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Microsoft's 'IllumiRoom' Aims for Immersion

1/11/13 2:02pm

It's 2013 and I'm still waiting for that all encompassing gaming experience. As a pre-teen, I envisioned the ultimate gaming experience having you as the player able to see the action beyond a simple screen. The IllumiRoom, bad name notwithstanding, looks to bring us closer to that dream. Does it show promise or is it just another gimmick?

Microsoft IllumiRoom

This new product was revealed during CES where Microsoft gave their official description.

“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.”

Using a Kinect and projector, IllumiRoom augments the room you're in to broaden visuals on screen. As shown in the video, this can result in a more immersive experience that puts more emphasis in a player's surroundings.

Microsoft IllumiRoom

The concept sounds cool and I'm curious to see where this technology goes. I'm just concerned with how practical the IllumiRoom is going to be in an average household. The visuals being projected beyond the television don't seem all that clear when you have a living room setup with shelves, drawers, lamps, or anything else that would be around an entertainment center.

Personally, I'd probably prefer to get a big projector screen and use that as a substitute for the TV entirely instead of this. At the least, if one were to use the IllumiRoom, it would require some shifting around the room in order to get the best visual quality.

Microsoft plans to reveal more about the IllumiRoom at the CHI conference in Paris on April 27th.

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g1 DISCUSSIONS

duyentrangr82

April 22, 2013 - 5:45pm

he concept sounds cool and I'm curious to see where this technology goes.ChatRandom

kadir12

February 27, 2013 - 10:09am

The thing is, what does it add to the gameplay experience? Right now, it just feels a bit gimmicky. What is their justification here? I'd like to know that. I mean, "because it looks cool" doesn't really cut it. Belajar Seo Blogspot Belajar Seo Blog Belajar Seo Blogspot Belajar Seo

pre10do64

January 12, 2013 - 6:01am

To the Nay-sayers: If they just do what they have in the video then it's not like you're actually putting more game rendering around your tv. Bookshelves and stuff won't matter either. All it's gonna be projecting is lights and effects and stuff, kinda simulating peripheal vision for whatever is going on the screen. Personally, I think it would be kinda awesome. Shoot if this takes off I bet they'll start working into DVD's and such too.

Grandpennywise

January 12, 2013 - 1:18am

Idea is great. Look, not so much. It'd just be so awkward to have your character confined to the screen while everything around you is being rendered. Obviously this isn't gonna be perfect, but if they put me in a room with this right now, I'd just not enjoy feeling like a floating gun and hands.

zomboy

January 11, 2013 - 6:22pm

We used to do something like this in college. We placed a projector on a dresser and projected our 360 on the wall. I know that's not exactly what this is. But that was the first thought that came to my mind when I watched the video. I think the chalk board effect and the snow effect are cool. But otherwise, the rest of what the video demonstrated can be done with a cheap projector.

GaryCXJk

January 11, 2013 - 5:27pm

The concept itself sounds great, but... I think they should wait a while, perhaps patent this shit or whatever, finetune it until they have something. Which I guess they're actually doing, since it's just a proof of concept.

The thing is, what does it add to the gameplay experience? Right now, it just feels a bit gimmicky. What is their justification here? I'd like to know that. I mean, "because it looks cool" doesn't really cut it.

Zeroandx

January 11, 2013 - 5:10pm

I dont think I could handle the Quake Pro FOV

CloudyIce

January 12, 2013 - 6:03am

Reading all these comments, seeing people's opinions. Then I saw this. I LOL'd. true dat

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