Oh Dear Lord

I assume that since you each have a pulse, you're aware of this World of Warcraft thing that's been going around? I'm also rather sure that you know of Google Maps. Well, here's another way that virtual worlds are catching up to the real one. Google Azeroth. It's an online map utility like Google Maps, but it maps the online world of WoW.

Wow.

This may be a portent of the end times, but I'm not sure.

-Leo

Tangent

Ok, this is only vaguely related to interactive communication.

I figure, "commercial based on video game is good enough". It's related to the cross-platform sandbox game named Grand Theft Auto. It is a very good Coca-Cola ad.

Enjoy.

-Leo (I remembered this time)

Blogger is annoying the hell out of me. I have finally logged in though.

More news for nerds! (Not that nerds wouldn't know about all this stuff already).

We just got through a presentation of the interaction of an online mystery-type game. It looked very cool, and I loved the visual style of the particular game presented, but "Mystery/Adventure" is by no means an unpopulated genre.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers the old King's Quest series? They pretty much pioneered the idea in a graphical context (older games like them surely exist, but were mostly text based). More recent examples (though not current, we're talking 1995 here) include Full Throttle and Grim Fandango. The idea in this kind of game is that exploring the world is itself the game. You usually have some sort of goal to strive for, but the idea is always to see what you can find and do.

If you extend the definition a bit to include console-based Survival/Adventure games, then series like Silent Hill and the original Resident Evil are obvious fits.

Finally, there are a number of current, on-line variations of the exploration game (see Scott's post below for links)

EDIT: -Leo

Those oh so snappy web puzzle games!

Hey there folks.

As was discussed today in class, there are some spiffy web games out there created for the sole purpose of destroying your free time and parts of your sanity...

Let's get at 'em!

Crimson Room
Viridian Room
White Chamber

Mystery of Time and Space

Eyemaze

There are a lot of other really fun puzzle games out there that are just bits of stand alone software...but Leo is posting those...


Cheers,
Scott

This is broken!

The website that explores design that really needs help.

Tech Digest

European news and grooves on all of the latest tech toys and tools and trends, worth checking often.

Game Interactions Follow-Up

Hey guys, it's the resident game nerd again.

Who's heard of Elite Beat Agents? Or perhaps it's Japanese counterpart, Ouendan? Basically, it's a rhythm game for the Nintendo DS. The idea is that points pop up on screen, and the player needs to rhythmically click them in the right order in order to continue. Here's some screenshots. And a movie, if you feel like it.

Well, anyway, I found an application called "ClickBeat", which is basically the same thing, but free and for the PC. If you want to try it, now you can.

For those who don't know, the DS is another one of those systems that has been experimenting with alternative control schemes.

In this case it's the stylus present in some PDAs, but the DS also retains the traditional directional pad (D-Pad) and buttons.

Edit: -Leo

Interactions (yay!)

Ok, so I'm in Safari this time, which means I can't use JScript tag buttons for some reason. I hope my code-fu is still strong.

Not sure if we were supposed to post stuff relating to last class, but I have decided to regardless. For starters, my interaction was Donkey Konga 2 in conjunction with the Bongo peripheral. It impressed me because it was a very large step away from abstract control schemes usually used in videogames. To my knowledge, only three games in North America ever have used the Bongo peripheral (Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2 and DK: Jungle Beat). The idea of direct control is being explored further as of late though; anyone who's been to Sega City has seen their skiing simulations, and Virtual On machines (there was also a virtual hang-glider there last I saw, though I can't find a pic of that). I'm sure you've all also heard of the Wii, which is bringing these immersive experiences into the home.
This departure from the traditional control methods has been a long time coming, and I for one am glad it's happening. Looks like living in interesting times isn't all bad.

(NOTE: The third pic there is of a Steel Battalion controller. It looks like an extended joystick. The reason I mention it is that it's a custom 21 button rig complete with pedals (not pictured) designed to work with a giant robot simulation game where the player takes on the role of the pilot. The control console seen in game is identical to the joystick array in the picture.)

Of the other presentations, I was most impressed by the LG mp3 player, and the "First Generation iPhone" (which I don't have a link for).

With the videogame theme clearly established, I think I should go out on this note.

Enjoy.

EDIT: Ok, so I'm an idiot. I thought Blogger used BoardScript, and not standard HTML. It's fixed now.

EDIT 2: Forgot about the sig, since I have an ambiguous handle. This has been Leo Zovic, nerding it up so you don't have to.

Could it be possible we have a star in our midst!

So it appears that our very own Martha Ladly has endured the lifestyle of
the supposed rock star theme from the 80's. Dating back to when new
age electronica was energizing itself out into the mainstream cultures
of our modern society.

It is my pleasure to introduce
to you all.....(M + M)MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS..!

a little google search leads us to the now
YouTubed video of Echo Beach where our
star performer professor can be seen
rocking it out on the sythensized keyboard.

Huggies Commercial

My first post of the year. Lets begin with a commercial that will make us all smile.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1634080236991069042

Class Snap~

Hi Class~

To celebrate the first post on the blog,
I've decided to post a snapshot of the class.

Click >HERE< to see class blog from last semester Greg's class.

This is Ed from Ad.

Parkour

Parkour (IPA: [paʁ.'kuʁ], often abbreviated PK) is a physical discipline of French origin in which the participant — called a traceur (/tʁa.'sœʁ/) — attempts to pass obstacles in the fastest and most direct manner possible, using skills such as jumping, vaulting and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves. The obstacles can be anything in the environment, so parkour is often practiced in urban areas because of many suitable public structures, such as buildings, rails, and walls.

ezio manzini • CONTEXT PLACED WELL-BEING & THE CONCEPT OF REGENERATIVE SOLUTIONS

So here is a great thinker. Ezio Manzini. If you haven't
read this it is definitely worth reading. So please
enjoy it. DoorsEast is a great place for information.

iphone. interface

How are you all. Nice to see you all. Happy nu year

iPhone & LG KE850: separated at birth?

Two sparsely-buttoned large, touchscreen phones: the Apple iPhone, and the LG KE850 (which already won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007). Separated at birth, or possible lawsuit number two for Apple? You decide.

Possible Laysuits:
1.) Cisco owns the "iPhone" name.
2.) LG has already created a touch screen phone
3.) multi-touch "zooming" has already been invented by: http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=j_han&flashEnabled=1&

Some Blog type thingimajigs

Howdy folks. Thought I'd introduce myself here.

I is Scott

Please enjoy the following blogs that I've been checking of late:
43 Folders
The Show with Ze Frank

Cheers,
Scott

Edit: Another one that's just good for really kick ass flash pieces:
Best Flash Animation

Introduction

Hey there, my name's Leo Zovic, but I always post under the handle GDarius.

I'm a fourth year GD student who likes to draw and surf the web. I also play D&D, DDR, various other video games and am all-round a huge nerd. My own website of comics, sketches and paintings can be found over here.

Online media I consume includes (but is not limited to)
The Show with Ze Frank
Penny Arcade
PvP Online
Character Optimization Boards
Order of the Stick

“What is Interaction Design” podcast by Dan Saffer

Here is a really useful podcast by Dan Saffer, author of the required text, Designing for Interaction. In print and in this audio from a public presentation, Saffer offers a clear and uncomplicated but inspiring overview of interaction design (or as it is sometimes abbreviated, “IxD”). For iPod or Quicktime playback, MP3 format, 36 mins. Highly recommended.

This link is also embedded in the post title: http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail1558.html