Button
Button
Button
Button
Button
Button
Standard Definition is so 2003 Hump-day Update: 5-14-08 Humpday Update has a new home on iTunes! Super Duper Tuesday Stock Value Ticker Watch - 5/13 God of War III Looms on the Horizon Review of Galactic Civilizations 2: Twilight of the Arnor
← Are Ad Sales Causing a Review Blackout? CoD4 Patching Coming To XBL This Week? →

Firefly: The first game for Microsoft Surface.

February 28th, 2008 · 20 Comments

by Doc

firefly.jpg

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?

Pages: 1 2

Tags: Firefly · Microsoft Surface

20 responses so far ↓

  • 1 ajnokia // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Looks pretty darn boring if you ask me?

  • 2 Doc // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:47 am

    Think about the interface not the game.

  • 3 Andrew // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:56 am

    “Anybody can do this”

    Except if you don’t have any fingers!

  • 4 Doc // Feb 28, 2008 at 2:05 am

    @andrew… actually you could still do it. You’d just have to move whatever you had a lot more.

  • 5 1Colin1 // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:07 am

    Lol, I thought of that a dirty way, :$ since you could use ‘anything’ xD

  • 6 thesenderofeight // Feb 28, 2008 at 5:27 am

    Yea didnt think about it in terms of RTS games that would be damn sweet! however i dont think that makes it n e less of a stupid system because msoft never sold PCs and started a whole brand just 4 gamers

  • 7 doro626 // Feb 28, 2008 at 7:46 am

    Think about that Tom Clancey Endwar promo teaser, using this as the control scheme.

  • 8 Camaroguy579 // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:05 am

    Great job guys! I linked to you here:
    http://thegamersgarage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Item+successfully+saved.

  • 9 Silentio // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:17 am

    My first big disappointment of the day. This isn’t Firefly, the show, video game. Thanks a lot SG.

  • 10 Pablos102030 // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Introducing Firefly: the only game that lets you collect fireflies with your toes!

  • 11 Trina // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    Great article Doc! I asked the XNA guys about the Surface last week and they didn’t want to touch it. I added this to our news here: http://www.gamingangels.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2587

  • 12 mpgd1kon // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    i think the game sounds crappy but the idea is spectacular… pretty soon you’ll have command and conquer on the surface bc of its ease of motion

  • 13 crash // Feb 28, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Yeah, it could be a new era in RTS, imagine Supreme Commander on this table.

  • 14 Bauer22 // Feb 28, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Dig effect to take place in 5….

    Nice one Doc. While the game seems ok, its just to showcase the ability of Surface.

  • 15 kov // Feb 29, 2008 at 7:07 am

    Rts and mmo’s would play great on this

  • 16 Rich // Feb 29, 2008 at 10:27 am

    Work being done on educational content in the same direct manipulation genera here - http://edusim3d.com - surface could be a boon in schools with some really rich/immersive educational environments

    Rich
    ==

  • 17 เกมมัลติทัชสำหรับ Microsoft Surface - Digital Media Siam University Alpha 1.1 // Mar 4, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    [...] ้าใครยังจำเจ้าโต๊ะ Surface อินเทอร์เฟซแบบมัลติทัชจากไมโครซอฟท์กันได้ ตอนนี้ทีมงานของไมโครซอฟท์ได้สร้างเกมต้นแบบที่ใช้อินเทอร์เฟซมัลติทัชกันแล้วเกมนี้ชื่อว่า Firefly (ไม่เกี่ยวกับซีรีย์ Firefly) อธิบายง่ายๆ เป็นเกมที่เราต้องใช้นิ้วกวาดหิ่งห้อยที่บินอยู่บนจอให้เข้ามาในโหล (คล้ายๆ กับพวกเกมต้อนแกะ เพียงแต่ใช้นิ้วแทน) ใครสนใจวิดีโอก็มีให้ดู [...]

  • 18 Nascar Sucks // Mar 4, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    “We really enjoyed the opportunity to see this first-ever game application for Surface, and playing Firefly was surprisingly addictive and fun”…… “Its great b/c of the way its innovates gaming!”

    Hmmm…So you can praise Microsoft surface, yet you can’t give credit where credit is due for Nintendo’s many innovations? You constantly rave about the 360 while bashing Sony and Nintendo, disregarding what they have brought to the industry. Its clear this site is a 360 Fanboy site in disguise as you contantly bend over for the big “M”. Its a little disgusting.

    I”m unsubscribing today, and sticking with the Joystiq Podcast instead. Funnier, Smarter, Better.

  • 19 Joshthegreat // Mar 6, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    I’d say your comments would have been true of SG a few months ago, Nascar Sucks. But they’ve grown and matured as a site and definitely in their acceptance of other console’s achievements. Though, quite frankly, if the Wii actually had anything to celebrate other than Super Mario Galaxy and high sales figures (I mean really), SG would probably notice this.

    And to be honest, a touch sensetive table is a MUCH better innovation than a funny stick you wave around. I own a Wii, and I continue to be underwhelmed by almost everything it throws at me, or breaks my TV with.

  • 20 » Microsoft Surface, “primer juego” Gigle.net: Geek, Technology & Software // Apr 22, 2008 at 11:38 am

    [...] Techeblog, Sarcasticgamer. Comparte el [...]

Leave a Comment