World's first in-cinema interactive 3D game inbound
Control a spaceship with your hands!
O2 has a treat in store for cinema goers: the chance to control a 3D spaceship in what’s claimed to be the world’s first in-cinema interactive 3D videogame.
The audience controls a 3D spaceship using their hands
Rolling out across 20 UK-based Vue cinemas from 10 July, O2’s Asteroid Storm will allow seated cinema punters to control the on-screen movements of the Starship O2 – a damaged spaceship requiring the audience’s help to steer it safely out of an asteroid belt.
The craft’s movements are controlled by different areas of the audience putting its hands up, which, O2 told Register Hardware, is made possible by two ceiling-mounted cameras that use infra-red scanners to track hand movements.
These sensors are connected to a gaming server which translates the audience’s hand movements into Starship motion in real time.
Earthworm Jim makes a cameo appearance?
The server controls the cinema’s 3D projector to create the display. You and your fellow popcorn munchers will also be pelted by 3D asteroids as you try to ‘fly’ the spaceship.
Asteroid Storm will appear before screenings of several films, including Ice Age 3 3D and Toy Story 3D. Participating VUE cinemas include those in London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. ®
COMMENTS
Wave your hands in the air like you just don't give a f...
How long until one side of the audience blames the other for crashing the ship. The escalation of hostilities between the two halves resulting in a mass brawl spilling out into the foyer.
The sobbing heartbroken child clinging onto the limp, lifeless, nacho cheese covered body of their parent. The now seemingly tragic Ice Age intro with the squirrel chasing a nut, projected pointlessly onto a half torn, bloodied screen in the background.
O2 don't do it.......Just think of the children.
/Paris. 'Cus she clearly feels upset by the sadness of it all. Even though she probably doesn't fully understand what a 'feeling' is.
And then,,,
When the audience realizes that the sooner the ship crashes, the sooner they get to the main feature... BOOM!
(@ R.E.H-Yes, you can get total audience participation, IF you give them incentive!)
@Chris C
"When in a cinema, you're always aware of at least a handful of people whom you would kill if it were legal to do so"
'would'?? 'if'??
Whoops... my bad
Excellent, now griefers get to ruin my cinema visits as well
although the game sounds rather rubbish, much like pantomime dame geeing up the crowd to make more noise. Still, I suppose it's good to see those infra-red cameras being put to a use other than piracy detection
OK So I am cynical
No doubt this will be shown first, followed by 30 minutes of advertising then 20 minutes of trailers before the main feature. The novelty may well wear off quickly and cinema goers will forsake the awesome pleasure of waving hands in the air in order to avoid the pain of 30 minutes of adverts.
