as well.
So, I got the idea that whenever the accelerometer detected horizontal tilting of the device, it would then rotate the visuals in the opposite direction to keep the game’s horizon line level with the player’s. This would make the iPhone feel more like a real steering wheel since the iPhone would appear to the player to turn independently of the game visuals. I’ve created the following video to demonstrate this concept.
My tax refund was starting to burn a small hole in my pocket so I picked up a Nintendo DS Lite yesterday. I had owned an original DS for a few years but I eventually donated it to my nephew. I’ve wanted a DS Lite ever since then but never enough to actually go out and buy one. Now they sell a slick looking red model called the “Crimson Black” which is the one I ended up buying. It’s very stylish. At first, I thought it was almost too small and I had some trouble holding it comfortably. Once I adjusted to it, I found I actually prefer it. The screen is simply incredible. I knew it would be brighter than the original DS but until you actually see it, you don’t realize just how much. I’ve started compiling a list of DS games I’ve missed out on over the past few years that I’m eagerly wanting to try. I may look into a GameFly account as there isn’t a better way to rent DS games around here that I know of.
Speaking of DS games, the other thing that convinced me to pick up the system was Seth sending me SMS messages about how fun the new Pokemon Diamond and Pearl is. At first, I figured he just wanted someone to trade pokemon with. However, after I got the game I have to admit it is rather addictive. I had tried playing the Gameboy Advance version of Pokemon once but I never could get into it. This new Diamond version on the other hand is really pulling me in. Granted, the RPG aspects do feel dated and the game is geared more towards kids than your average game but I can overlook these issues and simply enjoy it for what it is: a fun battle/collection game. It is rare to find an RPG where you actually look forward to random battles. What’s more, this game features a slew of Internet enabled features such as online trading, online battling and more. It even supports voice chat which is very impressive for a handheld gaming system. I’m looking forward to trying these features out.
Microsoft has released the Fall 2007 Dashboard Update for the Xbox 360 which brings with it a set of great new features. One interesting new feature is the ability to attach detailed personal information to your Live profile including your real name, location and even a short biography. Clearly Microsoft is looking to turn live into more of a social network than it already is.
When I saw this, it got me thinking… what is the next logical step? I started to think about other kinds of content you could attach to your profile like a personal photo gallery and such and then it hit me like a bolt of thunder. What Microsoft should add to the next Dashboard update is a universal, system wide screenshot taking ability!
Imagine, for example, that you’re playing a game. You press the Xbox button on your controller and out slides your normal Personal blade on the left. One new option could be “Take Screenshot”. Pressing this would close the blade and immediately snap a high-res, digital perfect screenshot of whatever happens to be on the screen at that moment. This image is saved to your hard drive (or MU) and is later uploaded to a file space hosted on Microsoft’s servers as part of your Live subscription fee.
Now, the next time you’re in the Dashboard and you’re viewing someone’s Live profile there could be a new option called “Screenshot Gallery”. Clicking this would allow you to view all of the screenshots that person has taken in full screen, high-definition glory. Furthermore, those same screenshots could also appear on the web as part of your profile on xbox.com making sharing memorable game moments, tips, and secrets with your friends both inside and outside of the Xbox Live network a breeze. Hell, even game reviewers would find such a feature a boon when they need to quickly capture screens for game reviews. It would be a killer feature.
Now, I realize Halo 3 already does this in its Theater mode but why limit ourselves to relying on the game developers to incorporate this kind of functionality? Microsoft should go a step further and simply make taking screenshots a core feature of the 360’s Dashboard and underlying OS so that it works with EVERY game! You know they have the ability to do this and along with the recent changes they’ve made behind the scenes to allow games like Halo 3 to support network file storing, the technology is already in place.
My pre-order of Mass Effect Limited Collector’s Edition (and accompaning bonus DVD) arrived today and now I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the evening lost in a futuristic, sci-fi epic. Seth is dropping by later to check it out. Here’s hoping it lives up to my expectations!
I’ve been a console gamer for over twenty years now and I must admit that 2007 has been a particularly great year to be a gamer. There have been more fantastic games released in this one year than any other I can remember. So many in fact that I’ve had to actually adjust my finances from time to time in order to pick up everything I want to play. This month alone has been flooded with a slew of critically acclaimed titles.
Looking back, it all started in Februrary with the releases of both Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii and the super addictive Crackdown for the Xbox 360 which were both released on the same day. Crackdown in particular I played for months following its release. March broght Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the 360 which was so much fun I went back and got the original. That game was followed in the same month by the Shivering Isles expansion pack for Oblivion which rekindled my year long addiction to that role playing game for several more months. Damn you, Bethesda! Read on for how the year only got even more exciting for this serious gamer.
This blog covers the life and pastimes of a modest web developer and damn proud geek who goes by the handle "ckohler". A long time Internet user, he's into video games, movies, computers and technology so expect to see a lot of that here. Just don't expect a lot of excitement. He lives a modest, mundane but otherwise rewarding existence.
