Microsoft has recently launched a number of new games for its touchscreen Surface PC.
The virtual chess and checkers board in the game is a fully accurate recreation of a real-life chess and checkers game – perhaps the closest we have got to date to the dream of the Star Wars' style holo-chess!
Which prompts us to speculate – how long until Microsoft develops Surface PC to make use of fully 3D holographic characters and icons? We've asked the Microsoft Surface PC research team, but we don't expect to be hearing back from them for some time!
Back in the real world
Back to reality, Microsoft notes on the Surface PC blog that:
"We've recently made available a group of sample applications for our Microsoft Surface customers as a download on our Community site. These applications are targeted at hospitality and entertainment venues."
The games include a rather cool-looking multiplayer block/tiles moving game (think touch-Tetris meets touch-Lumines!) and a basic and fun painting app.
Registered customers for the Surface PC can head over to the site to learn more if they so wish.
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
watcherzero
April 7th
4. On the question of 3D Surface, dont think we will see them, we can produce 3d holographic dispays already but you cant touch them as they involve spinning the screen the objects projected on at several thousand RPM. Likewise you can also use reflections to create a holo display but since moving your hand near the object breaks line of sight for one of the reflections it spoils the effect.
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watcherzero
April 7th
3. Set designers are already using them en masse, seen them use Surface 3 times in Sci-fi/action films this year including series like Spooks too.
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dodfaefife
April 7th
2. Wow that's great! – or it would be if evolution hadn't seen fit to place my eyes on the front of my head rather than under my chin.
These things are never going to evolve beyond bar/hotel/info kiosk gimmicks. You're certainly not going to enjoy interfacing with a screen that slopes away from you for more that 20mins at a time. Nice toy though and set designers will cream themselves to use them.
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calcio
April 7th
1. Answer: no.
http://most-expensive.net/chess-set
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