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- inactive, on 02/02/2009, -0/+28Oh, I get it, you've been playing Solitaire.
- krisple, on 02/02/2009, -1/+16I need to figure out how I can use this with tf2...
- bob1029, on 02/02/2009, -1/+16As much fun as FPS games are using a 360 controller, I will stick to my PC, mouse and keyboard and Team Fortress 2/Left 4 Dead.
- inactive, on 02/02/2009, -3/+171992 called, it wants it's concept of the future back.
- Yurikov, on 02/02/2009, -1/+15PC's > any console
- josepablos, on 02/02/2009, -2/+15COOOOOOL!!
- stayputnik, on 02/02/2009, -0/+7Is there a game where you churn butter?
- Remelox, on 02/02/2009, -0/+7Force feedback on my cardboard wheel sucks.
- Colecoman1982, on 02/02/2009, -3/+10Not sure how developed this program is (the site seems to be down due to digg effect). There is another, open source, project out there that seems to be very well developed and should be able to serve the same purpose.
http://www.free-track.net/english/
It also uses a standard webcam to track motion. It was originally designed to be a free alternative to the, expensive, TrackIR headtracking products but also supports other methods of interfacing with games such as keyboard, mouse, and joystick emulation. If set up correctly, you should be able to use it the same way the summary is suggecting this CamSpace app is being used. - heysuburbia, on 02/02/2009, -0/+6Got the text version cached:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:http://www.mak ...
Text no links:
Control Any Game With Your Webcam Using CamSpace
Feb. 1st, 2009 By Simon Slangen
A webcam knows many uses. Obviously, it can be used for video conferencing, or recording your ambitious YouTube videos and responses. However, that’s not all.
We’ve discussed the webcam’s gaming aspect before, when we showed you how you could use your webcam for EyeToy-like gaming.
This time we’ll show you how you can use your webcam for Wii-like gaming!
Wait…..what? Using your webcam for Wii-like gaming? A Wii doesn’t even have a webcam!
So How Does It Work?
You’re completely right. However, we’re not at all planning on recording ourselves. It’s more like we’ll be recording objects and will be using the camera’s motion sensing ability to transform these into intuitive ‘controllers’.
That’s right, using the CamSpace software, you can transform nearly any object to an input device! Just check out the video below to see it at work.
You can use cardboard steering wheels for racing games, playing swords for fighting games, and a chicken drumstick for flight simulators!
The implementation also works a lot smoother than would be expected. You’ll need Windows for the software, and about any webcam can be used, though older webcams tend to work less well due to a lower frame-rate and problems with light adjustments.
Installing The Software
The software is currently Windows only - though it definately deserves to be ported to both Mac and Linux - and can be downloaded here. Also make sure you’ve properly installed your webcam.
You can test out CamSpace by playing one of the CamSpace games. These are small mini-games that accompanied CamSpace. You ought to be able to find them in a folder on your desktop as well.
Item Recognition
CamSpace recognizes specific items by their shape and colour. In theory, you can use any object you want. However, you might want to avoid objects that have the colour of your skin or clothes and use obvious colours - like bright green or pink - instead.
The program will ask you to specify what item you intend to use by holding it in a specific area of the screen. You can also trigger the lock-function by pressing ‘Shift + ~‘ .CamSpace will now track your object so you can use it for simple interaction. It will monitor the size and rotation and will hereby determine the exact location of the item.
You’ll also be able to find several steering wheel templates on the site, this’ll save you some work and give you a general idea of what’s needed.
Playing Games
You can play any game with CamSpace, but to do so you’ll need a controller.
A controller specifies what in-game action is paired up with which motion. As you might’ve guessed, each controller is game specific.
You can either download one of the controllers that are developed by other people here, or make one yourself and upload it to the CamSpace developer site.
Making a Controller
Making a controller is relatively easy. You can start making one by opening CamSpace and selecting ‘Create New Controller’ under Developer Tools in the right-click menu.
If you then choose to edit your script (also located under Developer Tools), an editing window will pop up.
In this window you’ll be able to specify which action pairs up with which function easily. Scripting shouldn’t be necessary with basic controllers. - joecoool, on 02/02/2009, -1/+6use your boner as a joy stick
- euyakuza, on 02/02/2009, -1/+6i was a tester for this software, when it was on launch. Tha ideea of controling games with your webcam is cool but you will see it's not so easy as it sounds.
- TheJuggernaut, on 02/02/2009, -0/+4...you mean you have to use your hands? That's like a baby's toy!
- aladrin, on 02/02/2009, -0/+4If you ass is big and colorful enough, then yes. (But not TOO big.)
- inactive, on 02/02/2009, -0/+4why would the most efficient way to play games involve a full body suit when you can already purchase the first generation of brain-powered input devices? in 10 years manual input will be obsolete.
