Microsoft Surface has been the topic of many a geek discussion, both in awe of, and in support of this new computing platform. Having accepted an invitation from the Surface team to come to Seattle and experience Surface computing for ourselves, Lono and I headed up in mid-December, courtesy of Microsoft. Get all the juicy details and video, after the jump.After letting us run the machine through its paces, with the interesting apps seen in our original Surface Parody Video, we were ushered over to another Surface machine for a real treat. The first game ever developed for Surface.

It’s called Firefly. (If you’re not into all of this reading, you may skip straight to the video HERE)

Carbonated games (of Uno and Hexic fame) were tasked with coming up with a game that utilized Surface’s unique multi-touch interface. While certainly not on the scale of AAA titles in bells and whistles, what they delivered is a glimpse of what a game could be, if not limited to mice and controllers.

Firefly utilizes multi-touch by asking the players (up to four at a time) to herd tiny insects into glass jars. The object is to be the first player to collect 3 fireflies of each color, while preventing your opponents from doing so. A simple premise that can turn chaotic, as the only real defensive move in the game is to murder the poor fireflies that your opponent needs to win. Herding fireflies takes a gentle touch, as I found out on several occasions. If you’re too ambitious, it’s “lights out” for the poor bastards. Now for the video. (On the next page)

If you feel we’ve earned it, how bout a digg?

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