Join Now

My principal interest in mobile applications is to push the boundaries of innovation to create uniquely mobile experiences. I hope my blogs excite and challenge developers to think 'outside the box'.

Motion Controlled 3D Multi-player Space Game

coultonp | 30 June, 2008 13:59

Having created a lot of interest in the community with our first motion controlled 3D game Mirage Money ,  Fadi and I are now unveiling  its cooler Coolbig brother Mirage Space. It uses the same S60 Mirage-X API to create a motion controlled 3D space battle game in which you compete with opponents via Bluetooth to save the galaxy. As can be seen the video shows (me and Fadi playing and I win of course Wink)players first select their space ship (in the video I am the Purple space ship and Fadi is Red space ship) and then they must engage in a space dogfight shooting their opponents as they appear on their screen.  The player movement is controlled entirely through tilt but speed and fire are controlled via the joypad using up and centre button respectively.

   

As we are moving around 3D space a means of ascertaining the opponent’s position is required which appears as a smaller set of gun sights indicating the direction of the opponent from your current position and changes from white to blue when the opponent is behind you as shown in video. There is also a selectable navigation map (left or right on joypad) which is shown part through the video (on Fadi’s screen which is the Red ship) to allow further navigation.  

At present we are doing some initial user trials to ensure we have the basic game play correct but after that we hope it will be able to be released for public trials as with Mirage Money.  I know I am biased but I definately think this is one of the best games we have done so far and its great to play.

S60 | Permalink | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

Mobile Control of Your Inner Rabbit

coultonp | 19 June, 2008 19:58

This is part of a project looking at novel interaction possibilities through so called internet toys. The project was developed by one of my new PhD students Kate Lund as part of the learning process for Widgets and because my colleague Reuben had bought a Internet Rabbit some time ago and its been gathering dust whilst we thought of an interesting project.  Basically in its current form it provides a mobile WidSets Widget for sending messages to or controlling (flashing its lights or waggling the ears) your own, or someone else’s, Nabaztag Internet Rabbit as shown in the following video.

   

 

These internet toys are intriguing as the are purely a fun item but I know there is a huge community around these rabbits and my kids love sending messages to me through it. It also shows given the right tools and suitable APIs mobile widgets can produce new mash-ups and tap into existing communities very quickly. Finally, I know that many readers wont have a Nabaztag but for those who do I hope the widget provides a means for discovering your inner rabbit.Wink

 

Browsing | Permalink | Add comment | Trackbacks (0)

3D Game Widget!

coultonp | 02 June, 2008 17:27

Not content with how far he had already pushed the WidSets platform my PhD student Will Bamford has implemented a 3D version of our first Widget Bombus (267324 downloads). Here is a video showing the game in action. 

Despite seeing the game throughout is development cycle I am still amazed how well this runs (remember WidSets is a virtual machine running on top of a virtual machine) across both S60 and S40 devices. At the moment the Widget is still only on the developer site but hopefully will get upgraded to a BetaWidget on the main site soon. 

We have some other cool Widgets coming on line so will blog about them soon as they all offer different perspectives of the versatility of Widgets.

 

General | Permalink | Add comment | Trackbacks (0)

 
 
Powered by LifeType