- soccer1105, on 02/02/2009, -1/+5Amazing. Seems rather complicated for most people though. I bet (hope) that someone comes out with a more finely tuned commercial version of this. Maybe even base the next Nintendo off of this technology.
- inactive, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3Whatever. It still seems like the most efficient way to do it short of neural implants.
- h0dges, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3I wish it could track my eyes :(
- inactive, on 02/02/2009, -1/+4Just go all out and make the next XBOX come with a full VR suit and headgear. Even better.. I'm picturing a chain of actual physical arenas where people can get together and have VR deathmatch scrims. It'd be like the new arcade.
- stealth31, on 02/02/2009, -3/+6As much as these types of games are fun for 5 minutes, I will stick to my 360 controller and Halo 3/COD 4.
- Nattybumpoe, on 02/02/2009, -1/+4... Can I uh... Can I control the game with my ass?
- GreatSunJester, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3Cool -- this software works with those USB microscopes? :)
- ZenMojo, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3You know what would be a great name for this? Since it's sure to be cool for kids and it uses optics...hm...
How about an EyeToy?
Or...since you play with it and where you place it is stationary, it can be your Play Station Eye...shortened to...I dunno, a PSEye?
Just a thought.
A year ago devs already created software that allows the PSEye to do the exact same thing. You can even import random objects into the environment and combine them into moving parts and modify them and use these objects as recognized items in the environment for interaction. Sony's just too lazy to do anything with it. - flangepiece, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3Time to break out the old copy of Leisure Suit Larry :D
- aladrin, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3Yes, but 'could be set up for' and 'is designed for' mean a world of difference when it comes real-time processing.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this does, but I have serious doubts about it. I have even graver doubts about something that wasn't even designed for it.
(Yes, it maps head movements to commands, but that's a world different than mapping all the controls to vid-capped motion.) - Evi1d33d, on 02/02/2009, -0/+3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PIDRVh4B-0
- Evi1d33d, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2Track this: 3===D
- acephreak, on 02/02/2009, -1/+3It would be kind of nasty to use a chicken drumstick for flight simulators, raw or cooked.
- Yez70, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2If the webcam can use any object as a controller - visually - why would you need a suit?
Can't the webcam see you too? - KingBabi, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2It reminds me of GlovePIE, which was fairly easy to use.
- freezerburn666, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2so this looks pretty cool, my webcam is ***** quality so maybe i'll go get a new one and try it out...
- Flynnz, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2sounds like wii motion controls to me then ;)
- musntSurfatWork, on 02/02/2009, -0/+2try folding it twice.
- inactive, on 02/03/2009, -0/+2call dominos, i need a pizza for PGR!
- pauldy, on 02/02/2009, -4/+6That site got downed so hard it will take a box of those little blue pills to get it back up.
- rlbigfish, on 02/02/2009, -1/+3Funny how yours wasn't.
- stilgar91, on 02/02/2009, -1/+3Easier than it looks ;-)
- JumboJ3t, on 02/02/2009, -0/+1And how will this help me in my quest to build a life-size Hang 'Em High laser tage arena?
- jrathe89, on 02/02/2009, -1/+2I have had the beta test, its actualy pretty bad, you use colord paper or and diff color objects in your house and put them on your fingers.....or where ever else u want, and you can simulate a click by making contact with the 2 colors, or just move your mouse arround, it was a pain for me to use and setup, i wouldnt suggest getting this untill it is stable. but it is kinda fun to mess with
- istor, on 02/02/2009, -0/+1I'll admit.. I LOL'ed.
- aksn1p3r, on 02/03/2009, -0/+1Can I digg with it?
- greevar, on 02/03/2009, -0/+1Wax on. Wax off.
- TVarmy, on 02/02/2009, -0/+1Another similar use of concept, this time from Microsoft Office Labs (of all people): http://lifehacker.com/5061768/touchless-adds-multi ...
- johnsenkly, on 02/02/2009, -0/+1This tech will always fit a niche market. Most games/applications are much easier to use with tactile feedback for buttons. Find a "good" way to track the wiimote in 6dof (this does not do that) with 1 camera (without attaching markers to it) and I'm listening. That being said, the new game controller that is electromagnetically tracked in 6dof is going to kick ass.
- cawpin, on 02/02/2009, -0/+1If you know what I mean?
- musntSurfatWork, on 02/02/2009, -0/+0I miss that game so bad. Al Lowe? you here? make a new fresh larry game, pleasse!
- stealth31, on 02/03/2009, -0/+0True that, can't deny a classic game of CSS.
- JoshFester, on 02/03/2009, -0/+0now my light saber has a real use
- chuckstudios, on 02/02/2009, -4/+1How is this news? I've had this program for about 6 months.
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