Reverse-projected Games

June 30, 2006 on 10:35 am | In General Gaming, Innovation

Ok, so I did have time for one more entry before leaving.

I was perusing this month's issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly and I came across a previously overlooked entry about a new EyeToy game, yet more proof that I seem to have missed half of E3.

This one intrigued me though because I saw what amounts to a working prototype at the Boston Science Museum a few months back.

Imagine this:

1. Get some black and white tiles or cards with different symbols on each.
2. Put them on a surface
3. Get an EyeToy or another LCD camera with some programming in it.
4. Build a 3D virtual environment and 3D assets to put in it.
5. Tie each 3D asset to each of the symbols on each of the cards.

What do you get?

A game that reads the tiles on the table, converts them to 3D assets on the screen and as a result, builds an entire 3D environment based on the layout and orientation of the cards the user has set up.

I first saw this as part of the Star Wars exhibit at the Boston Science Museum. It was incredibly cool. I've since wondered if anyone would do something like this with the most obvious of console accessories: the EyeToy.

I wonder no longer.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America is going to be launching The Eye of Judgement in 2007. While the blurb about it in EGM was very short, IGN has better coverage of their experience with it at E3:

E3 2006: The Eye of Judgment Hands-on

GameSpots lesser coverage

I have no idea if the game play will be any good. But I'm hoping it ushers in some new innovation on consoles, enough so we see something on PCs too.