Sony 3D Motion Controller with Webcam Wows E3

Video Games | PlayStation 3 | E3 09: PlayStation 3 Motion Controller

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Rick and Anton from the EyeToy development team showed off their new 3D 1:1 Motion Controller that integrates with a webcam (I would imagine the Playstation Eye).  To lots of applause, the demo goes through FPS demos, archery, fighting games as well as some fun casual games. Due to ship in Spring 2010 I will be waiting to see how this works and would love to try some of the demos.  Watching the demo I can’t stop thinking about the Motus Darwin I demo’s at last year’s Games for Health conference in Baltimore. Hmmmm? One report said that the Motion Controller does not require gyrometers or accelerometers but I will check and update this post.

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Motus Games Darwin 3D controller

Click here to see more information from E3 2009

Wii Fit Plus More Workout Modes

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Wii is already getting an update with the release of the unimaginative title Wii Fit Plus. The original has already sold almost 20 million units world wide so it’s no surprise that a new title would come out. Segway also makes its way into Wii – and you can bet that more people will ride the virtual Segway than will ever ride the real one. Skateboarding and Rhythm Kung Fu (Tae Bo?) also make their appearance as new games.

New Fitness and New Fun
Wii Fit™ attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and
balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available. Users will also be able to choose from specialized workout routines that focus on an individual’s personal fitness goals or certain target areas. And with the addition of activities like Skateboarding and Rhythm Kung Fu, players will be using the Wii Balance Board™ accessory in a variety of new and fun ways.
Features:
• Workouts combine the original Wii Fit activities and selections from 15 new balance games and six new strength training and yoga activities
• Users can input the amount of time they want to spend on their workouts or select an area for personal improvement, and Wii Fit Plus will suggest a number of diverse activities for them.
• For the first time, users can mix and match which strength and yoga activities they prefer on a given day. The seamless exercise flows make it easier than ever for users to maintain their daily workout routines.
• Users might be asked to run an obstacle course across a series of platforms, zoom across a beach on a Segway® x2 Personal Transporter or flap their arms to help their hilarious chicken-suited characters aim for targets.

• The range of games and customization options will make players want to play every day. They’ll be having so much fun that their workouts will seem to fly by in no time at all.
• Players also can see estimates of calories burned and can even activate a feature that lets them weigh their dogs or cats.
• Wii Fit Plus comes packaged with the Wii Balance Board accessory. For people who already own Wii Fit, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available for purchase separately.

Click here to see more information from E3 2009

Wii Vitality Sensor Take The Pulse of The Nation (E3 2009)

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At E3 in L.A., Nintendo unveiled their new health egame / fitness game/ health monitoring application. No big news about games, but I would guess this strategy will compliment the new Wii Fit Plus and future apps in Nintendo’s arsenal. It makes sense in terms of providing more health information to the user and if only the data was portable and secure enough to be put on an EHR (Electronic Health Record). BTW – Google and Microsoft are already really active in providing EHR solutions and it wouldn’t surprise me if Nintendo didn’t already have a network in place and providing vital information to health networks and providers.

Click here to see more information on the Wii Fit Plus

Click here to see more information from E3 2009

[Image Via Gizmodo, ]

Your Shape: Ubisoft Fitness Game via Motion Sensing Camera (Wii)

 

Not to be outdone by the MS Empire, Ubisoft announced their new motion sensing camera for the Wii called "Your Shape". 

Through use of the camera in conjunction with Your Shape, players' shapes will be recorded and a profile will be created specific to that player.

During workouts the game will give players real time, on-screen and vocal feedback in order to get the perfect workout. Players will also be able to choose any part of their body they would like to work out and then choose the type of regimen they need to work on toning, weight-loss, and other goals.

Your Shape, along with the motion sensing camera, will be available this fall for Wii.

Screenshots via Ubisoft

Project Natal: Controller-free Gaming Xbox 360 = Universal Design

Ricochet was the first sport/fitness game featured on the newly revealed E3 demo of Project Natal. Using full motion sensors that detect not only direction but force (similar to EyeToy Kinetic) the player is free to move all about using whatever body-part necessary to score as many points. Looks great because it will integrate with Xbox Live and allow you to watch movies without a remote and according to one game studio’s trial, there will be gesture, emotion, and voice recognition and some pretty powerful interactions with AI. Enter the Matrix, Holodeck, Minority Report….you name it. Movemement controlled interaction with no input device = priceless (not to mention battery-less).

Shake, Crank, or Squeeze to Play

In yet another example of using human power to play games, these 9 new environmentally-friendly toys from UK-based International Playthings

show how "the More You Play, The Less You Pay". Their new line Ecotronic has a Boombox, Duck, Microphone, Rocket, Phone, radios, flashlights, and a robot.

[Via Crave]