When the Wii was first codenamed, Revolution, many expected this fantasy type console. I mean with that name, your imagination can to extents unknown. Of course when the Wii finally was unveiled in full, I’m sure many people’s first dreams of what it would be probably wasn’t the outcome. The wiimote though was still nice touch in revolutionizing the gaming world.
Recently, some guy on youtube has shown how its possible to use the Wii to head track. Obviously, he hasn’t been the only one thinking this. We knew that Speilberg’s upcoming Wii game, would be one for the record books, but that would be an understatement. Revealed at GDC today, an easter egg in the game would be head tracking. Here’s the IGN article in full for the best explanation of what’s going on:
You may have seen the tech demos floating around the Internets demonstrating head tracking on the Wii. The concept reverses the typical Wii Remote and sensor bar setup so that the sensor’s infrared lights are in control of the player and allows for a 3D camera to be manipulated by the user’s movement. Until now the technology had not been used in a licensed Wii game.
During a session given by Electronic Arts discussing the development of Boom Blox at the Game Developers Conference today it was revealed that head tracking will be included in the game as a hidden Easter Egg. A video demonstration was shown in which a brick structure was exploded and then paused. The player was able to move around the event in 3D and get an up-close look at the destruction.
Boom Blox players will be able to use any method they choose to control the head tracking. All that is needed are two infrared light sources in their hands or on their head. This can be accomplished by holding two Wii Remotes, or they could wear common safety glasses equipped with lights.
Boom Blox ships in May.
Here’s a video as well:
Now that is fricking sweet. This is something we’ve wanted to see out of the Revolution. This is the magic that we first saw out of the Nintendo ON videos. And now that finally a dev is licensing it, even jsut for something small, it opens the gates for numerous other ideas. Imagine using this kinda tech in an FPS on the Wii. No more camera issues, as some have complained about, as with this and the wiimote, would be unlike any experience ever created. This opens the floodgates, and I hope, that more devs investigate into this technology that is only made possible on the Wii.
Its just interesting how it works. I’m guessing when you do one of the stages it gives like a theater type mode and use your head to go all around the stage and look at numerous different angles. MIght possibly used also for creating custom stages.
I just hope there’s more explanation on how to do it, cause I’m not good with all this tech stuff haha.
HALOJUNKY117 wrote:
I don’t see what’s so great, honestly.
Of course you wouldn’t haha. I’m sure your still more worried about how great the water is in Gears 2 or something like that. Ya know the things that are unimportant. Something actually fascinating isn’t good for you.
I mean this kinda thing could be huge in games. Immersing yourself even more into the game.
Zucas wrote:
Oh and for people who are wondering how head tracking works on the Wii, check out the guy who started the craze, and probably helped EA implement it.
OIC
And that guy didn’t start it. =/
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This is why it was codenamed “revolution” and this is why I was pissed when they changed the name to the wii. Welcome to the future of gaming... leave it to a movie director to incorporate something like this into a game this early in the consoles life. Way to go Speilberg!
